The current bushfire crisis has brought Australia to a standstill. The fires have resulted in mass evacuations, burning almost 5 million hectares, taking the lives of 24 people and destroying more than 1,700 homes.
News and media outlets have been updating global audiences on the fires, with articles from organisations such as the NY Times, The BBC and The Guardian UK, addressing the impact the fires have been having on people and their families, local communities, wildlife and the environment.
Martin Bullock Lawyers have raised money for good causes in the past – this is another good cause. For those who wish to donate in assistance of those fighting or affected by the fires, we provide some links below.
- The Australian Red Cross have launched a joint disaster appeal with the ABC to support the communities affected by fires, and have raised more than $2 million already. You can donate to the Red Cross fundraiser here.
- To help the NSW wildlife victims, you can donate to the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) here.
- You can donate directly to the NSW Rural Fire Service here.
- Those with a sense of humour will recognise comedian Celeste Barber, who has raised nearly $35 million through social media fundraising. To contribute to her fundraiser, you can donate through the link in her post here.
In a bushfire, it is important that you stay up to date on the conditions in your area. If there is a fire in your area you will find its alert level on the NSW Rural Fire Service website and in the Fires Near Me smartphone app. You need to keep track of the alert level so you know what you should do. You can also follow the NSW Rural Fire Service on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest bushfire news and alerts. If you find yourself or others around you in danger from the fires, contact the emergency services on 000 as soon as you can and follow all safety and evacuation procedures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2YgHWnw2Yo
There are countless stories from around the country of brave individuals and communities coming together to help each other in this time of great need. Donations have been pouring in from several charity groups as well as from individual fundraisers. Volunteer firefighters have expended an enormous amount of time and effort in fighting the blazes and helping with evacuations and community safety. Neighbours are sticking together to help each other out, and the outpouring of grief and compassion not only from in Australia but from all around the world has been astounding. Despite the horror of what is happening around us, the resilience and bravery of Aussie men and women has been on display for the world to see.
It is still important to remember that this isn’t normal. This is the byproduct of a changing climate, and if we as a society want to protect the future of our planet, then we need to start treating climate change as the serious, life-threatening issue that it is. We need to listen to the scientists and firefighting experts who have been saying that we have inadequate funding for our emergency services. We need to take urgent action to address climate change and stop Australia’s rising emissions.
We’re all in this together. So let’s work together and let’s support each other.