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Did we underestimate the health effects of the Black Summer bushfires?

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>Research led by the Australian National University (ANU) has discovered undocumented health problems among people exposed to bushfire smoke. This suggests that the physical and mental impacts of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/climate/what-fuelled-australias-black-summer-fires/" target="_blank">Black Summer fires</a> were more extensive than previously thought.</p> <p>The team surveyed more than 2000 residents of areas around Canberra, Australia’s capital city, who were affected by widespread bushfires during the deadly summer of 2019–20. The survey asked a range of questions about physical and mental symptoms, as well as their behavioural changes during that time.</p> <p>“We found that almost every single respondent to our survey experienced at least one physical health symptom that they attributed to the smoke,” says Iain Walker, co-author of the study and a professor of psychology at ANU.</p> <p>The most common physical symptoms were coughing and eye and throat irritation.</p> <p>“In addition, about one-half of our respondents reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as sleep loss,” says Walker.</p> <p>But less than one-fifth of respondents (17%) went to a medical practitioner for help, and only 1% went to hospital. This means that the official rate of people presenting to the health system as a result of bushfire smoke is almost certainly much lower than the actual number of people affected.</p> <p>Walker explains: “It is likely that official statistics greatly underestimate the prevalence of health problems because of the major hurdles in the way of anyone presenting into the system, and we think many residents were motivated to avoid overburdening the health system at a time when it was stretched.”</p> <p>We have long known that bushfire smoke can cause health problems. It contains a mix of particles and gases that can be transported by wind through the atmosphere, including fine particulate matter (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) that impact the functioning of the respiratory and cardiac systems, as well as impair the immune system.</p> <p>Every year, 340,000 premature deaths <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2010.01868.x" target="_blank">can be attributed</a> to bushfire smoke around the world, and during the Black Summer, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50511" target="_blank">millions of people</a> were exposed to extreme levels of air pollution.</p> <p>This new research from ANU highlights that bushfire smoke affects mental health as well as physical health.</p> <p>Some of the mental effects were direct, such as anxiety and stress, and others were secondary, such as disruption to normal routines – the likes of sleep and exercise – that promote wellbeing.</p> <p>There was also, Walker says, “significant disruption to relationships with friends, family and community, which are all things that help maintain our wellbeing”.</p> <p>Some of these impacts may sound familiar from COVID-19 lockdowns, but this data was collected in February and March 2020, meaning there was minimal overlap.</p> <p>This adds to the relatively few studies that look directly at the impacts of bushfire smoke on psychological health and wellbeing, separate from exposure to bushfires in general.</p> <p>But while a survey is a good way to gather information from a large number of people, it does have limitations, says Brian Oliver, a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/we-know-bushfire-smoke-affects-our-health-but-the-long-term-consequences-are-hazy-129451" target="_blank">respiratory researcher</a> at the University of Technology Sydney and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.</p> <p>For example, he says, it is difficult to get a baseline with which to compare the responses.</p> <p>“It’s not clear from the study whether or not they’ve actually compared these people’s symptoms to a similar period,” says Oliver. “So for example, are these the people that would visit a health care professional regularly anyway?”</p> <p>But Oliver says this is still valuable work, especially since it is “incredibly difficult” to access healthcare records in Australia to obtain similar information.</p> <p>“In the Netherlands, for example, there’s one database…and your whole medical history is there,” he says. “But in Australia, we’re not set up for that, so this is a really nice snapshot of something that will allow other researchers to build upon it with more detailed, investigative-type studies.”</p> <p>Walker agrees that it’s becoming increasingly important to investigate the health effects of bushfire smoke.</p> <p>“We have known for some time from the climate science that the frequency, intensity and severity of bushfires in Australia will increase, so it’s something we need to learn to adapt to,” he says. “Part of that is understanding the consequences of things like exposure to bushfire smoke.”</p> <p>Walker recalls that during the Black Summer, the bushfire smoke was so intense in Canberra that it was constantly setting off smoke alarms at all ANU buildings. It was a logistical nightmare – to the point that the university had to close the campus.</p> <p>“It’s kind of a little microcosm of what happens in that sort of widespread catastrophe,” he says. “Services – service support, service delivery – are stretched beyond capacity.”</p> <p>Not only are disasters like bushfires expected to increase, but they are also likely to cascade into each other – imagine, for example, if the Black Summer had overlapped with the peak of COVID.</p> <p>“Broadly, I think we as a nation need to look closely at our various health systems and the ability to cope with a massive surge in demand,” Walker says, referring to not just hospital admissions but access to pharmacies, mental health services and more.</p> <p>“We are conducting further studies to understand how bushfires continue to affect the mental health of people impacted by these fires and the smoke, and how we can build resilience among individuals and communities.”</p> <p>Oliver says these kinds of studies are also important so that “the pollies don’t forget that bushfires have devastating consequences.</p> <p>“The more evidence and the more data we have showing that this is actually what happens in the real world when there are bushfire events, the more likely we are to get an appropriate response in the future.”</p> <p>For example, if there were major fires in Canberra, GPs, psychologists or other health services from Sydney could be called in to help share the burden.</p> <p>There are still many unanswered questions around the impacts of bushfire smoke, including the simple fact that we don’t have a good understanding of the long-term health consequences.</p> <p>This is partly due to lack of funding for health-related research. Even after the Black Summer fires, Oliver says that comparatively little funding was put into research around the impacts of smoke – a total of $5 million was <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/5-million-for-bushfire-related-health-research" target="_blank">offered</a> from the federal government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) in January 2020.</p> <p>“For the magnitude of these events, it’s not proportional,” he says. “In general, Australia’s [health funding] is quite low.”</p> <p>He gives Singapore as a comparison: the country has a population one-fifth the size of ours, yet the Singaporean government puts more money into medical research than Australia.</p> <p>“The New South Wales government receives more income from gambling than the federal government spends on health and medical research,” adds Oliver.</p> <p>The study was <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.682402" target="_blank">published</a> in a special edition of the journal <em>Frontiers in Public Health</em> devoted to rapid-response research to bushfires.</p> <em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/health-effects-of-bushfire-smoke/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Lauren Fuge. </em></p> </div> </div>

Body

Princess Eugenie’s touching words after Australian bushfires

<p>Princess Eugenie has shared a throwback photo to when she paid a visit to Australia’s Mogo Wildlife Park, which recently reopened after being threatened with bushfires earlier in the year.</p> <p>The never-before-seen photos from 2009 show Eugenie posing with meerkats at the park, which is located near Batemans Bay in New South Wales, during a trip to see her aunty Jane Ferguson.</p> <p>“I was lucky enough to go to @mogowildlifepark in 2009 whilst visiting my Aunt in Australia,” wrote the Queen’s granddaughter.</p> <p>“It was such an incredible experience to be with the animals and meet such a dedicated team of people supporting these magnificent creatures.”</p> <p>Eugenie then spoke about her “awe” at the zoo’s staff for their determination to protect the park and the animals from the bushfires that ravaged the NSW South Coast in January.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9PAQUJlwOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9PAQUJlwOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">I was lucky enough to go to @mogowildlifepark in 2009 whilst visiting my Aunt in Australia. It was such an incredible experience to be with the animals and meet such a dedicated team of people supporting these magnificent creatures. Mogo Wildlife Park reopened this past weekend after the devastating bushfires threatened the park and lives of the keepers and animals. Chad Staples, the zoo’s director, received a text "leave now to the east towards the beach and shelter in place", but he and his team chose instead to stay and fight the fire to save the park. I'm in awe of how human determination and drive can overcome such terrifying circumstances and I wanted to share this story of hope after what Australia has been through. All my thoughts have been and are with all those who are affected by the fires in Australia. @mogowildlifepark @zookeeper_chad</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Mar 2, 2020 at 6:22am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Chad Staples, the zoo’s director, received a text ‘leave now to the east towards the beach and shelter in place’, but he and his team chose instead to stay and fight the fire to save the park’,” she wrote.</p> <p>“I’m in awe of how human determination and drive can overcome such terrifying circumstances and I wanted to share this story of hope after what Australia has been through.</p> <p>“All my thoughts have been and are with all those who are affected by the fires in Australia”.</p> <p>Instagram users shared those same sentiments, while praising Eugenie for her thoughtful words.</p> <p>“Those keepers at Mogo are absolute heroes,” wrote one user.</p> <p>“The animals would have perished in the fire if they hadn’t stayed and defended. They also took the smaller animals into their own homes for protection. Amazingly brave and dedicated men and women.”</p> <p>Another added, “thank you for supporting the Aussies”.</p>

International Travel

Vets implore those living in bushfire areas to consider their pets safety

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australia’s national vet association are appealing for pet owners to consider their pets’ safety and wellbeing this bushfire season.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People living in bushfire zones will have planned ahead and be prepared for such emergencies, but we can’t stress enough how critical it is that pets are also included in any emergency plans,” said Dr Julia Crawford, President of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Crawford also urged pet owners to ensure that they take the necessary steps to look after their animals in extreme heat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It's crucial to remember that our pets can't perspire in the way humans do and produce only a tiny amount of sweat through their footpads. They cool themselves down by panting, but sometimes this isn't enough, and they start to overheat.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heat stress can occur rapidly, and signs can include noisy panting, seizures, drooling and collapse.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Heat stress can kill your pet, it is an emergency in itself, so it is critical to know the signs and get your pet to a vet as soon as possible,” said Dr Crawford. “This might not always be possible during a bushfire, so it is equally essential that you know how to assist your pet until you can get to a vet”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Place your pet in front of an air conditioner or a fan and put wet towels on the hairless parts of their body, such as footpads and the groin, to help them cool down, and ensure they have access to plenty of cool fresh water.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The AVA recommends an emergency kit for pets ahead of time in case evacuation becomes necessary, which includes non-perishable food and water in spill-proof containers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If it starts to look likely that evacuation may be necessary, try to confine your pets to the safest enclosed room of the house, such as the bathroom, where they can be quickly collected. Make sure you also have your pet’s carry cages and leads on hand, so you don’t have to search for these if the decision is made to leave” said Dr Crawford.</span></p>

