Everything Is Broken Summary

I have always followed world events, needing to know what is happening in the world is important to me. Therefore, when natural disasters occur, I am following the unfolding situation. However, on May 2nd, 2008 a catastrophic cyclone hit Myanmar, killing over 100,000 people in a small area of the country. Everything is Broken by Emma Larkin recounts the events of that day through the stories of survivors and explores the historical and political implications that lead to the blockade of humanitarian aid. The purpose of this paper is to explore how this book contributed to my learning, the issue of human rights and health, how history and politics can influence health issues and how this novel has expanded my idea of to work with countries whose ideology maybe fundamentally different than our own. Everything is Broken is written by a journalist named Emma Larkin. This book is an account of her time spent in Myanmar following the days, weeks and months in Myanmar collecting stories from survivors. In the first section of the book, she retells how the …show more content…
I feel that it is important to understand the history and politics of a country when looking at global health. If an organization wants to work within that country they need understand the context from which that country operates under. This is especially true in countries like Myanmar who has lived under foreign rule that has not be favorable for the people. This is highlighted when Larkin explains how the Japanese liberated the region from Britain, but later destroyed the country agriculturally. Therefore if a foreign intervention needs to occur within a country like Myanmar, understanding its history is imperative. By addressing the historical mistrust, it might have ensured easier access to the country. Unfortunately, Larkin does not explain the diplomatic actions of foreign countries; therefore it is hard to say if this