Thinking about those affected by the Australian fires

[Freida]

This whole thing makes me so very, very sad. I can't really wrap my mind around the devastation - but I am so sad for all of you.

 

[mumstheword]

So, according to news, around 200 people have either been arrested or are being investigated in regards to the starting of these fires.
So yeah, arson.

 

[blackemerald1]

around 200 people have either been arrested or are being investigated in regards to the starting of these fires.

^Big story on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Service) yesterday with law enforcement officials stating that ^^ was false and the overwhelming majority of fires were started by other non criminal sources. Like fire induced lightning.

There are some looters and yeah a few arsonists that have been arrested, charged etc. But no one agency has tallied up their offenders in respect to arson.

Apparently social media is literally sagging under the weight of untrue media information about this catastrophe. So anyone reading that stuff please don't act on it or share it. Call it out and shut it down if you can.

Authorities are very concerned because several criminal elements have stepped up their bogus charity calls and scams.

So I think the message here is please use the Rural Fire Service websites, the Australian Government Media releases and the emergency apps and don't go down the rabbit hole. :cautious: :oops:

 

[Sideways]

Apparently social media is literally sagging under the weight of untrue media information about this catastrophe. So anyone reading that stuff please don't act on it or share it. Call it out and shut it down if you can.

Yep, so I understand that FB has shut down over 100 bot pages created with BS about the fires, with ridiculous agendas. Twitter has also apparently identified a large number of bot accounts pushing fake arson stories for ulterior purposes.

So totally agree about where you source your info from, and the Rural Fire Services in each state are probably the most accurate, up to the minute reports.

Also please be careful with your donations, and stick with reputable organisations via their direct website.

ETA One of the 'news' stories I saw was a pic of Australia where the fires are burning, which suggested that the whole of central Australia was ablaze! Umm, yeah, that'd be the Simpson Desert, and there's SFA there to burn besides cathedral termite mounds!

 

[mumstheword]

^Big story on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Service) yesterday with law enforcement officials stating that ^^ was false and the overwhelming majority of fires were started by other non criminal sources. Like fire induced lightning.

There are some looters and yeah a few arsonists that have been arrested, charged etc. But no one agency has tallied up their offenders in respect to arson.

Apparently social media is literally sagging under the weight of untrue media information about this catastrophe. So anyone reading that stuff please don't act on it or share it. Call it out and shut it down if you can.

Authorities are very concerned because several criminal elements have stepped up their bogus charity calls and scams.

So I think the message here is please use the Rural Fire Service websites, the Australian Government Media releases and the emergency apps and don't go down the rabbit hole. :cautious::oops:

Well, considering that the ABC hosted a arson inciting lefty feminist just two days before the country started to burn down, last november, september? I guess it's in their interests to minimise the role that arson has played in our current crisis.

 

[bellbird]

Been constantly thinking of you all across the Tasman.

We've been having insanely hazy skies the past week as the smoke plumes have reached us. Temperatures also have been well below what they normally are this time of year in NZ.

My heart goes out to all of you in Aus.

And to the brave men and women out there fighting the fires -- I honestly have no words to adequately describe my admiration and gratitude.

 

[Sideways]

ABC hosted a arson inciting lefty feminist just two days before the country started to burn down, last november, september? I guess it's in their interests to minimise the role that arson has played in our current crisis.

It isn't solely the ABC running this story, and academics from unis like QUT who monitor social media, as well as the social media sites themselves have already identified this as a problem.

The 'arson' connection with a lousy, extremely one-sided Q&A episode, which even the ABC itself has investigated, is a pretty long bow to draw. The bushfire season started in July, and was in full swing by August (yup, been going for that long now!), so I think it's safe to assume that Australia is not burning as some kind of left-wing feminist agenda.

The truth is that the regions on fire have been in drought for years now. Zero rainfall, so a whole lot of tinderbox forestland, which went up in flames following the 2 hottest and driest years on record in Australia. The concept that this is the result of a sinister lefty, feminist, mega-arson conspiracy is a little insulting to the masses of communities living on the front line of these fires.

The RF services in Qld, NSW, Vic, SA and WA (none of which have any political allegiance at all) are all giving the same reasons for the cause of this extreme weather event, and it has nothing to do with a (highly ridiculed) Q&A episode, and everything to do with a climate that has been changing before our eyes in the effected areas.

