In his recent article in Forbes Magazine, award winning author John McQuaid decried the all-too-common practice of blaming catastrophe on Mother Nature when the true culprit is human error.

Japan parliamentary inquiry concludes Fukushima meltdown was a "man-made disaster." http://t.co/sGwEB0mU via @JimMacMillan

— John McQuaid (@johnmcquaid) July 5, 2012

“This is quite convenient for those who screwed up, because the basic notion of a ‘natural disaster’ is something beyond anyone’s control,” he wrote.

Mr. McQuaid was covering a recent Parliamentary Panel’s findings on the nuclear meltdown in Japan during the March 2011 tsunami. He observed how the plant’s managment initially blamed the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi plant on the tsunami. The Panel determined otherwise.

“…What must be admitted – very painfully – is that this (meltdown) was a disaster ‘Made in Japan.’ Its fundamental causes are to be found in…our devotion to ‘sticking with the programme’; our groupism; and our insularity….”

McQuaid concluded his article by noting how similar ‘shorthand’ is constantly applied in New Orleans where a hurricane is often blamed for the flooding in 80% of the city.

“…the immediate cause of the flooding was the failure of floodwalls and levees that were guaranteed to withstand a Katrina-sized storm surge, but failed thanks to faulty design and construction by the Army Corps of Engineers. To describe this as a “natural disaster” (is) a distortion…“

This is not the first time Mr. McQuaid has helped carry the torch of truth about the Great New Orleans Flood. We hope more individuals, groups and media join him soon.

One day, it will be household knowledge that the flooding of New Orleans was overwhelmingly and primarily due to mistakes by the Army Corps of Engineers.

For the Forbes article, click here.