Television reports of disasters in the country now come with melancholy tunes, most notably the ballads of Ebiet G. Ade. Since the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Aceh, his song Berita kepada Kawan (News to a friend) seems to have become the official theme song for tragedies.

While scientists rush for explanations every time a natural disaster strikes, it is inevitable that many ordinary people look inward and ask what sins they may have committed to anger God and nature.

Ebiet's lyrics are once again being heard on Metro TV. As Yogyakartans were anxiously anticipating a possible eruption by Mt. Merapi, a strong earthquake rocked the province and surrounding areas early Saturday. In his ballad, Ebiet speculates that the disasters in the archipelago are because God is "tired of our behavior".

We may scoff at the elderly and religious who agree with Ebiet, who say we have been cursed with earthquakes and tsunamis, landslides, floods and bird flu because of our sins. But in the wake of the prompt outpouring of condolences and aid from all corners of the globe in response to this latest tragedy, it would not hurt us to check our bad habits – mainly corruption.

World leaders and the international community are always generous in delivering humanitarian aid to the victims of disasters here. And they are kind enough not to come out and say why they are anxious every time they help us. They worry that their assistance will be misused and stolen, as has happened in previous disasters. Unfortunately, there are Indonesians heartless enough to exploit their suffering compatriots and steal the aid they so desperately need.

Greed, which clouds common sense, is an alternative explanation for the country's disasters, apart from the archipelago's hazardous location in the so-called Ring of Fire. Witness the destruction of forests and poorly constructed infrastructure, likely the result of people skimming money from the budgets for these projects. Many buildings here are all too easily damaged in earthquakes, despite claims of solid design.

And, as if forgetting that corruption remains our worst enemy, many of us, including religious leaders, have been occupied in recent months with trying to secure the passage of a pornography bill. The controversy over this bill, aimed at improving the nation's morality, has become a national preoccupation, at times accompanied by violence, while those involved in corruption live their lives undisturbed.

When mosques in some areas of Aceh were the only structures left standing after the tsunami, it was pointed to by some as a sign that He protects the God-fearing. It may be true that God protected those mosques, but few gave thought to the possibility that these places of worship remained standing because those responsible for their construction were too afraid to steal money from the construction budgets, fearing the wrath of those who commissioned the mosques, or perhaps of God himself.

Apart from curbing greed, a little education about how to reduce the losses and damage from natural disasters would go a long way. As a country prone to disasters, we need to learn from Japan, for instance, how to take preventive measures and raise awareness among the public about how to respond to earthquakes.

In yet another difficult period, we thank domestic donors and volunteers, and the international community for their immediate assistance. From our previous experiences with disasters, we hope every measure is taken to ensure every rupiah of donated money goes to those who are entitled to it. Then Ebiet's words would no longer be relevant, of a people who repeat their mistakes and remain "proud of their follies".