Family & Pets

Why celebrity concern about bushfires could do more harm than good

<p>From Australian superstars such as Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Chris Hemsworth and Nicole Kidman to Hollywood heavyweights including Ellen DeGeneres and Bette Midler, a lengthening list of celebrities are helping to shine a spotlight on Australia’s bushfires.</p> <p>Some have donated <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/aussie-celebrities-and-sports-stars-are-pledging-big-donations-to-bushfire-relief-efforts-2020-1">large sums of money </a>and used social media to publicise their donations, encouraging fans to follow suit. Some have used their profile and platforms such as the Golden Globes awards to draw attention to the fires. Others are donating items for auction or appearing in charity events.</p> <p>For attracting attention and money to a cause, celebrity-driven attention is hard to beat. But there’s also a downside. If that interest is superficial and fleeting, it may actually hinder recovery efforts in disaster-ravaged regions.</p> <p>Our research into <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:263209">disaster recovery efforts for Victoria’s Gippsland region</a> after the deadly “Black Saturday” fires in 2009 suggests celebrities’ best contribution needs to be in the weeks and months to come – and requires them putting “boots on the ground”.</p> <p><strong>Negative implications</strong></p> <p>Studies confirm the influence of messages from celebrities, be it <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:227015">brand choice</a>, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235261651_If_Kate_voted_Conservative_would_you_The_role_of_celebrity_endorsements_in_political_party_advertising">political opinion</a> or <a href="https://news.rutgers.edu/news-release/celebrity-endorsements-lead-increases-charitable-donations-public/20130926#.Xh5oEFczaUk">charitable giving</a>.</p> <p>It’s great that celebrities want to use their influence for good causes. Not all celebrity advocacy, though, should be applauded uncritically. One study has suggested it is <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1367877914528532">less effective than sometimes supposed</a> for development causes, and can simplify a complex issue to a single outcome – usually giving money. This fails to address how people can make an ongoing difference in other ways.</p> <p>In terms of natural disasters, a very practical way to help communities recover is the resumption of tourism. Perceptions play a big part in this, and celebrities can play a big part in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1300/J073v02n02_12">forming images</a>. It’s why they have long featured in tourism campaigns, from Paul Hogan in the 1980s to Kylie Minogue and others in the humorously idealised imagery presented by Tourism Australia to Britons a few weeks ago.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QMAq8F8N2Fg"></iframe></div> <p>Now these images are being replaced by the message globally that Australia is “<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/australia-fire-literally-so-are-its-climate-politics-n1104351">on fire, literally</a>”, and that much of the country is an “<a href="https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/australia-is-literally-on-fire-because-of-climate-change-so-why-wont-more-governments-act/">apocalyptic nightmare</a>”.</p> <p><strong>Tourism effects</strong></p> <p>Even if celebrities have the best of intentions, their emotional appeals and shared of images of red skies and smoke-filled cities along with heartbreaking images of devastation and loss can contribute to fans cancelling holidays plans, even while they’re donating to bushfire appeals.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tourism-industry-suffers-as-bushfire-images-scare-off-international-travellers">There are already reports</a>, for example, of tourists aborting plans for visits months away. The <a href="https://qualitytourismaustralia.com/">Australian Tourism Industry Council</a> says cancelled bookings in towns unaffected by the bushfires <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tourism-industry-takes-1b-hit-as-australians-cancel-their-holidays-20200115-p53rr1.html">are up to 60%</a>. The <a href="https://www.atec.net.au/">Australian Tourism Export Council</a> estimates the loss of international bookings will cost the nation <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/tourism/tourism-loses-4-5b-to-bushfires-as-overseas-visitors-cancel-20200116-p53s0s">at least A$4.5 billion</a> in 2020, hurting regional areas the most.</p> <p>It doesn’t help when <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-08/misleading-fire-maps-go-viral-during-australian-bushfire-crisis/11850948">misleading information</a> is spread, as the American singer Rihanna inadvertently did when she <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-08/misleading-fire-maps-go-viral-during-australian-bushfire-crisis/11850948">shared an image on Twitter</a> that exaggerated the size of the bushfires. This image suggested huge swathes of Australia were no-go zones.</p> <p>Ellen Degeneres did something similar in telling her audience “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSWveTGTMBA">nearly a third of their habitat has been destroyed</a>”. This was an exaggerated misstatement of Australia’s environment minister saying <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/govt-is-working-to-address-threats-to-native-species:-ley/11828480">a third of koala habitat in New South Wales</a> had been destroyed.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1447677016300626">Our research confirms</a> the further someone is from a destination in crisis, the more likely they are to be confused about the location and think a greater area is affected.</p> <p>Fires in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales, for example, were called “the "Sydney fires” elsewhere in Australia. Overseas they were referred to as the “Australian bushfires”, confusing domestic and international tourists.</p> <p><strong>Where celebrities can really help</strong></p> <p>So while celebrities might have the very best of motivations, their contribution in generating donations in the short term might be offset by the longer-term effect of amplifying the misconception that Australia is not safe for tourists.</p> <p>This is demonstrated by past experience. After Victoria’s 2009 Black Saturday fires, the Gippsland region experienced a major tourism downturn, despite just 5% of the region being directly affected.</p> <p>But celebrites can also use their mass-pull to aid tourism recovery.</p> <p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10548408.2012.638565">Our research</a> suggests their star power is unmatched as a means to encourage tourists back to regions recovering from disaster.</p> <p>In the case of Gippsland, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10548408.2012.638565">we surveyed 691 people</a> with nine different advertising messages. Themes included solidarity, community readiness and even short-term discounts. We found celebrity endorsement made the greatest impression, with test subjects indicating it made them more likely to visit the region.</p> <p>In the months after the Black Saturday bushfires, former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins and legendary cricketer Shane Warne <a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/02/07/black-saturday-media-moments/">visited affected towns</a>. These highly publicised events sent the message these towns were ready to welcome visitors again.</p> <p>So celebrities can definitely help in the coming weeks and months.</p> <p>They can share positive stories about local communities’ resilience, and maybe even visit.</p> <p>This is likely to do more for recovery efforts in the long term than helping to spruik for donations.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129627/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gabrielle-walters-159430">Gabrielle Walters</a>, Associate Professor, School of Business, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/judith-mair-11132">Judith Mair</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/monica-chien-933029">Monica Chien</a>, Senior lecturer, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/celebrity-concern-about-bushfires-could-do-more-harm-than-good-to-help-they-need-to-put-boots-on-the-ground-129627">original article</a>.</em></p>

Travel Trouble

You’re not the only one feeling helpless: Eco-anxiety can reach far beyond bushfire communities

<p>You’re scrolling through your phone and transfixed by yet more images of streets reduced to burnt debris, injured wildlife, and maps showing the scale of the fires continuing to burn. On the television in the background, a woman who has lost her home breaks down, while news of another life lost flashes across the screen.</p> <p>You can’t bear to watch anymore, but at the same time, you can’t tear yourself away. Sound familiar?</p> <p>We’ve now been confronted with these tragic images and stories for months. Even if you haven’t been directly affected by the bushfires, it’s completely normal to feel sad, helpless, and even anxious.</p> <p>Beyond despairing about the devastation so many Australians are facing, some of these emotions are likely to be symptoms of “<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/b2e7ee32-ad28-4ec4-89aa-a8b8c98f95a5">eco-anxiety</a>”.</p> <p><strong>If you’re feeling down, you’re not alone</strong></p> <p>Research on <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/black-saturday-the-hidden-costs">previous bushfire disasters</a> shows people directly affected are more likely to suffer mental health consequences than those who have not been directly affected.</p> <p>After Black Saturday, about one in five people living in highly affected communities experienced persistent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or psychological distress.</p> <p>Recognising this as a critical issue, the Australian government has announced funding to deliver <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/emergency-health-management/bushfire-information-and-support/australian-government-mental-health-response-to-bushfire-trauma">mental health support</a> to affected people and communities.</p> <p>Government of Victoria</p> <p>But living in an unaffected area doesn’t mean you’re immune. In addition to contending with rolling images and stories of devastation, we’ve seen flow-on effects of the bushfires reach far beyond affected areas.</p> <p>For example, schools and workplaces have been closed, people have been forced to cancel their summer holidays, and sports matches and community events have been called off. This disruption to normal activities can result in uncertainty and distress, particularly for children and young people.</p> <p><strong>What is eco-anxiety?</strong></p> <p>Distress around the current fires may be compounded by – and intertwined with – a pervasive sense of fear and anxiety in relation to climate change-related events.</p> <p>The American Psychological Association defines <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf">eco-anxiety</a> as “a chronic fear of environmental doom”.</p> <p>While concern and anxiety around climate change are normal, eco-anxiety describes a state of being overwhelmed by the sheer scale, complexity and seriousness of the problems we’re facing. It can be accompanied by guilt for personal contributions to the problem.</p> <p>The Australian bushfires may have signalled a “tipping point” for many people who held a passive attitude towards climate change, and even many who have held a more active view of climate denialism. In the face of current circumstances, the crisis of climate change now becomes almost impossible to ignore.</p> <p>While eco-anxiety is not a diagnosable mental disorder, it can have significant impacts on a person’s well-being.</p> <p>Whether you think you’re suffering from eco-anxiety or more general stress and depression about the bushfires, here are some things you can do.</p> <p><strong>We’re pretty resilient, but support helps</strong></p> <p>We’re now living with the environmental consequences of a changing climate, and this requires people to adapt. Fortunately, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0004867417714337">most of us are innately resilient</a>and are able to overcome stress and losses and to live with uncertainty.</p> <p>We can enhance this resilience by connecting with friends and family and positively engaging in our communities. Making healthy choices around things like diet, exercise and sleep can also help.</p> <p>Further, supporting those who are vulnerable has benefits for both the person giving and receiving assistance. For example, parents have a critical role in listening to their children’s concerns and providing appropriate guidance.</p> <p><strong>Become part of the solution</strong></p> <p>Seeking to reduce your own carbon footprint can help alleviate feelings of guilt and helplessness – in addition to the positive difference these small actions make to the environment.</p> <p>This might include walking, cycling and taking public transport to get around, and making sustainability a factor in day-to-day decisions like what you buy and what you eat.</p> <p>Joining one of the many groups advocating for the environment also provides a voice for people concerned about the changing climate.</p> <p>Finally, there are many ways you can provide assistance to bushfire relief efforts. The generosity shown by Australians and others internationally has provided a sense of hope at a time when many are facing enormous hardship.</p> <p><strong>Seeking professional help</strong></p> <p>Some people, particularly those living with unrelated psychological distress, will find it harder to adapt to increased stress. Where their emotional resources are already depleted, it becomes more difficult to accommodate change.</p> <p>Although we don’t yet have research on this, it’s likely people with pre-existing mental health problems will be more vulnerable to eco-anxiety.</p> <p>If this is you, it’s worthwhile seeking professional help if you feel your mental health is deteriorating at this time.</p> <p>Whether or not you have a pre-existing mental health disorder, if you’re feeling depressed or anxious to a degree it’s affecting your work, education or social functioning, you should seek advice from a health professional.</p> <p>Evidence-based psychological interventions like cognitive behavioural therapy <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23870719">reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression</a>, improving mental health and well-being.</p> <p><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.</em></p> <p><em>Written by Fiona Charlson and James Graham Scott. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/youre-not-the-only-one-feeling-helpless-eco-anxiety-can-reach-far-beyond-bushfire-communities-129453"><em>The Conversation.</em></a></p>