 

[mumstheword]

So it looks like the majority of the "183" people charged with fire starting offences this fire ban season were for minor things like being caught throwing ciggy butts out of windows and having illegal fires on fire ban days and NOT deliberately lighting them.

Only 24 people have been charged, I think in NSW? But it could be more, by now, for maliciously starting fires. Some of those are silly children or disturbed children.

We had a couple teen girls, and a crazy tourist, get caught, trying to burn down Nimbin, around the time our Mt Nardi (still burning since november) fire started.

 

[Sideways]

like being caught throwing ciggy butts out of windows

This is particularly infuriating. Still saw a lady flick her butt out the window today - like, wtf??? There's charred sections along the highway median strip from people doing this and setting the trees and bushes on fire.

I don't mind people smoking - but ffs, use an ashtray so you don't set more of the country alight! Just hope that no one who's lost their home in the fires saw her do it.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

I've been trying to find sufficient words to share how my heart feels about this heart wrenching devastation, but I can't seem to come up with them.

So I'll just share heart hugs and keep sending a shit ton of rain, safety, and healing energies to all. My thoughts are with you daily. ((( ? )))

 

[blackemerald1]

One of the 'news' stories I saw was a pic of Australia where the fires are burning, which suggested that the whole of central Australia was ablaze! Umm, yeah, that'd be the Simpson Desert, and there's SFA there to burn besides cathedral termite mounds!

^I saw the same map I think - It had NW Western Australia lit up (actually currently experiencing a ex cyclone trough so plenty of rain happening right there & certainly enough to douse a fire) and numerous places where I know for a fact there is no human habitation and no way that any firefighter would ever be in that region. Which begs the question, 'if a fire happens in the middle of nowhere and nobody notices, is it still a fire?' Ok I'm depressed and not sleeping. :sorry:
It's crazy because there really is enough bushfire going on to give one a fright if viewed on a map. I wonder how many times that dodgy map has been viewed, believed and shared.

Well, considering that the ABC hosted a arson inciting lefty feminist just two days before the country started to burn down, last november, september? I guess it's in their interests to minimise the role that arson has played in our current crisis.

^Wow.. that's so out there :sorry: my head is spinning. :oops: I didn't see the the lefty feminist you speak of. I don't much care about commentary like that coming from the uninformed but truly hysterical. She wasn't on the news though was she?

All I have to keep me informed is the ABC 24 news. They will break in with new fire alerts as they happen. That, Rural Fire Service and the army - are my backups.

I had bushfires here in late July & early August waaay before these big fires arrived but not on the same scale of course. No rain, no moisture that's what has started this all off. Dry lightning storms have caused the fires around us that's what I'm really worried about. Not the odd, very odd arsonist.

And also the police & relevant investigative authorities have (known or suspected) offenders on their list and are watching. It's easy to think nothing is being done when it's not front and centre on the media. It's the background work and all the quiet achievers who do that important stuff that rarely gets reported.

 

[mumstheword]

^I saw the same map I think - It had NW Western Australia lit up (actually currently experiencing a ex cyclone trough so plenty of rain happening right there & certainly enough to douse a fire) and numerous places where I know for a fact there is no human habitation and no way that any firefighter would ever be in that region. Which begs the question, 'if a fire happens in the middle of nowhere and nobody notices, is it still a fire?' Ok I'm depressed and not sleeping. :sorry:
It's crazy because there really is enough bushfire going on to give one a fright if viewed on a map. I wonder how many times that dodgy map has been viewed, believed and shared.



^Wow.. that's so out there :sorry: my head is spinning. :oops: I didn't see the the lefty feminist you speak of. I don't much care about commentary like that coming from the uninformed but truly hysterical. She wasn't on the news though was she?

All I have to keep me informed is the ABC 24 news. They will break in with new fire alerts as they happen. That, Rural Fire Service and the army - are my backups.

I had bushfires here in late July & early August waaay before these big fires arrived but not on the same scale of course. No rain, no moisture that's what has started this all off. Dry lightning storms have caused the fires around us that's what I'm really worried about. Not the odd, very odd arsonist.

And also the police & relevant investigative authorities have (known or suspected) offenders on their list and are watching. It's easy to think nothing is being done when it's not front and centre on the media. It's the background work and all the quiet achievers who do that important stuff that rarely gets reported.

She wasn't on the news. She was on q&a.