Pyrotechnics Ushering in 2009

There's just something fascinating about fire and light displays, mesmerizing people. As though we are aware of the danger inherent in incendiary devices, but like small children, love to play with them for the existential thrill of it. And despite the many times that playing around with fireworks in inappropriate venues has resulted in the pandemonium of sudden, sweeping fires leaping through celebrant-packed theatres resulting in death and injury, that fascination continues to ensure that the caution of playing with fire eludes the fixed attention of party goers.

It's always young people. They haven't the experience, nor the cautionary skills of recalling to memory previous tragedies. Besides which, they've an inordinate sense of infallibility, they're young and vital and energetic and adventurous and no ill can come upon them that they're not capable of fending off. The allure of bright lights, loud music, the presence of other young people, the anticipation of a long evening out, of fun and entertainment lulls young party goers into complacency. How could it be otherwise, after all, they're young. And the young don't waste time in introspection or super-awareness.

There've been well-publicized incidents where theatrical acts use fireworks as part of an excitingly exhilarating performance. For the most part, the choreography, practised and professional, proceeds well and a good time is had by all who've paid the hefty admission price. But then, on occasion, the untoward occurs; something goes wrong and a temporary loss of direction of the situation advances toward a fire-breathing phenomenon that exceeds control, and a disaster of proportions equal to the densely crowded atmosphere results.

Despite full knowledge of what constitutes safe practices, and public venues requiring sufficient entrances/exits, somehow in the general melee, a crush of fearful people crowd one identified escape route and the rest is history. Of course it doesn't help too much that theatre owners reserve the right to control exits and entrances, to ensure that only fee-paying partyers are permitted entry, so some critical doors are locked. Mind, those who are familiar with their surroundings, who work there, are able to escape unhindered by blind panic and unfamiliarity.

And that's kind of reflective of the conclusion reached by fire brigade officials in Bangkok, Thailand in explaining the death toll at the Santika club's New Year's Eve event, thronged by eager celebrants. Where the staged fireworks entertainment had gone disastrously awry. Some victims became trapped in the club's basement, accessible by a narrow stairwell. There were few exists, and windows on upper floors were replete with iron bars. Only one main exit on the main floor. And people who worked at the club knew where to find exits.

And then, of course, there are other notable venues and events, also involving rambunctious young people, exercising their options to bring in the New Year in a manner that might seem criminally offensive to many, but which appears to be the celebration of choice in the notorious banlieues of Paris. Now that's pyrotechnics for you; nothing like them for shock and awe. The shock of car owners when they realize their vehicles have been torched.

The awe of the onlookers at the wholesale raw and fierce blazes lighting up the Paris sky, unrestrained by the long arm of the law, fearful of intruding too deeply into the dankly depressed alleys of the suburban ghettoes full of disaffected immigrant youth. Imagine, in the first eleven months of 2008 some 36,700 cars were reported as having been set afire. And in true celebratory manner, on New Year's Eve, that number increased by 1,100.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy is rather ticked off at this extreme form of public entertainment. He has recommended to his policing authorities that they must be "uncompromising" with the arsonists; those apprehended should lose their own licences until the damage they caused has been paid for. Sounds like a slap on the wrist for wayward children. Doesn't the torching of thousands of vehicles merit some rather more stringent deterrent approach and penalty?

Of that huge number of arson events, the police managed to increase their arrests from the previous year, to a whopping 288 culprits to be brought to justice. Amazing, isn't it? Here is the irrepressible, forceful and brilliant president of France, here, there and everywhere on the international scene. Utterly delighted with the success of his performance during his stint at the rotating EU presidency.

Talk about your bang-up jobs. He's a living dynamo. Wherever conflict rears its ugly head, there he sped, to argue balance and caution and human rights, concluding in resolving - at least partially - some very ugly situations. He's on a roll, and is preparing to speed along now to the Middle East to preside at the conclusion of the Israel-Hamas conflict. No empty boasts his, that he has single-handedly re-shaped the destiny of the world.

Oh, forgot. He first said he had shaped the destiny of France; inclusive of the rest of the world. Wonder how long the destiny of France will be reflected by the torching of thousands of vehicles as protest-entertainment?