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 have to say I’m disappointed with the amount of posters that took aim at the ‘prayers’ part of my OP. It really should have been clear that what I was asking for was support and kindness. Of course I know that actual actions help more. That is obvious. This thread was intended to create awareness of our situation, and to be honest, I hesitated over the word ‘prayer’. I’m not the most religious person myself. But I felt if others were, and that was their preferred medium of comfort, you never know.
We’re in an awful situation.

Thank you to those who have understood where I am coming from.

Im not overly Religious. Although I do very much believe in and have a good relationship with God and I do believe in the power of Prayer.
Like most people I just wish there was something practical I can do.

Prayers were duly said around the world, OP. May God give strength and succour to those affected.

There is a news report that a sudden change of wind has kept the fire back from the shore at Mallacoota where firefighters had been preparing a last stand.

What a nightmare responsibility for those firefighters.

Just to reiterate how frustrated Australians are, almost every single one of these fire fighters are volunteers, dealing with a lack of equipment and training. They are risking their lives and leaving their families behind (and skipping work for this!) losing money for the privilege of risking their lives and serious injuries, etc...
We have been having serious fires all around the country since SEPTEMBER and this a map of the last week’s fires only ....
Already we have lost an an area of land the size of the UK to fires.
Our PM is going to fly out to India on his new plane in a few days to flirt with mining magnates again.

An area the size of the UKMy
Those volunteers are absolute diamonds

This frightening clip of firefighters driving through raging fires happened in Nowra in the last day or so. Australia’s unpaid volunteer firefighters have been fighting fires for months now without barely any help from our government. They are using hoses, when there were planes that could been made available to fight more of these fires. The government would not help and they just ignored the fires. The PM even went on a holiday..

Shame on the Australian government!

www.news.com.au/national/nsw-and-victorian-bushfires-wreak-havoc-and-destruction/live-coverage/fb3443775d5d2b365ba1c583046dc865

justilou

I've said it before and I'll say it again - prayer without practical action is just useless virtue-signalling (and I speak as a practising Christian and a lay minister). People need to get off their arses and do what they can.

I can't believe that your twat of a PM has squandered money on shit like coffee-carts, and upgrading luxury government items when people are dying, and fire-fighters are struggling without the equipment they need (though I could see Boris doing the same)

I was reading this earlier and it broke my heart
www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-27/bushfires-devastate-ancient-forests-and-rare-wildlife/11733956

Even if the rains came today and deluged your country, and put out every fire in hours, the damage done is irreparable. It is heartbreaking - the more so because it is unnecessary and was avoidable. Even now, if "Scummy" took some action, something could be done, and more importantly, a signal could be sent to the rest of the fossil-fuel burning world - but it seems that he won't.

My heart aches for you, for your country and for the world.

@Swisskit Well if someone can show me how praying will actually offer any help to those people stuck in such a disastrous situation then I'd be glad to see it.

Prayer brings comfort - to those who and prayed for, knowing that they aren't forgotten, and to those who pray, who feel that God is giving strength and courage and Divine support to those who are struggling and suffering.

It keeps focus and attention on the horror that is taking place- when someone is praying, they are giving the flu force of the thoughts to it, and that focus isn't dismissed during the day when other things - work, children, life - intrude.

And don't make the mistake of assuming that people who pray, only pray - we don't. We raise money, we organise things, we put pressure where possible on the people who can do something about it.

You may despise religion, but it has motivated some amazing good in the world. (And don't come back with "If there was no religion there wouldn't be wars", because yes there would. Or "Horrible things have been done in the name of religion" - that's true - but horrible things have been done by irreligious people, too.)

If you don't believe - that's fine. It is your right and your freedom - but don't be so dismissive of people who are doing what they can, and who feel that God gives them the strength and courage to continue. They aren't just saying"Stop this, God" - many, if not most, are getting off their arses and doing what they can physically and financially, too.

Prayer and practical help aren't mutually exclusive. It's not that we can only do one or the other.

People need to get off their arses and do what they can

There's literally nothing I can do from Sydney for my friend and others like her in East Gipps.

I already vote non-Lib, I donate to the RFS, I take my kids on climate marches, I don't eat meat, don't drive, don't take plane trips, I didn't go to the bloody fireworks - if saying a prayer makes my friend feel thought of and comforted at a moment when she didn't know what had happened to her house, and didn't know where her firey boys were, then I'll bloody well say a prayer!!

Really don't appreciate being told to 'get off my arse'.

Schadenfreude I am not religious (and not from a Christian family either) but I want to stand up and applaud your post.

