General Chat

Is it a little bit inflammable?

I think it was a rhetorical question, Graham. :-D

Sharron. Turpentine is distilled from tree resin, mostly pine trees.

Where does turpentine come from?

I read the relevant parts :-D
I don't really need the obvious pointed out to me, historical tosh, uninformed opinion put forth as 'fact', and Brexit opinions, but fortunately, I can 'scan' read.
It's a handy tactic when being verbally patronised too - that's when I sort of 'scan' listen. :-D

But surely, Sharron, you had to be informed that "tex avoidance is a Greek national sport" - strange sport - avoiding a typesetting option - fortunately it's wrong. :-D :-D

Maggie, you didn't take the trouble to read all that did you?

I am surprised it is on here at all being as the idea was mooted that we should stay off each other's threads and I have kept my part of the bargain.

But - it appears the houses that caught fire in Greece were built illegally.
Trees alone aren't really the cause.
As for Crofters building 'without a permit' - that was the way of the time - before planning regulations came into force - and happened all over the UK - no 'permit' was required.
Now there are planning regulations, I can assure you, everyone needs to apply for planning permission - no matter how remote the area.

Here's an interesting view from a Greek - who actually lives in Greece:

"Greece’s post-war economic model relied on anarchic, unplanned real-estate development anywhere and everywhere (including ravines and pine forests). That has left us, like any developing country, vulnerable to deadly forest fires in the summer and flash floods in winter (just last winter, 20 people died in houses built on the bed of an ancient creek).
That collective failure is, naturally, aided and abetted by the Greek state’s perpetual lack of preparedness: its failure to clear fields and forests of accumulated kindling during the winter and spring, for example, or to establish and maintain emergency escape routes for residents. Then there are the usual crimes of oligarchy, such as the illegal enclosure of the coast around seaside villas for the purpose of privatizing the beach. Eyewitnesses I spoke to said that many died or were badly injured struggling against the barbed wire that the rich had put between them and the sea."


Full article is here:
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/factors-behind-deadly-greek-fires-by-yanis-varoufakis-2018-07

What lessons could the Greeks learn from the Grenfell Tower disaster?

I note that a lot of them are kicking up because of a lack of fire fighting facilities. Perhaps if they didn't treat tax evasion as a national sport, they could afford more. It is still a tragedy though.

Looks like it might have been an accident waiting to happen.

Why do people lose all their senses next to the sea?

I believe the trees were a major factor here, lighting up like flares.

Very sad situation.

Have just caught a bit of an interview with a Greek minister on BBC.

It would appear that many of those houses that were destroyed were built illegally.

Of course, I know nothing of Greek planning laws but I have sat on planning committees at a low level in the past so I know how people despise some planning law here.

Never having been to Greece, I was not aware that those houses were built amongst pine trees with difficult access to the sea, there's sensible! I can see why it would be wrong to build there!