Caring

Australian bushfires could drive more than 700 animal species to extinction

<p>The scale and speed of the current bushfire crisis has caught many people off-guard, including biodiversity scientists. People are scrambling to estimate the long-term effects. It is certain that many animal species will be pushed to the brink of extinction, but how many?</p> <p>One recent article suggested <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-season-in-hell-bushfires-push-at-least-20-threatened-species-closer-to-extinction-129533">20 to 100</a>, but this estimate mostly considers large, well-known species (especially mammals and birds).</p> <p>A far greater number of smaller creatures such as insects, snails and worms will also be imperilled. They make up the bulk of biodiversity and are the little rivets holding ecosystems together.</p> <p>But we have scant data on how many species of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-01-08/insects-invertebrates-frogs-affected-by-bushfire/11843458">small creatures</a> have been wiped out in the fires, and detailed surveys comparing populations before and after the fires will not be forthcoming. So how can we come to grips with this silent catastrophe?<span class="attribution"><span class="source"> </span></span></p> <p>Using the information that is available, I calculate that at least 700 animal species have had their populations decimated – and that’s only counting the insects.</p> <p>This may sound like an implausibly large figure, but the calculation is a simple one. I’ll explain it below, and show you how to make your own extinction estimate with only a few clicks of a calculator.</p> <p><strong>Using insects to estimate true extinction numbers</strong></p> <p>More than <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/science/abrs/publications/other/numbers-living-species/contents">three-quarters</a> of the known animal species on Earth are insects. To get a handle on the true extent of animal extinctions, insects are a good place to start.</p> <p>My estimate that 700 insect species are at critical risk involves <a href="https://conservationbytes.com/2011/07/26/predicting-marine-biodiversity/">extrapolating</a> from the information we have about the catastrophic effect of the fires on mammals.</p> <p>We can work this out using only two numbers: <em>A</em>, how many mammal species are being pushed towards extinction, and <em>B</em>, how many insect species there are for each mammal species.</p> <p>To get a “best case” estimate, I use the most conservative estimates for <em>A</em> and <em>B</em> below, but jot down your own numbers.</p> <p><strong>How many mammals are critically affected?</strong></p> <p>A <a href="https://time.com/5761083/australia-bushfires-biodiversity-plants-animals/">recent Time article</a> lists four mammal species that will be severely impacted: the long-footed potoroo, the greater glider, the Kangaroo Island dunnart, and the black-tailed dusky antechinus. The eventual number could be much greater (e.g the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/04/ecologists-warn-silent-death-australia-bushfires-endangered-species-extinction">Hastings River mouse</a>, the <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/fires-rage-across-australia-fears-grow-rare-species">silver-headed antechinus</a>), but let’s use this most optimistic (lowest) figure (<em>A</em> = 4).</p> <p>Make your own estimate of this number <em>A</em>. How many mammal species do you think would be pushed close to extinction by these bushfires?</p> <p>We can expect that for every mammal species that is severely affected there will be a huge number of insect species that suffer a similar fate. To estimate exactly how many, we need an idea of insect biodiversity, relative to mammals.</p> <p><strong>How many insect species are out there, for each mammal species?</strong></p> <p>The world has around <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/science/abrs/publications/other/numbers-living-species#downloads">1 million</a> named insect species, and around <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/science/abrs/publications/other/numbers-living-species#downloads">5,400 species</a> of land mammals.</p> <p>So there are at least 185 insect species for every single land mammal species (<em>B</em> = 185). If the current bushfires have burnt enough habitat to devastate 4 mammal species, they have probably taken out around 185 × 4 = 740 insect species in total. Along with many species of other invertebrates such as spiders, snails, and worms.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/309629/original/file-20200113-103971-8f6187.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/309629/original/file-20200113-103971-8f6187.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <span class="caption">There are hundreds of insect species for every mammal species.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">https://imgbin.com/</span></span></p> <p>For your own value for <em>B</em>, use your preferred estimate for the number of insect species on earth and divide it by 5,400 (the number of land mammal species).</p> <p>One recent study suggests there are at least <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/far-fewer-species-animals-plants-5803977">5.5 million</a> species of insects, giving a value of <em>B</em> of around 1,000. But there is reason to suspect the real number could be <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-earths-biodiversity-could-be-much-greater-than-we-thought-61665">much greater</a>.</p> <p><strong>How do our estimates compare?</strong></p> <p>My “best case” values of <em>A</em> = 4 and <em>B</em> = 185 indicate at least 740 insect species alone are being imperilled by the bushfires. The total number of animal species impacted is obviously much bigger than insects alone.</p> <p>Feel free to perform your own calculations. Derive your values for <em>A</em> and <em>B</em> as above. Your estimate for the number of insect species at grave risk of extinction is simply <em>A</em> × <em>B</em>.</p> <p>Post your estimate and your values for <em>A</em> and <em>B</em> please (and how you got those numbers if you wish) in the Comments section and compare with others. We can then see what the wisdom of the crowd tells us about the likely number of affected species.</p> <p><strong>Why simplistic models can still be very useful</strong></p> <p>The above calculations are a hasty estimate of the magnitude of the current biodiversity crisis, done on the fly (figuratively and literally). Technically speaking, we are using mammals as <a href="https://conservationbytes.com/2011/07/26/predicting-marine-biodiversity/">surrogates</a> or <a href="https://methodsblog.com/2018/10/08/biodiversity-vascular-plants/">proxies</a> for insects.</p> <p>To improve these estimates in the near future, we can try to get more exact and realistic estimates of <em>A</em> and <em>B</em>.</p> <p>Additionally, the model itself is very simplistic and can be refined. For example, if the average insect is <a href="https://blog.csiro.au/the-impact-of-bushfires-on-australian-insects/">more susceptible</a> to fire than the average mammal, our extinction estimates need to be revised upwards.</p> <p>Also, there might be an unusually high (or low) ratio of insect species compared to mammal species in fire-affected regions. Our model assumes these areas have the global average – whatever that value is!</p> <p>And most obviously, we need to consider terrestrial life apart from insects – land snails, spiders, worms, and plants too – and add their numbers in our extinction tally.</p> <p>Nevertheless, even though we know this model gives a huge underestimate, we can still use it to get an absolute lower limit on the magnitude of the unfolding biodiversity crisis.</p> <p>This “best case” is still very sad. There is a strong argument that these unprecedented bushfires could cause one of biggest extinction events in the modern era. And these infernos will burn for a while longer yet.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129773/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mike-lee-8293">Mike Lee</a>, Professor in Evolutionary Biology (jointly appointed with South Australian Museum), <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-bushfires-could-drive-more-than-700-animal-species-to-extinction-check-the-numbers-for-yourself-129773">original article</a>.</em></p>

Family & Pets

Expert weighs in: In this new world of bushfire terror, I question whether I want to have kids

<p>As fires continue to burn along Australia’s south-east, it’s impossible to ignore how climate change can wreak devastation and disrupt lives.</p> <p>Australia has always experienced bushfires. However, climate change <a href="https://theconversation.com/weather-bureau-says-hottest-driest-year-on-record-led-to-extreme-bushfire-season-129447">means</a> this year’s bushfires were so extreme in their ferocity and spread they could be <a href="https://www.space.com/australia-wildfires-space-station-astronaut-photo.html">seen from space</a>. And this is just a taste of what’s to come.</p> <p>I’m a marine scientist, and research the effects of climate change on coral reefs. Aside from bushfires, coral bleaching is one of the most severe manifestations of climate change in Australia. Watching corals turn white and die is just another daily reminder of the disasters our children will be up against.</p> <p>Until now, my partner and I have both wanted to be parents one day. Now I’m not so sure. Here are the things I’m weighing up.</p> <p><strong>The forces at play</strong></p> <p>I am not alone in these family planning concerns. In September last year I hosted a Women in STEM seminar and photography <a href="https://www.emergingcreativesofscience.com/women-in-steam">exhibit</a> showcasing female scientists at the University of New South Wales. One of the major points of discussion was how to plan for a family, knowing how climate change will affect the quality of life of the next generation.</p> <p>Cases of “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-eco-anxiety-climate-change-affects-our-mental-health-too-123002">eco-anxiety</a>” when it comes to family planning are on the rise. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/it-doesn-t-feel-justifiable-the-couples-not-having-children-because-of-climate-change-20190913-p52qxu.html">Many couples</a> in my generation are rethinking what it means to start a family. Even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-harry-reveals-how-many-kids-he-and-meghan-will-have/news-story/1f6acaf856c50b6e613cd882aa0d9f74">said last year</a> they’ll have only two children at most, for the sake of the planet.</p> <p>But other factors also affect family planning decisions, such as religious, cultural and societal expectations. And of course there are the views of partners and spouses to take into account.</p> <p>In my case, I come from a large Italian-American, Catholic family. My family expects me to settle down and have babies as soon as possible. But my partner and I both agree the planet cannot sustain a growing population that results from these traditional religious expectations.</p> <p><strong>Would going childless make a difference?</strong></p> <p>Studies show having fewer children is one of the most effective ways an individual can mitigate climate change. Choosing to have one less child prevents <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541#erlaa7541f1">58.6 tonnes of carbon emissions</a> entering the atmosphere each year, according to a 2017 study. That’s like 25 Australians going car-free for the rest of their lives.</p> <p>In fact, even if you do your bit to reduce emissions in your lifetime, such as riding a bike and using energy-saving lightbulbs, having two children means your <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-family-planning-could-be-part-of-the-answer-to-climate-change-32667">“legacy” of carbon emissions could be 40 times greater</a> than that saved through lifestyle changes.</p> <p>But having one less child is not a quick fix for climate change. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4246304/">As research in 2014 pointed out</a>, even one-child policies imposed worldwide, coupled with events causing catastrophic numbers of deaths, would still leave the world population at 5–10 billion people by 2100 – enough to cause stress on future ecosystems.</p> <p>So it’s critical we, as consumers, start now in making our lifestyles more environmentally friendly if the world’s population continues to grow.</p> <p>The above research concluded the most immediate and effective way to keep the planet’s warming at bay is policies and technologies to reign in global emissions.</p> <p><strong>The planet our children will inhabit</strong></p> <p>On our current business-as-usual trajectory, we’re on track for at least a <a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/global/temperatures/">4℃</a>temperature increase by 2100. Even if the temperature increase was limited to 2.8℃ (now an optimistic scenario) major changes in <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/07/major-us-cities-will-face-unprecedente-climates-2050/">weather patterns would occur by 2050</a>.</p> <p>These changes would bring more <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/climate-change-and-drought-factsheet/">severe droughts</a>, <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/updates/articles/a023.shtml">flooding</a>, <a href="https://time.com/5627355/climate-change-heat-waves/">heatwaves</a>, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/">sea level rise</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/11/what-are-the-links-between-climate-change-and-bushfires-explainer">bushfires</a>. This is not a future I want for my children.</p> <p>Already, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0315-6">climate hazards have been implicated</a> in pre- and post-natal health problems for children. Children whose mothers were exposed to floods while pregnant exhibited increased bedwetting, aggression towards other children and below-average birth weight, juvenile height and academic performance.</p> <p>What’s more, exposure to smoke from fires during pregnancy may have affected brain development and resulted in premature birth, small head circumference, low birth weight and foetal death</p> <p>This season’s bushfires caused a <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/spike-in-ambulance-calls-for-help-before-smoke-haze-worsens-20200107-p53pea.html">51% spike</a> in people needing help for respiratory issues on one of the most extreme days in Melbourne. Children are among the most vulnerable to respiratory issues stemming from poor air quality.</p> <p>But it’s not just physical health in question – mental health is also at risk.</p> <p>Today’s children already know that without major change, the world they were born into will limit their quality of life. It’s not only affecting their <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/the-dread-and-worry-keeping-young-australians-up-at-night-20191115-p53aw5.html">mental health</a>, but also their process of identity formation, with children experiencing an “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-terror-of-climate-change-is-transforming-young-peoples-identity-113355">existential whiplash</a>”.</p> <p>They’re caught between two forces: the belief held by previous generations that if you work hard you’ll have a high quality of life, and knowledge that climate change will make parts of the planet inhabitable.</p> <p><strong>Weighing it all up</strong></p> <p>Of course, improvements in family planning are not solely a matter for the developed world. As <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2102">experts have stated</a>, family planning has the potential to empower women in developing nations, giving them the basic human right to choose whether to have children.</p> <p>Policies to support this – such as better access to contraception and giving more girls a quality education – <a href="https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/11/08-062562/en/">would be a “win-win”</a>, improving reproductive rights and slowing the population growth to combat climate change.</p> <p>As for my own situation, my mind isn’t yet made up. I am seriously considering not having kids altogether. Or perhaps my partner and I will have only one child, or adopt.</p> <p>But one thing is clear. Whether you want to create a healthier planet or you’re concerned about the Earth your children will inherit, climate change should weigh heavily on your family planning decisions.</p> <p><em>Written by Melissa Pappas. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-this-new-world-of-bushfire-terror-i-question-whether-i-want-to-have-kids-126752">The Conversation.</a> </em></p>

