France Says Heat Toll May Be 10,000
So.. why are 10,000 dead in France and not 10,000 dead in Iraq from the heat? France has things like running water, electricity and modern things. Iraq is just out of the stone age. I don't get it... or we just don't hear about the thousands of dead from heat in Iraq.
Posted by Kevin at August 21, 2003 03:17 PMIraq is definetly not just out of the stone age, in many ways its a modern urban society despite having been bombed back to the stone ages a couple of times.
The Iraqi's aren't dying from the heat since they're used to it. Air conditioners are not common in western europe as it hardly ever gets hot enough to need one over there. Well, 99% of Iraqi's don't have one either.
Posted by: KO on August 21, 2003 06:10 PMThat's what I meant.. from the bombings and turmoil, much of the country is just out of the stone age. It's "modern", but it's no Paris... or Cleveland (well, maybe Cleveland).
I'd find it hard to believe that they aren't dying from heat just because they are "used to it". That may help them tolerate it, but unless their bodies are different than Europeans (aside from darker skin), or have some "heat tolerant gene".. this still baffles me. I mean really, 10,000 French dead?! A few dozen elderly maybe, but 10,000!
The French to have running water, showers, ice cream, ice boxes, stores to purchase fans, pools and other modern ways to keep cool in a heat wave.
So, I give one up for the Iraqi folks on this.
Posted by: Kevin on August 21, 2003 06:48 PMThanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
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