Learning humanity from the Boxing Day tsunami

The pictures of the devastation were so horrific that they galvanised what seemed like the planet.

On that Sunday morning, a massive earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale struck off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia.

It generated a series of towering waves, some 30 metres high and travelling at 80 kilometres an hour. Swathes of coastal habitations from Indonesia outwards were flattened.

Wooden houses were turned to matchsticks.

It's impossible to give an exact figure but the United Nations put the death toll at 227,000 people in 14 countries.

The event was a reminder, if one were needed, of the power of nature and of the fragility of human settlement.

It was also a reminder of how an international community could unite and get good things done.

The tsunami left a trail of misery in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Thailand and Somalia.

In response, Australians showed their generosity and humanity, both as individuals and collectively through the government.

The government's Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience says: "The Australian government committed more than $1 billion to the relief efforts. The Australian community also rallied together to raise approximately $235 million to help tsunami survivors."

Days after, then US president George W. Bush said: "As men and women across the devastated region begin to rebuild, we offer our sustained compassion and our generosity, and our assurance that America will be there to help."

He matched his words with around A$200 million in immediate relief.

Contrast that humane tone with today.

Twenty years later, it would be very difficult to even talk about an international community, given the fractures between Moscow, Beijing, Washington, London, Paris and Berlin.

We are a world at widespread war with an extreme danger of even further, greater war.

Contrast President Bush's noble sentiment with that of his successor, Donald Trump.

Earlier in the week, The New York Times reported that Mr Trump had his eyes on Greenland.

"For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World," the paper reported Mr. Trump saying, "the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."

There are those who believe that Mr Trump doesn't really believe what he says and that he enjoys the shock effect.

The sad fact is that he does often mean what he says.

There are no doubt clever people in DFAT trying to work out how to deal with the bull in a china shop.

Clearly, enraging him is not a good option. He is small-minded enough to seek revenge.

But they and we should remember the better world of 20 years ago and try to regain it.

It will involve seeking alliances and friendships with like-minded peoples and their governments.

These very much include the countries to our north which suffered so dreadfully from the tsunami.

The disaster reminded us who our neighbours are. It taught us to look after those neighbours.

The lesson remains strong.