Forest fires

Joy in Misery/Χαρά στη Μιζέρια

Whilst taking photographs of the hectares of burnt forest on the outskirts of Athens I came across this unusual decor. Red ribbon adorned a burnt tree and a lone red ornament hung on a branch.

My guess is that someone who probably lives in the area wanted to bring a little colour and joy by decorated the tree with Christmas decorations to mask ‘uplift’ the bleak surroundings.

And that’s what we all have to to in our own lives and in times like these. Find that joy, the light. Because we should not blanket ourselves in darkness.

“If you have not suffered grief, do not think that you have virtue. Because there is nothing that grows in comfort.”-St. Mark the ascetic

Ενώ έβγαζα φωτογραφίες από τα εκτάρια καμένου δάσους στα περίχωρα της Αθήνας, συνάντησα αυτό το ασυνήθιστο ντεκόρ. Κόκκινη κορδέλα στόλιζε ένα καμένο δέντρο και ένα μοναχικό κόκκινο στολίδι κρεμόταν σε ένα κλαδί.

Η εικασία μου είναι ότι κάποιος που, πιθανότατα ζει στην περιοχή, ήθελε να φέρει λίγο χρώμα και χαρά στολίζοντας το δέντρο με χριστουγεννιάτικα στολίδια για να «ανυψώσει» το ζοφερό περιβάλλον.

Και αυτό είναι που πρέπει να κάνουμε όλοι στη ζωή μας και σε καιρούς σαν κι αυτούς. Βρείτε αυτή τη χαρά, το φως. Γιατί δεν πρέπει να καλύπτουμε τους εαυτούς μας στο σκοτάδι.

“Εάν δεν υπέστης θλίψεις να μη νομίζεις ότι έχεις αρετήν. Διότι δεν είναι τίποτε ό,τι φύεται μέσα εις την άνεσιν.”-Όσιος Μάρκος ο ασκητής και Θαυματουργός

Scorched Earth/Καμμενη Γη

Last summer, Greece dealt with very devastating forest fires. One of the areas that was greatly affected is located on the outskirts of Athens. I took these photographs at Ippokrateios Politea. It’s an affluent area. A small town with a man-made lake with ducks.

I saw miles and miles of burnt forest. I was saddened by the devastion. Burnt trees everywhere. Fallen trees and ash-covered ground. So lifeless and not at all peaceful. A lot more needs to be done to protect our forests not only in Greece, but around the world.

Το περασμένο καλοκαίρι, η Ελλάδα αντιμετώπισε πολλές καταστροφικές δασικές πυρκαγιές. Μία από τις περιοχές που επλήγησαν πολύ βρίσκεται στα περίχωρα της Αθήνας. Τις φωτογραφίες αυτές τις τράβηξα στον Ιπποκράτειο Πολιτεία. Είναι μια εύπορη περιοχή. Μια μικρή πόλη με μια τεχνητή λίμνη με πάπιες.

Είδα χιλιόμετρα και χιλιόμετρα καμένο δάσος. Με στεναχώρησε η καταστροφή. Καμένα δέντρα παντού. Πεσμένα δέντρα και έδαφος καλυμμένο με τέφρα. Τόσο άψυχο και καθόλου γαλήνιο. Πρέπει να γίνουν πολλά περισσότερα για την προστασία των δασών μας όχι μόνο στην Ελλάδα, αλλά σε όλο τον κόσμο.

A Helpful Hand/Χερι Βοηθειας

I was inspired to make this collage by the act of solidarity toward Greece during last August’s horrific fires. Many volunteer firefighters from Greece and beyond as well as professional firefighters and equipment from: France, Romania, Poland, Cyprus, Ukraine, Israel, Serbia, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and Russia lent a helping hand to Greece.

We are very grateful and thank everyone who helped Greece in the time of need.

In a world that is facing many crises it is a beautiful thing to see people come together; to see the humanity in a time of aggression, anger and division. .

Varibobi Fires (Athens wildfires)

A terrible disaster unfolded yesterday in the north east area of Athens. It is an area with a beautiful forest. The ‘lungs of Athens’ as it is called. In Greece we have wildfires every summer and we’ve had numerous fires this summer, but the Varibobi fire is huge and unusual. The area is a refuge for those living in the concrete jungle and who want to quickly escape the city.

This summer has been an unprecdented hot one for Greece. We are into our second heatwave of the summer and yesterday was the 7th day of the heatwave with temperatures reaching a high of 47° C in some regions. We couldn’t go outside because it is just unbearably hot, and we are advised not to. Heat exhaustion and/or sun stroke are things that you don’t want to ever experience.

The southern Meditteranean is suffering from excessive heat and fires everything made worse by climate change. I am afraid that it is only going to get worse if the worlds’ (corrupt) leaders don’t finally take REAL and DRASTIC measures.

Other areas of Greece suffering from wildfires include Elia (where the town of Ancient Olympia is located), Northern Evia (biblical catatastrophe), Messinia, Arcadia.

The air quality in Athens is so terrible we are advised to stay in doors. And it is ‘raining’ ashes.

Pray for Greece and the whole world, because I’m afraid that wrath of mother nature is not over.