Promises

How long can we keep asking God for help and promising to be better and then not following through when  God does?  Last year we had a horrific oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.  A lot of crude oil spilled into the gulf unchecked as a result of human greed and error.  We were so concerned about the sea life, the people along the gulf shores, and, frankly, the people of the world.  Those who created the disaster were not prepared to deal with it so the oil continued to flow for weeks.  Many people were asking God to help stop the oil flow.  Prayer groups formed.  And we promised to start being more conscious of our environment. 
By the grace of God, an answer was found and the flow of oil was stopped.  Instead of following through on our promise, we went back to our normal routines.  Some people even advocated for more drilling.  And suggestions of alternatives such as nuclear power plants and so-called clean coal were given as alternative fuel sources. 
Our consumption of oil actually INCREASED in 2010 (http://www.eia.doe.gov/steo/).  The commitment to do better has dissipated with the memory of the catastrophe.
Now we have a huge catastrophe in Japan.  A mega-magnitude earthquake along with a devastating tsunami wrecked a large nuclear power plant.  Thousands of people have died.  The radioactive fall-out from the disabled power plant continues to cover people, plants and animals.  We do not know the long term effects.  And the nuclear power plant is still unstable. 
People all over the world are praying for the Japanese, praying for the environment, praying for a solution.  Once again we hear talk of reigning in our use of dangerous fuel sources. 
How many times will we beseech God to help us, promise to do better in our treatment of the world God has given us, and then go back to our normal egoistic business when the danger has passed.  How many times will we create these horrible circumstances because we want bigger, better lives?  Our promises mean nothing without putting legs on them and doing something.  My dad used to say "Words mean nothing; show me by actions."