Since August 8, 2022, the Maine-et-Loire department has not been spared by the
giant fires that are ravaging the forests of many regions of the country and theworld. ---- Difficult to miss these last few days. An ash-colored sky and a smellof smoke that we could smell at many points in the department, and even inNantes. This Monday August 8 started the most important fire, north ofBaugé-en-Anjou, which burned more than 1400 hectares and required the evacuationof some 80 people from their homes. Then were added that of Beaulieu-sur-Layon,which burned 150 hectares, and still others in Ingrandes and in the Segréen whichalso burned tens of hectares. ---- More than 500 professional and volunteerfirefighters have been deployed in Anjou. Very often they were able to count onthe mobilization and solidarity of the inhabitants of the surrounding area, suchas those of many farmers to bring water, those of workers in the forestry orconstruction sector to clear access, or even through numerous donations of food,basic necessities, mattresses for sleeping, etc.Many politicians were quick to congratulate the firefighters. However, while theworking classes bear the full brunt of the consequences of the fires and fight inthe front line against them, it is indeed these politicians and the capitalistclass whose interests they defend who are doubly responsible for the globalwarming which favors the fires and the lack of resources available tofirefighters to best fulfill their missions.We need resources to fight the fires!For years, firefighters and their unions have been warning about the lack ofresources and personnel they face in the SDIS (Departmental Fire and RescueServices). For example, in fifteen years, the number of specialized trucks forforest fires has decreased by a thousand. The number of aircraft available isalso extremely small, with only 12 Canadairs, and a globally aging fleet that canquickly find itself partially immobilized on the ground for maintenance. To thismust be added a very significant lack of personnel, difficult working conditionsand insufficient salaries for those who remain. We remember in particular thesuicide of the young 23-year-old firefighter in training, Lauriane Amaglio, atthe gates of her workplace in Feneu, and whose responsibility for SDIS 49 endedup being recognized by the courts thanks to the fight of his colleagues.We can also add the lack of resources given to the ONF (National Forestry Office)which deals with the maintenance of forests and therefore in particular to reducethe risk of rapid spread of fires that break out there. However, the governmenthas scheduled the elimination of nearly 500 jobs by 2026.The state fulfills its role of defender of capitalist interests here and prefersto continue distributing public money to large companies and their shareholders(especially those in the armament industry at the moment) rather than putting itinto useful services. even vital for the population and for the environment, asare the SDIS and the ONF. Only our struggles and the balance of power can make itpossible to impose the public services we need, with means commensurate with thechallenges.We must stop capitalism which continues to destroy the climate and sow chaos!Unfortunately, the first effects of global warming are already there, they aremuch greater than what was predicted by scientists and others will inevitably beadded. In particular, we can already think of the risks of future water shortagescaused by the drying up of the Loire, particularly in Maine-et-Loire. Wetherefore have no choice but to adapt to these effects and, as we can see withthe case of the fires, capitalism is unable to do so. The reason is always thesame: the objective of this economic system is to allow those who hold thecapital to make the maximum profit, without having to worry about theconsequences on society, on populations and on the environment.But it is not enough to act only on the effects already there, we must also stopthe phenomenon of global warming as quickly as possible if we want our species tobe able to continue to live on our planet. Here too capitalism is incapable ofthis. Although some and some environmentalists hope to make this system moreresponsible and viable by reforming it, in reality it can only lead us straightinto the wall. To avoid its crises and to prevent it from collapsing, thecapitalists must maintain their rates of profit, there must be growth. And so wemust produce ever more, loot ever more natural resources and pollute ever more,concentrate on the search for profits rather than on the search for answers tothe needs of the greatest number and the preservation of the environment that isours. essential for living. It is becoming more and more urgent, even vital, toget out of this deadly spiral. It is up to us to act collectively to save whatcan still be saved.Libertarian Communist Union 49http://unioncommunistelibertaire49.fermeasites.net/spip.php?article155_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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