Egypt is famous for its ancient civilisation and the structures that the ancient Egyptians built. The engineering skills involved in building the pyramids are still being explored and no one theory has really explained the mysteries involved.
But the skills of the past seem not to have been preserved or are not practised by modern-day Egyptian builders. The poor construction of buildings in the poorer urban areas has led to tragedies, when collapses take place because of earth-quakes or due to the strain caused by normal wear and tear in the course of time. There is also a lack of proper maintenance.
I think the building skills are there, but it's lack of proper control that has encouraged sub-standard construction, for the sake of saving a few Egyptian pounds, some of which end up in some official's pockets.
It should not happen because innocent lives are at stake.
The news today of a building collapse in Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt is shocking. Alexandria is a beautiful and vibrant city. It houses the Alexandria library which has helped preserve the knowledge from the past, and was the centre of learning, to which European and other seekers of knowledge gravitated. The original Alexandria library was burned down, but the new one that has been built is quite an awesome structure, reminiscent of the glories of the past.
How could it be that such a great new building – the Alexandria library – can be constructed, to be admired by all the world, and yet so many below standard buildings are allowed? The Egyptian people deserve much better than that.
But the skills of the past seem not to have been preserved or are not practised by modern-day Egyptian builders. The poor construction of buildings in the poorer urban areas has led to tragedies, when collapses take place because of earth-quakes or due to the strain caused by normal wear and tear in the course of time. There is also a lack of proper maintenance.
I think the building skills are there, but it's lack of proper control that has encouraged sub-standard construction, for the sake of saving a few Egyptian pounds, some of which end up in some official's pockets.
It should not happen because innocent lives are at stake.
The news today of a building collapse in Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt is shocking. Alexandria is a beautiful and vibrant city. It houses the Alexandria library which has helped preserve the knowledge from the past, and was the centre of learning, to which European and other seekers of knowledge gravitated. The original Alexandria library was burned down, but the new one that has been built is quite an awesome structure, reminiscent of the glories of the past.
How could it be that such a great new building – the Alexandria library – can be constructed, to be admired by all the world, and yet so many below standard buildings are allowed? The Egyptian people deserve much better than that.
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