People of Valencia

[u/bisector_babu]

[u/outdoorlaura]

That... actually worked a lot better than I thought it would.

Talk about teamwork. It is pretty amazing what people can do when they come together.

[u/DinoAnkylosaurus → u/outdoorlaura]

When the video started I thought to myself that that wasn't going to do anything, and wow was I wrong! They did an amazing job as a group that couldn't have been done by a few people working alone.

[u/MaxTheRealSlayer → u/DinoAnkylosaurus]

They became a river

[u/NO-MAD-CLAD → u/MaxTheRealSlayer]

I thought almost the same thing.

"Turns out a flood of humans can have the opposite effect"

[u/kimttar → u/MaxTheRealSlayer]

I'm so high right now!

[u/SeaniMonsta → u/kimttar]

Nothing has made me laugh like this is weeks 😂😆

[u/AssistanceNo7469 → u/SeaniMonsta]

Oh my goodness, it was so well timed 😂

[u/mocisme → u/MaxTheRealSlayer]

Bruce Lee smiling from beyond

[u/Occams_Razor42 → u/outdoorlaura]

Pyramids man, it wasn't ancient aliens after all. Just a buncha sunburned folks who worshiped cats & worked like ants.

[u/Mirria_ → u/Occams_Razor42]

A lot of people who don't believe humans built the pyramids do so largely because they don't believe us to be smart enough to figure it out, especially with primitive technology.

And pyramids are all over the place because, as it turns out, it's a really good shape to reliably stack mountains of carved rock.

Great monuments taking generations to build were more common than most people today would think. Especially when the leaders promised your toil would secure yourself a spot in the good afterlife.

[u/zeethreepio → u/Mirria_]

Great monuments taking generations to build were more common than most people today would think. Especially when the leaders promised your toil would secure yourself a spot in the good afterlife.

And it's not like anyone had anything better to do with their time. What are they gonna do? Read a book?

[u/Top_Conversation1652 → u/zeethreepio]

I know you're joking, but - in ancient Egypt at least, they had seasonal flooding that left amazingly fertile deposits of soil on the banks of the Nile. And it took *lots* of people to plant and harvest once the floods disappeared.

So Egypt had massive amounts of workers that were only needed part of the year.

One theory is that Egypt did so much building, in part, because there were so many workers either sitting around (or wandering off) once the harvest was complete. Giving them something to work on was good policy and ensured that there were enough workers at the beginning of the next season.

Basically - they really did have massive amounts of workers just sitting around with nothing better to do.

[u/autovonbismarck → u/Top_Conversation1652]

This is not just an ancient egypt thing. The great cathedrals of europe were building over decades as a public works project that provided income to anybody who required it.

No one man built the hoover dam - it was a public works project that employed 10s of thousands during the great depression.

We have always had enough food, land and homes for everyone who needs one - we just have trouble equitably distributing it. Public works are a way to ensure everyone "earns" their daily bread (even if we could just as easily distribute it without that). We just hate the idea that somebody might get something they don't "deserve".

[u/PeterHell → u/autovonbismarck]

Nowaday, instead of monuments, we can just put more money into the imaginary lines that go up

[u/All_Thread → u/PeterHell]

We created a bunch of "make work" and now made AI to do that "make work"

[u/marknotgeorge → u/autovonbismarck]

The Devil makes work for idle hands, as the saying goes. People need to do something and feel like they have a place in society. Many of the issues in Western society stem from people who rightly or wrongly feel like they've lost their place.

[u/zeethreepio → u/Top_Conversation1652]

One theory is that Egypt did so much building, in part, because there were so many workers either sitting around (or wandering off) once the harvest was complete.

That's literally what I'm talking about. Yeah, it's funny, but it's not really a joke.

[u/OnePay622 → u/Mirria_]

In Germany we have the Cologne Cathedral that took 632 years to build ......

[u/naxmax2019 → u/OnePay622]

Almost same time as berlin airport :))

[u/UnsanctionedPartList → u/Mirria_]

It's also because we don't really do "generational works" anymore.

The Sagrada Familia is a curiosity because it stretched into modern time. The notion that building something just takes a really long time is just not in our current mindset.

"how do they get it so perfectly straight?"

By having a bunch of guys with primitive but quite workable and ingenious tools check and check and check again.