Retirement Life

"Just perfect": Family affected by bushfires surprised by $1 million lotto win

<p>A Queensland mans whose family property was destroyed in bushfire has won $1 million in a lottery win that will allow the family to rebuild.</p> <p>The winner wishes to remain anonymous but lives in Redland, south of Brisbane. His family owned a property in northern New South Wales that was devastated by the bushfires.</p> <p>Lauren Cooney from The Lott notified him of the win and said that the man was overcome with emotion.</p> <p>"He told me his family had just lost their home in the bushfires," she said to the<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-09/bushfire-destroyed-home-then-owner-wins-lottery/11855640?pfmredir=sm&sf227733330=1&fbclid=IwAR3a-7QY21rcqyk7Yq3RD8TzmVCd_cMWIR0dgofE9z6woiYBz8k2dNQ0cB4" target="_blank">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p>"The home wasn't insured, so this prize meant that they would be able to rebuild which initially, they thought they wouldn't be able to," she said.</p> <p>The man said to Cooney that the family had returned to the property, which was “very sentimental and special to them”.</p> <p>"They were going through the site looking for any special family mementoes that they could salvage, but all they could find was some teacups,” Cooney explained.</p> <p>However, this win has turned things around. As the man was the only division one winning entry to the draw, he is able to claim the whole $1 million prize.</p> <p>He said that the circumstances were “just perfect”.</p> <p>"He said he couldn't have imagined more impeccable timing which meant that he could use his prize to rebuild their family home," Ms Cooney said.</p>

Money & Banking

Ellen DeGeneres announces her bushfire donation effort

<p>Ellen DeGeneres has launched a GoFundMe page to help raise $5 million for the Australian bushfire crisis.</p> <p>The celebrity talk show host made the announcement on her show yesterday morning.</p> <p>“I love Australia,” she said. “I love Australia so much; I even married an Australian.</p> <p>“A few years ago, I got to see how incredible Australia is in person. We took our show there.</p> <p>“And I fell in love with the country and the people.”</p> <p>DeGeneres said right now, Australia needed help.</p> <p>“Wildfires have been burning for four months and with record-breaking heat, the winds are so strong, and it’s getting worse,” she said.</p> <p>“Thousands of people have been displaced. Homes have been burned. Lives have been lost. Nearly half a billion animals have been killed. It’s unbelievable. Nearly a third of their habitat has been destroyed.</p> <p>“Our goal is to raise $5 million.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Australia is in an emergency like nothing anyone on earth has seen before. Please help. Donate if you can. The loss of homes, and the lives of people and animals is catastrophic. <a href="https://t.co/vn6Qky3BbX">https://t.co/vn6Qky3BbX</a> <a href="https://t.co/MeOZJDIsRX">pic.twitter.com/MeOZJDIsRX</a></p> — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1214662633720143872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2020</a></blockquote> <p>She then started off the campaign with a $100,000 donation from Shutterfly,<span> </span><em>The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s</em><span> </span>philanthropic partner.</p> <p>“It’s going to take years for Australia to rebuild and they need our help, so please donate,” she concluded.</p> <p>Her page joins dozens of fundraisers on GoFundMe that have raised millions of dollars already.</p> <p><em>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw" target="_blank">Vinnie's website</a> to donate.</em></p>

How animals survive bushfires

<p>Have you ever wondered how our native wildlife manage to stay alive when an inferno is ripping through their homes, and afterwards when there is little to eat and nowhere to hide? The answer is adaptation and old-fashioned ingenuity.</p> <p>Australia’s bushfire season is far from over, and the cost to wildlife has been epic. A <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/01/03/a-statement-about-the-480-million-animals-killed-in-nsw-bushfire.html">sobering estimate</a> has put the number of animals killed across eastern Australia at 480 million - and that’s a conservative figure.</p> <p>But let’s look at some uplifting facts: how animals survive, and what challenges they overcome in the days and weeks after a fire.</p> <p><strong>Sensing fire</strong></p> <p>In 2018, a staff member at Audubon Zoo in the United States accidentally burned pastry, and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10164-019-00628-z">noticed something peculiar</a>. In nearby enclosures ten sleepy lizards, or <em>Tiliqua rugosa</em>, began pacing and rapidly flicking their tongues. But sleepy lizards in rooms unaffected by smoke remained burrowed and calm.</p> <p>It was obvious the lizards sensed the smoke from the burnt pastry, probably through olfaction, or sense of smell (which is enhanced by <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-why-do-snakes-flick-their-tongues-29935">tongue flicking</a>). So the lizards were responding as they would to a bushfire.</p> <p>In Australia, experiments have shown smoke also awakens <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938417304419">Gould’s long-eared bats</a> and <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/111825/StawskiMatthewsKoertnerGeiser_SmokeAshTorporActivity_PhysiolBehav2015.pdf">fat-tailed dunnarts</a>, enabling their escape from fire.</p> <p>Animals also recognise the distinct sounds of fire. Reed frogs <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2002.1974">flee towards cover</a> and eastern-red bats wake from torpor <a href="https://sbdn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Scesny-MS-Thesis-2006-Red-bats-and-fire-detection.pdf">when played the crackling sounds of fire</a>.</p> <p>Other species detect fire for different reasons. Fire beetles from the genus <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanophila">Melanophila</a></em> depend on fire for reproduction, as their larvae develop in the wood of burned trees. They can detect fire chemicals <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2161-4296.2008.tb00424.x">at very low concentrations</a>, as well as infrared radiation from fires.</p> <p>The beetles can detect very distant fires; <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/related?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0037627">one study</a> suggests individuals of some species identify a fire from 130km away.</p> <p><strong>Stay or go?</strong></p> <p>Once an animal becomes aware of an approaching fire, it’s decision time: stay or go?</p> <p>It’s common to see large animals fleeing a fire, such as the kangaroos filmed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/abcinsydney/videos/3094496487228353/?t=3">hopping from a fire front in Monaro</a> in New South Wales a few days ago. Kangaroos and wallabies make haste to <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewjohngill/status/1211986832763707392">dams</a> and creek lines, sometimes even <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/Fulltext/WR08029">doubling back through a fire front</a> to find safety in areas already burned.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TRm14TfPL6g"></iframe></div> <p>Other animals prefer to stay put, seeking refuge in burrows or under rocks. Smaller animals will happily <a href="https://media.australianmuseum.net.au/media/dd/Uploads/Documents/38347/ams370_vXVIII_05_LowRes.ffb19ac.pdf">crash a wombat burrow</a> if it means surviving a fire. Burrows buffer animals from the heat of fires, depending on their depth and nearby <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2404417.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A123188cf5406548889c46d62508dae77">fuel loads</a>.</p> <p>From here, animals can <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ecog.02251">repopulate the charred landscape as it recovers</a>. For example, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ecog.02251">evidence suggests</a> populations of the agile antechinus (a small carnivorous marsupial) and the bush rat recovered primarily from <em>within</em> the footprint of Victoria’s Black Saturday fires.</p> <p><strong>Avoiding fire is only half the battle</strong></p> <p>The hours, days, and weeks after fire bring a new set of challenges. Food resources will often be scarce, and in the barren landscape some animals, such as lizards and smaller mammals, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320715002086">are more visible to hungry predators</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.3401">Birds of prey arrive quickly at fires</a>. <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-Ethnobiology/volume-37/issue-4/0278-0771-37.4.700/Intentional-Fire-Spreading-by-Firehawk-Raptors-in-Northern-Australia/10.2993/0278-0771-37.4.700.full">Several species</a> in northern Australia have been observed intentionally spreading fires by transporting burning sticks in their talons or beaks.</p> <p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.3401">One US study</a> published in 2017 recorded a seven-fold increase in raptor activity during fire. They begin hunting as the fires burn, and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2028.1987.tb01088.x">hang around for weeks or months to capitalise on vulnerable prey</a>.</p> <p>In Australia, introduced predators can also be drawn to fires. Feral cats have been observed travelling up to 12.5km from their home ranges <a href="https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/153672/2/01_McGregor_Extraterritorial_hunting_2016.pdf">towards recently burned</a> savanna ecosystems, potentially drawn by distant smoke plumes promising new prey.</p> <p><a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Wildlife-Research/volume-42/issue-8/WR15011/Amplified-predation-after-fire-suppresses-rodent-populations-in-Australias-tropical/10.1071/WR15011.full">A 2016 study</a> found a native rodent was 21 times more likely to die in areas exposed to intense fire compared to unburned areas, mostly due to predation by feral cats. Red foxes have an <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2656.13153">affinity for burned areas too</a>.</p> <p>So should a little critter hunker down, or begin the hazardous search for a new home?</p> <p><strong>Staying put</strong></p> <p>Perhaps because of the risks of moving through an exposed landscape, several Australian mammals have learnt to minimise movement following fire. This might allow some mammal populations to recover from within a fire footprint.</p> <p>Native mammals have been found <a href="https://media.australianmuseum.net.au/media/dd/Uploads/Documents/38347/ams370_vXVIII_05_LowRes.ffb19ac.pdf">hiding in beds of ash</a> after fires.</p> <p>Short-beaked echidnas seek refuge and, when finding it, <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2016.0382">lower their body temperature and limit activity</a>, so reducing the amount of food they need for energy. Despite their spiny defences, echidnas have been found more often <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/98/3/835/3063279">in the stomachs of foxes following fire</a>, so staying put in a little refuge is a good move.</p> <p>Small marsupials such as brown and yellow-footed antechinus also <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0134">use torpor to suppress their energy use</a> and therefore the need to seek food.</p> <p><strong>Running the gauntlet</strong></p> <p>Not all wildlife have adapted to stay put after a fire, and moving in search of a safe haven might be the best option.</p> <p>Animals might take short, information-gathering missions from their refuges into the fireground before embarking on a risky trek. They may, for example, spot a large, unburned tree that would make good habitat, and so move towards it. Without such cues to orient their movement, animals spend more time travelling, wasting precious energy reserves and <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2008.1958">increasing the risk </a>of becoming predator food.</p> <p><strong>Survival is not assured</strong></p> <p>Australia’s animals have a long, impressive history of co-existing with fire. However, a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/brv.12486">recent study</a> I led with 27 colleagues considered how relatively recent threats make things much harder for animals in fire-prone landscapes.</p> <p>Some native species are not accustomed to dealing with red foxes and feral cats, and so might overlook cues that indicate their presence, and make the bad decision to move through a burned landscape when they should stay put.</p> <p>When fires burn habitat in agricultural or urban landscapes, animals might encounter not just predators but vehicles, livestock and harmful chemicals.</p> <p>And as this bushfire season has made brutally clear, climate change is increasing the scale and intensity of bushfires. This reduces the number of small refuges such as fallen logs, increases the distance animals must cover to find new habitat and leaves fewer cues to direct them to safer places.</p> <p>We still have a lot to learn about how Australia’s wildlife detect and respond to fire. Filling in the knowledge gaps might lead to new ways of helping wildlife adapt to our rapidly changing world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129327/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dale-nimmo-15432">Dale Nimmo</a>, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/animal-response-to-a-bushfire-is-astounding-these-are-the-tricks-they-use-to-survive-129327">original article</a>.</em></p>

