Apart from ashes, the recent fires in Limassol district (23-25 July) have exposed organizational and structural problems in fire prevention and fire fighting, long known, yet unresolved. This Club has written about them in an article published in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper on 1 July 2016 (see pdf). The President and the Finance Minister have changed, the approach on the critical issues remains unconvincing. Action need be taken to remedy understaffing, stipulate coordination between cooperating departments, and modernize the pre-emption campaign. Because it is not sufficient that life goes on, we must demonstrate that we can come out of a catastrophe wiser.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Fires in Limassol district 2 days out of control – 23, 24 July
This is not a happy posting. This is not an invitation to join a hike. This is a loud cry, your cry and my cry, for the tragic fires continuing to burn over 125 km2 of precious land, including built-up areas, in Limassol district. With fire fighting in full deployment by all responsible forces, victims and observers alike recognize the frailty of our earth and human existence.
1 Year of Atrocities in the Middle East
This Club is, of course, non-political. It has, at times, welcomed Palestinian Strollers, as well as Israelis, with the same warm heart. Perhaps because of that, we are making an exception today, to lament the start of Year 2 of a war that does not end, continuing to spread death and disaster. Read the poem that follows, and the note at the end.
“If I Must Die” by Refaat Alareer (written originally in English)
If I must die,
you must live
to tell my story
to sell my things
to buy a piece of cloth
and some strings,
(make it white with a long tail)
so that a child, somewhere in Gaza
while looking heaven in the eye
awaiting his dad who left in a blaze—
and bid no one farewell
not even to his flesh
not even to himself—
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above
and thinks for a moment an angel is there
bringing back love.
If I must die
let it bring hope
let it be a tale.
Palestinian writer and professor of world literature and creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza Refaat Alareer (1979–2023) was killed in an airstrike by the Israeli military December 6, 2023 along with his brother, his brother’s son, his sister and her three children.
Victor of Kaimakli
Victor is a dear friend and a wonderful member of The Cyprus Strollers. He is involved in the organization of a 3-day series of events, taking place in the suburb of Kaimakli from 20 to 20 September (https://pame-kaimakli.org/). He asked me to spread the message, and even though I don’t engage in promoting similar requests from other members, I am making this exception. Here’s why.
Like many people, I ‘always’ thought that one’s country is the country one has been born in. Until, living in Athens, I met Nigel; another dear friend, and fellow hiker. Nigel was living in Greece for many years, and had led many hikes for us. We thought of him as an Englishman. One day he took us to Lavrion, a location over one hour’s drive from Athens. The route we followed passed from an ancient silver mine, which had been half-restored as an archaeological site. While walking, Nigel told us in a passionate, detailed description the story of one Persian War, in which the Athenians (led by Themistocles) used the silver they were excavating from Lavrion, to finance the construction of the fleet that proved instrumental in winning the battle (Salamis, 480 BC). It was on that day that I experienced a paradigm shift, because I realized that Nigel was more Greek than persons born in Greece.
Victor is a Cypriot resident of Kaimakli, more Kaimakliotis than persons born in Kaimakli, and I urge every reader to attend this festival.
The above train of thinking is additionally relevant, in light of the reality facing Cyprus and Europe with immigrants we continue to fail to view with all our sympathy.
The Perils of Hiking in High temperatures
The following passage is from the British Guardian newspaper of 17 June: “Concern has mounted that foreign visitors to Greece are not being properly informed of the risks posed by overexertion in high temperatures. The Mediterranean country is on the frontline of the climate emergency. In the space of nine days, six holidaymakers, including the British TV presenter and nutritionist Michael Mosley (he was discovered dead on 9 June in Symi), have either been found dead or gone missing on Greek islands. It is believed that all set out on hikes in unusually high temperatures.”
The news is sad. Also, this news should serve as a reminder to people who are lured by ‘passionate’ individuals, who defy extreme weather and invite you for hikes in the middle of the summer in Cyprus. It is wiser to apply prudency in such matters. This Club resumes hiking on Saturday 5 October.
Natalie, get well soon, please
A bad moment, a slip of the leg, on a downhill, a fractured fibula. It could happen to anyone. We are so sorry it happened to you today, 5th March, Dear Natalie, near the Grigoris Afxentiou place of sacrifice. Please accept our sincere wishes for a speedy recovery. And, we will be very happy to welcome you back.
Falling water level – Lefkara lake 25 Feb.