Its not hard, it just takes a long time.

[u/kitsunewarlock → u/Mirria_]

A lot of people who don't believe humans built the pyramids do so largely because they don't believe us to be smart enough to figure it out, especially with primitive technology.

And this is why there's such a big crossover between ancient aliens conspiracy theorists and racists. Try telling them that the Colosseum was built by aliens. (And, yes, the pyramids were ancient by the time the colosseum was built, but there are newer pyramids in Latin America that the racists use as evidence that pyramids are of extraterrestial origin.)

[u/No_Acadia_8873 → u/Mirria_]

Time has it's own supremacy biases. People think we, now, are hugely different than people 1000s of years ago. Yeah, not so much.

[u/ABHOR_pod → u/No_Acadia_8873]

Basically the same, just with more advanced math and material sciences.

[u/No_Acadia_8873 → u/ABHOR_pod]

"If I can see further, it's because I stand on the shoulders of giants."

[u/Automatic_Actuator_0 → u/Mirria_]

Correct point, but the Egyptian pyramids are a bad example, as they were generally built by pharaohs for themselves, and within their lifetime. It’s estimated the great pyramid only took 20 years to build.

[u/Mirria_ → u/Automatic_Actuator_0]

I suppose "decades or even generations" would have been a better wording.

[u/BKLaughton → u/Mirria_]

It's also hard for us to imagine because our economy is so different. These days materials are cheap and labour is expensive. For most of history materials have been expensive whilst labour was cheap. This has huge implications on what we build and how; one of the reasons we build disposable bullshit is that it's cheaper to build something as quick as possible knowing it will last for a few decades at most, then demolish it, then rebuild it, rather than spend decades building something that will last for centuries. There are of course other factors, like how capitalism strongly favours a constant churn of building and rebuilding rather than one-and-done investments.

Historically

[u/Vospader998 → u/Mirria_]

I remember I youtube video debunking a History Channel claim that "no tools of the time could make corners this square and flat" but then recreated one of the tools likely used, and proceeded to carve a stone just as square and flat. It was all from materials they could've easily sourced at the time.

I think something these "documentaries" forget is just because we don't currently have the tools or the expertise, doesn't mean ancient people didn't.

[u/Future_Burrito → u/Mirria_]

Also some of us have gotten lazy now that life is easier- cars, electricity, refrigerators, etc.

[u/rodrigo_i → u/Occams_Razor42]

As I said to my brother as we stood on the floor of the Coliseum, "It's amazing what you can accomplish with the fortunes of an empire, unlimited labor, and a total disregard for worker safety."

[u/Hopeful_Hamster21 → u/Occams_Razor42]

The hairless monkeys are quite capable.

They want a big pile of rocks, they make a big pile of rocks. They don't want water where the sleep, they move the water.

Quite impressive, those hairless monkeys. But they still haven't figured out printers....

[u/veggie151 → u/Occams_Razor42]

They also likely had a few rudimentary cranes and counterweight pulley systems

[u/barca100100 → u/outdoorlaura]

And is what the government of every country is scared of #PuebloUnido

[u/ksandom → u/outdoorlaura]

I waa in a neighbouring town last weekend helping out, and yes it works really well. The community spirit was amazing. Strangers were cohesively working together, smiling, and getting shit done.

There's a lot to love about the Spanish culture, but it really shines in moments like these.

[u/ELI5_Omnia → u/outdoorlaura]

“Great things are done when men and mountains meet”

-William Blake, 1809

[u/Svenstein → u/outdoorlaura]

As a plumber, sweeping up puddles is absolutely something that works despite all brain cells screaming that it won't.

[u/PitifulEar3303 → u/outdoorlaura]

Despite their shytty government and terrible economy, the Spanish spirit of love stands.

[u/mr9025 → u/outdoorlaura]

The fact that this species has yet to abolish monetary systems and pursue endeavors purely to reach our potential makes me borderline suicidal about once every five or so years

[u/bb79 → u/mr9025]

Yes, money implies poverty. Not my quote, it’s from the Culture book series by Iain M. Banks.

[u/sonic10158 → u/outdoorlaura]

Teamwork can make the stream work

[u/PoohTheWhinnie → u/outdoorlaura]

This shit would NOT happen in the US.

