Since then, I've never lived too close to a body of water.
In fact, I 'm not keen on living close to any of Nature's major elements: forests , volcanoes , mountains, seas - certainly not now, with all those ominous predictions following climate change.
Although things have somehow improved regarding warnings, Nature always seems to surprise us in the most devastating of ways. I feel deep sorrow for all those who experience evacuations and loss due to wildfires, hurricanes, tzunami, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, etc..
They say, based on statistics, that so far, Estonia is one of the safest countries ( natural hazards considered). Next on the list are tiny Andorra, Bahrein, Qatar. Estonia and Andorra are in Europe; Qatar and Bahrein in Asia.
Estonia (blue spot) - between Finland, Latvia, and Russia
Anyway, I've got a theory. It seems to me that natural disasters have greatly increased in number and intensity since Globalization has been accelerated (namely, during the last decades). Globalization is kind of a challenge on the God-created world order. It is not new, it started in the days of Columbus. Perhaps, if we withdraw from it, things will calm down. Worth a try, considering the alternative of getting swallowed by the oceans.
Andora does not have more than 20,000 citizens, methinks, which is just a part of yours or mine own city :) No wonder their statistics are interesting.
ReplyDeleteI usually have a negative feeling towards the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as they are always somehow connected with efforts to change history and make themselves like victims or something even though through history they always collaborated with the Nazis. They're similar to my neighbouring Croats in that respect. But that is a political view. I fully agree with you on living far away from water! I wish I was a prince of Bahrain LOL or maybe not....
I must admit I know very little about the Baltic states. Qatar and Bahrain are more in the news, and being rich, attract more interest and envy.
DeleteAs for water, it's hard for me to get romantic about it, not only because of childhood trauma, but also because I usually get seasick on boats,and get a cold in winter whenever I happen to be near the sea.
"Perhaps, if we withdraw from it, things will calm down. Worth a try, considering the alternative of getting swallowed by the oceans."
ReplyDeleteYou have my vote! ;-)
Thank you, dear Sandi for your vote of confidence:) I'm glad I can count on you and your support.
DeleteInteresting post, you make a good point about living close to water. Globalization seems inescapable.
ReplyDeleteI suppose we can't go back; maybe just slow down to reduce and minimize damage and prevent catastrophy. With all due respect to 'plastic campaign' - this will not solve the problems caused by climate anomaly.
DeleteVery interesting, and your points of view make a lot of sense. Looking forward to pictures and commentary on your visit to Estonia!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bica. I have never been to Estonia or to the other Baltic states. Hopefully, I'll visit there someday and share pictures and commentary.
DeleteDuta, I'm really sorry you had that trauma in your childhood xx
ReplyDeleteWell, I've been through a lot in life since then, but you know how it is, childhood traumas stay strong with us.
DeleteI remember distinctly your great comment about my Estonian friend, Marit, who lived next door to my daughter. You reinforced my observation of her as kind as Estonians are kind in nature. You hit the nail on the head. Marit passed away recently and I heard wonderful stories about her family and friends. I hope you get to go to Estonia and enjoy the land and people. Love the last line of your post!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your friend Marit! May her soul rest in peace!
DeleteAbout the last line...well, it doesn't seem to me that the present anomalous weather is temporary (I wish it were!). So, we must think and think hard how to appease God.
Do you have a list that shows the safest countries?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't. The above places were mentioned in some article on the internet.
DeleteI was rather surprised, as I thought that islands and countries bordering the sea were not very safe (Bahrein- island; Qatar - peninsula, has only one land border; Estonia borders the Baltic sea, and has a lot of islands).
But what do I know?!
Childhood memories both good and bad do stay with us, and of course the bad ones (like you experienced) can affect us greatly.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think you may get to visit Estonia, it's not a country I know a lot about … I think I may do some research on google, as you've got me thinking about that country.
All the best Jan
Indeed. We realize later in life the strong impact childhood events have on us.
DeleteI'm glad my post got you thinking about Estonia. It happens to me too, and quite often, that something I read in a blog..gets me thinking.
We have had such issues with climate change. We've had flooding in our province. It's awful.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to live atop a hill in the wetland!
I can imagine. It's good you live high on a hill. One has to make sure water doesn't easily get to the property, as the damage can be huge.
DeleteThe frequency of natural disasters is a bit hard to quantify. When a tornado hits an open field, it's not noticed or classified as a disaster, but when that cornfield has been built up into a subdivision, the exact tornado path will destroy homes and harm or kill people. More people live in harms way -- from earthquakes, tornados, volcanos, storms etc -- now than in earlier centuries, no doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteThe growth of the world's population is putting more people in the range of natural events as well. And climate change is intensifying the effects of certain types of natural events.
Is that what you mean by globalization increasing natural disasters?
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Well, the bottom line seems to be - we are helpless - as far as natural disasters are concerned.
DeleteSo,I look at it from a slightly religious angle; slightly, because I'm not really religious, but I do believe in God as the creator of the universe.
