Australian bushfires

[Theknacktoflying]

Is anyone else absolutely floored by the info coming from Sydney that almost 480 million animals, birds and reptiles have died.

The loss of human life, the loss of homes and habitat is quite something.

What a way to begin 2020

There was a bit of rain in Victoria yesterday, which won't fix anything but maybe gave a bit of respite. Some of the fires will burn for weeks.

Yep, and sells fuckloads of coal to India and China (and other places).
True.

There's this to consider too, though. We keep saying China and India, but India doesn't look to bad on here.

We have such a short-sighted, consumption-based nation here in Australia. Everywhere you go it’s fast-food, Westfields and bloody home-maker centers. The entitlement is disproportionate and is phenomenal. We have no industry here other than fossil fuels and they are owned by foreign companies anyway. There is no infrastructure to support communities or the futures of our children. Education is going backwards and we are heading towards and American-style health system. We used to have free education and health care, and we had a country that valued industry and arts. Now we value finance, real estate that nobody can afford and bloody “lifestyle”.... it’s all so wrong.

Whoops - typo - doesn't look too bad

How are friends & family that are actually there doing today?

I’ve lost the will to try to work out if it’s ‘not as bad’ or ‘worse’ than the media are reporting OR what is/isn’t causing it & how to fix it - because the arguments are just going around in circles - three threads & much research later my brain is fried!

But I’d like to know how real people are doing.

Also I’d like to ask those that know... when the deliberate burning is done - are there any measures out in place to try to evacuate animals first or are they just considered ‘collateral damage’?

How are friends & family that are actually there doing today?

I am furious with a relative of mine, they live 30km from the fires so no distance at all and have buggered off on holiday abroad (20 hour flight so not close enough to get back quickly) leaving their elderly parents alone. I will have to bite my tongue whn they return. I expect I'll get told IABU but I think they have behaved appallingly.

Jesus @schoolcats! Are they aspiring Prome Ministers?

@schoolcats, maybe they are totally worn out from caring duties, and needed a long planned break? Or maybe they are selfish bastards. Without knowing the full picture, it's wrong of us to judge.

They have no caring duties, both parents are self sufficient but would need help to manage a house evacuation and emotional support as you'd expect from any 70+ year old having to leave their house at short notice.

They are not worn out, they don't work, are married to somebody wealthy and haven't worked for years, they travel a lot and have had 4 international holidays this last 12 months.

DD lives in central Sydney. It's been raining there today. She has had little effect from the fires where she is, other than smog/haze depending on the wind direction.

How are friends & family that are actually there doing today?

My in-laws were allowed to go home on Sunday night to their home in the Southern Highlands after 2 nights away. They are ok, feeling very lucky as the fires were not predicted to come anywhere near their home. Some of their village was burnt but I don’t think they lost any homes.

@bestoption I read somewhere that when indigenous people burn the land, they choose the ignition point very carefully and light the fire in a way that makes it burn in a slow, circular pattern, which gives animals the chance to escape no matter which way they run. As for when state governments do controlled burns, I don't believe as much research goes into the details, but in theory the fires are smaller and slower than a wild bushfire like the ones we are seeing, which again gives animals more chance to escape.

@schoolcats

Bloody hell. No wonder you’re furious! How could anyone (with non toxic family) do that? Beyond belief.

@ajandjjmum

Stop twisting yourself inside out to make an excuse for them. Unless the parents are toxic & they’re no contact anyway, there’s no good reason for fucking off & leaving their parents a few miles from the bushfires unless the parents are fully fit and able to sort themselves out and if they were I doubt Schoolcats would be so furious. Some people are just beyond belief.

I’ve just read her next post. See they’re just selfish!!

@FreckledLeopard I’m pleased to hear your DD is safe and not too near the fires 🌷

@jcurve that’s very positive news. I hope they can stay home now & the fires stay away from their village!

@Zippetydoodahzippetyay. Thank you for that. It’s a shame the govt doesn’t take more advice from the indigenous people...but then that’s gives all over for you isn’t it. 🙄

If she'd hopped over to New Zealand for a short break where she could get back at the drop of a hat then I'd perhaps be less judgemental than I am being but a 20 hour flight (she's gone to Mexico) is ridiculous.

I'm in Melbourne. It's really smoky this week, though not as bad as Canberra. So many donations and fundraisers going on here. People are really generous. I work in an area allied to an emergency service and we got a text over the weekend with a specific shopping list for a particular region, if we wanted to donate. Our small team filled a large car with goods.

This is lovely. twitter.com/reardon_shaun/status/1213068463045918721?s=19

@schoolcats - wow, that is selfish!!

BestOption
I asked for clarification and schoolcats gave it. There was no twisting going on - your reaction is a little OTT.