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BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far
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BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far |
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Subject: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 25 Aug 07 - 05:24 AM Greece again, where temperatures have been 40-45C for most of the summer and where huge fires threatened the outskirts of Athens a couple of weeks ago. This time it's the southwest coastal area around Zahero, which by all accounts has become hell on earth. In one incident a fleeing car crashed into a fire tender causing a traffic-jam in which people were frazzled in their cars. The latest fires, like those that threatened Athens, are believed to have been started deliberately. Around Athens unscrupulous developers are known to have a vested interest in clearing protected forestry from territory on which they can then build. I don't know if there might be any similar motive for the latest fires, seven of which started simultaneously. Here's a BBC report: Death toll mounts... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Alice Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:08 AM That is terrible news. We are still dealing with our fires here. Another front page photo related to the forest fires today. Click here |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Rapparee Date: 25 Aug 07 - 10:48 AM If they are human-caused, I can but hope that the arsonists who started them were caught in them. We have fires here in Idaho, too. Two more started around here yesterday, but fortunately were quickly controlled. The temps are going to be in the 90s F. again. This has been an AWFUL year! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: katlaughing Date: 25 Aug 07 - 07:45 PM This is so horrible and sad. I see now they have arrested a 65 year old man and charged him with arson and murder of at least 46 people in the fires in Greece. The images bring to mind pictures I've seen of people caught when Vesuvius blew in ancient times. The look of panic and fleeing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 26 Aug 07 - 05:27 AM While all Greece's resources are directed to the southwest, arsonists have just started new fires around Athens. So that will clear more land for developers to exploit. For those who don't use Celsius I should have said that 40-45C is 104-113 in Fahrenheit. Temperatures in and around Athens have been around 110 for most of the summer. And global warming hasn't really started to kick in yet. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 26 Aug 07 - 08:42 AM Greek fires threaten Olympia latest from the BBC with links to other news sites |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Aug 07 - 12:04 PM Damn. The death toll is still rising. At least 50 now. 170 fires--this is malice aforethought, indeed. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: fretless Date: 27 Aug 07 - 08:59 AM News reports this morning are that the archaeological ruins at Olympia have been spared, but the forest around the site has been devastated. The famous Temple of Apollo at Bassae is also reported to have escaped or been protected from the fires. There is no doubt whatsoever that the fires have been set deliberately for the sake of real estate development. A reasonable response under these circumstances would be something along the lines of a 50 year moratorium on the development of land that had been part of a burned out, previously protected forest zone. This would negate the opportunistic profit taking that results from the fires. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Aug 07 - 09:20 AM good news, fretless & a very good idea about folks not profiting from suspicious fires. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Rapparee Date: 27 Aug 07 - 09:26 AM And when those responsible are caught (and 65 isn't old), I think that the punishment should be appropriate. Perhaps all the property owned could be confiscated and sold to benefit hospitals and the forests, while the perpetrator rots in jail, in solitary, for the rest of his or her life. I think arson is one of the most despicable crimes committed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Forest fires: about 40 dead so far From: Dave Masterson Date: 30 Aug 07 - 04:15 AM It's heartbreaking to see what has happened, both in terms of land destroyed and the appalling loss of life. Eileen and I know the Peloponesse well – we love it and its people. A local boat-owner in Stoupa on the Mani peninsular sailed down to below Aeropolis and reported that the land is just black. Of course the land will regenerate but the problem is that it mainly consists of olive groves and these will take at least 3 years before they can be harvested, so it's going to be tough for the locals. Regarding the deliberate fire-starting – I read on another site that someone was arrested with incendiary devices in their car. They said they had been paid 1800 euros to start fires. Whether the story is true or not remains to be seen. Some of the fire-fighters were also saying that fires were starting in the middle of the night – certainly sounds suspicious. Of course the property developers are throwing up their hands and claiming innocence, but it does seem a strange coincidence that the main areas of destruction (Peloponesse, Evia, and land around Athens) just happen to be places considered to be 'property hotspots'. We are off to Greece in a couple of weeks, to the Pelion, which thankfully has been unaffected. It will be interesting to judge the mood of the people. We hope George Papavgeris' family are OK – could you let us know George? Dave & Eileen. |