God, the supreme power, has given every race a continent and every ethnicity a territory. However, Man has constantly violated the rules of the existing world by Migration ( for some reason or another ;wars, famine, slavery, colonialism, trade etc..).
During the last decades we've come up with the concept of 'globalization' which has created a total global mess - a kind of interraction and interdependence between countries on economical and cultural grounds leading nowhere except to chaos.
God doesn't seem to like that.
Besides a thunderstorm I had the chance never to live a natural catastrophe. I don't think that it has changed but now with Internet, satelites etc, we know what's going on in the whole world. Before when I was a child we didn't even know the weather in the next town !
ReplyDeleteRight. Once, we didn't even know what was going in the adjacent town. That doesn't mean there were no floodings or wild fires. There were, and probably there will always be. Hopefully, without the anomality that characterizes the weather of the last decades.
DeleteVery interesting post. So sorry that you had to experience a flooding We were once evacuated in Holland for a week but the flooding luckily wasn't too bad so we could return. We live in a danger zone as well because of earth quakes but I love it here.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree globalization is part of it. Lots of the goods have to be shipped and flown all over the world. So lots of CO2 from burning fuel which makes climate change worse. Yes local economy with fresh produce would be the best and shops without plastic
Thank you.
DeleteIt's interesting with people who live in danger zones. Those who live near the volcanoes Vezuvium and Etna(Italy), for example, will tell you how much they love it there. I think one of the factors for their love, is the rich soil that gets them rich too.
Floods are scary and wouldn't want to live near a big body of water either. Sorry to hear that you've experienced that.
ReplyDeleteYes, so are wild fires. I recently left a comment on some post: 'I like trees, I don't like forests'. Sounds weird, perhaps, but it's true.
DeleteYes we have no choice but to take care of this beautiful planet! The storms are bad. Sorry you faced some bad storms in your life
ReplyDeleteI'm for doing anything we can to clean the planet and keep it healthy. I'm afraid, however, pollution has little to do with climate anomaly.
DeleteThis is a huge subject and it seems to me that no matter where you live, stuff happens. We made it through a devastating tornado and have seen our share of rivers flooding, nasty storms, etc. Just glad we don't live in California with all their problems. We had great neighbors who were from Estonia, but I really don't know much about the area. Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. It's a huge, complex subject. Nature everywhere is beautiful yet nasty. You've mentioned California - what a nightmare to live with all those wild fires!
DeleteHI Duta, Its a challenging post to comment on!! I would just see it all going back to the Fall, when mankind sinned against God through separating from Him, that being the greatest sin, and from there choosing to take dominion over the Creation, rather then tending to it and cultivating it as we were given to do by a Loving and Merciful God. Creation has been groaning since then and waiting in eager expectation to be connected to the laws of God and not man!! Now we are daily given the chance to repent and return to Him, but sadly many people harden their hearts and prefer to live in a world governed by man. God is there waiting for each of us to return to Him!! May God bless you and keep you and give you great Shalom!! I think its great and beautiful how you're always looking and searching and I believe you will find Him!! "If you seek Me with all your heart and soul you will find Me."(from a verse from Jeremiah, as I recall it) Much Love!!
ReplyDeleteHi Shayndel,
DeleteYes,it's a tough, challenging subject.
I believe in God as the Creator of the world, a world whose rules we, humans, constantly violate, from the very beginning. We think, in our great conceit, that we're making it better; we are not.
Climate is God's domain. Only He can tame it, moderate it, lessen Nature's disasters. But we have to change our ways in regard to the world and its resources, to Nature, to God. We are guests in this world and we have to respect its rules, keep it clean and functioning. Otherwise, we might, God forbid, face destruction.
Natural disasters just hurt my soul for those affected. We're lucky in Michigan. We do have great lakes but I'm about two or more hours away in either direction. Few tornadoes, no hurricanes or floods and not many, if any, wildfires. No volcanoes or tsunamis. Our worst is snow and ice in the winter. Bad rains can still bring water into my basement but overall, as a community, I feel pretty lucky. Especially as things seem to be changing so.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you feel lucky about the region you're located.
DeleteWe've got no snow here, and rain/storms only in winter, but it's a zone of military conflicts, so there's no ideal place anywhere, I suppose. Each region has its problems.
It looks, however, that climate is going to be a global problem. Perhaps, nuclear experiments also "have a hand in it". Time will tell.
As I read this post Duta, I realized that we do live near water as we can see the Nashua River from our apt window! Thankfully that view is from the 5th floor so there are no immediate flooding worries. We have never lived near any areas that were threatened by natural disasters, although they can strike anywhere and a town in Vermont was severely impacted by Hurricane Irene in 2011. Who would have thought of a hurricane flooding a New England town and wiping out business along a main street?
ReplyDeleteTrue. Natural disaster can strike anywhere like in the town of Vermont. Sadly, people are helpless in most cases, unless they get the warning on time so that preventive measures can be taken.
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