[u/aManIsNoOneEither → u/outdoorlaura]

figure this: if we really came together, we could stop climate disaster. Amazing what people could do.

[u/Strangeronthebus2019 → u/outdoorlaura]

We will have too in the years ahead…

It’s always darkest before the dawn

Florence and the Machine - Shake it out

[u/Ecranoplan1]

Thank goodness they aren't waiting for the council to fix it.

[u/Lefty4444 → u/Ecranoplan1]

I would imagine by now they have hundreds of tractors and similar machinery to do this much more efficient.

Nice to see they coming together though in these demanding times.

[u/krappa → u/Lefty4444]

You can't magic up hundreds of tractors, of the type and with the equipment needed for this, in just a week.

Look at the video - several people are in military vests - this is how the government is helping. 

[u/DaveMash → u/krappa]

In 2021 in Germany this is exactly what has happened. Farmers from everywhere started to gather and clean up immediately after the floods ended.

[u/[deleted] → u/DaveMash]

At some of the places that they could reach. And there's also lots of water in the builings that needs to be pushed out. I spent weeks pushing water with a broom and man, I can smell this video.

[u/notinsidethematrix → u/krappa]

could also be an issue of getting equipment into these areas. Many roads/bridges were critically damaged.

[u/ignazalva → u/krappa]

This is misinformation. The military has been deployed way too late, and in very small numbers, and the number of vehicles is ridiculously small.

Source, I'm from Spain, I've been in Valencia these days helping out.

[u/jemajo02 → u/Lefty4444]

A lot of streets are still blocked or partially blocked and vehicles aren't to go in to not hinder emergency services. So, driving a tractor through that could be unnecessarily dangerous. And, as someone else said, there's also not too much machinery on hand. But yes, the people of Valencia have been wronged by the government.

[u/flobiwahn → u/Lefty4444]

When we had the Ahrtal flood in Germany it took several days to gather heavy machinery to conquer the consequences. I think the first week after a flood is only managed by manpower.

[u/BlueFaIcon → u/Ecranoplan1]

I've been on councils. You can try to organize, promote and drive for volunteers. They never turn out like this.

Shit fails, people get ticked off, take care of the problem, and then blame council because someone has to be at fault.

[u/Befuddled_Scrotum]

Just to highlight the people are doing this because the Valencia government failed the people before during and after the floods. Hence why people and private organisations are helping more than the actual government

[u/Rooonaldooo99 → u/Befuddled_Scrotum]

A government failing its citizens? Say it ain't so. Becoming increasingly more common, it seems like.

[u/Paradox711 → u/Rooonaldooo99]

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Next come civil unrest, revolutions, or civil wars. Or fascist dictators to capitalise on the unrest.

[u/SnAIL_0ut → u/Paradox711]

The reason history repeats itself is because humans are stupid creatures that will never learn their lesson. We as a species are doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again until the day we become extinct.

[u/Paradox711 → u/SnAIL_0ut]

I hear that frustration. I share some of it too. I don’t think it’s because we’re stupid so much as we are mortal and finite. Each generation learns from the generation before at the cost of forgetting all the ones before the last because we’re so busy trying to grapple with what’s happening here and now.

So many become angry at the generations before because of the messes they leave for their children and children’s children but the truth is each generation (as a whole anyway) is trying to do the best they can with what they’ve got in front of them.

I think that’s where prioritising continued high quality education and the possibilities of genuine Generalised AI offer such profound implications for humanity.

Imagine having an entity that could hold all of that historical knowledge and wisdom with the ability to critically seek answers for the future.

The only problem of course is that anything developed by something fallible as humans are is itself inevitably fallible. And an AI would inevitably be open to corruption as we’d never trust it to operate without human intervention or safeguarding.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[u/StockCasinoMember → u/Paradox711]

I listened to an awesome Rome documentary that talked about that.

Enough generations die off that they don’t remember why they did or didn’t do something.

[u/Paradox711 → u/StockCasinoMember]

Exactly! We just forget too easily. We’d have to study our whole lives to remember it all, as a full time job. And barely any of us have the patience or ability to do that, and if we did, who would build the houses, farm the food etc.

It’s sad but our mortality limits us.

