Is it? When our country is burning? And some of our pollies don’t seem to give a damn.
This is where the fires are currently…..
(image source: www.thesun.co.uk)
To put it into perspective, when the Amazon was on fire it was an area of approx. 2,2400,000 acres. Currently in Australia – approx. 11,300,000. I’ll let that sink in for a moment.
Fortunately where we are, there are currently no fires and we are not near enough the bush to worry but thousands aren’t so lucky. Thousands have lost everything. We’ve lost so much of our native wildlife and native flora. And they are saying the worst is yet to come with extreme fire conditions predicted for the weekend.
Our PM went on holiday to Hawaii during the fires and only can back when there was such an outcry from the public. Since then there have been meagre offers of help from those in power and lots of ‘thoughts and prayers’. Sorry thoughts and prayers don’t do squat when everything you own is gone.
What can we do to help?
Donate.
Donate direct to either the NSW or Victorian Fire brigades.
Donate to the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) here
Donate to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital here
To donate to the Salvation Army disaster appeal, you can call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), donate at any Woolworths checkout, or donate online here.
The Australian Red Cross launched a joint disaster appeal with the ABC (Australian Broadcast Commission) to support communities affected by fires, so far raising over $2 million. You can donate here.
St Vincent De Paul Society are also running a disaster appeal. You can donate here or in person at any Vinnies store.
Here’s hoping for a cool change and some much needed rain.