One year ago we warned about the lack of public awareness in Europe concerning the climate changes that could affect the life of everybody. Then some parts of the continent had to deal with flooding of Biblical proportions, these days they had to face the heat that in other parts of the globe would be considered as something usual for this part of the year. Sounds incredible but in just two weeks between the beginning and the middle of August Europe lost almost 15,000 lives due to the temperature's excesses.

France's share in this death toll is more than 10,000 and the new bodies are still counted around the country. Aged persons, mostly in the seventies and eighties are found dead in their homes by the relatives returning from their summer vacations. As always in similar situations, although this hecatomb hasn't precedent in the recent French history, the government comes on the top of the list of who's to blame for what's happened.

Last year* we mentioned the fact that there is no other continent on our planet that gained more than Europe by the forces of the nature. If somewhere in the world the nature is a stepmother, in Europe it's a real loving mother. Or it was a loving mother until it began recently showing some unpleasant characteristics. Just one week of torrential rains in 2002 turned into lakes huge spaces. In almost no time this year the higher than usual temperatures took thousands of lives.

In August 2002 we warned against the particular way of thinking, which would try to find the cause for the problems anywhere else except where they are. Last year in fact the European and their leaders did just that, blaming the United States for the climate changes. Given the recent background of anti-Americanism in France (remember the anti-war protests!) it's probable to see again the politicians for whom every big problem has foreign roots and they all lead to Washington. They won't be ashamed of making again policy upon the peoples' tragedies.

These early climate warnings should oblige the Europeans to rethink not only their perception of the nature but also to rethink their living conditions. Why so many aged persons fell victims of the heat wave? Usually the open windows could produce enough aeration to cool down the housing. But how to leave wide open the windows when there is a constant menace of criminal activity in the community? How to supply all the housings with AC systems while the aged persons see their incomes in Europe diminishing? Their incomes are result of the resources the government takes from the taxes. The number of retired persons in Europe in on the rise and the working class can't afford paying the growing social expenditures. A new source of wealth can be found by stimulating the immigration, but the European politicians are afraid of doing that. The social and medical systems are working on their limits and any national wide emergency puts at risk the lives of thousands.

Only rethinking the way the Europeans live can save them from more tragedies like that of August 2003. But are they ready to rethink their way of life? The long history, and all European nations have long histories, sometimes helps by providing answers to unexpected challenges, but sometimes it's just an obstacle that makes the way ahead much more difficult.

--------------------

See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Europe.