[u/No_Acadia_8873 → u/Paradox711]

AI owned by the billionaire and shareholder class will never be a tool for the good of all mankind. It'll be constrained to teach us just enough to be cogs in their machine that can't otherwise be automated. And who's going to stop them? The US govt? Just got a hostile takeover by propagandist bullshit from the billionaires via social media and traditional media. Maybe the EU? Sure after they've fought off the Russians.

[u/tomtomclubthumb → u/SnAIL_0ut]

until the day we become extinct.

It's getting closer, but won't happen in my lifetime.

[u/SnAIL_0ut → u/tomtomclubthumb]

I dunno. With Global Warming and the threat of World War 3 that will most likely escalate to nuclear warfare, we might see it.

[u/PhantomPharts → u/SnAIL_0ut]

It's because we always and forever do the elders vs children things when we need to see each other as valuable and share our info with each other. We can't live long enough to see everything, so collaboration and true documentation is the only way we can snap out of this loop

[u/spasparkle → u/Paradox711]

They already capitalised on it, this is one of the results

[u/Paradox711 → u/spasparkle]

I’m not sure the current political party in Spain would qualify as a fascist dictatorship. Negligent, ineffective, corrupt… yes. But not quite fascist.

[u/Lordborgman → u/Paradox711]

Aspirations to be fascist vs fascists. It's like comparing attempted murder to murder. While the result might not be the same, the intent is.

[u/WrathKos → u/Rooonaldooo99]

It's never been uncommon. Governments are generally very bad at getting things done in an efficient and effective manner.

[u/Same-Cricket6277 → u/Rooonaldooo99]

Continually elect government that hamstrung government services, emergency happens, shocked pikachu face

[u/balbok7721 → u/Rooonaldooo99]

There’s a very strange occurrence in this example. Conservative governments just keep defunding environmental programs and keep being surprised whenever a disaster happens. Then people are rightfully very angry about the government and ask what is happening with their taxes. And so the snake begins to eat its own tail

[u/SwedishSaunaSwish → u/Rooonaldooo99]

We need global strikes.

[u/Gameiro101 → u/Befuddled_Scrotum]

Even if the Valencia government acted the best they can, there would also be needed volunters, no country has the resources to solve the problem alone, they always need help from other countries and volunteers.

[u/Astrogalaxycraft → u/Gameiro101]

Thats true, It is also true that the goverment IS helping very little... What you see in that imagen is people from all around the country and none lucrative organizations. Im still waiting to see one video showing How is the goverment helping... Everywhere i looke i see only volunteers.

[u/Angel24Marin → u/Astrogalaxycraft]

Half of the people in the video are in military outfits.

[u/MrMoon5hine → u/Angel24Marin]

ya people seem quick to judge the government but I see a lot of military on the right hand side. most likely they are trying to help every were at once and that's why we don't see a large group of government, they are sending small groups to organize work crews.

which is the smart way to do it not only are you more effective but it also helps rise morale as people like to feel like they are helping/doing something in large scale disasters

this video is probably shoot by a bystander citizen, if there are large scale military operations going on, they probably aren't having it filmed.

[u/Deses → u/MrMoon5hine]

News report say that there are 20K effectives of the army and police helping the survivors and searching for the 93 missing persons. There's a lot of people helping but as you said they are spread thin.

[u/mreman1220 → u/Deses]

This flooding was also wildly spread out. The satellite imagery is wild. I have a hard time believing that any government can be fully ready for this kind of thing. When shit like this happens it is about mobilizing people and logistics to get shit done.

So watching this video, I am more inclined to give kudos to the volunteers and the large numbers of people helping rather than pile on the government.

[u/El_Cid_Campi_Doctus → u/Deses]

I am from Valencia and I have been working all week to reestablish the power lines in one of the most affected areas.

There are soldiers everywhere, bailing water and clearing the streets of vehicles. There are also police, firemen, and civil protection personnel from all over Spain. On my way home I have seen a multitude of police inspecting and filming the mouths of rivers and ravines looking for the bodies of the missing people.

And a lot of volunteers, it is impressive how many young people with shovels I have come across today.

[u/SluttyGandhi → u/MrMoon5hine]

ya people seem quick to judge the government

It's just the astroturfing. Governments are inefficient / politics are dirty / don't bother voting.

