Lady Liberty Weeps

Lady Liberty Weeps

BLOG SESSION

October 16th, 2017

Good Evening Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~

Welcome back to another interesting Blog Session.  If you are new here to the Blog, we welcome you!  You'll find all of our diverse discussions to be of interest to you in one way or another.  We do tend to focus on writing, journaling, and keeping daily diary entries, and we think you will enjoy taking notes in your Journal and writing about your emotions, feelings, life events, and thoughts in your Diary.

Today, we are going to turn your attention to the Image at the top if this Blog entitled, "Lady Liberty Weeps".  Here is the point where you grab your ink pen and Journal so that you can take notes...

Journal Notes

Let us start our Journal Notes off with today's date, Monday, October 16th, 2017.  And, next we'll write a short description of how we are feeling about our life at this time.  With that lead-in, many of us will focus on different things that intertwine with our lives, such as family, responsibilities, job duties, business matters, health issues, or a particular situation or circumstance that just so happens to be on our plate at this time.

Your description will be longer depending upon how passionate you are about what you are writing about.

Next, we are going to think about what we feel within us.  Do we feel comfortable or uncomfortable about our status in life?  Do we feel at ease or are we uneasy about the state of the country we live in?  Is our spirit at peace or alarmed?  Do we feel that we are doing what we are purposed to do in life or not?

After you have thought about the questions above, please write your answers in your Journal.  Now, let all of that material just sit in front of you in your Journal as you read on. . .

Because the Readers of our Blog are from all over the world, each of us will have a different perspective about the country that we live in.  Even if some of us live in the same country, our thoughts may be different about the state of our country, and our feelings about different issues connected to our country may also be different.  Although, on many moral issues, people will feel the exact same way no matter where they may reside.

We've seen a lot of devastation this year with wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, mudslides, cyclones, heatwaves, and avalanches.

April floods and landslides in Colombia that claimed 329 lives were the deadliest single event.

According to Frankfurt am Main (AFP) some 3,200 people lost their lives to disasters between January and June, the German group, reinsurer Munich Re found that the numbers were well short of the 10-year average of 47,000 for the period or the 5,100 deaths in the first half of 2016.

The most costly single event was flooding in Peru between January and March, which killed 113 people and inflicted damage worth around $3.1 billion, followed by Cyclone Debbie's toll of 12 lives and $2.7 billion in Australia.

Elsewhere, an April-June heatwave in India killed 264 people, while floods, landslides, and avalanches claimed around 200 lives in Sri Lanka, 200 in Afghanistan and 200 Bangladesh.

"The high number of severe thunderstorms in the US is presumed to have been at least partially influenced by a natural climate phenomenon," the reinsurer said.

As many are aware who have an eye outside of the four walls they live in -- one of the things that happens to be on our plate right now is the aftermath of damages incurred from Hurricane Maria that affected Puerto Rico . . .

Puerto Rico Aftermath from Hurricane Maria

Another devastating event that is still having an impact on lives is the California wildfires...

California Wildfires

As of Sunday, October 15, 17 large fires still burned across the northern part of California, with more than 10,000 firefighters attacking the flames using air tankers, helicopters and more than 1,000 fire engines.

At least 40 people have been killed and at least 5,700 homes destroyed in the wildfires that have been burning for nearly a week. 

Santa Rosa, California — The fire-ravaged North Bay on Monday began to confront the long and arduous task of resuming life after the deadliest set of wildfires in state history, as evacuees returned to their neighborhoods, some to intact homes and others to their worst fears...

(Pictured above) ~ Alex Mathiesen, 9, sits on a curb in front of the remains of his family's home in Mark West Estates north of Santa Rosa, California, Monday, October 16, 2017.  His family all escaped with their lives when the Tubbs Fire swept over their neighborhood. (Karl Mondon/ Bay Area News Group)

And, there's much more going on around the world...

Today Storm Ophelia is battering Scotland and northern England after leaving several people dead and hundreds of thousands without power in Ireland.

The former Atlantic hurricane downed trees and power lines, sent waves surging over coastal defenses and disrupted transport again Tuesday, a day after making landfall on Ireland’s south coast with gusts of almost 100 miles an hour (160 kilometers an hour).

Porthleven, Cornwall, southwestern Britain

(Pictured above) ~ Large waves crash along sea defenses and the harbor as storm Ophelia approaches Porthleven in Cornwall, (south west Britain, Oct. 16, 2017.)  Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters)

Britain’s Met Office weather service said Scotland could see heavy rain and gusts of up to 70 mph (113 kph), with winds gradually diminishing through Tuesday.

Parts of southern Norway reported a smoky smell on Tuesday morning, which the local meteorological institute said it was likely carried there by Ophelia from the wave of forest fires in Portugal and Spain that killed at least 41 people over the weekend.

In Sweden, people in the capital of Stockholm and elsewhere launched a flurry of calls to authorities, saying the skies were much darker than usual Tuesday morning.  The reason the skies were darker is probably due to Ophelia’s strong winds, which carried a mix of red sand from the Sahara and tiny particles from the Iberian forest fires across western Europe. (AP)

Galway, Ireland

(Pictured above) ~ The Galway Atlantaquaria National Aquarium of Ireland building is seen submerged in floodwater during Storm Ophelia in Galway, Ireland, Oct.16, 2017. (Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

We must count our blessings, help others when and where we can, and remain prayerful.

OUR NEXT BLOG SESSION:

Lady Liberty Weeps

 

F R I E N D S

Until Our Next Blog Session ~

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

©Copyright - René Allen - 2014-2017 - All Rights Reserved

2017 California Fire Diary

2017 California Fire Diary

BLOG SESSION

October 11th, 2017

Welcome back Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors!