Family & Pets

Prince Charles admits he has watched the Australian bushfires take its course in “appalling horror”

<p>Prince Charles has released an emotional video message for Australians as the country battles bushfires all over the nation - revealing that he has been watching “the appalling horror… in despair”.<span> </span></p> <p>The royal has long made an effort to warn about the effects of climate change, and in this statement said the scope of the loss was “not to be believed possible”.<span> </span></p> <p>He went on to say that both he and the Duchess of Cornwall had kept the “remarkable, courageous, determined firefighters who have done much and worked ceaselessly to exhaustion” in their thoughts.<span> </span></p> <p>In a heartfelt tribute recorded at Birkhall, the Prince’s home in Scotland, he praised the resilience of the Australian people and expressed confidence that “despite the horror” they would “find a way to face it all and win through.”</p> <p>Intense blazes have ruined and destroyed 8.4 million hectares – an area larger than Scotland - of Australian bushland.<span> </span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m8FnorbkJS4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The drought and record high temperatures that have contributed to ravage Australia, and have been since the start of its summer have led to the deaths of as many as half a billion wild native animals.</p> <p>To address Australia directing, the Prince said:<span> </span>“I fear this is a hopelessly inadequate way of trying to get a message to all of you that both my wife and myself are thinking of you so very much at such an incredibly difficult time and in such impossible and terrifying circumstances.</p> <p>“Both of us have been in despair the last several weeks watching this appalling horror unfolding in Australia and witnessing so much of what you are having to go through from this distance.</p> <p>“Those of you who have tragically lost your properties, your houses, everything.. to me it is, and to both of us, not to be believed possible. And I know how many houses have been lost.”</p> <p>He added: “Above all, we wanted to say how much we have been thinking of all those remarkable, courageous, determined firefighters who have done much and worked ceaselessly to exhaustion.<span> </span></p> <p>“We feel so deeply for the families of those who have been lost and lost their lives in the course of carrying out their remarkable duties as only they can do.</p> <p>“We also think of all the Australian wildlife that is destroyed in these appalling infernos, let alone everything else.</p> <p>“We both know how incredibly special and resilient the Australian people are.</p> <p>So I know at the end of the day, despite all this horror, you will find a way to face it all and win through.</p> <p>“All I can say is we are thinking of you and praying from you in the most determined way. I’m very proud to know you all.”</p> <p>Prince Charles is launching a new aim sometime throughout January to find solutions to the carbon emissions issue the world is facing.<span> </span></p> <p>The Sustainable Markets Council will bring together leading international figures from the private, public and philanthropic sectors to identify ways of “decarbonise the global economy” and make the transition to sustainable markets.</p> <p>Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall last visited Australia in April of 2018, where they travelled throughout the Northern Territory and Queensland.<span> </span></p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see the royal couple’s travels through Australia in 2018.</p> <p><em>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw" target="_blank">Vinnie's website</a> to donate!</em><br /><span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker"></span></p>

Domestic Travel

Million dollar men: Elton John and Chris Hemsworth's huge bushfire pledges

<p>Celebrities are putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to donating to bushfire relief that’s ravaging Australia.</p> <p>Elton John received a standing ovation at his concert as he pledged to donate $1 million for Australia’s bushfire relief efforts.</p> <p>“There are people out there who have lost their lives trying to save homes. There are people who have lost their lives and their homes,” he said<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/BrittA2211/status/1214516183023542272" target="_blank">to the crowd</a>.</p> <p>“And lastly there’s the plight of the animals. A loss of their habitat that frankly is on a biblical scale, and heart-breaking. Therefore, tonight I will be pledging one million dollars to support the bushfire relief fund.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Elton John just donated one million dollars to the bushfire relief <a href="https://t.co/Ld2i0t9n98">pic.twitter.com/Ld2i0t9n98</a></p> — Britt (@BrittA2211) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrittA2211/status/1214516183023542272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2020</a></blockquote> <p>He matched Marvel star Chris Hemsworth donation of $1 million, as Hemsworth encouraged his 38.9 million followers on Instagram to dig deep and help in any way that they can.</p> <p>“We’re still in the thick of it here with plenty of challenging times ahead and still to come. So, what we need is your support and your donations,” the father of three said in a video.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7AG8XHp-wQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7AG8XHp-wQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth)</a> on Jan 6, 2020 at 6:34pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Kylie Minogue made headlines for donating $500,000 to the bushfire relief and said that the devastation in Australia is “heartbreaking”.</p> <p>“As a family, we’ve donated $500,000 towards the immediate firefighting efforts and the ongoing support which will be required,” she wrote in an Instagram post.</p> <p>“Big or small, from near or far, any support will help those affected by the devastating bushfires.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6-EYf-gnCy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6-EYf-gnCy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Last year I had the incredible opportunity of visiting some of the many beautiful places in my homeland for the first time. Returning home to such devastation throughout much of the country is heartbreaking. As a family, we’ve donated $500,000 towards the immediate firefighting efforts and the ongoing support which will be required. Big or small, from near or far, any support will help those affected by the devastating bushfires. With love, The Minogue Family. @redcrossau @nswrfs @cfavic @sa_countryfireservice @wireswildliferescue #Australia</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kylieminogue/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Kylie Minogue</a> (@kylieminogue) on Jan 5, 2020 at 11:28pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were one of the first celebrities to donate to bushfire relief, as they donated $500,000 after spending Christmas in Sydney with their daughters.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B66mowFpyI9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B66mowFpyI9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Our family’s support, thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires all over Australia. We are donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services who are all doing and giving so much right now.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/nicolekidman/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Nicole Kidman</a> (@nicolekidman) on Jan 4, 2020 at 3:10pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Aussie favourite Pink also donated $500,000 “directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines.”</p> <p>The singer wrote she is “totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz”.</p> <p>However, the campaign that has caught the most attention is run by comedian Celeste Barber, as her campaign has currently raised $45 million for the Trustee for the NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donation Fund.</p> <p>The fund is managed by a group of trustees, according to<span> </span><em>SBS</em>, who have significant experience with the NSW RFS.</p> <p>"The purpose of the trust is to make available to brigades the ability to accept tax-deductible donations, both in person and online, with as little administrative burden as possible," its <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/95062/NSW-RFS-and-Brigade-Donations-Fund-DGR-Trustees-Annual-Report-2017-2018-....PDF" target="_blank">most recent annual report says</a>.</p> <p>"It was established and is operated solely for the purpose of supporting the volunteer-based fire and emergency service activities of the brigades."</p> <p>The NSW RFS said that they are focusing on the ongoing bush fire emergency before even thinking about spending the money. They said in a statement to SBS:</p> <p>"The NSW RFS is focused on the ongoing bush fire emergency that continues to affect communities across NSW. We are continuing work to slow the spread of fires, establish containment lines, conduct building impact assessments and return residents to their communities as soon as possible," a spokesperson said.</p> <p>"It's important that our members, who know what's best for their brigades and communities, have a say in the use of donated funds."</p> <p>"Once the bush fire emergency eases, the NSW RFS will work with senior volunteers and brigades to ensure donated funds are used for the greatest benefit of our members and their communities."</p> <p><em>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw">Vinnie's website</a> to donate!</em></p>