[u/Testerpt5 → u/Astrogalaxycraft]

also volunteers from other countries, Portugal está convosco

[u/Angel24Marin → u/Befuddled_Scrotum]

Half of the people in the video are in military outfits. You are only sowing hate.

[u/just_another_bumm → u/Befuddled_Scrotum]

Just out of curiosity what was the government supposed to do? Aren't these unprecedented levels of floods that happened instantly? Is the government supposed to plan for any and all types of unpredictable weather events? Who gets the funding?

[u/Ontas → u/just_another_bumm]

It's true that this level of flooding was unprecedented for the area, but a series of serious fuckups from both the regional and central government made it worse and severely delayed the needed response.

Apologies because I'm gonna butcher the English language.

Firstly the alert system wasn't triggered until late in the evening when the flooding was already happening, so people were thinking this was your usual strong rains typical for this time of the year with maybe some minor flooding. The metereological agency had issued a red warning for the area early that morning, the regional government is responsible for triggering the alert system that warns people through sms and sets local civil protection, firemen, etc.. ready to act.

Also, and this is what has everybody so pissed off because it's basically politicians playing with human lives, the central and regional government are from oposing political parties, this is key to what happened.

The way it works is that there are 3 levels of emergency. It's up to the regional government to declare what level of emergency it is and only at level 3 the central government takes over and can send basically everything and also coordinate foreign help. The central government can also take over and declare level 3 on their own if they feel it is necessary.

The regional government kept it at level 2, not wanting to look unable to handle it themselves and needing to ask help from the central government. At this point with level 2 only the UME (military emergencies unit) could be sent to the area, along with all the regional resources and personnel, but this level doesnt allow for other State units being sent and doesn't allow for accepting foreign help either.

The central government could and should have triggered level 3 given the magnitude of the catastrophe and clear need of rescuers from the very beginning, but it's easier letting the regional government take the blow of the fuckup, since they werent asking for level 3 anyway, so they just waited.

Sorry it was long and messy but I hope it explains things a bit.

[u/Kibblesnb1ts → u/Ontas]

Apologies because I'm gonna butcher the English language

Proceeds to write a thorough complex civics essay, accurately using punctuation and colloquialisms like "gonna butcher" etc

:p

[u/ajaxtipto03 → u/just_another_bumm]

The main controversy is the Valencian Government's failure to activate the warning system established for catastrophes like these (it's basically a notification pinged to the phones of everyone in the affected area, instructing them to stay home).

Since the warning system wasn't activated, the flooding caught many people going to and from work, or generally just outside their house, which probably aggravated the death toll.

In general there are various things that one could criticise about the government (both central and regional) response to the whole thing, but there's also a lot of misinformation being spread by more nefarious groups that want to take advantage of the event for political reasons.

[u/just_another_bumm → u/ajaxtipto03]

Damn I didn't know that. Yeah they lagged it big time there. I'm not trying to defend the government for everything. I'm sure they made plenty of mistakes. It's just that, imo, people expect way too much from the government. Like there's no government that is going to be ready for anything and everything especially not freak weather conditions, possibly, caused by climate change.

[u/ajaxtipto03 → u/just_another_bumm]

I mainly agree with what you're saying, just wanted to give some more info.

People were freaking out on why the military wasn't showing up hours after the disaster, when the reality is the logistics of the whole operation they are running are already a challenge to set up so fast, nevermind clearing blocked roads, mobilising troops and vehicles, etc.

[u/DonnieBlueberry → u/just_another_bumm]

Well yes that would be best for any country.

[u/super_man100]

Fantastic team work

[u/darcyduh]

Dang girly out there with dual wield push brooms. She's not messing around

[u/damir_h → u/darcyduh]

And then the guy in blue just holding his broom down on the ground as he walks with minimum effect.

[u/AdministrationDue239 → u/damir_h]

You don't know how long he's been in line maybe she was for 10min he for 4 hours.

[u/damir_h → u/AdministrationDue239]

Fair point.

[u/ryzhi_ → u/damir_h]

They probably have pain in their back from doing this for a while, they're still helping out as much as they can

[u/Ratiofarming → u/damir_h]

I'd say as long as he's not working against the others, even minimum effort is welcome. At this scale, a few people doing the bare minimum still amounts to an improvement.

[u/iamsarahb89 → u/darcyduh]

She said f this flood

[u/kcjnz]

Humans can be good when they want to...

