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'm astonished that the fireworks display in Sydney went ahead given the awful situation, not just today but over the last several weeks. Why isn't the government spending that money to help fight the fires - drafting in more equipment, people etc. Even if the money spent on fireworks couldn't be diverted, it must be like a slap in the face for those directly affected by the fires. Bad judgement.

Trump, Johnson, Morrison, Bolsonaro and others are probably the worst leaders to have at this point of climate crisis.

I'm kind of wishing Australians would storm their PM's NYE party tonight...

I'm beyond worried for our future.

Many people may not have been able to get/afford insurance for bush fires, there have been similar problems in Christchurch with earthquake insurance.

Those fireworks were an absolute bloody disgrace! People on Twitter in Syndey have said that the air is thick with smoke from the fires, and yet they still go ahead with that?

@colouringinpro apparently there are plans in place to interrupt Scottys little party. 🤫😉

this is the lunchtime news from BBC. Its showing the Sydney fireworks whilst the "Top News" tickertape along the bottom talks of thousands of people taking shelter on the beaches whilst their homes burn around them. It's appalling that the celebrations went ahead

It does seem really bad that
Bit of an odd decision

If they had no insurance then more fool them.

What a crass thing to say.
Insurance for people living in rural areas prone to bushfires is hideously expensive, but someone has to tend the land, raise animals etc.

Often people living in these areas are already marginalised and sufferering poverty, some first nation people etc, those who can't afford to live in the cities or close to the coast.

When it comes to wildfires all people are affected, but the poor are especialy vulnerable.

But hey more fool them for being poor eh?

Also there is a huge assumption insurance would pay out for this and if it did it would pay quickly
Both extremely unlikely

My in-laws lost their house and pretty much everything else in the black Saturday fires. It took insurance about 8 months to settle. They wanted to rebuild, but because it was now a bush fire zone... the cost was 5 times what they were insured for (even though the bushfire had destroyed all the vegetation and therefore risk of future fires for at least a decade) fortunately they had enough support and savings to make it through but so many didn’t - lots of people living in tents and caravans in a Victorian winter waiting for insurance to pay out... those are the ones the Red Cross helps.

TheClaws, thinking of you and everyone else on the thread who's affected.

Hope you don't have to evacuate, but stay safe if you do.

I can't believe they went ahead with the fireworks.

Hopefully fireworks all over the world will be reconsidered in the near future seeing how bad they are for wildlife and the environment. Waste of money and resources too.

The BBC were equally foolish with their choice of news about the fireworks in Auckland as they spoke about them erupting. A much smaller scale I know but still.

@colouringinpro - leaders? I don’t think that title fits. Also read today that the NSW Emergency Services Minister has decided it might be smart cut short his European tour with his family today.
Barnaby Joyce has been telling the constituents who elected him that maybe all this climate change stuff is part of “God’s Plan”. And has sent in his $680,000 expenses claim via text message.
Our Government has only spent 45 days actually sitting in parliament. They are so bloody corrupt.

justilou1 45 days? That is a fucking scandal.
My two pence worth from the UK. None of this is the ‘fault’ of ordinary people just trying to live their lives. The fact is the political classes, most of them, have probably understood that this was coming for thirty years or so, but they made calculated choices not to inform the populace properly on the grounds of short-termism and not knowing how they would deal with mass panic and the need for extraordinary policy change and behaviour change.

My heart bleeds for anyone caught up in this. But we must hold politicians – who are supposed to lead their populations – to account. Things have to change or we’re really over, and it won’t be pretty.
Sending love to anyone who’s coping in this shit.

Oh wow.

Very well done to all those posters who said “what about...”

At this point, on this thread, where compassion and thoughts were asked for, well done you for taking this opportunity to make it all about you and getting on your particular soap box to rant about;

Politics - and who you did and didn’t vote for
Religion - and who or what you believe in
Money - who has what, and how much
Actions - who did or didn’t leave their homes on time

Fucking victim blaming on a massive scale

While people and animals and the world burns

Yay for you getting your point across.

Happy New Year.

Frankly, if God hasn’t noticed already, then me praying isn’t going make any difference.

It is awful. Please dont ask people to pray though, you dont know if they are religious. You may be surprised to hear that it is offensive to be asked to pray, especially in a group setting, embarassing too. I try very hard to never offend people with any faith but many tread on my toes ( meant gently)

My sister is fully insured as is her neighbour, who lost their house too.

They had NO OPTION but to leave if they wanted to save their lives. I do hope they get some recompense.

And yes, they are fully aware of poorer neighbours who stayed on.

Great posts astrogirl My sister was appalled at the election result but not at all surprised.

They honestly thought that the fires would pass them by. However, the live embers were shocking! The roar of the fire was alarming too.

But I feel for everyone involved- including my own friends and family. Might I suggest political lobbying is probably the best practical thing to do?

You can always say a non religious prayer.

I never thought for one moment I would know anyone who would be caught up in this.

My sister who is non religious like myself is comforted by all those who send best wishes.

placemats

Wish all the best to you and yours. I’m keeping fingers crossed for mine

GirlDownUnder and everyone else and best wishes.

Just about to ring my family. I'm exhausted but at least I slept in my own bed last night.

Money - who has what, and how much

This is relevant though, compassion for the people who cannot get insurance. Not the snarky comments about it being their fault or being stupid but it's very relevant. There are countless people who no doubt will be affected by it just as there are people in Christchurch who lost everything in the earthquake who had been unable to get insurance - that's a tragedy for everybody who has been in that situation in Australia, New Zealand and the UK (and elsewhere) who has lost their home and more so for people who were, sadly, uninsured.

@GirlDownUnder spot on.
Just do what you do to wish someone well and hope for the best but don't get on a soapbox this isn't the time or place
Wishing everyone affected a safe night.