News

Turia Pitt inspires emotional movement in wake of new bushfire crisis

<p><span>Turia Pitt has penned an inspiring and heartbreaking post on social media which has resulted in an incredible movement in the wake of the bushfire crisis.</span></p> <p><span>The athlete and motivational speaker took to Instagram on Monday to speak about her own distress and desperation due to the harrowing bushfires that has plagued Australia.</span></p> <p><span>Turia’s own home in the New South Wales south coast region is located in a spot heavily impacted by the fires. The effect on Pitt and her husband Michael Hoskin and their two-year-old son Hakavai has been devastating.</span></p> <p><span>The 32-year-old wrote: "I watched, my mouth agape, as two angry plumes from the fires north and south of us joined together over Mollymook Beach. And then, the power went out."</span></p> <p><span>She further explained the grave concern she felt as she witnessed the toll of the bushfire and detailing the experience of seeing and feeling her home become “an apocalyptic quiet”. detailed the "It's been a tough few weeks for me emotionally. I've had to focus on not letting my emotions and own experiences get the better of me."</span></p> <p><span>"I'm exhausted. I feel like I've done 10 marathons. And we can't relax because it's only the start of summer, and it's not over yet. So just like in a marathon, I've realised I have to pace myself."</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B69tZHSA2Ek/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B69tZHSA2Ek/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Turia (@turiapitt)</a> on Jan 5, 2020 at 8:07pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>Turia alluded to her own terrifying experience in in 2011, where she was trapped in a Western Australia bushfire while running an ultra marathon -she endured burns to 65 per cent of her body as a result.</span></p> <p><span>"I've had recurring nightmares about running through flames with my son in my arms," she added of the current situation.</span></p> <p><span>"It's been difficult to sleep, eat or think and all I've really wanted to do is tap out, put my head in the sand and pretend that nothing is going on."</span></p> <p><span>Her words seemed to have an impact though, and Turia has decided to take matters into her own hands to begin an inspiring movement. .</span><br /><span></span></p> <p><span>"Once these fires are finally 'over', it won't be over for many of the local businesses in fire-ravaged towns," she explained.</span></p> <p><span>"A lot of these places (like my home in Mollymook, and Mallacoota, Kangaroo Island, Eden etc) rely on the tourist dollar for their very survival."</span></p> <p><span>Pitt mentioned the hashtag: #GoWithEmptyEskies movement, kickstarted by Tegan Webber who is encouraging people to travel to fire ravaged towns to buy their products in bulk, as well as the Buy From the Bush campaign which has encouraged people to buy from drought-affected farmers since October.</span></p> <p><span>Turia said: "So this is what I'm doing. I've created @spendwiththem, a place to feature businesses in fire-affected towns. So, if you want to buy something (now, or in the future), check out @spendwiththem and buy something from one of these places.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B69jz3VgHPb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B69jz3VgHPb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Turia (@turiapitt)</a> on Jan 5, 2020 at 6:43pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>"This is a way to put money directly in the pockets of the people and communities who need it the most, and need it NOW."</span></p> <p><span>"Help them rebuild. Make them feel heard. Spend with them."</span></p> <p><span>She also sent an invitation to businesses who have been affected to contact her to be featured - telling them to visit the page, Spend With Them.</span></p> <p><span>Using her influence for good, it seems the country has reacted with elation over Turia’s emotional post.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6_rAkQADWm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6_rAkQADWm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Hey guys! Grace and I are completely amazed by all of you! Thank you for supporting the businesses we’ve featured on @spendwiththem so far! We’ve been totally overwhelmed by your thousands of messages of support. So, if you’ve sent us a DM requesting we feature your business and we haven’t yet responded, please email us at spendwiththem@turiapitt.com with product pics and instructions on what people can buy online or over the phone. We’re struggling to keep track of DMs right now, so email will be best! Please know that as much as we want to support all businesses in fire-affected towns, we can’t yet encourage visitation to these areas. So, online and phone ordering options are all we can promote for now. When it is safe to do so, we’ll absolutely find a way to encourage road trips to your towns! Big love to you all - you absolute legends! ❤️❤️❤️</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/turiapitt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Turia</a> (@turiapitt) on Jan 6, 2020 at 2:25pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>Her new Instagram page has since shot up in the ranks and received 108,000 followers.</span></p> <div class="c-message__content c-message__content--feature_sonic_inputs" data-qa="message_content"> <div class="c-message__message_blocks c-message__message_blocks--rich_text"> <div class="p-block_kit_renderer p-block_kit_renderer--absorb_margin" data-qa="block-kit-renderer"> <div class="p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper--first"> <div class="p-rich_text_block"> <div class="p-rich_text_section"><em>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw" target="_blank">Vinnie's website to donate!</a></em></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-message_actions__container c-message__actions" aria-label="Message actions"></div>

Money & Banking

Making sense of Australia's bushfire crisis

<p>Bushfires plunder lives and landscapes in myriad ways, but they often start the same way. A bright morning suddenly turns to night. Ash flutters down from the sky, propelled ahead of the roaring fire front. An awful red glow slinks over the horizon.</p> <p>When I awoke in the NSW south coast town of Bermagui on the last day of 2019, I should have twigged straight away. At 8am the sky was a gruesome orange-black, the surrounding bush freakishly quiet. Our mobile phones had no signal. Outside, my car was coated in soot.</p> <p>We knew fires were burning more than 100km up the coast at Batemans Bay, but Bermagui had seemed a safe distance away. Suddenly, it wasn’t.</p> <p>Fire was bearing down on the seaside town, <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6561329/residents-evacuate-to-beaches-as-south-coast-fires-pose-serious-threat/">burning so fiercely</a> it created its own thunderstorm. Residents evacuated to the beach after emergency text messages at 4am, but with our phone service down we’d slept on, oblivious. When my partner and I woke and worked out what was happening, we too bundled our bewildered young son into the car and fled.</p> <p>Of course amid the devastation wrought this fire season, a disrupted holiday is nothing to complain about. Bushfires have decimated huge swathes of Australia this fire season, taking with them, at the time of writing, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/04/australia-fires-death-toll-rises-and-six-people-missing-as-pm-calls-in-military">23 lives</a> and more than 1500 homes.</p> <p>Thousands of holidaymakers in NSW and Victoria were <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/families-stuck-in-mallacoota-after-navy-ships-discouraged-children-under-5-20200104-p53otm.html">stranded for days</a> in towns with <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/australias-apocalyptic-bushfire-towns-go-into-panic-stations-as-supermarket-shelves-are-cleared-petrol-stations-run-dry-water-supplies-are-contaminated-and-communities-struggle-without-power/ar-BBYwcd7">dwindling food</a> and <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6564632/fuel-shortages-slowing-bushfire-evacuees/?cs=14231">fuel </a>supplies. Some were forced to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/01/malua-bay-fire-survivors-tell-how-1000-people-lived-through-a-night-of-flames-on-nsw-beach">shelter on beaches</a>, dodging embers and watching flames creep ever closer. And we cannot forget the animals – <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/01/03/a-statement-about-the-480-million-animals-killed-in-nsw-bushfire.html">millions have been killed</a> this fire season, or will soon die from lack of food or shelter.</p> <p>With all roads out of Bermagui closed, we spent New Year’s Eve at a local club which had hastily been converted into an evacuation centre. Many evacuees were from the nearby fire-hit town of Cobargo. Some knew the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-31/father-and-son-patrick-and-robert-salway-die-in-cobargo-bushfire/11835194">father and son</a> who died after staying to defend their property. Many would presumably soon discover their own homes were gone. They watched, hands over their mouths, as the club’s giant plasma screens beamed images of their once-charming town, now a jumble of rubble and corrugated iron.</p> <p>We lay our doonas down between rows of poker machines and lined up for dinner with hundreds of other evacuees. Food supplies in the town had already run short – the shelves of the local Woolworths were all but empty. To feed the hordes, volunteers began rationing dinner portions to just half a sausage and a slice of bread. They had no idea where tomorrow’s meals would come from.</p> <p>All this raises inevitable questions. To what extent is climate change driving these fires, and how much of that is Australia’s fault? Do we need a permanent, paid rural fire-fighting force to deal with this “new normal”? Are our fuel, food and communications systems resilient enough to cope with these disasters? And how do we cope with the deep anxiety these fires provoke, on both a personal and societal level?</p> <p>Over the coming days and weeks, The Conversation will examine the tough issues emerging from this crisis. Our authors, experts in the field, will cut through the political spin and information barrage to help you understand this national disaster, and what it means for our future.</p> <p>Today, the University of Tasmania’s David Bowman examines whether it’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-bushfire-and-holiday-seasons-converge-it-may-be-time-to-say-goodbye-to-the-typical-australian-summer-holiday-129337">time to ditch the traditional summer holiday</a>, when thousands of people head to bushy areas in peak bushfire season. And while the fires absorb our attention, Monash University’s Neville Nicholls <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-bushfires-are-horrendous-but-expect-cyclones-floods-and-heatwaves-too-129328">reminds us</a> that cyclones, floods and heatwaves are also likely this summer.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/308512/original/file-20200105-11929-1o23zqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">The aftermath of fires at Cobargo, near Bermagui, where buildings were destroyed and two men died.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Sean Davey</span></span></p> <p>On New Year’s Day, the wind having blown the fires away from Bermagui, officials opened a road out. They warned us to leave before conditions changed again. We had just under half a tank of diesel, and neither Bermagui nor the next town, Tarthra, had supplies. We drove on. No diesel at Bega either, until a local told us of a truck station on the outskirts of town where we filled up.</p> <p>The trip home was slow and smoky, and phone reception patchy. It struck me how vulnerable we are to technology and transport systems that can so easily shut down. We tried to buy a paper map in case of detours, but no service stations stocked them.</p> <p>Our three-year-old son grasped little of what was happening. I suggested a game of I-Spy, but it was soon abandoned – the smoke meant there was nothing much to see. We drove through blackened landscapes where sheep wandered paddocks with the wool burnt off their backs. My son, sensing the mood, asked why his dad and I were so quiet.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/308515/original/file-20200105-11900-15npdpw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">Smoke haze in Canberra from the South Coast bushfires has pushed air quality to extremely hazardous levels.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Lucas Coch/AAP</span></span></p> <p>In the days after we arrived back in Canberra, air quality was more than <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6562383/air-quality-in-parts-of-canberra-20-times-above-hazardous-level/">20 times above hazardous levels.</a> Shops and swimming pools were closed, and mail deliveries were cancelled. A woman reportedly died from respiratory distress after exiting a plane to a tarmac filled with smoke. Babies were <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/baby-delivery-canberra-bushfire-smoke">born into smoke-filled hospital theatres</a>; their parents despaired at what the future holds.</p> <p>When the immediate threat of these fires has passed, many bigger questions will remain. The Conversation will continue to bring you the responsible, evidence-based journalism you need to be properly informed. Thank you for your continued support.</p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/au/team#nicole-hasham">Nicole Hasham</a>, Section Editor: Energy + Environment, <a href="http://www.theconversation.com/">The Conversation</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/making-sense-of-australias-bushfire-crisis-means-asking-hard-questions-and-listening-to-the-answers-129302">original article</a>.</em></p>

