If we just knew their stories... by Milota Sidorova

Sometimes I ask myself what would I do if my city was facing some major natural catastrophe? What would I take away from my home if I saw a black cloud of smoke and fire coming from near fields and forests and I knew I would have only few minutes to pack my life into a bag?And then I realize it would be just me, few clothes and my family – the only thing and everything that matters. But then I realize I can be more than happy I am not facing this situation. This year we hear about horrible catastrophes of enormous sizes from each corner of our planet. Pakistani 17 million of people lost their homes due biggest floods, 700 people die per day in Moscow facing enormous f! ires and smoke, tsunami, tropical storms, earthquakes.Sometimes it's more than enough for one to bear.But these kind of things happen, but still they find a man unprepared. People who fled their homes become homeless or spend few days in temoporary shelters, mostly in some school or a hospital being totally dependent on food and water supplies. Sometimes I can't even imagine that – my rushing life pace wouldn't allow me to spend 24 hours without movement. I would have troubles being locked with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people in one sport hall waiting for information.What would I do then If I knew my home was burnt or taken away? Whom would I call? What would happen with my previous life, if the catastrophe would destroy most of the city? Where would I go?Most of the times, life goes back and people settle their homes, because despite they have lost buildings they keep their home in their minds and heart.But sometimes they are not that lucky. They have to leave ! once and for all – let's take just Chernobyl catastrophe! when on e nuclear break-down transformed thousands of miles of country into abandoned, desserted area of invisible enemy – the radiation. No one can return, no one wants to die and it will take several thousands years if the radiation level reduces down to its half power. I would become a refugee, forced to live in the world where nobody would listen to my story. I would become a label, negative number and a statistics for GDP...But this is not happening to me. Not now... Still there are million of refugees of any kind living in this world. Perhaps it is a time to think of their life stories, who they once were, how they loved or hated their home, country, political system, perhaps it is a time to see them as human and accept their values.They are everywhere – they are lying on the streets, begging for your change, sometimes mercy, they can be your neighbors or colleagues, they may run Chinese market or restaurant or they can be just your friends with a story you'd never! discovered...

related story (sgx18157): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_colorado_wildfires;_ylt=Au4r_J...

by Milota Sidorova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

Cantell TV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with telecommunications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface coupled with free phone calls. Cantell TV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of ent! ertainment at the tip of your fingers.