Sunday September 28, 2003

Massive Blackout in Italy

Category: Opinionated | 12 Comments | Posted 13:16

Italy has been hit by a massive power cut - and many parts remain without electricity hours after the unprecedented blackout.

Funny no? First we laugh at the US, and all European experts declare unanimously that it could never happen here as we're not straining our networks to the extreme like the US. Then it happens in the UK - uh-oh, much closer to home, but still, silly isolated island, nothing to do with us. And now Italy. :))

Apparently they're too dependent on other countries' supplies. So nooo, couldn't happen to us - whoever that remaining "us" is. *giggle* Oh, and I just read Denmark and the South of Sweden were hit too last week? :-?

BTW, funny again, German and British media have made out France as the main "culprit" for the power cut. And I've just watched French news, where they explained in great detail how there were all these different supply lines from Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and it was nothing to do with them at all. :))

  Comments

God - I don't know whether to laugh or be scared!

Nnneh, will laugh..

This is sooooooooo strange. Wonder if we'll ever find out what's really going on.

Posted by: Sinead at September 28, 2003 02:10 PM

Yeah it's strange that it's all happening together. But I guess it was stuff that was meant to happen sooner or later!?

Posted by: Clarissa at September 28, 2003 05:00 PM

It's al Qaeda, I'm sure.

Posted by: Michelle at September 28, 2003 09:20 PM

It wasn't me.

Posted by: RS78 at September 28, 2003 10:36 PM

Yeah I read that France said it had nothing to do with them, but then when Italy kept insisting it was them, France said they couldn't say WHY it happened any more.

Posted by: The BML at September 29, 2003 11:05 AM

at the moment they're blaming it on switzerland.

Posted by: Michelle at September 29, 2003 11:58 AM

I hear they're now investigating the possibility of terrorist attacks? (http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,267631,00.html)

Posted by: Clarissa at September 29, 2003 03:05 PM

yeah, i'd seen a report on that on tv this morning, too, because all countries that were hit have in common that they've supported the war in Iraq. whatever.
i mean, to me it's also too much of a coincidence, but i think it could also be a problem of the climate or something.

Posted by: Michelle at September 29, 2003 03:08 PM

here's a story about blackout caused by heat-related mechanical failure.

http://www-cgi.cnn.com/2000/US/06/15/sf.heat/

at least in the USA i could imagine it could have been one reason, because it was quite hot at that time.

Posted by: Michelle at September 29, 2003 03:32 PM

hehe, and another one - before you tell me i'm crazy for thinking the climate to be a reason:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200309030146.html

Midgley says a number of modern-day systems are not properly suited to cope with changing climates.

"They are designed on the assumption of a stable climate, and when the climate changes, these systems experience a shut down much like in England where the rail tracks get too hot and there is a blackout.

Posted by: Michelle at September 29, 2003 03:38 PM

Yeah they also said on telly yesterday that the blackouts they had in Italy earlier this year were probably related to the heat (and everyone turning on their A/C etc). So yeah, it could be a reason...

Posted by: Clarissa at September 29, 2003 04:05 PM

hey, the support iraqi war theory is interesting. LOL

Posted by: RS78 at September 29, 2003 05:00 PM