http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32521037/ns/world_news-europe
Big fires in Greece; I hope the native orchids and everyone is OK there.
Big fires in Greece; I hope the native orchids and everyone is OK there.
Trouble in Greece
- Thread starter NYEric
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I don't knnow if it's increased fires or better global media coverage but you're right.
KyushuCalanthe
Just call me Tom
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Here's an article in The Christian Science Monitor that addresses the whys behind these fires. In the nutshell, long term drought, changing land use practices with little understanding or regulation, and arsonists. Greece is becoming a good example of what happens when you don't have long term environmental policy in place - ecological degradation.
SlipperFan
Addicted
I hope our Greek friends are all safe.
In NJ when the train comes west thru the tunnel from NYC I can see where theyre surveying and draining the meadowlands, probably to make more stupid malls! 
eOrchids
Well-Known Member
In NJ when the train comes west thru the tunnel from NYC I can see where theyre surveying and draining the meadowlands, probably to make more stupid malls!
It is a sad sight to see, Eric!
B
biothanasis
Guest
I just saw this post!!! It is God's work that nobody was injured or dead this time!!! In 2007 most part of northwest Peloponisos was burned and there were many victims too! A grand environmental disaster too!
This time i think that the fact was covered internationally by the madia cause it was near the capital city (Athens) and because it is about time for the rest of the world to see that the majority of greek people do not love their country too much!!! Where there is money and benefit noone stands for the environment!!! Most of the burned houses were illegal and the fires were put to build more, but it got out of control! Also not cleaning the areas from flamable organic materials (the underpart of the forest etc) has been neglected and the results are trumendus!!! Another fact is that the fire department is out of control too (not enough crue etc) and there is no proper co-ordination!
Tom, long term environmental policy will never happen to Greece unless all of it is burned or destroyed so that the government/s is/are obliged to have one! Here things are so "governmentally dependened" that every government wants different things, so each time things and policy change to benefit the ones in power!!!!! And this is so ironic!!!! Things will not change unless greeks see ways differently! It is so foolish to expect the same people in power to change their policy the second time! But I think that we are worth of these happenings! There is a saying here that says: If you do not take care of your house, it will crash upon you!
As for the orchids here, they are all terrestrial and bulbous, so they are saved for the time being, but next year the conditions (humidity, shade etc) will be completely different and I do not think they will be able to complete their yearly life circle, at least flowering!!! Time will tell! Also pine forests are dependent on the fires (but no so extensively) for their regeneration, so it is kind of good for them, unless new buildings are built there!
(You may find that i speak bad for my fellow citizens and my country but I am so dissapointed that I cannot express myself differently and it is the raw truth!)
This time i think that the fact was covered internationally by the madia cause it was near the capital city (Athens) and because it is about time for the rest of the world to see that the majority of greek people do not love their country too much!!! Where there is money and benefit noone stands for the environment!!! Most of the burned houses were illegal and the fires were put to build more, but it got out of control! Also not cleaning the areas from flamable organic materials (the underpart of the forest etc) has been neglected and the results are trumendus!!! Another fact is that the fire department is out of control too (not enough crue etc) and there is no proper co-ordination!
Tom, long term environmental policy will never happen to Greece unless all of it is burned or destroyed so that the government/s is/are obliged to have one! Here things are so "governmentally dependened" that every government wants different things, so each time things and policy change to benefit the ones in power!!!!! And this is so ironic!!!! Things will not change unless greeks see ways differently! It is so foolish to expect the same people in power to change their policy the second time! But I think that we are worth of these happenings! There is a saying here that says: If you do not take care of your house, it will crash upon you!
As for the orchids here, they are all terrestrial and bulbous, so they are saved for the time being, but next year the conditions (humidity, shade etc) will be completely different and I do not think they will be able to complete their yearly life circle, at least flowering!!! Time will tell! Also pine forests are dependent on the fires (but no so extensively) for their regeneration, so it is kind of good for them, unless new buildings are built there!
(You may find that i speak bad for my fellow citizens and my country but I am so dissapointed that I cannot express myself differently and it is the raw truth!)
sorry things are so frustrating there but at least noone died.
KyushuCalanthe
Just call me Tom
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Actually, everything you mention here about the situation in Greece is being played out over the whole world - forests, grasslands, and agricultural lands are giving way to urban and suburban development. The result of such development cannot be understood in the short term especially since it is at run-away levels right now, making the situation very unstable. So it will be years before new conditions manifest from actions taken in the past decades.
The larger issues with ecological degradation are loss of arable land and therefore food production. If this process gets out of hand (especially with increased population) then the stability of a society is in question as well. If you want a case example look at what happened in Haiti or what is happening in sub-Saharan Africa. If you think that can't happen where you live, well, time will tell. Don't even imagine it at a global scale...
Speaking of politics, Japan just had a big shift from the conservative party to a more liberal party. I suspect that little will change here though since that is the nature of Japanese culture - conservative in the actual meaning of that word. There's too much power and money at risk, so nobody wants to monkey around with things too much anyway.
Regarding the orchids, I'll bet that if you get near normal precipitation over the winter and spring it will be a banner year for orchid flowers next spring and summer. Many terrestrials are rejuvenated by fire, especially the tuberous ones.
B
biothanasis
Guest
Tom you are right!!! Let's hope that things will change to the better!!!
