h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've said it before and I'll say it again - every single Australian who voted for Rudd deserves . He seems to be handling this to the best of his ability, using the full powers of his office. Not all leaders would be so prompt and so proactive.

BBC News is saying that at least two of the fires were started deliberately. It just sickens me.

It is good to see a Govt. that acts from commonsense, and quickly. Let's hope those are more than just words. Those people need as much help as possible, as quickly as possible. I hope the banks are more considerate than they are here.

Websailor

Koala Sam and the other (Bob?) were in the news here. Well, the wildlife rescue center was. But those two were especially cute. They said that those koalas are probably the best news in Australia these days.

Ivan was good enough to forward me photos of Sam the koala (several adorable koala photos, actually). They are indeed cute.

Is that wildlife rescue center a reputable charity? What about humanitarian efforts? I know nothing about Australian charities and could use some recommendations from Aussies.

The Red Cross,http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp the Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/home and the RSPCA http://www.rspca.org.au/ are all reputable and wonderful charities

Thank you Hel2

Thanks, Hel. I've already gotten to the Red Cross. I'll check out the RSPCA too. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Just heard on the radio that they have arrested a man for arson in relation to the Churchill fire (21 dead) - no further news at this stage just that he is being psychologically assessed and that his mental state is "fragile". They are not saying much because the say it would be too easy for the locals to recognise him.


What about the "fragile' mental state of survivors?

An interesting interview with a forensic pathologist from the US this morning. He specialises in fire deaths (what a job ) and has done extensive analysis on arsonists. The most interesting (unexplicable) fact is that 92% are male.

It's interesting, but doesn't surprise me for some reason. In these post-feminist days we are used to thinking "equal" means "the same" but that's just sloppiness. Men and women are not the same.

Indeed they're not the same.

I note that the individual charged with arson has been moved to Melbourne on remand. He just wouldn't be safe anywhere else. I'm trying to remind myself that he's innocent until proven guilty...



If anyone in the UK wants an idea of how much ground has been covered by these fires, it's in excess of 450,000 hectares. That's more than one-fifth the size of Wales, apparently. And they're still burning in some places.

I've had a bit of a cry this evening. I was wondering when that was going to happen. I feel better for it.

Thanks to everyone who's donated to the various relief agencies - whether to help humans or help animals, it doesn't matter, everyone and everything needs help right now.

Ivan

There are some telethons to raise cash including donations by celebrities which is raising awareness: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7885532.stm that page includes an online link to the Australian Red Cross.

My thoughts about arsonists are not printable

The Red Cross has raised $81,000,000 in the last five days, purely from donations from individuals. This doesn't include corporate donations or anything promised during that telethon. I am seriously impressed, and somehow overwhelmed by the thought that such a huge amnount of money is only a drop in the bucket of what will be needed.

On the other side of the ledger - Germaine Greer has offered her opinion of the whole business, as she invariably does when she knows half the facts of a situation. I'm not sure I should bother reading what she thinks. *sigh* Just what we bloody well need right now.

Ivan, in post 29 you posted a link to the Marysville website:

>> It's up to you whether you look at it or not. I'm just putting it here for want of any better idea about what to do with it.

>> http://www.marysvilletourism.com/

Today's times has a slideshow of the same place:

http://tinyurl.com/b33sal

The contrast has made me feel physically sick.

B

Same here, Ben.

A few minutes walk up the ridge from here I can go and look at nice new houses that have replaced the ruins of 2003. I can also look across the valley to Mount Stromlo, where the Observatory has been rebuilt. This community's back in full working order. But I really don't know how a place like Marysville can ever be put back together. The destruction's so complete.

Ivan, I concur with your opinion of said female. My son has met her and his thoughts are much the same though more forcefully expressed

Looking at the photos, I was surprised to see how many trees appeared to have survived the fires, the buildings seeming to have burned in pockets. Odd.

Take care,

Websailor

Aerial shots can be deceptive. A lot of low-level vegetation will have been annihilated; tall trees might still have high-level foliage seemingly intact. But I remember 2003 - leaves were raining down on my garden. Some of them were actually embers in the shape of leaves; others were leaves that had burned so quickly that they retained their shape in all details but were in fact just ash. I could catch them and watch them crumble to fine dust in an instant.

It's also possible that the firefront raced through so fast at ground level that the upper levels of the trees didn't get so much as singed. Strange things happen in these fires. Most native plants will regenerate within the next few months. It's a pity people can't do that.

There was a discussion on the ABC last night and they talked about Cockatoo which was a town destroyed in the Ash Wednesday fires which has been rebuilt and survives as a community, stronger than ever. The residents of Cockatoo offered their help, which I think will be a real benefit to today's victims.

I think that it offered real hope to the present day survivors, but there is some debate about whether some towns will be rebuilt due to the lack of town water etc. I think that it's good that we are talking sensibly about such things but, in the end, it should be up to the people.

Agreed. The people affected need to decide for themselves what happens next. Government can help make it happen, but the decision shouldn't be made by government.