Floods and summer ...

Monsoons have come to India and Pakistan for at least the last twelve thousand years in varying intensities year on year. Some of the records of white colonials and traders record these events over the last several centuries and some of them describe massive downpours that flush out the rivers and carve new channels. What has certainly changed in the last century is the sheer numbers now living in the flood plains and along the river ravines. Perhaps we should not then be surprised when we get an exceptional monsoon season, that so many people die and so much property is destroyed.

The flooding along the River Neiße which forms part of the border between Poland, Czech Republic and Germany isn't down to a monsoon, though the downpours that triggered it would make a monsoon proud. Part of the problem here is the bursting of a dam during the storm. This released a massive wave of water, in some places such as the city of Goerlitz, the water rose 4 metres in 3 hours and overwhelmed efforts to contain it. At least here the people are not as densely packed as in Pakistan, but there have still been six deaths and there has been damage to buildings which have survived previous floods. One of these is a monastery only recently restored after almost sixty years of neglect under the communists. Priceless artwork and magnificent buildings, lovingly restored and only recently rehung, have now to be cleaned and restored again because though there were flood defences, these were overwhelmed.

Of course, heritage buildings and artworks damaged or destroyed is not really comparable with the loss of life and the loss of homes, livelihoods and possessions on the scale we have seen and are seeing in Pakistan. The difference here is the fact that the flooding in Germany can be blamed n a "Hundred year flood" and the failure of the dam. In Pakistan it lies at the door of massive overpopulation, total lack of planning to protect or at least reduce the numbers of people exposed because they live in the flood plain of the Indus or its tributaries.

We can all wring our hands and blame "Global Warming," or "Climate Change" but it comes down to if you have over population, if you strip the vegetation which anchors the soil, if you then pave or roof huge areas and you place thousands of people in a flood plain - you've just created the ideal conditions for catastrophe.

The monsoon is an annual event, the last four or five have been mild ones, now we are entering a cycle of heavy ones again - all dictated by surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean - so we should expect to see something being done to reduce the risk to the Pakistani population by at least reducing the numbers living in flood plains.

But I won't hold my breath.

Clone Danger?

I am watching with interest the usual hysterical response in the UK to the discovery that some of them might have eaten a piece of meat from a cloned bull. Already the doom predictors are shouting about the potential for another "BSE" disaster even though this is nothing like the same thing. The voice of reason is howled down by the usual mob of 'elf and saf'ey hystericals and veggie pushers. All of it without a shred of evidence to support their doom laden predictions.

Common sense and balance seems to have been utterly and irreparably lost as the spin and lies of Political Correctness and the utterly insane belief that everything can be rendered "safe" by some magic potion concocted out of a "risk assessment" and legislation so badly written it's a joke. Life is full of risks and we learn to deal with these through experience and through knowledge of the things we are daeling with, not so the PC or 'elf an' saf'ey mobsters. To them experiece and knowledge are anathema, experience becausethey haven't got it and knowledge because it gets in the way of a good set of prejudices.

Just proves the saying I suppose, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." Certainly it is in the hands, mouths and minds of those incapable of balanced thinking or rational response.

Terror links...

I came across an interesting website recently, one which identifies where certain group get their funding. It was sent to me in a chat I was having with a friend in the UK whose interest was sparked by the realisation that he is due to take his children camping in central England - and that a group called Earth First are holding a 'training camp' in the adjoining field. Earth First are advertising this as a 'Direct Action' training camp, their website calls it a 'heirarchy free' event - 'no leaders, come prepared to take an active part.'

I think I would also be worried as the agenda advertised suggests that attendees will be getting instruction in how to destroy crops suspected of being "GM", animals that are "cloned" and to deal with people the organisation regards as being involved in activities they do not approve of. The organisation has links with the Animal Liberation Front, Earth Liberation Front and several other groups whose activities are well within the definitions of terrorism. So where do these people get the funds?

Like me you'd probably be surprised to know that they are linked to a wide range of Registered Charities and get funding from them. Earth First is supported by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and others. All of these so-called eco-groups have declarations on their websites which actually support 'direct action' in achieving their objectives.

So I have a question, if these groups are involved in activities which fall within the definitions of terrorism,, why are they not outlawed and prosecuted? Could it be that our western governments are afraid to do so?

Busy, busy, busy ...

It's been a busy weekend with lots todo both in the garden and in the house.

There hasn't been much time to post anything - and now it's tme for bed.

More, perhaps, through the week.

Anniversary of the A-Bomb

Yesterday was the anniversary of the dripping of the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima. I have watched all the usual programmes detailing the horrific effects and the usual talking heads, none of whom fought for their countries in WW2, proclaiming the mantra that it was evil and unnecessary.

I have no doubt at all in my mind that it was horrific. Nor do I doubt that it caused immense pain and suffering for the citizens of Hiroshima. I agree that we should mark the event and remember those who died that day and in the days following. Nor should we forget that tomorrow marks the fall of the second bomb on Nagasaki and the thousands who died there. Did they die in vain?

I do not believe so. In fact I am firmly in agreement with the analysts who, at the time and with the full knowledge of what the Japanese military intended to do, in response to an Allied invasion, determined that the dropping of these two bombs finally convinced the Japanese High Command that they had no option but to sue for peace or face anihilation of their people.

That decision probably saved the Allies over a half million casualties and the Japanese several million. That it shortened the war by at least six months was something my father, who was there and fighting the Japanese, did not doubt.

We should remember the victims, but we should keep the decision to drop the bomb in perspective. Ultimately it did save lives.

Unwetter ...

We have some weather warnings in place here in Germany, though the Taunus seem to be on the edges of it all. At least we have some cool weather and plenty of rain so our rain barrels are filling nicely. In fact two are brimming, but the third is just over half.

Never mind, more rain is forecast so it will fill.

At least I can look forward to Mausi being home again tomorrow. Her court testimony apparently went exceptionally well up in Strahlsund. The Judge and the Prosecution were very pleased with her explanation of the gas exposion mechanics and the court itself a little surprised at the power of such explosions when shown pictures of them. The Defence apparently had no challenges and no questions, so now she is on her way home in the morning.

I look forward to hearing more about this rather odd case...

Meantime, let it rain.

Mouse hunting - old cat style...

Madam having discovered there are mice in the garden, now spends a great deal of time investigating any movement in the plants and shrubs. So far she hasn't caught anything, but I get the impression that many of the mice have decided its time to move house. They certainly are not as bold as they were until recently.

Madam's technique is interesting, she has a spot near where she located a mouse previously. She advances to this carefully and then parks, watching closely around her for any sign of movement. For an almost twenty year old, her reflexes are still excellent. Something moved while she was watching and had it not been deep inside a rather dense shrub, I suspect she'd have had it.

The birds aren't happy about her sudden interest in hunting though and spend all their time swearing at her from the safety of the upper branches of our trees...