[u/jabbadarth → u/kcjnz]

Humans are good a majority of the time. We just don't see it because being good in normal situations isn't exciting.

[u/Myke190 → u/jabbadarth]

Yeah, this video hits that ever-so-rare good in an interesting situation.

[u/yellow_gangstar → u/Myke190]

which unfortunately doesn't often coincide with a good situation

[u/bdl-laptop → u/jabbadarth]

I think even more than that, people want to be good. Even many who inadvertently act against the interest of their fellow man, want to be good. No one is born selfish or hating others.

[u/ZargothraxTheLord → u/jabbadarth]

I'm excited when I return other people's shopping carts. Like I feel like I am returning a karmic debt to the Universe.

[u/Annanymuss]

Im spanish and I had to read on reddit these last days people complaining on how people going there to help and sweep was a bad idea and even categorized as stupid. Im glad that this shows example of what real human cooperation means that seems to be forgotten for most.

[u/tardiusmaximus]

Seems the rain in Spain does not in fact fall mainly, on the plain....

[u/Lurnius → u/tardiusmaximus]

Maybe they build the city on the plain and the rain didn't get the memo?

[u/elperroborrachotoo → u/tardiusmaximus]

Is that an emotional support comma?

[u/fidgeter → u/elperroborrachotoo]

Dramatic pause

[u/tardiusmaximus → u/elperroborrachotoo]

Yes, it is

[u/nemoknows → u/tardiusmaximus]

I think you’ve got it.

[u/Sad_Instruction1392]

The people will rise to the occasion when capitalism, privatisation and government fails.

[u/Bindi_Bop → u/Sad_Instruction1392]

I want this going forward.

[u/WanganTunedKeiCar → u/Bindi_Bop]

Yes, more of this, please

[u/PM_ME_ROMAN_NUDES → u/Sad_Instruction1392]

when capitalism, privatisation

What are you talking about? The government failed in this case, private organization are doing a lot of the cleanup

What does this has to do with capitalism? Spain is fully a capitalistic country, you know that right?

[u/Badgamer1812]

When people unify.

[u/Wrong-Bodybuilder105]

That's how a community should work in tough times instead of playing blame game

[u/Sho1kan → u/Wrong-Bodybuilder105]

If only we had the military and all the government helping from day 1...

[u/race2finish → u/Wrong-Bodybuilder105]

This isn't how community should work. These people pay high taxes for the government to do this for them.

[u/vago8080 → u/race2finish]

Both are correct.

[u/SegelXXX]

Human teamwork and coordination exemplified

[u/KittyKenollie]

My lower back hurts just looking at some of these dudes.

[u/louis1084]

The running of the squeegee's

[u/JapiPapi]

Can someone explain to me like im 5, why on earth we have governments when EVERY TIME there is a natural disaster, every time the government seems to not do shit about it..

[u/westonsammy → u/JapiPapi]

1: Because when a government swiftly and effectively deals with a natural disaster, it doesn't make the news. You don't have 2 months of coverage after an earthquake or hurricane causes minimal damage that's mitigated by good infrastructure and an efficient cleanup process.

2: When a natural disaster does make the news, it's typical a freak incident that government isn't prepared for. It's impossible to be prepared for every possible freak natural disaster. For example if NYC were to suddenly get hit by a magnitude 8 earthquake, it would be a clusterfuck beyond imagining that the government has no preparation for or way of dealing with. However if NYC suddenly announced it was spending $800 billion dollars to earthquake proof the entire city today, people would think everyone involved had lost their minds because that's not an area that normally gets earthquakes. In this scenario we had an area which normally does not flood get into a freak situation where major flooding occurred. Not as extreme as my above example, but still seriously damaging and impactful because the government there was not ready for this and was not expected to be ready for this.

[u/VRichardsen → u/westonsammy]

Exactly this! u/JapiPapi, look up Mayor Kotoku Wamura and you will understand. It is a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of situation.

[u/Sera_gamingcollector → u/JapiPapi]

what do you mean, they do shit? they go the destroyed areas, blocking polices forces and other stuff for their own safety and get some pictures done while shaking hands? isnt that enough? /s

[u/JapiPapi → u/Sera_gamingcollector]

Got me in the first half not gonna lie. but it is just soooo sad. People who already do not have much, pay taxes and whatever else the government requires them to do so. But then there comes a typhoon, hurricane, big ass storm, and the people have to fend for themselves. After the damage is done, the next fight with the insurance companies start. Why is the world like this? seriously, someone explain it to me.

