O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 10, ISSUE 516 September 1, 2007 $1.00 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Flames of Epic Destruction Kill Over 60, Ravage Greek Countryside With Wild Fires Contained, the Focus Now is on the Relief Effort By Nicholas Paphitis Associated Press ATHENS (AP) – In six hot, windy days of uncontrolled blazes, Greece lost more of its rapidly dwindling forestland than in any single year on record. The massive fires, several still raging at press time, have killed at least 64 people and gutted hun- dreds of homes in scores of south- ern villages. The inferno also destroyed frag- ile mountain ecosystems, which will require decades to revive, and an entire rural way of life, threaten- ing to turn thousands of village res- idents into environmental refugees. The fire department has not an- nounced an overall damage assess- ment, but independent estimates say around 200,000 hectares (495,000 acres) of forest, olive AP/PETROS GIANNAKOURIS groves and shrub land may have Angeliki Skoutsouris mourns the been consumed – the largest loss of her house in the small vil- amount since official records start- lage of Livadaki, about 350 kilo- ed in the 1950's. meters southwest of Athens. "These fires are worse than in AP/NASA any previous year," said Gabriel About 20 percent of Greece is Tragedy viewed from the heavens Xanthopoulos, a researcher at covered by forest, and the figure Greece's National Agricultural Re- has been constantly dropping in re- Fires in Greece are seen from space in this image released by NASA last Saturday, August 25. Flames pushed by gale-force winds tore through search Foundation. "We exceeded cent decades. more parched forests, swallowed villages and scorched the Hellenic countryside this past week, with ashes raining onto the Acropolis. The the last record set in 2000," about Haralambidis said the massive death toll hit 64 as the Greek Government declared a nationwide state of emergency. 145,000 hectares (360,000 acres). fires ravaged fragile ecosystems in Up to 184,000 hectares the Peloponnesian peninsula and (455,000 acres) were laid waste caused severe ecological damage in between August 24th and 27th – the mountains, now facing the ten times the annual average for threat of floods and landslides in Greek Americans Mobilize to Help Wild Fire Victims the past 50 years, according to the inhabited areas. European Commission's European "Mount Taygetos in the southern By Mark Frangos and contacted since the first fires in June come even more important with this State Department and the Greek Em- Forest Fire Information System. A Peloponnese, particularly as far as Dimitri Soultogiannis and July, but especially now, will year’s unprecedented number of bassy in Washington, and has initiat- total of 269,000 hectares (665,000 plant life is concerned, is Greece's Special to the National Herald heed our calls because it will take fires. ed a “Care Package Drive” asking its acres) – an area almost the size of diamond, where many species Greece a long time to recover from “We started this program, in the chapters to make a minimum of four Rhode Island – went up in smoke grow that do not exist anywhere NEW YORK – Hellenic organizations this catastrophe.” mid-90’s to help reforest Greece after boxes consisting of pillows, blankets, since the start of the year. else in the world," he said. from across the United States are try- SAE is pushing its longstanding fires, but there were never this many sleeping bags, towels, hand soap, di- Some say it was the worst cata- "Mount Parnon (to the east) is – ing to find ways to help Greece and “Plant Your Roots in Greece” pro- fires all at once,” Mr. Spyropoulos apers, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, strophe since a Turkish army rav- or rather was – a paradise, while the Greek people get through the cur- gram, which is dedicated to reforest- said. “We have done over 25 refor- children’s clothing, men’s and aged the Peloponnese in 1825, dur- the Kaiafas forest was one of the rent crisis, with the World Council ing areas affected by fire throughout estations, but there is so much need women’s socks, underwear and ing the Greek War of Independence last remaining vestiges of a huge For Hellenes Abroad (SAE) and the country. The organization first in the country right now. We have shoes. The Red Cross is expected to from the Ottoman Empire. forest of stone pines that once cov- AHEPA leading the way. generally just accepted donations sent more than $250,000 in individ- deliver these packages to Greece over "Nobody can provide an accu- ered all of the western Pelopon- “We are extremely sad and moved and began