I tend to compare Climate Change with an experienced army general. The later knows he cannot successfully fight a war with the tactics and strategies of the last war. He has to surprise the enemy.
Fires were not new to australians, and yet they got surprised by the highly devastating nature of the last fires.They needed all the help they could get (The neighboring countries New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea were the first to offer help).
In Israel, we don't have much rain . but 2-3 consecutive days of strong rain, some ten days ago, almost destroyed an entire city (Naharyia) in the north of the country. The city was heavily hit by floods, and that came as a complete surprise.
The official explanation to the stunned citizens was that the severe flooding was perhaps due to the Gaaton river(crossing the town) being diverted to build a mall?!
Naharyia floods (web picture)
1. lots of smart rescue plans to save lives (both human and animal).
2. good neighboring country relations based on reciprocity and cooperation.
Nations are more than willing to help other nations in distress, but sometimes because of distance, it takes precious time till the planes with the experts and equipment arrive at the scene of the disaster. So, where possible, good neighbors are top priority.
Nine years ago we had a deadly fire on Mt Carmel (44 fatalities) We badly needed help and we got it from many countries. It was really heart warming. Here's the list with the helping countries (it appeared on the internet):
Azerbaijan – 2 helicopters
Bulgaria – 1 plane and 92 firefighters
Croatia – 1 plane, 8 firefighters and fire repression materials
Cyprus – 1 plane and 1 helicopter
Egypt – fire repression materials
France – 5 planes and fire repression materials
Germany – 1 plane, 7 experts in firefighting and fire repression materials
Greece – 7 planes, 34 firefighters and fire repression materials
Holland – 5 experts in firefighting
Italy – 1 plane and fire repression materials
Jordan – 3 truckloads of firefighting equipment and materials
Palestinian Authority – 21 firefighters and 3 fire engines
Russia – 3 planes and 22 experts in firefighting
Spain – 5 planes
Switzerland – 1 plane, 3 helicopters and a team of 14
Turkey – 2 planes
UK – 2 helicopters
US – 5 planes, 11 experts in firefighting and fire repression materials
Bulgaria – 1 plane and 92 firefighters
Croatia – 1 plane, 8 firefighters and fire repression materials
Cyprus – 1 plane and 1 helicopter
Egypt – fire repression materials
France – 5 planes and fire repression materials
Germany – 1 plane, 7 experts in firefighting and fire repression materials
Greece – 7 planes, 34 firefighters and fire repression materials
Holland – 5 experts in firefighting
Italy – 1 plane and fire repression materials
Jordan – 3 truckloads of firefighting equipment and materials
Palestinian Authority – 21 firefighters and 3 fire engines
Russia – 3 planes and 22 experts in firefighting
Spain – 5 planes
Switzerland – 1 plane, 3 helicopters and a team of 14
Turkey – 2 planes
UK – 2 helicopters
US – 5 planes, 11 experts in firefighting and fire repression materials
Among the countries that offered assistance which wasn't required: Australia (was ready to rapidly deploy a team of 5 incident management experts and 20 tons of fire retardant), Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Romania and Ukraine.
It's mutual. We always offer help to other nations in disaster cases. I especially remember the earthquakes in Azerbaijan and Turkey. Israel had an important assisting presence there.
It is puzzling that countries willing to come together and help each other when disaster strikes are often unwilling to be equally cooperative and supportive under normal conditions. Once the disaster has been dealt with they go back to their normal posturing, name-calling and aggression. It is sad really.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Sadly, that's how things are. Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, The Palestinian Authority - don't like us, to say the least. Yet, they've sent help, probably because we're the first to offer them help, and they might need that again.
DeleteI agree with David. That said, we've sent experts to Australia, as well as to Iran after the plane was shot down. These are difficult times.
DeleteCanada is one of the most altruistic countries in the world. I love her and admire her. A nation in distress can always expect help from her.Great country!
Delete"Good neighboring country relations based on reciprocity and cooperation."
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree with this Duta, what a good plan for not only urgent times but all times!! ♡
Of coure, Shayndel - at any time, not only during disastrous situations.
Delete"...good neighbors are top priority."
ReplyDeleteSo true.
I'm glad you agree with that , Sandi. It's true everywhere - apartments,houses, farms, countries.
DeleteHelping others is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. We call it altruism - selfless concern for the well being of others.
DeleteI agree climate change is here to stay. The question is -- what can we do to reverse it as much as possible and stop it from getting worse.
ReplyDeleteNot much, I'm afraid. It's God's domain. We can do a lot to minimize pollution, but I'm not sure this can stop climate from getting worse. We must, however, stick to it and do the best we can.
DeleteThe video brought tears to my eyes, it hits so close to home being that I live in California where we have devastating fires all the time, so much so that we have a "fire season". We know they are coming but we can't stop them because people are not careful. My heart goes out to Australia and I hope the people that were affected by the 2010 Mount Carmel fire have been able to rebuild and prosper.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the list of countries that helped. In spite of everything going on in the world, it's heartwarming to know that we are there for each other.
