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Featured Video -
Malpasset Dam Disaster 50 Years On
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A new monument was
unveiled in
Frejus 02 Dec 09, the 50th anniversary of the
Malpasset dam disaster. The monument which stands by the Roman
arena in Frejus, commemorates the 423 who died on that tragic
night in 1959. With the dam full following a month of torrential
rain, it burst releasing 52 million tonnes of water (50m high)
down the Reyran valley towards Frejus, sweeping away buildings,
cars and people. Official investigations have failed to reach a
conclusion about why the dam failed. The re-siting of the
project from its original plans, financial skimping,
insufficient foundations and blasting for the new A8 motorway
being built nearby are some of the reasons that have been put
forward. RivieraLife.tv's David Rowe reports on the
commemorations and speculates about some of the reasons for this
tragic disaster.
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The Malpasset Dam Disaster - could the
Var suffer again?
Riviera Reporter Nov 09
"De
tous les ouvrages construits par la main humaine, les
barrages sont les plus meurtriers." (“Of
all the works of mankind, dams are the most murderous”)
These were the words expressed in 1952 by André Coyne, the
engineer appointed to construct the dam at Malpasset. How
right he was! The
disaster which occurred here on December 2, 1959 – i.e.
almost 50 years ago – was the worst catastrophe ever to
occur in France during the last half century. A few months
following the disaster I visited Fréjus and witnessed myself
the havoc which it caused. Above all there is the question
whether such a disaster could ever occur again either in our
region or elsewhere. In this respect it should be noted that
many dams also in our region are significantly older than
this dam at Malpasset.
Martin Ricketts. |
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More
Riviera Life Features
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The Riviera branch of the
British Chamber of Commerce has seen a year of change. The appointment
of a Dutch president,
Ab Kuijer,
to replace the outgoing president Mike
Lorimer
is a sign of the recent internationalisation of the
BCC Riviera. Check out our
video report on how the BCC Riviera has changed over the past year
and highlights of last years (2008) Riviera Business Person of the Year event. |
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The English
language monthly newspaper
Riviera Times
& its German language sister paper
Riviera Cote d'Azur Zeitung
are an essential part of expatriate life. Both titles recently launched new web-sites. Now you can access regularly
updated news and information inbetween their monthly appearance
on the news-stands. This video takes you behind the scenes where
we meet the principle players behind these two titles.
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November 11th 2008
was the 90th anniversary of the end of World War 1, Since then
millions more soldiers have scarificed their lives in conflicts
around the world. This video report records the 90th anniversary
ceremony at the
Bordighera British
Cemetery on
the Italian Riviera. The
Rev. Douglas Bean,
Chaplain of St. John's Anglican Church in Menton conducted the
ceremony. |
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On the 70th
anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, the Forces
Sweetheart
Dame Vera Lynn
topped the UK album charts and re-issued her autobiography
Some
Sunny Day.
On Friday 18th September Dame Vera, a regular visitor to the
Cote d'Azur, was guest of honour at
Heidi's English
Bookshop
in Antibes, where she signed almost 100 copies of her memoir.
Local journalist
Liz Morgan
and
David Rowe
produced this video report for
RivieraLife.tv. |
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The 65th anniversary of
the liberation of the South of France from Nazi occupation by allied
forces was celebrated this August in Cavalaire-sur-Mer. The 'Glorious
G.I.s' from the U.S. were aided by Canadian, British and French
Resistance forces. Originally called Operation Anvil, the landings were
re-named Operation Dragoon.
RivieraLife.tv's
David Rowe reports on this lesser known but significant episode of World
War II. |
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Astronaut
Buzz Aldrin was guest of honour at a garden party hosted by the Prince
Albert II of Monaco Foundation in July. On the 40th anniversary of his
pioneering mission to the moon, Aldrin whose lunar landing vehicle was
called 'The Eagle', helped to celebrate an exhibition of Eagle
sculptures around Monaco, organised by Eco Art International to benefit
Prince Albert II's environmental projects.
RivieraLife.tv was there, check out our video report. |
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