Domestic Travel

Bindi Irwin thankful for “beautiful” bushfire sketch of father Steve

<p>Bindi Irwin has reached out to an Australian artist who created a tribute to more than 500 million animals which have died in the bushfires ravaging the country.</p> <p>Sharnia-Mae Sturn took to social media last week to share her artwork, which shows a group of animals – including koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and an emu – and Steve Irwin welcoming them into his embrace.</p> <p>“Don’t worry little guys! I’ll take care of you,” the words on the print read.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B68UuyIB3wt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B68UuyIB3wt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Feel free to share this but please give credit to my page! So... it’s sad to say that I’ve spent about 3 weeks or so on this and the subject is still relevant. This little tribute drawing goes to all the innocent animals caught in the blazes across my home country, it breaks my heart to see it’s still going on but there’s only so much that can be done to keep it from spreading. I hope all the animals who couldn’t make it are now in heaven with Steve Irwin, being taken care of, and not having a care in the world or memory of how they got there. Rest In Peace fuzzy babies, we will miss you ❤️ #australianbushfires #sketchykoala #prayforaustralia #donate</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/therealsketchykoala/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> TheRealSketchyKoala</a> (@therealsketchykoala) on Jan 5, 2020 at 7:12am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“This little tribute drawing goes to all the innocent animals caught in the blazes across my home country, it breaks my heart to see it’s still going on but there’s only so much that can be done to keep it from spreading,” wrote Sturn on her Sketchy Koala Facebook page.</p> <p>“I hope all the animals who couldn’t make it are now in heaven with Steve Irwin, being taken care of, and not having a care in the world or memory of how they got there. Rest In Peace fuzzy babies, we will miss you.”</p> <p>On Sunday, Sturn shared that the daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter had thanked her for the tribute.</p> <p>“I’m so proud, I found out last night that my drawing reached Bindi Irwin! She said it was beautiful and thanked me for sharing my art,” Sturn wrote.</p> <p>“That’s one of the biggest achievements I could reach from this.”</p> <p>Bindi said while the Irwin family-owned Australia Zoo is safe, the Wildlife Hospital has been receiving tens of thousands of wildlife patients.</p> <p>“With so many devastating fires within Australia, my heart breaks for the people and wildlife who have lost so much,” Bindi said in a statement shared on Instagram.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B60DXgHhqrK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B60DXgHhqrK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">With so many devastating fires within Australia, my heart breaks for the people and wildlife who have lost so much. I wanted to let you know that we are SAFE. There are no fires near us @AustraliaZoo or our conservation properties. Our Wildlife Hospital is busier than ever though, having officially treated over 90,000 patients. My parents dedicated our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to my beautiful grandmother. We will continue to honour her by being Wildlife Warriors and saving as many lives as we can. 💙🙏🏼</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/bindisueirwin/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Bindi Irwin</a> (@bindisueirwin) on Jan 2, 2020 at 2:07am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“There are no fires near us @AustraliaZoo or our conservation properties. Our Wildlife Hospital is busier than ever though, having officially treated over 90,000 patients.</p> <p>“My parents dedicated our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to my beautiful grandmother. We will continue to honour her by being Wildlife Warriors and saving as many lives as we can.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">💙🐨 <a href="https://t.co/pvfGFVlKyL">pic.twitter.com/pvfGFVlKyL</a></p> — Australia Zoo (@AustraliaZoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustraliaZoo/status/1213600422625067009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><em>OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw">Vinnie's website</a> to donate!</em></p>

Family & Pets

Nicole Kidman's tearful response to bushfire threat

<p>Nicole Kidman is one of the latest celebrities to reveal she is donating to aid in the bushfire fight.</p> <p>The Hollywood A-lister has pledged she and her husband Keith Urban are digging into their pockets and will donate $500,000 to volunteer firefighters.</p> <p>The donation was revealed by<span> </span><em>Channel 10</em><span> </span>entertainment correspondent and<span> </span><em>Studio 1<u>0</u></em><span> </span>host Angela Bishop.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Australian actress Nicole Kidman spoke exclusively to <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelaBishop?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AngelaBishop</a> about pledging half a million dollars in support of bushfire efforts. <a href="https://t.co/Z8VO1R5mDt">pic.twitter.com/Z8VO1R5mDt</a></p> — 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) <a href="https://twitter.com/10NewsFirst/status/1213714217636974592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>The actress became visibly affected while speaking about the bushfire disaster at a<em><span> </span>Golden Globes<span> </span></em>event in Los Angeles.</p> <p>The actor stopped red carpet interviews and said: “I’m so sorry. I’m so distracted right now with everything that’s happening in Australia.”</p> <p>An insider told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/nicole-kidman-cries-at-event-as-her-australian-home-is-lost-in-bushfires/" target="_blank" title="www.usmagazine.com">US Weekly</a></em> the star had just found out her country home, which she shares with husband Keith Urban, was in danger.</p> <p>“She just found out and got off a plane right before coming here,” the insider said. “She was crying walking in.”</p> <p>“Their house is not on fire,” a representative for Kidman told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.today.com/news/australian-fires-nicole-kidman-keith-urban-s-home-threatened-t171118" target="_blank" title="www.today.com">Today</a></em>. “It is under threat, so keeping a close eye on it.”</p> <p>The couple are a few of many other celebrities who have been donating and sharing their heartache amid Australia’s worst recorded bushfire season in history.</p> <p>Superstar Pink revealed that she plans to personally donate a massive $500,000 “directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontline.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/kyjDbhoXpp">pic.twitter.com/kyjDbhoXpp</a></p> — P!nk (@Pink) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pink/status/1213350834672586752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Former model Tara Moss took to social media to share a letter left by firefighters who saved her home in the Blue Mountains from being ravaged by fires.</p> <p>She said the words “brought her tears”, adding on Instagram that one third of her property was destroyed.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">This note at our home brought me to tears. You absolute champions, thank you for all you do. 🙏🏻🙏🏻<br /><br />Please stay safe out there, everyone. Lives can't be replaced. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Firefighters?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Firefighters</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustraliaBurning?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustraliaBurning</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bushfirecrisis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bushfirecrisis</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SupportOurFirefighters?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SupportOurFirefighters</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Grateful?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Grateful</a> <br /><br />(<a href="https://t.co/wDeLHggTUj">https://t.co/wDeLHggTUj</a>) <a href="https://t.co/pbvVJybP6S">pic.twitter.com/pbvVJybP6S</a></p> — Tara Moss (@Tara_Moss) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tara_Moss/status/1213254134444380160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Firefighters thanked Moss for having such a :well-prepared property” and for the “cuppas and amenities”.</p> <p>The note reads in full: “Thanks for such a well prepared property! Shipley RFB. (smiley face). PS Thank you for the cuppas and amenities.”</p> <p>Below that is a line and in another hand the words: “We have spent all afternoon at your house doing property protection. It was open so we let ourselves in to use the toilets and coffee. Thank you again. If you want to contact me Captain — (name blurred out for privacy).</p> <p>We also filled your pumps with petrol just in case.”</p> <p>Other Australian stars including Naomi Watts, Rebel Wilson, Delta Goodrem and Russell Crowe have also posted emotional responses to Instagram.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B60034snNwz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B60034snNwz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">This was my last eve in Byron, NSW, Australia. To get a sense of how beautiful the wildlife regularly sounds... Please turn up the volume. The fires have been truly horrendous. It’s so upsetting and worrying. So much wildlife already lost. And still much of the summer ahead. My heart goes out to those who’ve lost loved ones and homes. Big gratitude to the brave firemen who literally haven’t stopped during the holidays!! 🙏 Heartbroken for all the animals, plants and land... 🙏 for rain 🌧 #tbt ❤️🇦🇺</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/naomiwatts/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Naomi Watts</a> (@naomiwatts) on Jan 2, 2020 at 9:45am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6zXDpJAl7t/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6zXDpJAl7t/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">It’s been a crazy time on the South Coast, with unprecedented conditions and a lot of fear and loss. But there are lots of people doing really awesome work for our community. THANK YOU! ❤️ If you want to help, you can do so by: 1) Supporting local businesses 2) Donating to Treading Lightly (a local grassroots organisation directly getting help where it is needed: Treading Lightly Inc, BSB: 633-000, Account No: 170066377) 3) Donating to the RFS (NSW Rural Fire Service, BSB: 032-001, Account No: 171051)</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/turiapitt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Turia</a> (@turiapitt) on Jan 1, 2020 at 7:39pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5CIJ2yhhWr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5CIJ2yhhWr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Still burning... they say a wind change might crank things up again in the valley. I hope wherever you are in Australia, or California or anywhere else facing bushfires , that you and yours remain safe.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/russellcrowe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Russell Crowe</a> (@russellcrowe) on Nov 18, 2019 at 8:15pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote>

Travel Trouble

Jeremy Clarkson sparks outrage over bushfire article

<p>Jeremy Clarkson has been slammed over a controversial article in which he claimed “Australia is God’s laboratory and people were not actually meant to live there”.</p> <p>Clarkson’s column, published in UK newspaper <em>The Sun</em>, said that God “decided to set fire” to Australia because the country “isn’t meant for human habitation”.</p> <p>The 59-year-old described Australia as a continent “far, far away” created by God to house “his experiments that had gone wrong”, such as the saltwater crocodile.</p> <p>“For millions of years, this big, sandy cupboard under the stairs went unnoticed. But then along came Captain Cook and now the world knows all about Oz and its stupid, dangerous creatures,” the former <em>Top Gear</em> host wrote.</p> <p>“It’s been argued the fires raging across the country were caused by global warming or out-of-control barbies. But when you look at the footage, you know something biblical is going on. Those things are huge.”</p> <p>At the end of the article, Clarkson encouraged Australians to ‘return’ to the UK. “So if you’re reading this down there, please come home [to the UK]. You’ll like it. It never stops raining. And we are better at sport.”</p> <p>The opinion piece comes as Australia faces a bushfire crisis, with over 1,300 properties destroyed and more than 450 million animals estimated to have been killed since the start of the fire season.</p> <p>Readers have criticised Clarkson’s article as “tone deaf” and insensitive to the plights of the affected communities.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Hope Jeremy Clarkson doesn’t intend to visit Australia or NZ anytime soon ... this isn’t funny and how tone deaf is he??? <a href="https://t.co/ktKMFAxxNK">https://t.co/ktKMFAxxNK</a></p> — Lee (@lee_asher) <a href="https://twitter.com/lee_asher/status/1213561752622788609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">What an unscrupulous and grubby attempt at relevancy by an utterly out of touch tosser. Appalling by Jeremy Clarkson and ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/TheSun?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheSun</a>⁩ <br /><br />Australia is God’s laboratory and people were not actually meant to live there – The Sun <a href="https://t.co/czviUAJt5J">https://t.co/czviUAJt5J</a></p> — Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) <a href="https://twitter.com/Globalgallop/status/1213467501910200321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">When people are losing homes and loved ones, wildlife is dying in droves, heroic efforts being made to fight the fires, and all that goes with that is NOT a time to make jokes about a country and its plight. It's not sensitivity to humour, it's INsensitivity to suffering.</p> — Simon Foley (@simon_foley) <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_foley/status/1213552018889093126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">The Jeremy Clarkson piece about Australia being God’s laboratory is reprehensible in its pathetic insensitivity to the current and ongoing bushfire crisis.<br /><br />But also, it is ignorant and disgusting in its complete erasure of 60,000 years of Aboriginal history and culture.</p> — Simon Angilley (@dufussy) <a href="https://twitter.com/dufussy/status/1213658964266631168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>

