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Original poster

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

687 replies

TheClaws · 31/12/2019 00:46

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.

OP posts:
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13
ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 31/12/2019 07:23

I will donate, but this is beyond donating.

I'm sorry to go the full Greta on people, these environmental catastrophes are man made, are we have to do something about it.

MotorwayDiva · 31/12/2019 07:25

I lived near the UK moors fires last year and that was terrible enough, scarily the reservoirs where at one of the lowest points I'd seen after that incident. I can't begin to imagine the impact of larger fires in a country with much less rain fall, especially longer term too

spingly · 31/12/2019 07:28

@TheClaws I will donate Thanks

StartupRepair · 31/12/2019 07:29

Fireworks going ahead in Melbourne too. Madness. Our climate and our country are broken.

thelikelylass · 31/12/2019 07:30

Yes you are all in my thoughts this morning, the horror of those images and the impact on communities and the environment. Dreadful to see.

Nighttimefreedom · 31/12/2019 07:33

What more will it take to convince our leaders we have to do something about climate change, urgently?
The time to act is now or theres only going to be more of this.

CheshireDing · 31/12/2019 07:37

We used to live in Melbourne and there were NYE fireworks along the Yarra River in the CBD. I expected those to be cancelled tonight out of respect for the rest of their state which is burning.

How poor of thought that they are not cancelled, feels quite sickening actually.

Stuffofawesome · 31/12/2019 07:45

Have friends in Mallacoota. This is so awful for all Australians caught up in it. Thoughts and prayers seem so insufficient

Hepsibar · 31/12/2019 08:00

Poor Australian people and wild life.

It does seem odd that they are still ploughing ahead with their NYr Firework display, you'd think there'd have been enough smoke and particles in the atmosphere.

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 31/12/2019 08:04

It is devastating.

I find the response of the government to continue to invest in fossil fuels bewildering.

placemats · 31/12/2019 08:05

A big thank you for this thread with all the links. My sister and her husband and two dogs are here:

twitter.com/leahmcelrath/status/1211795651643822081

They are safe. Unfortunately, they lost their home. Her husband is a volunteer firefighter and was on stand down, having worked the week before Christmas. They had evacuation plans in place. The house went up very quickly and as much as it is devastating to loose your home I'm so glad they got out safely.

Timmythatyou · 31/12/2019 08:11

It’s awful and of course our thoughts are with them.
Not sure this was the best timing for Kylie’s move to Oz campaign. The country is literally on fire and our governments still do little to tackle climate change.

Fr0g · 31/12/2019 08:13

My thoughts are with all the people and animals at risk.

Including the colleague who didn't appear to question her plans and flew there for a holiday at Christmas.

Can't believe that they are still planning to go ahead with Sydney firewoerks.

gitehn · 31/12/2019 08:17

DH just been speaking to BIL in Oz...

BIL and his wife are worried about the kids as 2 of them have asthma and have apparently been much worse since this properly started. Also his wife who is born and bred Australian and loves her country is saying she is seriously starting to wonder whether they should move to the UK because she thinks this is only going to get worse.

Terrifying.

StartupRepair · 31/12/2019 08:20

@placemats I am so sorry your sister has lost her home.

dottiedodah · 31/12/2019 08:37

Truly terrible situation .Those poor people ,yes I have just now prayed for them .Cannot believe how this has come about .We have relatives in Victoria so obviously feeling anxious for them too.Lets hope something changes as this is happening too often now

NewName73 · 31/12/2019 08:39

Absolutely devastating. We were in California last year when the Paradise Fire struck, although we were never closer than 100 miles from it the air was still very smoky.

Our thoughts are with everyone.

And really hope the Aus government starts to take climate change seriously now ...

DobbyTheHouseElk · 31/12/2019 08:40

My DB lives in QLD. He isn’t affected by fire, but the sky is dark and they are having breathing problems. They have asthma. At the moment the fires are not anywhere near him, but they are near his in-laws up the coast.

It’s terrifying.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/12/2019 08:42

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.
Imagine being one of those people sheltering on the beach at Mallacoota, or someone contemplating the loss of their home and all.their possessions, whilst Sydney throws a party with fireworks.

speakout · 31/12/2019 08:49

It's so sad, for the people and animals too.

I have closer family in NSW and they are living in fear right now.
The decision to go ahead with Sydney fireworks is unbelievably insensitive.
The fire deapartment has banned any bonfires, BBQs, fireworks thoughout Sydney and NSW, yet the city leaders are going ahead anyway. £££ talks.
Who needs a fire celebration when this carnage is all around?

MissChananderlerbong · 31/12/2019 08:53

Thoughts and prayers to you all- I cant imagine what you're going through, the devastation is so vast there doesnt seem to be a way to control it either. It's terrifying.

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.

I hope we all start taking climate change more seriously, these events will just become more common.

Igotthisjustabout · 31/12/2019 08:54

@Nodnol I don't know who you're talking about, but that is awful. No one who is truly christian would think that evil thought. What a vile person Sad
I know a few people on the thread don't believe, but have been praying in the night and will continue.
Is there somewhere we can donate for aid or supplies? (Probably a silly question as people are trapped)

KaptainKaveman · 31/12/2019 08:55

I have just been reading about this on the Guardian website - it's really really catastrophic. Sad.

Very sorry to hear about so many people's relatives and friends being affected.

The Australian PM seems like a bit of an absent figure in all this - what is the general perception of him in Aus right now?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/12/2019 08:56

@Igotthisjustabout. the OP has posted a link further up for donations.

Igotthisjustabout · 31/12/2019 08:58

@EmmaGrundyForPM thank you

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