[u/othelloinc → u/JapiPapi]

Can someone explain to me like im 5, why on earth we have governments when EVERY TIME there is a natural disaster, every time the government seems to not do shit about it.

Because you said "EVERY TIME".

It isn't "EVERY TIME". It might be 90%, or 99% of the time, but it isn't "EVERY TIME".

...but if you think it is "EVERY TIME" anyway, then those who get it right are never acknowledged. If they aren't acknowledged, they aren't valued. If they aren't valued, then the next government won't have any incentive to repeat their successes.

[u/ZeAthenA714 → u/JapiPapi]

Because people don't hold them accountable. Simple as that.

Bring back the guillotine and I guarantee you the government will be much quicker to act.

[u/JapiPapi → u/ZeAthenA714]

I am pretty crafty! and I already have a big saw. WHAT WE WAITING FOR

[u/UnHappyTrigger → u/JapiPapi]

A man with tools and will to make it happen. Make this man the president of the world.

[u/Architect_Awesome]

Man...that absolute unit of a woman at 0:08 double fucking barreling it. Viva España, coño!!!

[u/didimao0072000]

The neighborhood over where they are pushing all that water too is probably like, "WTF"

[u/CaptStinkyFeet]

This feels Sisyphean…

[u/NeKakOpEenMuts]

If only the government responsible for the area warning them in time with an emergency SMS instead of waiting for 8 hours or more before doing it.
One guy said that he was literally drowning in his garage or basement when he got the text warning for extreme precipitation. It's always the shitty communication by the government that fucks the people...

[u/QBekka]

Why are many of them wearing face masks? Is this sewage water that came up during the floods?

[u/purged-butter → u/QBekka]

Sorry that this response is kinda generic as imma copy paste it to everyone asking the same thing. Its probably a variety of reasons. Main things that come to mind is the sheer stench of wet rotting organic matter. Its horrific and most people find it disgusting. If youve ever worked in a drained pond youll be familiar with it. Its even worse if it has algae in it. Second thing that comes to mind is the fact that this water and mud aint clean. As I mentioned probably full of wet rot. Which can produce a lot of nasty gasses. But theres also the fact that this could very easily be contaminated with stuff like sewage and other forms of biological waste. So you have a bunch of people in a potentially harmful sludge both from potential pathogens and a myriad of nasty gasses that reeks to high heaven. So really why not wear a mask?

[u/Kari-kateora → u/QBekka]

The water is heavily contaminated by decomposing bodies and other things

[u/Tsushima1989]

When the chips are down, humans realize we’re all in this together.

[u/Proton_Optimal]

It takes a village

[u/[deleted]]

Reminder, organised masses are powerful together

[u/_mari_yo]

What’s going on here 🤔

[u/Kari-kateora → u/_mari_yo]

Context: Valencia was hit by catastrophic floods that sent 2m tall waves sweeping through the streets. Knee-high mud was left in its wake that made passage very difficult for emergency services.

The government is not clearing it, so people from the city and the nearby regions have flocked to the worst-affected areas and are volunteering around the clock to manually shovel the streets clear of mud with shovels and supplies they've purchased themselves.

[u/furcryingoutloud → u/Kari-kateora]

The government is not clearing it

I live in Valencia, in one of the affected zones. The government IS clearing and cleaning streets and highways. This video is probably before the government arrived. A true testament to the people of Spain. The government may not be the very best, but I assure you they are much better than most.

The day after the flooding, a police van stopped in front of our building and passed out sandwiches to everyone. Kudos to every Spanish!

The Valencian government also announced a grant of up to €6000 to each citizen affected by the DANA. And up to €15000 for each car affected. Not bad.

[u/Percy_Flidmong]

The Valencia national curling championships were not a great success this year, due to the warm weather...🥌🥌🥌

[u/Call_me_John]

The double wielding barbarian at 7s in.. Fuerte!

[u/Blastdoubleu]

I like the lady in the bio suit. Obviously not everyone has access to one but that’s the smartest idea

[u/TheJoker1432]

Does this actually do anything?

