Tuesday 28 August 2007

The facts, the figures and the usual suspects


Although some of the wildfires are still raging in some places in Greece, things have - with the grace of God - improved significantly over the past twenty four hours.

It is now that the size of the destruction - devastation, would be the most operative word - is becoming evident.

A few numbers to give you an idea of what has happened here:
  • 68 dead people.

  • 3,000 homeless families.

  • 1,900,000 acres of woodland reduced to ashes.

  • Tens of thousands of dead animals.

  • 150 villages wiped out of the map.

  • Financial cost approximately 2% of the GNP.

This is the worst disaster to hit this country since WW II!

What has become clearly evident, however, is the gross inefficiency of government and local authorities. We are talking about people who cannot organise themselves to go to the bathroom!

It has been the heroics of poorly trained, ill equipped fire fighters, who quite literally threw themselves in the flames along with common folk who were fighting against the odds to save their livelihood.

The sacred site of Olympia was just about spared, although the historic hills surrounding the site were badly burnt. It is embarrassing to know that no harm came to that beautiful site our ancestors selected to hold the Olympic games and feed the Olympic ideals, was burnt during our generation.

It will take decades for nature to recover, which raises the question of what will these people do during that time? Their livelihood has been destroyed! People who were working the land, growing olive trees, vines, goats and sheep are left with nothing! Even if their houses were spared during the raging inferno, everything else around them has been reduced to cinders!

In the midst of this - keeping in mind that there's a general election on September the 16th - political parties are making a circus of this calamity by trying to achieve political gains out of the situation, arguing over the ashes, over the pain of the people caught in this disaster.

Enough is enough! It is these blithering idiots who are the main reason for the utter chaos and disorganisation in the government, in the authorities.

We all know who they are! They are the blood sucking leeches, who will do and say anything to gain a government post, not to do an ounce of good to this country, but instead fill their pockets and those of their lackeys.

Don't they know that you only need one coin for the ferry man to take you across the river Styx?

12 comments:

The Real Mother Hen said...

I have been away but when I did hear the news, I immediately thought of you. There was a news saying something like if the forest is burnt, then those real estate guys can develop the land, ie the motivation for a bigger fire was to develop the land. I just hope that piece of news isn't true. And man, you're right to be so pissed off! I'm with you on this Epi.

Anonymous said...

yes politicians... all the same...any country... any race... male or female

Alice Kildaire said...

I hate you are having to deal with such strong motivating factors, but damn, what a great line..."Don't they know that you only need one coin for the ferry man to take you across the river Styx?"

Kate said...

Oh, God. Worse than the fires are the politicians and all the fingers they are going to gleefully poiunt, now.

Blur Ting said...

I really pity the innocent people and farmers who have lost everything..their livehood, their homes and lives...all because of the evil people who created all this fire!

Rebecca said...

Hi, Epi. I've read about the fires in Greece in the New York Times, and was brought to tears. The loss of life, livelihood and land is just stunning. One man fought off the encroaching flames with his own homemade wine. I am sure that as citizens of that great nation, you are more forgiving of an inept response than the ensuing blame game and power grab! My thoughts and prayers are with you, and all of Greece.

Darren G. Miller said...

I'm glad to hear you are safe. It's funny that the people that are supposed to help protect us and help us rebuild from disasters such as this inevitably make things worse for those who have already lost so much.

Anonymous said...

The great thing about tragedy is that it allows the heroic strength of the individual to shine through; even while exposing the greater humanity for the rotten, evil beast that it is.

Amel said...

Ugh...so many casualties...indeed it'll take a long time to recover. I can only sigh...

Yeah, I know about the poor equipped government who can't help much. It's really frustrating. :-((((((((

Epimenides said...

Hi there mother hen! It's not exactly within the realms of the law to develop on burnt land, but it's a practice that's been going on for years, without repurcussions on the culprits. I just hope that this government will stay true to its word and prevent this kind of development taking place in this case.

Very true jyankee!

Thank you Alice!

Tell me about it Kate! There are still some fires raging and the media is littered with politicians pointing their fingers left, right and center.

It is heartbreaking Ting, to see pictures of the devastation and the blank looks on the people's faces, who do not really know where to start from rebuilding their lives!

Thank you rebecca! I trully hope that this will be a wake up call for citizens here in Greece to stop listening to empty politicians' promisses and start reading between the lines!

Thank you for your kind words Wolfgang! They are the same the world over, aren't they?

Well put foulbastard!!! Very true!

It will take decades to recover Amel! I just hope we do it right this time round, though.

Thank you mike. Will do so as soon as I can.

Anonymous said...

Epi, I am so, so sorry for the current state of affairs there. It is heartwrenching to imagine such hard working people losing EVERYTHING. ...and don't even get me started about the countryside itself. My thoughts are with you.

Unknown said...

Hey Epi. It's such a terrible senseless tragedy. Sometimes the plain stupidity and cruelty of the human nature really fills me with anger and hatred. Why do the innocent always have to suffer?