Photos from Spiegel
Greece is burning. It is like a full blown war. More than 50 people have died in the fires that have burnt villages, whole mountains, towns and have also threatened Athens. The ecological destruction is unimaginable, massive, devastating. I have been to some of these villages and they were beautiful, they were breathtaking.
These fires have burnt a hole in my heart. I can’t stop thinking about the people who have lost their families, who find their beloved burnt to death in their homes, who don’t have homes, villages to return to, who have lost their means of income and their natural environment. These places are going to be toxic for a long time. I see these people on TV, like ghosts, emerging from the smoke.
I am posting this because many of you wrote to ask if I was okay. We are safe in Athens, as far as I can tell. But we can’t breathe right. It has been raining ashes all day and the air is putrid. I’ve never seen or felt anything like this.
August 26th, 2007 at 1:50 am
I’m so sorry!!
I didn’t know about this, I didn’t watch the news…
I know how helpless and useless one feels, it’s so sad and despairing. I have many dreams and nightmares about fires precisely because they have left such a mark in me, even though I personally didn’t lose anything. But I feel the pain, it’s the people, it’s communities, it’s nature, animals, plants, the Earth cries too.
Sending you some rain, hopefully.
August 26th, 2007 at 4:20 am
I can’t believe it.
August 26th, 2007 at 4:33 am
I saw coverage on tv tonight it is heartbreaking. My brother in law was headed to the Peloponnese village of Pylos today where his wife’s family lives and was turned back by police. Why do people start fires, is this some form of terrorism at play here or just greed to get land to build on? Just wondering…We are in Athens next week and we had hoped to tour that region…ciao
August 26th, 2007 at 4:39 am
There are no words that can cure what is going on. But be assured that the world is watching and waiting along with you. It is a small assurance, but one nevertheless; you are not alone. And the international community will provide help if it is needed.
And, as I’ve e-mailed to you…as hard as it is to imagine from the horrific images, the Earth will heal. And the fire will regenerate it. Bitter irony, but true.
My thoughts continue to be with you…
xo
August 26th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Oh my goodness!
That’s heartbreaking
It’s more than nature, land, towns, communities, homes, families, history, but the repercussions of this form a butterfly effect that touch many!
Hope the towns heal fast…
August 26th, 2007 at 6:16 am
How to think about such a tragedy. Best to you, Chloe.
August 26th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Hi Chloe,
Heard this sad news this morning. I can’t imagine how the people over there are suffering. We in Malaysia, used to suffer from haze every year due to the annual dry-season forest fire in Sumatera Island, which is far from here, and that itself were painful. Hope that the fire would be under control soon, take care.
August 26th, 2007 at 11:02 am
I’ve been shocked to hear the news about the fires, especially as I’ve got quite a few friends in Greece. I do hope you’re all fine, and that you’ll be blessed with proper rain soon!!
August 26th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Here’s to healing rain … and to
Peace you way.
August 26th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
I read via that link that they think arson may have been involved. I just can’t even imagine why anyone would do that…so much is being lost.
Is it still super hot there? I hope they get this under control soon.
Wishing lots of rain your way.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:35 am
there was a big fire in LA a few months ago which was a few miles from my home. there was no chance of it coming my way but the devastation will still take years to come back. luckily for us nobody was hurt afaik…
August 27th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I heard about the fire late last night, and am glad you and your family are safe. Here’s to hoping the fires end, and if it is arson, that the culprits are brought to justice.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Sending comforting thoughts to you from Minneapolis, Minnesota….
August 27th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
A fire almost as large as the Greek one is burning in Idaho but in a mostly uninhabited area. It’s a natural phenomenon there–the fires are set by lightning. The fires clear out the forest underbrush. Seeds of certain species can’t germinate unless they have been burned!
Spiegel lays the Greek fires down to poor management of forests and lack of fire-fighting resources, but being Germans they would say that, wouldn’t they? They get plenty of rain and they haven’t had temperatures in the hundreds for days nor do they have firebugs running around.
What a terrible tragedy. All those poor people.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
you must wear a mask to protect your lungs. maybe breathing through a wet piece of cloth would help. stay safe, sweet chloe.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:25 am
-hug-
ps new semi-secret blog!
August 28th, 2007 at 7:44 am
oh, that’s so heartbreaking. indeed there are no words. sending rain your way…
xoxo
August 28th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
just heard of this and the quake. hope you are ok.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
My thoughts are with you and all of Greece. There is a photo on CNN of the fires. Picture 4 of an old woman standing front of her stables breaks my heart to pieces. I do hope they find a way to stop the fires.
xo
August 28th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Well, I’m glad you;re safe at least. (I hope you’re still safe.)
I’ve been discussing this fire with an old Greek couple that comes in the cafe. I’d meant to write you, but kept forgetting when I got home (being tired wipes my memory away). But that’s a poor excuse for not checking on a frined’s safety.
I am dismayed that all that history, all that cultures, and all those people’s lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by this fire.
The couple mentioned the authorities think someone set this deliberately?
August 29th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Chloe, I am so sorry I have been estranged from the blogger world. I am happy that you are okay! I know about the breathing because you could smell smoke in Brooklyn, New York where I live on 9/11 and 9/12…and longer in Manhattan.
I love you, take care of yourself…
Novel
August 29th, 2007 at 1:50 am
I am glad to hear you are fine and pray for everyone there.
What a terrible tragedy!
Love and blessings.
Love Jeanne
August 29th, 2007 at 4:47 am
GOSH. those pics are devestating. it is just awful. i have been thinking of you and praying they can stop the fires…
arson?
August 29th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
I have been following the news about the fires in Greece. I am so sorry to see this
I find your blog to be very interesting, love the pictures. Went to Athens and Santorini in March and really liked it there.
Ciao,
August 29th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
so sorry ,chloe
August 30th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Phew..being thinking about you and your family..I’m Glad you are safe.. So sad and devastating.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:54 am
First of all I need to tell you this place looks great; Congrats!. Here in Spain we suffer the same problem with fire every summer. I have a point of view of natural disasters as external circumstances that correspond to internal problems of the human being. I think that if people would take more time and attention on managing internal issues, that is, more consciousness, our world would be a much more healthier and lively place.
September 3rd, 2007 at 6:52 am
Wow that’s awful. I can’t believe so many people died in the fires!
In Australia, the land care management group of the government do controlled burns every year, during the cooler times and when there’s no wind to spread the fires. If you don’t have too much fuel, the fire doesn’t burn too hot and everyone benefits.