The consequence of a poor rainfall this season came vividly alive on the hike of 25 Feb. along Lefkara lake. The pictures show the lake has receded up to 3 m from year ago. Notwithstanding this harsh reality, the very large gathering of Strollers displayed the usual high spirits, on the hike and over lunch. Compliments to Antonis for leading the day and to Heidi for the photos. Join us next on 5 March https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/pedieos-gorge-5-march/
Daring, like Eagles – Aetomoutti 14 Jan. 2023
They say luck accompanies those who dare. The weather odds were negative on 14 January, yet a good number of Strollers chose to hike for a full 3 hours and climb up to Aetomoutti (Greek for summit of eagles): as if by miracle, there was light rain only for a few minutes, then fog. The reward was the rich meal and the sharing of the Club’s Vasilopita, which came with 3 prizes, for the 3 lucky winners. Compliments to all participants, for the unparalleled spirit of camaraderie, adeptly summarized by Martin with these words: ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, there is only inappropriate clothing’. Compliments to Lydia and Janet for contributing the prizes. Compliments to Anna, Christos, Maria and Janet for the photos. Join us next here https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/mandra-kampiou-circle-21-jan/
Arsonists the prime threat to our forests!
This website predominantly features positive news, which promote the well-being of the Club’s members on our hikes. Permit me this exception, because news just released by the Government’s Forestry Department is simply shocking.
Out of 1327 fires in Cyprus over the 20-year period 2000 – 2021 25 % (337) were the result of arson! Further, a large proportion of the balance was the result of human negligence. About 14 % (180) were the consequence of natural causes (typically lightning strikes).
It is important to draw attention to the realization that as we go about our ordinary, law-abiding lives, our paths cross those of arsonists, in various forms of disguise. Stricter penalties from legislation is only part of the solution to the problem. Every sane, forest-loving individual has an obligation to react and speak out at every instance of compromising behaviour coming to our attention. Our hesitation to take the correct stance, our inclination to remain silent in such situations provide the excuses arsonists are looking for, to justify their crime.
Still unconvinced about the perils of silence and indifference? Read on.
In 1953 the well-known German playwright Max Frisch wrote The Arsonists (Biedermann und die Brandstifter) (in Greek Μπίτερμαν και οι Εμπρηστές), in which Biedermann, the protagonist, lets two arsonists into his house. He feeds them and lets them sleep in the attic, where they store gasoline canisters. Although the two terrorists actually tell Biedermann the truth about themselves, he does not believe them, and when they become overly demanding, he is too much of a coward to throw them out of his house. When asked, he even gives them matches with which they ignite the canisters and burn down not only Biedermann’s house but the whole town, setting in motion an armageddon.
Biedermann does not want to see the truth, although it is literally driven home to him, and in that he is reminiscent of the German attitude toward Adolf Hitler, who clearly laid out his intentions to wipe out the Jews in Mein Kampf and in his speeches. Hitler’s contemporaries did not take him and his threats against the Jews seriously; their naive disregard ultimately led to the Holocaust, which even the intellectuals did not foresee.
Reassuringly, the chorus in the play speaks out, informing that the happenings are not inevitable fate, but brought on by the people themselves: “For arson, once kindled, kills many, leaves few, and accomplishes nothing… Fate—so they call it!”.
Our forests need each one of us, and let this be your call to action! Thank you. The play was performed in Nicosia in the early 70’s and earlier this year in Athens. (Commentary about the play from an essay by Gerd K. Schneider). The photo above shows a sculpture in the village of Vavla, in memory of a large fire in 2000.
Glacier breaks off, 10 hikers dead
On Sunday 3 July 2022, in the early afternoon, a glacier in the Italian Dolomites broke off, causing the loss of the lives of 10 hikers. The incident was one more outcome of the ongoing phenomenon of global warming. This Club deplores the general lack of determination by the world powers, to reach consensus on an urgent corrective plan. We need actions, not declarations, from those in power.
The glacier had progressively become unstable, and the poor snow season last winter precipitated its collapse. Italian authorities had measured the loss of about 30% of the volume of glaciers, over a period of 10 years. The emerging picture is that glaciers have become too dangerous to explore on foot.
To help through the intense, often unlivable summer heat, here is a recommended relevant reading; a 2016 book by Italian Paolo Cognetti, titled Le otto montagne (The eight mountains). It is available also in Greek, from Patakis publishing firm. (Photo from The Guardian)
The Cyprus Strollers 