Good Afternoon everyone, we are welcoming all of the new Followers here to our Blog.  For those of you who are here for the first time, be sure to Bookmark the Blog, and sign up to follow by email over in the far right-hand column where it says, "Follow by Email".  Just add in your email address, and click the "Submit" button, and you will receive each Blog Session as it is published.  You'll be sure to stay up to date on what we are discussing here on the Blog if you follow by email.  And, you can best believe that each Blog Session will be something that will interest you!

Just a reminder that if you missed any past Blog Sessions, you can find all Sessions over in the far right-hand column in our "Blog Archive".  Simply click on any of the Sessions that you're interested in reading.  You may also just scroll down after reading any of our Blog Sessions online to see the previous few Sessions.

For those of you who are interested in keeping records of your life and of history, as we have discussed in previous Blog Sessions, it is of great benefit to Journal your life events, as well as keep a Daily Diary to record your life moments.  All Diary Writers, Journalists, and/or Historians, this Blog Session will be of special interest to you...

Record History in your Diary or Journal

Today's Blog Session will be a continuation of what we have been discussing in the past few Blog Sessions, which is the topic of the California wildfires, which are devastating the landscape and the lives of thousands of people, as well as ravaging homes and businesses.  The wildfires are unfortunately making natural disaster history in the state of California as the most devastating wildfires to date...

California Wildfires 2017

The firefighters are battling strong winds while trying to contain the fires.  Officials are making grim discoveries of bodies burnt beyond recognition as they search the blackened ruins left by wildfires scorching parts of Northern California.  "Some of them are merely ashes and bones," Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano said at a Press Converence.  "And we may never truly get confirmative identification on ashes.  When you're cremated, you can't get an ID."

Thirty-one (31) people have been killed since the wildfires began last Sunday night, making this outbreak one of the deadliest in California state history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Homeowners are coming back to their homes to find nothing more than ashes.  It is sad to see, and something that none of us would ever want to live through.

As you do your research on the California wildfires, write your diary entries, and save news clippings, also remember to add in all of the donations, assistance, good will, and prayers that have been contributed to those in need during this time inside your Diary or Journal.

Resources are limited, and firefighters are battling the fires with all their heart.  We again ask that you lift the firefighters up in prayer, as well as the people in the state of California.

F R I E N D S

We'll be back here on the Blog for more on the California wildfires in our next Blog Session.

California Wildfires ~ Devastation

Until we meet again here ~

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

©Copyright - René Allen - 2014-2017 - All Rights Reserved

"Hello, hello ~ The Country is on . . . FIRE!"

BLOG SESSION

October 9th, 2017

Welcome back Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors ~ We are back for an eye-opening Blog Session this afternoon.  If you were here for our Blog Session a few days ago, then you have plenty of notes in your Journal about what we last discussed, which was the topic of . . .

"What does it mean to have P E A C E on Earth?"

(Click the above link to view)

Well, today we are turning to a different topic, and those of you who are here Reading along who are US citizens will be very interested in what is going to be shared today.

If you are an avid News reader, watch the News Reports on television, on your computer, tablet, or smartphone,  or if you happen to live in the state of California, then you are already aware of what I am about to share with you.

Please grab your Journals to take notes, because what I am about to share with you is currently making History, and not in a good way . . .

Journal Notes

Has anyone noticed that wildfires are roaring and tearing through California?  According to US News, at least fifteen (15) people are dead from the raging wildfires across California.  There are more than 200 people that have been reported missing as explosive, wind-whipped wildfires rage through Northern California's famed Wine Country, forcing fire crews to race to get the massive blazes under control.

There are seventeen (17) fires burning around the state, with nearly 90,000 acres ablaze thanks to flames fueled by strong winds.  In addition, the fires have destroyed at least 1,500 structures, burned 119,000 acres, and forced the evacuation of 20,000 residents.

Just to put this situation into perspective, there are hundreds of firefighters mobilized in Anaheim to fight the blaze burning over an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 acres.  Thousands of residents are impacted by the flames.  Many are in shock, as their homes have been destroyed by the wildfires.

Ken Pimlott, the Director of the California Department of Forestry and fire Protection (Cal Fire), said the fires started last night at around 10:00pm local time (on Sunday, October 8th, 2017).

California Wildfires ~ October 2017

The hardest hit area seemed to be Santa Rosa, where seven of the deaths were reported.  Officials warn that the death toll is likely to rise:  one county alone received more than 100 Missing Person Reports.

The two largest fires -- the so called Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County, and the so-called Atlas Peak Fire in Napa County -- torched 27,000 and 25,000 acres, respectively, and were still not contained as of Tuesday morning, Officials said.

The Governor of the State of California has declared a State of Emergency.

North of San Francisco is Santa Rosa, which is Wine Country's largest city in Northern California.  The city is also being affected by the wildfires, with over 1,500 homes and commercial structures being destroyed.  Also noted, whole neighborhoods were leveled by the fire and reduced to ashes.  One witness to the fires described the wildfires as, "Hell on earth, it's insane.  I've never seen anything like it."

California Wildfires ~ October 2017

All statistics subject to rise.

Please keep residents of the State of California

in your Prayers.  Also, please pray for the safety

and protection of all people, as well as all firefighters.

Tragically, among those killed were an 100-year-old,

Charley Rippey, a World War II Veteran, and his

98-year-old wife, Sara, in Napa County.

[Their son told NBC Bay Area News that his parents' caregiver

was unable to escort them to safety before the roof caved in.]

F R I E N D S

Until Our Next Wonderful Blog Session ~

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

©Copyright - René Allen - 2014-2017 - All Rights Reserved