replanting forests in small ual donations, and 100 percent of the the coming days. rate figure right now, and several nese." by the catastrophe in Greece,” SAE doses, mostly in the Attiki area of money we collect goes to this cause.” “These packages include necessi- fires are still burning ... It's a record Haralambidis said these forests U.S. Regional Coordinator Ted G. Greece, but as the program has CARE PACKAGE DRIVE ties people need right now,” said year in that sense," said Green will take decades to revive natural- Spyropoulos told the National Her- evolved, people are now planting AHEPA is also making efforts to AHEPA Supreme President Ike Gulas, Peace Greece Director Nicos Har- ly, "provided we leave them alone." ald. “We hope members of the Greek trees in memory of loved ones, or as help Greece. The organization is in alambidis. "But, quite frankly, no American community that we have gifts to individuals. Now it has be- constant communication with the Continued on page 7 one cares." Continued on page 9 Archbishop Christodoulos Victims Are Discusses his Life at Miami Frustrated By Hospital before Vital Surgery Slow Response By Theodore Kalmoukos tionally renowned surgeon An- By Vasilis Koutsilas Special to The National Herald dreas Tzakis, director of the Uni- Special to The National Herald versity of Miami/Jackson Memorial BOSTON – Everything is set for the Medical Center, a leading medical EVIA, Greece – Even Dante, the fa- life-saving liver transplant Arch- center for organ transplants. mous author of Inferno (Part I of the bishop Christodoulos of Athens & Christodoulos has already com- Divine Comedy), would have had a All Greece will undergo in Miami, pleted pre-operative tests this past difficult time describing the hellish Florida at the hands the interna- August 21-22, and based on the en- scene from the forest fires which couraging results, the ailing prelate struck southern Evia, in the area was given the green light, officially around Aliveri. placing him on the waiting list for a The gray smoke, falling ashes liver transplant, as previously re- and scorched land, all of which per- ported by the National Herald. meated the air with a dreadful The Untold Now, all that remains is for the smell, made the disaster scene com- all-important phone call to come in plete. As the fertile terrain became Saga of Col. announcing that a matching liver ember, pain, sorrow and despair has been found for the dynamic hi- were everywhere. It’s difficult to erarch. The Archbishop remains in think of what to mention first. Five Lucas Miller good spirits, and said he is opti- people lost their lives trying to put mistic that everything will turn out out the fire. There are still persons fine. who are reported missing and fami- By Steve Frangos Speaking to the Herald from Mi- lies who lost all of their earthly pos- Special to The National Herald ami, Christodoulos said, “I came sessions. All the natural wealth of here with great faith in God, belief the region was transformed into a Lucas Miltiades Miller, born in Li- in people, and love for life. From grim landscape in just a few short vadia, Greece on September 15, the first moment I decided to fight, hours. 1824. He was the first American of and with God’s help, I will prevail. I Each one of these depressing Greek descent to serve in the United have been a fighter my entire life. I AP/PETROS GIANNAKOURIS products of the same disastrous fire States Congress. He was elected as a promised myself that I would come Fire burns on the Hill of Kronos next to the site of ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, in lead to a common reaction among Democrat to the 52nd Congress as a out of this a winner, as well. The southwestern Greece last Sunday, August 26. A massive effort by firefighters, assisted by water-dropping the residents; wrath and anger over U.S. representative from Wisconsin love I received from people in aircraft and fire trucks, succeeded in keeping a raging blaze away from the 2,800-year-old site. the lack of coordination by the Fire serving from March 4, 1891 until Greece and the community here in Department. March 3, 1893. He was brought to America contributed greatly to my Up until this past Monday after- the United States in 1828 by decision (to seek treatment). I want noon, August 27, the situation in Jonathan Peckham Miller, an Ameri- to take this opportunity to yet again Evia – Greece’s second largest island can Philhellene who had traveled to express my warmest thanks to His Hopelessness Reigns in Fire Struck Areas next to Crete – was still extremely Greece to distribute aid and other- All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch difficult.