SUNDAY SELECTION - THE MARCINELLE (Belgium) MINING DISASTER

 

 Today it is a museum

In June 1946, Italy and Belgium signed "the men for coal" agreement: as Europe struggled to recover from the impact of the second world war, Italy agreed to send its surplus manpower to the mines of southern Belgium, in return for 2-3 million tonnes of coal a year at preferential rates. 

Between 1946 and 1949, 77,000 Italians reached Belgium in convoys, far exceeding the manpower target. On arrival, they were dispatched to various parts of the country, where they were housed in corrugated iron hangars or barrack-blocks—some built by the Nazi occupiers to house Russian prisoners of war. They were indeed more like concentration camps. 

All but 12 of the 274 miners in the Bois du Cazier perished on 8 August, 1956 in the southern town of Marcinelle, after a mining wagon, incorrectly placed in an elevator cage, struck an oil pipe and electrical cables, triggering a deadly fire. The victims had 12 different nationalities. The largest number - 136 - were Italians who had emigrated to Belgium to work in the coal industry. Therefore, a rapid description of the policy framework which affected them can help to better understand the changes produced afterwards by European integration. You can read the whole horrible story HERE

 

 

 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

After my nice weekend, on Monday I tried to get up and go to the bathroom, but I had to sit down and catch my breath finally I managed to arrive there and it took me half an hour to to put on socks and my bathrobe. I couldn't breath. I don't panic easily, but too much was too much I managed to arrive in the living room and fell down on the sofa. I had to wait a long time it seemed to me until I could take the pone and call my doctor.

She promised to come right away after her consultations, meanwhile I had calmed down, ate my breakfast and as I didn't move, I felt quite normal. Opening the door when she came I couldn't speak and she followed me in the living. She checked me and took a blood sample. What I had was a viral bronchitis and this on my lung problems ! No wonder I was suffocating. She took the time to cheer me up she is really a great girl. She could be my daughter. 

My neighbor, also called Nicole went for me to the pharmacy which is right next door. What a chance I have; that all important shops are around me where you can walk to. The women my age here mostly can't drive, never learned it because the husband pretended they don't need it ! The old generation where I should belong too. But I have it always done my way ! Never become like my mother and be dependent on a man.

The whole week I spent the same way ! 

 watching the TV

I saw him in Brussels at the European Union asking for tanks, airplanes, etc it's a pity that the earthquake happened in Turkey and not over Russia and Ukraine. All these poor people who died one by natural catastrophe and the others because of two fighting cocks..

I had enough, being sick and only see the miseries of the world is too much. I preferred to watch wild animals, and listened to Elvis who reminded me my 13 years ! And the first record I bought.

 

I took the photos from the screen

 

Now I feel a bit better, I even managed to do the laundry. At least I can breath, but not walk correctly.

I had called my travel agency to cancel my trip to France, but it was too late. In normal times he would have reimbursed me, but his company too had a lot of losses because of the Corona crisis.

But he said I could go with him, since the excursions are all made by bus and I can sit down in a café when I can't follow. I'll try, every day it's a bit better I'll just wait until the last minute. And I really need to live and see other things. Otherwise I get crazy even more than I am already. And the only one who could calm me down and comfort me is not there anymore.

I am sorry if I am a bit slow in answering comments !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.