Hi Alicia, good to hear from you.
DeleteYes, California fires are often on the news. Very sad to hear and read about the damages and loss of lives!
I was pleasantly surprised to find the list on the web, and I wanted to share it with my readers.
It is always good when countries come to the aid of other countries in times like fires, earthquakes, etc. It would be nice if they could get along other times too :)
ReplyDeleteThat was a terrible fire you mentioned with the Mount Carmel one. I wasn't familiar with it; but what a disaster!
betty
A 14 year old told the police he had unintentionally started the deadly forest fire with a nargila coal.
DeleteYes, mutual aid among countries is to be encouraged and highly appreciated.
It is good to see countries come together when disaster strikes. It means that the human spirit is still alive.
ReplyDelete"the human spirit is still alive" - I like that. Human spirit - the forces of awareness, understanding,judgement.
DeleteI hope they get those fires under control soon.
ReplyDeleteYou mean the fires in Australia? Well, rains and cooler weather have brought some respite. There are still places (South Wales) were fires are still burning.
DeleteIts always heartwarming how everyone can come together in a time of disaster. On a local level, I was reading how even people who don't particularly care for each other in daily life were looking out for one and other in these times of fires here.
ReplyDeleteAustralia has and is receiving such generous aid as well as good will and thoughts from all over and is so appreciated.
Well, Australia is such a loved and appreciated continent! No wonder foreign countries wish to help.
DeleteAnd yes, in a crisis like this people care for each other.
It is always heart warming when neighbors reach out and help each others in times of disaster. It is a reminder that there are a lot of good-hearted people in the world. We just don't get to see that or hear about THAT.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Happy Friday!
Yes, there are. Luckily, there are good people in the world, though, discovered during bad times. But, as the saying goes - 'better late than never'
DeleteA Happy Friday, to you too!
It is very sad to see fires and water turn to be a big monster, cause a catastrophe.
ReplyDeleteIn this situation, the role of neighbors is very important.
There was a nasty river in my childhood hometown, and forests around it. So, I've learnt that floods and forest fires can be deadly. It's best not to live close to a body of water or forests.
DeleteIt's so wonderful that everyone jumped into held, but it saddens me that it often takes tragedies for this to happen. Happy Friday to you! Hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteLike anything in life, the coin is both wonderful and sad. People/nations, don't hesitate to jump and help, but it usually takes disasters for this to happen.
DeleteThe worst was that the Australian Government refused all help in the beginning ! and then it was too late ! so studpid ! We will move into a flat I am fed up of the house, the garden it's all too big for the two of us and to hire help all the time for everything becomes expensive too !
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the australian refusal to get help. That was not clever, indeed.
DeleteGood Luck with moving into a flat! It's certainly less expensive than a house with garden.
Australia is certainly not alone in experiencing a disaster, whether natural or otherwise. It is heartening to see that people and countries can put apart differences in times of need. Sorry to hear about the flooding.
ReplyDeleteThere were several towns hit by floods, but this particular one, Naharyia, got almost destroyed. If, indeed, the river got diverted, someone will have to go to jail.
DeleteI hope you've had a nice weekend so far. Happy Monday to you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday to you too!
DeleteI haven't heard about floods, so sad! But of course I agree about the help. I would love to visit Israel one say, mostly frkm religious reasons, but also because your culture was so close to ours back in the days and so beautiful. Have a lovely week☺
ReplyDeleteIt's winter; floods everywhere. I suppose you have them in Poland too Sometimes these floods might become deadly, and that's what nearly happened in Naharyia.
DeleteHave a lovely new week, too!
Mercy, that's horrible with the flood! So many weather related things going on around the world, and I imagine it has always been this way since the beginning of time. It makes me happy that the U.S. helped with the Mt. Carmel disaster! We all need to help each other, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteWe need God's mercy, indeed. Only HE can control the elements. We, people, are sometimes completely helpless about Nature's fury.
DeleteThe USA is, luckily, our biggest friend and ally!
It makes me sad to see all the distruction from the floods and fires! The only up side is that it seems to bring people closer to one another.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on this.Floods and fires cause destruction , and on the other hand bring people closer. It's kind of a two-edged sword.
DeleteThe world is in such crises. It's heartbreaking to see the hurting earth, its people, and animals. There are good people willing to help.
ReplyDeleteThe world seems to be in a big climatic crisis during which all get hurt: the earth, humans and animals. Sad picture!
Delete
ReplyDeleteThank you.Check again! I do follow your blog.
It is good when people / countries come together to help each other.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Togetherness applies both to individual people and to countries. There are instances when it's hard to stand alone.
DeleteThere's great need for support and help.