Bushfires in Australia

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Hi Daniel,

Sadly the latest reports suggest that 31 fires in Victoria remain out of control and are still threatening towns and properties. People are still dying in these fires, and the weather is expected to get really nasty this weekend.

Patrick, thanks for your comments. There's no doubt that declining rainfall and increasing temperatures resulting from climate change will make tragic scenes like this more common in the future, with or without idiotic mass murderers.
 
Hi Planeteers,

The news from the bushfires in Victoria is terrible. According to the latest news there are still hundreds of people unaccounted for and there are grave fears for many of them.

At least 23 fires are still burning out of control and an expected change in the weather this weekend threatens to renew their intensity.

To date 181 people have been killed in the fires and this number could reach 300. Over 1,000 homes have been destroyed. A million native animals have perished.

The good news is that the entire country has rallied in support of the fire victims. Prayers and offers of support have come in from almost every country in the world and they are greatly appreciated by all Australians.

Sadly, we are now bracing ourselves for the possibility of more fires, more deaths and still more destruction of homes, businesses and entire communities.
 
i'm safe n sound in Sydney (for the time being) but i have one friend who has lost their house (only moved into it 2 weeks ago).

Whats really hit home is an email i recieved asking me to donate suits so the dead can have a decent burial.........luckly i've put on some weight since the last time i needed a suit so i have 2 never worn items on there way to a better cause than mine.

and for my 2 cents worth, the Australian Govt should declare this as an act of terrorism and hit the low life scum that caused this with the full force of the law, as trying to charge them for murder will not be an easy task
 
Glad to hear you are still about Ian (& by extension, Kim also)

Sorry to hear about your friend & losing his place.

The idea of charging them with Terrorism is actually the sanest suggestion I have heard to date Ian.

Given the scale of destruction, and the loss of life, it would make sense to charge them as such.

Warmest regards

PS; Matthew, thanks for that youtube link. With all the media flogging the bad news, its a relief to have some good news. Muchly appreciated.
 
Hi Planeteers,

First the good news. Firefighters have been able to get the upper hand on many of the most dangerous fires in the past 24 hours, thanks to some calm weather and a massive effort cutting firebreaks and containment lines.

Residents of burned out towns are starting to return to what is left of their homes and communities, and start the painful task of salvaging the remnants of their former lives.

The people of Australia have donated over $50 million in the past 2 days to the Bushfire Relief Fund. Some of the people in flood ravaged Queensland who were eligible to receive $1000 in relief funding to help them recover from weeks of flooding have donated this money to help the bushfire victims. Wow, that really sums up the national response to these tragic fires.

It should not be forgotten that while Victoria has suffered the worst fires in our history, the floods in north queensland are the second worst in our history, and some communities have been cut off by flood waters for four weeks, and the wet season is still only half way through. The floods cover an area of Queensland four times the size of Great Britain.

The little koala "Sam" in the YouTube video is recovering in one of the many native wildlife shelters in Victoria. Sadly, many koalas and other native animals perished in the fires and many more will starve in the days and weeks to come because there is no food for them.

The bad news is that the fires are still burning and more hot weather and strong winds are forecast.

Every Australian is grateful for the expressions of support and sympathy that have been coming in from around the world.
 
Tony,
This morning i heard that there is the possibility that two fire's are come together becoming bigger then the area that is burned down.
What is gonna happing then. Is Melbourne in danger???

Marc
 
Marc,

The biggest threat to Melbourne will come from the loss of native forests in its water catchment areas, and the prospect of winter rains washing hundreds of millions of tonnes of top soil, ash and debris from the fire zones into the rivers and creeks feeding into the dams and contaminating the city's water supply.

The prospect of the two largest fires north east of Melbourne joining together is still very real, but the tireless work of the volunteer firefighters and the Army seems to have averted that danger for the time being. There are at least two dozen fires burning in Victoria as I write this, although most of them are in remote rural areas a long way from Melbourne.
 