The link I posted further up shows just how intense the fires are and how quickly the fires cross the road. Embers can blow six kilometres away. These fires are so intense they can cause their own storms.

I have to say arguing about prayers to those Australians who are frightened of the state of our country is like jamming it down our throats. Don’t you think we have had enough from our Religious PM who sends his thoughts and prayers and does nothing to help unless he feels the opposition might get the edge. He has spent a nice day at Kirribilli House today after hosting a party last night. Kirribilli House is on Sydney Harbour. They would have had a nice view of the NYE fireworks while thousands were trapped by fires all around Australia. Makes us sick.

Climate Change is here and the Australian government denying it while lying about the amount of emissions caused by Australia’s fossil fuels will cause the rising temperatures to accelerate much faster in the world.

Really don't appreciate being told to 'get off my arse'.

Well quite! And you’re already doing more than most

But for anyone that wants to actually do something apart from telling others what they should and shouldn’t do, here’s a helpful list.

Cash donations to Red Cross, Salvos, or fire services are best. Gifts of goods and food are hard to distribute & take resources from more urgent assistance.

www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-01/bushfire-relief:-how-you-can-help-frontline-services/11835156

Key points
~Monetary donations can often be one of the most useful ways to help services like charities, fire brigades and animal rescue
~Charities like Givit can help facilitate the distribution of material goods, while avoiding the donation of unwanted, random items
~People are encouraged not to drop donated items off to affected areas as this can sometimes hamper efforts

Im an atheist but I get the sentiment of the OP.

I’ve been following this and think it’s disgusting to see the response of the Australian PM. Also I am stunned and shocked that volunteers are dealing with this!? Volunteers!!!

And being on the other side of the world there’s little I can do other than donate, and I will.

There’s such a disconnect between our hideous prime minister and the bravery of the firefighters and residents at the frontlines of this situation. I need to remember this when I get depressed about the politics in Australia. There are so many good people in this country. I’m thinking of them all on this gloomy New Year’s Day

Just hearing that the ash is changing the atmosphere creating lightning storms creating new fires

@bluetongue - yes, but he’s supposed to be a normal bloke... I hesitate to have an opinion in real life as I’m an expat and not allowed , but he’s as true blue as it gets, but truly doesn’t care about his country.

Can we all respond to the OP with generosity and courtesy, please? Even those posting here who have no concept of empathy? or who don’t understand the OP is talking about a catastrophe in which real people, and thousands of animals, are dying?

If you don't believe in G-d, donate to one of the relief funds. Or just send a kind message to any Aussies you know who might be affected.

@birdsarecute45

Thank you - I'm pleased that at least one person can see where I'm coming from.

If people say "I'm praying" there's a rage from atheists who say "What's the good of prayer?" Prayer is a lot of good if it makes the prayed for feel better, and especially stimulates the prayer to do more.

I was just trying to point out that prayer alone isn't enough - and that most people who pray are all aware of that - and that we have to be as proactive as we can - whether that is donating, physically helping (where possible), lobbying politicians to do something about the way we get our energy - whatever.

I'm not picking on any individual - not even you @JanesKettle - and I'm sorry you took it so personally, though I don't know why you did. I didn't single anyone out, and nor would I because I don't know what you anyone is or isn't doing. However I can't help your feelings, and if it makes you feel better, rant away at me.

Some people are not in a position to do anything other than pray, or send good wishes. Are you saying they shouldn't do this because it's just "thoughts" and of no practical use?

Others are in a position to help in one way or another (eg financially) but don't - is this not worse?

@SchadenfreudePersonified - I agree with you. If you are already doing what you can to help, then prayers or thoughts can help.

But if you COULD do more practically and choose not to, then your prayers are hypocritical.

I am horrified at what is happening in Australia. I have donated and you are in my thoughts

Pollution in New Zealand from the Australian bush fires over 2000km away, the impact of these fires is being grossly under estimated by people who aren't seeing it first hand or hearing from family.

We are now sick with worry about my sister and now my brother. Neither can leave, sis in an evacuation centre, but both are safe for the present.

I agree that the msm has downplayed this. But you know, let's all support the cricket team to bolster national pride and take our minds of the very, very dire and dangerous situation.

I must admit op I came close to not opening the thread due to the prayer thing however I am so glad I have read it all as I genuinely had not previously understood the full scale of this until now. It is a shame you used that word as it is has distracted from the thread a lot but I do genuinely understand where you were coming from and you have definitely helped to raise awareness.

@placemats It sounds bloody horrific. Your family are in my thoughts. I do hope that they come through this ok