Saturday, June 30, 2007

Grief

Sadness, anger and huge disappointment. These are my feelings as the one and only national park near Athens is no more. The whole forest in Parnitha mountain is gone as a result of a huge wildfire.

The endangered red deers are (most probably) gone too. I met three of those some weeks ago. It was the last time I ever saw them alive.

What is most painful is that the fire was not an arson. It was just the absolute stupidity of the authorities. They did not manage to contain a relatively small fire on the foothills and the fire went up at 1100m altitude, just because of their complete impotence.

None apologized for this, none resigned. None will ever be held accountable for the total loss of our most precious forest.

I feel like I just lost a beloved person...
The story in BBC news

9 comments:

Janet said...

Wow! This fire is just so sad. My sympathies.

kangerlussuaq said...

After this fire nothing will be the same for us. The forest is gone, the deer are gone, the amazing fauna of Parnitha is gone. A huge disaster, images of death that can never be forgotten and a severe impact to be expected during the forthcoming winter because of the flood dangers.

Stefan Jansson said...

Very sad news indeed. I have seen a few forest fires on my trips to the grek isles, shae that they couldnt save this.

vagabondblogger said...

My family hiked down a trail there in 1999.

That year, we saw fires and were stopped on the highway to Thessaloniki, by a fire spreading to the highway. When we arrived, my cousin showed us a hillside, across from her apartment that had been completely burnt.

You would think, the authorities would learn from the past. It's sad to hear this is happening again and that the authorities appear to be completely inept. But, I will say this, once the wind whips up, there's not much you can do.

Anonymous said...

My sympathies, very sad. Your image is so striking. Thank you for showing the world...

Nikolaos Kakavoulis said...

its very sad and its also very outrageous -
i have never experienced such an anger from citizens..

Aslı Aker said...

I read news about the fire, I'm so sorry.. I share all your feelings and sadness.. And anger also..
The nature; forests, seas, mountains.. For all the world and the people who live in this planet..

pusa said...

this is so sad :(

Anonymous said...

What a tragic loss. Fire is so devestating, and the fact that this could have been prevented make us angry on your behalf.

It is so frustrating when those in power ignore the needs of the nation while they behave stupidly and selfishly. Unfortunately, I, too, am now living under such a regime.

You have my sympathy.