Travel Trouble

24 hours to evacuate: Aussie troops move in to assist families fleeing bushfires

<p>Residents are struggling on the South Coast of NSW a there’s no fuel, no food and no power. This is due to bushfires ravaging the area and the Australian Defence Force has been called in to help the affected areas.</p> <p>A fleet of ships and helicopters are making their way to coastal regions to supply and rescue residents that are trapped by the flames.</p> <p>There are currently 110 fires burning across NSW with over 50 yet to be contained, according to the<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/NSWRFS/status/1212444017251647489" target="_blank">NSW RFS</a></em>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">At 5.30am there are 110 fires burning across NSW with over 50 yet to be contained. <br /><br />Firefighters will make the most of more favourable conditions today to protect properties before deteriorating conditions again this Saturday.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSWRFS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSWRFS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSWFires?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSWFires</a> <a href="https://t.co/vb3o55n8XU">pic.twitter.com/vb3o55n8XU</a></p> — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) <a href="https://twitter.com/NSWRFS/status/1212444017251647489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 January 2020</a></blockquote> <p>With around 50,000 homes without power, major phone networks being down, and supermarkets closed, residents are struggling to obtain essentials such as food, fuel and water.</p> <p>NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says that there will be a “huge effort” to get as many people out of the area before Saturday, as conditions are set to worsen.</p> <p>"It's an extreme challenge for firefighters," he said on<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6119081428001" target="_blank">Sky News</a></em>.</p> <p>RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers agrees.</p> <p>“There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday (Tuesday),” he told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/australian-troops-prepare-for-bushfire-emergency-evacuations-by-sea/live-coverage/cf3d149ec9bbb9b7eb808e663eec8a28" target="_blank">reporters</a><span> </span>in Sydney.</p> <p>“Crews are working hard to get some containment before Saturday but we are concerned about that fire because of its potential run into far western Sydney,” Mr Rogers said.</p> <p>With at least 1298 homes destroyed across the state and air quality continuing to worsen in the affected areas, firefighters are run ragged trying to stop NSW from burning.</p> <p>Thousands are fleeing the South Coast, with almost 30 road closures in the region. Live Traffic NSW has issued a warning for heavy traffic conditions as well as significant delays.</p>

News

Lewis the koala put to sleep in hospital after horrific bushfire burns

<p>The 14-year-old buck who made international headlines after footage emerged of him coming out of the NSW bushfires with horrifying burns, has died. </p> <p>Lewis the koala was rescued by a heroic grandmother who carried him in her arms and the heartbreaking moment sent hearts racing around the world. </p> <p>The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has shared sad news on Tuesday afternoon, saying staff made the decision to put him to sleep. </p> <p>“We placed him under general anaesthesia this morning to assess his burns injuries and change the bandages,” the hospital said in a post at about 2.30pm.</p> <p>The hospital said Lewis’ burns became worse “and unfortunately “would not have gotten better”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">UPDATE: Lewis, the koala who went viral in this daring rescue video, has died at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital <a href="https://t.co/RshwIOyvyn">https://t.co/RshwIOyvyn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPLewis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPLewis</a> <a href="https://t.co/nsdOVVAI0U">pic.twitter.com/nsdOVVAI0U</a></p> — NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1199342797469425664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“The Koala Hospital’s number one goal is animal welfare, so it was on those grounds that this decision was made,” it read.</p> <p>$1.66 million in donations streamed in for the hospital after Lewis’ sad rescue went viral. </p> <p>Grandmother Toni Doherty was filmed ripping the shirt off her back near Long Flat in NSW to save the wailing koala. </p> <p>The 14-year-old suffered burns to his feet, stomach and chest. </p> <p>Named “Ellenborough Lewis” after Toni’s grandchild, or Lewis for short, he had been receiving care by long-term home care volunteer and koala hospital supervisor, Barb.</p> <p>“Barb hand feeds Lewis a single leaf at a time, with feeding taking up to an hour a feed,” the hospital said on Friday.</p> <p>“Lewis’s prognosis is guarded as he sustained significant burns however he is receiving the best possible care.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832794/koala-lewis.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8dba411c87ee48d3aa0091b70f4a008e" /></p> <p>Lewis was just one of 31 koalas brought into the hospital from fire-grounds in the surrounding area, and an estimate of 350 koalas was killed as a result of the horrific bushfires. </p> <p>There are grave concerns from wildlife rescuers that there is a “much worse” toll of about 1000 koalas across NSW, Queensland and South Australia who were killed. </p> <p>Toni’s husband Peter Doherty told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nine.com.au/" target="_blank">Nine</a><span> </span>they “were there this morning” when Lewis died.</p> <p>“We are naturally very sad about this, as we were hoping he’d pull through but we accept his injuries were severe and debilitating and would have been quite painful,” Mr Doherty said.</p> <p>The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is part of a not-for-profit organisation established in 1973. </p> <p>They operate with four staff members and rely on the help of 140 volunteers. </p> <p>According to its website, the hospital has a treatment room, eight intensive care units, six outdoor intensive care units and 33 rehabilitation yards.</p> <p>In total, they handle between 200 and 250 koalas every year.</p>

Family & Pets

12 simple ways to reduce bushfire risk to older homes

<p>Seventy-five years of Australian research into how houses respond to bushfire has identified 21 main weak points in houses and the area immediately surrounding them.</p> <p>In recent decades this knowledge has been used to inform <a href="http://www.as3959.com.au/">new building construction</a>. But older houses are generally not built to the same standard, unless they have been significantly renovated.</p> <p>Older homes make up the majority of buildings in bushfire prone-areas. There are some simple things that can improve the performance of an older house in a bushfire. Here are 12 suggestions: six simple projects that could be done over a weekend or two, and six low-cost things you could do in a single afternoon.</p> <p><strong>Six weekend projects:</strong></p> <p><strong>1. Remove some garden beds next to the house</strong></p> <p>This is particularly true for garden beds near timber-framed windows and doors. For timber and fibro homes, garden beds adjacent to the house should be avoided entirely. At the very least prune dense bushes close to timber-framed windows back hard.</p> <p><strong>2. Sand and repaint weathered timber door and window frames</strong></p> <p>Over time, paint peels and cracks appear in the exposed and weathered timber. During a bushfire, embers can lodge in these cracks and ignite.</p> <p><strong>3. Enclose the subfloor with a metal mesh</strong></p> <p>Flammable items are often stored underneath the house. If this area is not enclosed these items will catch, often due to ember attack, and pose a threat to every room in the house. The exposed underside of timber floors can be protected with a lightweight, non-combustible layer.</p> <p><strong>4. Repair or replace weathered timber decking</strong></p> <p>Just as embers can land in cracks in door and window frames, the same can also happen to weathered timber decking. Most decks are right next to the house and if they go up fire easily spreads to the home.</p> <p><strong>5. Have a 1-2 metre non-flammable area immediately around your house</strong></p> <p>Think of it as an additional protective defence area. You could use gravel, paving tiles, bricks, concrete, or ground rock such as scoria.</p> <p><strong>6. Get a professional roof inspection</strong></p> <p>Roofs gradually weaken and require maintenance. A professional roof repairer can check that tiles are in place, repair damaged ridge tiles, and ensure that skylights, air vents, evaporative coolers, and solar panels are in good order and are free from gaps where embers could enter.</p> <p>The product specifications for timber door and window frames, metal mesh, and decking materials can be found in the relevant <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=AS+3959+(2018)&oq=AS+3959+(2018)&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Australian Standard</a> and <a href="https://www.nash.asn.au/nash/publications/nash-standards">steel construction standard</a>. Actual requirements for houses vary according to the <a href="https://www.bushfireprone.com.au/what-is-a-bal/">bushfire attack level</a> associated with a specific block of land.</p> <p><strong>Six easy afternoon projects</strong></p> <p><strong>1. Replace natural coil doormats with synthetic</strong></p> <p>While they appear harmless, natural organic doormats can cause a fire to grow if they ignite. Due to their density they burn for a long time, and can spread flames to timber door frames. A synthetic mat will only flare up for a short time.</p> <p><strong>2. Remove organic mulch from garden beds next to the house</strong></p> <p>Burning embers can easily ignite dried-out organic mulch, setting fire to surrounding plants. If garden beds are near the house, particularly timber door and window frames, the danger is increased. Either remove mulch in garden beds next to the house or – if the mulch is suitable – dig it in deeply.</p> <p><strong>3. Store firewood in an enclosed metal container</strong></p> <p>It is best to store wood well away from the house, but no one wants to walk metres in cold winters to get that wood. So some firewood is often stored close to the house on a burnable deck, and often it’s left there over summer. Putting it into a large metal container can remove that fire risk.</p> <p><strong>4. Remove flammable material from the front porch, roof cavity, decking and underfloor area</strong></p> <p>When embers enter the roof cavity and underneath the house, flames can rapidly spread to every room. It is vital to keep these areas clear of flammable materials.</p> <p><strong>5. Replace timber benches on timber decks with synthetic ones</strong></p> <p>A timber bench on a timber deck next to a timber house is an unnecessary risk, similar to having a wood pile on a timber deck.</p> <p><strong>6. Turn pressure relief valves on outside gas bottles away from the house</strong></p> <p>Both the <a href="https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-canberra-2003/">2003 Canberra</a> and the <a href="https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-wye-river/">2016 Wye River</a> bushfires showed the danger of having gas bottle valves facing the house. In both fires, houses were destroyed when either the gas plume flamed or gas bottles exploded.</p> <p>While these projects will improve the bushfire protection of your home, they can’t guarantee your home will survive a bushfire, especially during catastrophic bushfire conditions. It is also crucial to upgrade your home insurance so you can meet the higher costs of <a href="http://www.as3959.com.au/">new building standards</a>, in the event you have to rebuild. And in all cases, act on warnings given by your state or territory fire authority.</p> <hr /> <p><em>The advice given in this article is general and may not suit every circumstance.</em><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122712/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/douglas-brown-106914">Douglas Brown</a>, Casual Academic, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/12-simple-ways-you-can-reduce-bushfire-risk-to-older-homes-122712">original article</a>.</em></p>

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