Australian bushfire emergency: responding + taking action

We are kicking off 2020 with a bushfire emergency in Australia.

Summer in Australia is usually a relaxed time of being outdoors, beaches, barbeques, coastal holidays, country towns, driving on open roads and being out in fresh air.

This year it has been marked by intense and widespread bushfires. At the time of writing, here are the sad statistics according to CNN:

• 24 people have died as a result of the fires including volunteer firefighters
• more than 5.9 million hectares (14.7 million acres) has burned.
• NSW, where I live, has been the most affected with 3.6 million hectares burned.
• more than 1300 homes destroyed in NSW
• it is estimated over 500 million animals have been killed in NSW alone including a third of the koala population.

We have also had terrible smoke for much of the past month including many days at hazardous levels. It has been hard to be outdoors at all even when a reasonable distance from the fires.

The whole world has changed. We are at the frontline of a climate emergency and feeling the effects of poor policy and action over the longer term.

Responding

The immediate feelings have been of sadness, anger at lack of leadership and action on climate change and preparedness, helplessness and fear. Our news reports are filled with story after story of loss. I’ve never seen so many people cry, especially men, the impact so overwhelming and sad. Our journalists, also first-responders at the frontline in telling these stories, often hugging people after interviews to provide support.

I feel it is important to be informed and witness these stories and I am not one to turn away from the media at this time. But as Nicole Cody wisely reminds us in ‘What to do when your beds are burning‘, it’s also critical for our self-care and wellbeing to have a balanced response:

Your number one priority is to tune in, and then ask yourself how you are coping. Binge-watching these tragedies unfold may not be helping you. Do you need some time out from your news feed? Can you go for a walk, read a book, watch a movie and give yourself a positive mental-health break?

Stay informed, but also manage yourself, and know when you or your loved ones need a screen or news break. No-one can live in crisis 24/7. That will burn you out. Fast.

Taking action

Taking action is a vital part of helping out and dealing with our responses and feelings. Whether it be donating, giving in other ways, sharing information and curating links, being out in the field volunteering or speaking out, the response has been heart-warming and strong. The extreme dangers and impacts have also heightened the need to look at our beliefs and personal actions in relation to climate change and what we do day in and day out in an ongoing way.

There are many ways we can take action. Here are just some of the ways you can help actively.

Donate

Donate to help those at the frontline fighting fires. Our firefighting effort is mainly made of volunteers organised at the state and local level. They have done an incredible job to save so many homes and livelihoods, putting their own lives on the line and often forgoing income to do this important work. Donate to help the animals impacted and those supporting them.

You can donate to support people at the frontline in many ways:

• New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS)
• Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA)
• South Australia Country Fire Service (CFS)
• Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ)
• Celeste Barber’s amazingly successful Facebook Campaign which has raised over $41 million for the NSW Rural Fire Service.
• RSPCA NSW
• WIRES Emergency Fund for Wildlife
• Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
• Australian Red Cross Bushfire Appeal
• The Salvation Army Australia
• Direct support for families of firefighters tragically killed this season

I found this piece by Maddie Pearce on her experiences of recovering from a bushfire very insightful and wise. She reminds us we are in it for the long haul, not just the short-term in supporting people experiencing loss.

Creative campaigns of support

There have also been some fabulous creative campaigns supporting the bushfire effort. People are banding together using their skills, creations and influence in new ways. Here are just some examples:

#AuthorsforFireys

This is a Twitter-based auction of books, writing services and all kinds of creative goodness. Created by Emily Gale, you can find out more information on the website and on Twitter via the #AuthorsforFireys hashtag. Bids are made on Twitter by responding to each offer with bidding closing on 11pm AEDT on 11 January.

I have an offer for #AuthorsforFireys over on Twitter: 1 place in my Personality Stories coaching program – we can focus on your personality, creativity and writing – or anything that works for you. All proceeds to the Victorian CFA. Place your bids over on Twitter! See the pinned post in my Twitter profile. Bidding closes 11pm 11 January Sydney time.

#SpendwithThem

Instagram based @SpendWithThem initiative created by Turia Pitt and Gracie McBride focuses on helping rebuild towns and businesses affected by fire through encouraging us to #spendwiththem. Buy online and support small businesses and communities seeking to rebuild.

Resources for impacts on schools

My cousin Lauren, a leading educational author and publisher at Teachers 4 Teachers Publications, is offering to donate some of their top-selling educational resources to help schools impacted by fire. Please read Lauren’s post and respond direct to her for assistance.

Animal Rescue Craft Guild

The Animal Rescue Craft Guild is busy making and coordinating efforts for joey pouches and all other kinds of designs to support animal rescue. With patterns and regularly updated information on what is required at any time, it is a great way for those with strong craft skills to contribute in a practical way.

Free AirBnB accommodation

AirBnB is helping to offer free short-term accommodation to people displaced by bushfires in partnership with individual homeowners.

Take care

A common theme emerging from the creative responses is how social media and online community enables them. We often see the negative side of social media but the opportunity to band together across the miles in innovative ways has been so heartening. It also helps us to be more informed and learn the facts to help us make change in daily habits and how we take action.

Here are some beautiful thoughts and tips on responding and auditing our lives in a spirit of yoga from my friend Emma Waters of Jala Yoga and Coaching:

So take care with your personal energy at this time and do what you can to take support those in need. Consolidate where you can. And keep shining, creating, sharing, speaking out and writing in your own way if it feels right. We need your light, creativity and energy to help us all get through this time as positively as we can.