To ask you to pray for the thousands of people trapped on a beach by fires in Victoria?

[TheClaws]

There are 4000 people from the town of Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia, that is currently being destroyed by fire. They most likely won’t have homes to return to. They all have life jackets on ready to take shelter in the water as embers rain down upon them. Fire personnel have just - as I post - told them to get in the water. Can you imagine how they must feel?

Australia at the moment is burning across 4 states. Where I am it is 45c and the smell of smoke is heavy. It is a terrible summer for us.

I can't believe they are going ahead with the Fireworks. They argue that they've already spent the money but that's a sunk cost fallacy. The money has been spent whether or not the fireworks go ahead but the message it sends out if they cancel is important

Exactly this!

For some privileged people to celebrate and enjoy a ridiculously expensive party while others are being made homeless, animals- wild and domestic - in their tens of millions are being burned alive, the country scorched and desperate for water - it demonstrates a contempt for suffering that would be had to equal anywhere, in any age.

The suffering is beyond imagination.

DISGUSTING!

@JanesKettle this news is more hopeful. Thank you for the update. Let's keep hoping for more better news.

I just can’t believe the attitudes and the way it is being dealt with. These poor people and animals. The arrogance of continuing NYE celebrations when part of the country is suffering like this. To everyone putting their life on the line to help I wish you all the very best.

This thread was 150 posts in before anyone mentioned the real things people could do to help - donate to the Red Cross so they can actually do something to help those affected by the fire

Australia is a rich country and doesn't need donations. There are plenty of places around the world where very poor people are suffering from natural disasters where money is more needed.

I feel desperately sorry for everyone affected by the fires but what people really need are government policies which minimise the risk of further damage.

Minty - I know that this doesn't comfort anyone - and that's not what I'm saying - what I am saying is that fundamentalists are NOT Christian, no matter what they claim. If this man is an end-timer he will have his own dangerous agenda on this.

None of us should do things, or allow things to be done, which harm others - on the contrary we should be doing everything we can to protect this beautiful world and all of the life in it.

In better news, the first hour of the ABC NYE broadcasting had raised just under $500,000. Which is a start.

I didnt realise people were being asked to get in the water, imagine that with kids and your belongings. What do you even take? Youd have to leave so much behind.

Including your pets in many cases. Can you imagine having to abandon a beloved animal in this sort of situation? And what about people who are bedfast and live alone except for carers? How have those poor souls managed? Have their neighbours remembered them, or is the panic to get your own children and loved ones to safety something that would push everything else out of your mind?

It's dreadful - truly dreadful!

I don't know why people are saying I have a lack of humanity etc. when I was just pointing out the hypocrisy of those who seem to be picking and choosing which sections of humanity they care enough to pray about.

I think it is entirely possible to agree that climate change is fast approaching as an apocalyptic force, AND feel very compassionate towards those suffering in Australia. I certainly hold both these views simultaneously , as do many others on the board. Nobody is saying 'they deserve it' or anything of the kind. Calm down some of you.

Australia is a rich country and doesn't need donations

The U.K. is a very rich country. That doesn’t mean people don’t suffer.

The Red Cross are there, on the ground, providing emergency relief. They wouldn’t be there if the government was doing enough.

Tara you have no idea who anyone is praying about. No one has said, "Pray for the Australians but not the brown people."

what I am saying is that fundamentalists are NOT Christian, no matter what they claim. If this man is an end-timer he will have his own dangerous agenda on this.

And who are you to judge that?
This is the "no true scotsman" fallacy.

I have close family living in Australia, fundamental baptists. THey follow the "word of the lord" very closely, all their views are completely supported by the bible.

Hrtft but if you'd been to Mallacoota you wouldn't choose to evacuate. The road is narrow through forest alnost all the way to the junction with the highway. I'd much rather be on the beach where it's safe.

Schadenfreude - yes to both those posts, but Emma the issue is that Australia may be very rich, but that is of no use if those with the money refuse to spend it in ways that help this situation.

I was suggesting on a local news site that the packed Sydney hotels could get a $1 donation per booking/ per bed/ per night during the nye week. The number of posts complaining that they'd saved up for their visits to Sydney and they'd be damned if they'd pay anymore. I was talking $8 on a $800-$8000 bill! There is a hugely vocal group that will always say "well nobody has ever helped me", whether it's immigration, maternity leave, public health.

Very distressing.

The heat has broken in the last couple of hours, opened the windows, smoke, closed windows.

Am going to ignore it all now, too much, but thank you so much to all those kind hearts, whether donating, saying prayers, or having an eco- rant. I appreciate them all.

Thanks for Red Cross donation links all:) x

@astrogirl99 I agree with everything you have said.

For the pp that asked, Scummo is Scott Morrison, our right wing, coal loving fundamentalist Prime Minister. He’s despicable.

TinklyLittleLaugh
Tara you have no idea who anyone is praying about. No one has said, "Pray for the Australians but not the brown people."

Fair enough. Please can you point me in the direction of the thread which asks everyone to pray for the victims of the Philippines typhoon?

For the pp that asked, Scummo is Scott Morrison, our right wing, coal loving fundamentalist Prime Minister. He’s despicable.

I have been watching his movements- ones on proposals for religious freedoms are despicable.

I was suggesting on a local news site that the packed Sydney hotels could get a $1 donation per booking/ per bed/ per night during the nye week. The number of posts complaining that they'd saved up for their visits to Sydney and they'd be damned if they'd pay anymore. I was talking $8 on a $800-$8000 bill! There is a hugely vocal group that will always say "well nobody has ever helped me", whether it's immigration, maternity leave, public health.

This horrible, greedy, "what's mine is mine and I want more" attitude is one of the things which has caused the climate change problem in the first place. Our greedy consumer society.

It seems that for some people, too much is never enough; Their wants are more important than other people's desperate needs. They are the Sharon Osbornes of the world, who will force an employee to risk their life for a bit of lifeless paint-on-canvas. Priorities are all wrong.

I can't even begin to imagine the suffering involved in this hideous conflagration, and I can understand even less the attitudes of people who won't part with a penny to save a life.

Fair enough. Please can you point me in the direction of the thread which asks everyone to pray for the victims of the Philippines typhoon?

There may not be a thread Tara, but I can assure you that they are prayed for, in my church and many others.

But prayers without action are empty. People - whether they believe in God ornate - have to be proactive in giving practical help and support where they can, and in any way they can. To me, this includes (but is not limited to, prayer.

@TheClaws we have an out of control fire burning just 4 miles from our doorstep. It's looking likely it was deliberately lit and I don't know if I should be heartbroken or relieved that the wind is blowing it away from us tonight. There's no winners. I'm not religious but I'd dance naked down the street right now if I thought it would help.

*or not, not ornate

It's looking likely it was deliberately lit

What the fuck is wrong with some people?

Mintymabel - I used to live in the East Gippsland and it is so sad to see the destructio

However, I will not donate to one of the wealthiest countries in the world, who do bugger all with their wealth to look after the ancient environment we are lucky enough to live in.

We promote the development of more and more remote communities - totally reliant on polluting cars, etc to exist.5 % of our electricity comes from solar power, 5% from hydro and 2% from wave - in a country which has huge natural resources what do we do - burn coal!!

Sorry i will not donate to patch ups, when we will not address the real issues.

ispepsiokay blessings to you.