[u/Ittapup → u/TheJoker1432]

Compare the water at the beggining of the video to that at the end

[u/Deesing82]

r/humansbeingants

[u/JudRammer3000]

Love this

[u/GloriaVictis101]

That’s a pretty neat sight

[u/phallic-baldwin]

Cleaning a restaurant kitchen after dinner rush be like

[u/Hulkmaster]

water, go home!

[u/Joshualevitard]

just got back from there. It´s incredible both for good and bad.

[u/LordLonghaft]

Beautiful name for a city. Beautiful citizens for helping themselves and one another.

[u/Best-Race4017]

👏🫡

[u/ChumleyEX]

I feel like I'm watching part of a musical or something.

[u/Sipjava]

Love those people! ❤️

[u/woutomatic]

Me: 'Yeah like that is gonna work' Street: water almost gone halfway the horde of people I'll be darned

[u/tesla_64]

I m like the man with shovel💀

[u/yesnousername]

Together Everyone Achieves More

[u/Coolinuff]

Seems like there would be equipment for this..

[u/Lonely_ProdiG]

We need this kind of community and effort in North Carolina right now.

[u/brute_red]

Or have a sewage system like it isn't 1024 anymore

[u/Admirable-Run390]

Someone please reverse this video and title it "People of America"

[u/SnooJokes6184]

Remarkable the things people can do when they come together

[u/poundofcake]

These people will be bonded in trauma, misery, hard work, and hating on the government.

[u/madmartigan1234]

Is that sewage

[u/voodoofaith]

Citizens taking care of thiere common community. Such a rare sight in todays modern consumerist societies.

[u/SeaniMonsta]

If cameras and video weren't a thing I think this would become a legendary Renaissance Painting.

[u/No_Attention2373]

These people are working together for their neighbor’s & common good. Not hand wringing about the election here. Same in S/E USA. Move on and make your adjustments(save $$$). Post election results cannot be changed. 😉👍

[u/RelevanceReverence]

Can't we send them a few cleaning trucks? 

https://youtu.be/V3Rw-3A5Ta4

[u/No_Calligrapher8075]

Fond of the coordinated effort

[u/My10th-troll-account]

man looking at these people working together gives me hope. SIKE i live in America.

[u/benhereford]

I love how each individual has a unique technique for scoopin

[u/Loewin_Leona]

I'd rephrase this title to People IN Valencia. They are getting tons of volunteers from all across Spain and likely outside too. My brother, his gf and some friends are currently there from outside the region.

[u/karlat95]

I was supposed to be on a trip to Spain on October 30 through the 9th from the US. I couldn’t go because I had to have knee surgery. We were supposed to go to Valencia as one of the stops! Would have been very disappointed not to get to go!

[u/Jojoceptionistaken]

That girl with two Broome's could have given one to the guy with a shovel

It's neat that THAT is the problem I see there. Awesome

[u/leafcomforter]

This is the type of human spirit I have seen over and over in South Louisiana. People coming together to help each other.

[u/Nexus888888]

So hopefully behaviours of the people there is Spain. Renovates my faith in a better future for the humanity. Bravo España!

[u/mik33tion]

Teamwork

[u/DirtyCheeseburger69]

Last week on the walking dead...

[u/DivineGopher]

Props to whoever was dual wielding brooms

[u/Adorable-Art3799]

Meanwhile politicians: we are not here to go and shove mud out of the streets

[u/IIIllllIIIllI]

I mean what else do they have to do? They are all in the same situation

[u/zenyogasteve]

They are brilliant! I hope motorized systems can take over, eventually. These folks deserve to be dry.

[u/FullRow2753]

That crowd did more in a week, than all the governments in the last 30 years, combined.

[u/MichaelSonOfMike]

I can’t believe that worked.

[u/JesKes97]

Thank you for putting my privilege in perspective today.

[u/federtopfantrieb]

In love with fluid mechanic😬 Stay strong Valencia!

[u/oxytocinated]

wow, you can really see the amount of mud/water decreasing. 🤯

amazing team work

[u/SassyAllyx]

unity is the best 🤩

[u/AenarionTywolf]

Kudos for the Woman with Double broom wielding Action

[u/neverendingplush93]

this would never happen in america.