Without doubt there is a resilience and strength in the psyche of people who settle a 'new' country
"Some of the people in flood ravaged Queensland who were eligible to receive $1000 in relief funding to help them recover from weeks of flooding have donated this money to help the bushfire victims." says it all.
Tough time and tough times to come but the people are tougher by far.

Derek
 
To all the Australians,
You all are constantly in our prayers and thoughts. We have also had you all listed on our prayer line at church.
John and Maureen
 
Hi Derek and John,

Thank you both for your warm thoughts and prayers.

Australians from all around the country have opened their hearts and their wallets to help the survivors of the Victorian Bushfires like never before. Like hundreds of thousands of Aussies I've donated money on behalf of my family and also on behalf of my business and my clients to the Bushfire Relief Fund.

I hope no one thinks I'm being presumptive, but I've also donated $100 to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund on behalf of Planet Figure and all its members. It's a small gesture of practical assistance on behalf of all my friends in the global community of figure modelling.

Its also my way of thanking all of you and acknowledging your concern, your compassion, your thoughts and prayers for my fellow countryman in their time of need.
 
Hi Tony;

Been following the horrific stories very closely, as my neighbor is currently on a teacher exchange close to Inverloch, Victoria. Nic, his Australian exchange partner (my temporary neighbor) assures me his house is safe, but of course he has been watching the internet very closely. So to help out, my school (of 2400 students) will be doing some fundraisers over the next few weeks in order to send a contribution to the Australian Red Cross. I know it's a small gesture, but it might be helpful to know that there are people all over the world who will do something in their own small way. The World has become to small a place for us to remain on the sidelines in times of trouble, so I guess we're all neighbors now. I hope that thought can be of some comfort.
 
Some arrests have been made

after helping police with their inquires, it seems some indivuduals are about to be placed under arrest.

I heard this on the radio, so hopefully some of the fire bugs will be locked up

Names of the arrested expected to be released soon.

Thanks to all for your ongoing support.
 
While I feel for the folks that have lost so much and my thoughts and best wished go out to them, I do feel a great sense of loss for the animals that have suffered through this. Both domestic and more importantly the wild life. While people will rebuild and get relief aid and eventually recover, the devastating loss to one of the areas most precious resources, its unique wild life, will never recover to a level that will sustain its continued place. Human encroachment will far surpass their habitat and areas once though of as havens will now be devoid of some of the worlds greatest assets. There is no relief fund on a scale of human need or caring that will step in and help. Its for them that I truly feel bad for. Even domestic animals will take a hit as a result of this as seen after Katrina and the CA fires. Much is the shame.

The long term effects of these heinous crimes will seriously impact the areas destroyed as water, agriculture, population and commerce will seriously reel. It is a great sign of mans resiliance, ingenuity and resourcefulness to rebuild his own habitat and condition but it is a greater sign of his compassion and awareness to help those that cannot help themselves.

I sincerely hope that the culprits are brought to justice .....and then turned over to the citizens of the areas effected.

Best wishes and thoughts to those members of the Planet that are touched by this and to all the folks and animals in the area. If after the dust settles and things start to rebuild, take an extra buck or two one day and send it to the wildlife centers and humane shelters.

Regards,
Mike
 
Hi Glenn and Mike,

Thank you both for your thoughts and your comments.

Glenn please let the children and teachers at your school know that any amount they can raise to help the bushfire survivors will be gratefully appreciated. It's truly heartwarming to know that so many people around the world have been motivated to help, and to do what they can to contribute to the reconstruction of so many shaterred lives and communities on the other side of the planet. God bless you all.


Mike, the loss of native animals and native habitat for those animals is incalculable, however native flora and fauna are remarkably resilient to fire and will in time recover. Fire is a natural force in the Australian bush and is necessary to promote regeneration and growth in many species.

The murdering bastards who lit these fires will be caught and when they do they'll probably have be placed in solitary confinement for the rest of their lives for their own protection. They certainly wouldn't last long in the general prison population, where a more arbitary form of justice will be dispensed without mercy.
 
To all those from Overseas who have contributed to this thread -thank you.

On tonight's news a man has been charged with lighting one of the fires that killed 21 people. Unfortunately they do exist.
 
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