On Monday's evening a wild fire broke out close to a popular holiday resort area next to the capital of Greece. Within few hours 82 people lost their lives and more than 1.000 houses were burnt to the ground. People were trapped in their cars, in their houses or even drowned trying to escape through the sea.
Those who follow me know that usually, I am not posting this kind of themes but this tragedy is forcing me to speak up. This post is not about sympathy, it is about the real cause that transformed a natural phenomenon into an unbearable tragedy.
sourceFrom Tuesday morning a witch hunt has began in the media organized by government and opposition supporters against those who criticize the government and the ones before, for this tragedy. Anyone who dares to mention the word responsibilities is treated as if he personally blocked the street to the firefighters or as if he sabotaged the firefighting planes.
This practice is usual among governments that attempt to cover up their faults.
The differentiator in this case is that this practice was not only adopted by the government but by the main opposition too. We are not used in such political courtesies in Greece. So what has happened?
This "paradox" has a very simple explanation. This time the criticism of the citizens was not limited to the lack of state mechanism but to political choices that are common to all the parties that have ruled in the past 8 years.
For those who do not know, in 2010 the Greek banks had huge amounts of debts. The Greek government with an unbelievable maneuver bailed out the banks, leading the country to bankruptcy. All the Greek governments, ever since, have signed memorandums that made them puppets under the orders of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the EU (European union)while Greek people are suffering under inhuman and irrational austerity measures, in order to pay off a debt that is not theirs.
The past few days people are outraged when they see European officials pouring crocodile tears for the victims since they know that it was them who have imposed the austerity measures that have disrupted the state mechanism and have extinguished the funds for fire safety.
People are outraged when they hear a member of the Greek church to attribute the fire to the prime minister's atheism because they know that in this country we pay priests (we actually do) instead of hiring doctors and firefighters.
People know very well how many firefighting aircrafts we would have had if we were not the second among the NATO countries, in armory expenses.
However, in this rage, the main opposition has nothing to answer. They signed the same memorandums, they paid the same priests and approved the same armory expenses as the current government.
sourceSo the answer to those who claim that it is not time for criticism is:
"You'll not tell us when we can criticize you".
We can challenge your intentions while collecting food or giving blood to the wounded.
We can measure the monumental deficiencies that you have caused in the state apparatus, while praising the heroic firefighters and life-saving volunteers with all the power of our heart.
We can count how many firefighters you sacrificed to buy the frigates and warplanes following the orders of the creditors.
Let me close with a huge thank you to the Egyptian fishermen that saved a lot of people with their boats, to the Palestinians that collectively offered blood for the wounded and to all of them who showed that humanity still stands.
Oh gosh. What a tragedy. I'm so sorry to hear this.
Thank you Jess for your support. This was a really bad week.
I'm so sorry this happened in your country - it's awful to hear how that thing called 'money' (plus the people who are in control of that money) can choke a country and it's people so much so that there is not enough left to prevent these accidents and/or solve them when they happen.
It's awful and shouldn't have happened.
I'm glad you've shared this story with us - no-one can remove it from a blockchain, so it will always be there for those who want to read 'the other side' of the story.
Thank you @soyrosa. I really appreciate your support.
It was very difficult for me to write this one but I thought I would burst if I didn't.
<3 I can understand that. Some things need to be said.
This post was shared in the Curation Collective Discord community for curators, and upvoted and resteemed by the @c-squared community account after manual review.
Thank you for your support.
My mom and my auntie works both in Athens, today i call them to ask what its going on because on TV was a living hell what they showed. People saying was intentionaly light the fire due some papers interests and some business oportunities.
Strange world, sick world. Money makes you souless.
Thank you for stopping by @dombusiness. I don't know who started the fire or why but the fact that all those people where trapped and helpless a few km away from the center of a European capital outrages me.
@fotostef i so sorry for those people who suffer this tragedy, this things shouldn´t be happening in this modern times
No they shouldn't. Thank you for stopping by.
Oh my heart breaks for you and your country. I'm praying for you guys! Money is root of evil they say. So sad. Resteem and be keeping an eye on updates when you can post. Be safe friend!
Thank you @squirrellyma for your support.
The only update is that the number of the dead is now 88 and the search is going on. What is done cannot be undone and I hope I'll never have to write about something like that in the future.
I read a bit about the fire, but not that it was this bad. And it makes me feel ashamed to be human when I read the government is not taking responsibility for this, and even will arrest those who speak up. Lives are ruined and people even died, how can you act like this? so sad...
I don't have any more words about this...
Thank you for your support.
You're welcome.. it's sad!
I didn't realize it was this bad. I think I heard about this on the news but it was not emphasized that it was this bad. It's very troubling to hear about this and the reason why it happened as bad as this one. I pray for the souls of those who died in this tragedy, to those who managed to survive and to those with good hearts that helped. GOD BLESS you too @fotostef for telling the world about this.
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Thank you @filnette for your support.
Thank you for being brave and bringing the attention to the reality here on the blockchain. The elites cannot tell us when we can and cannot criticize. It is our right as the ruled to criticize, they must keep us happy our who would pay the taxes that bail out big banks and pay back the creditor class?
Thank you Alex for your support and for taking the time to comprehend my point of view.
Stay strong, keep farming and fotografing!
Thank you @ecoinstant.
Thanks a lot.