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

The worst thing is that it isn't over yet... At least with the Canberra firestorm it was all over in a couple of hours.

Here's the current situation:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486712.htm

The section on forensics is somewhat confronting.

I'll just repost a reply I made to Galaxy Babe

We are well away from any danger but, as the story develops, the whole country is traumatised.

There is no evidence that any of the fires were deliberately started, but the possibility is always in the back of your mind abd I agree with all the comments about arsonists.

The positive part is that the whole country is pulling together - acts of kindness and courage are many. The governments, both federal and state are doing the right thing - a blessing really, help was given immediately and continues.

One thing about us Aussies is that, when the chips are down we are all there for our mates.

Everyone stay safe and take heart that the whole country is pulling together - be grateful for what you have and give your family a hug.

It seems so bizarre seeing the terrible news from Australia - it was snowing here last night. I saw a clip on the news this morning of a man who'd gone out to help, and came back to find his two children had been killed. Words just can't say enough...

It might not help much, but we're thinking of you.

Can I please add my thoughts of anguish and anger to the above? I'm so sorry for the victims - and I suppose for the parents of the arsonists. It can't be nice to know (do they?) that your child is capable of such monstrosities.

Hanging's too good. It should be painful, slow and very warm.

Kind thoughts to all of you.
Dig

What is more bizarre than anything is that the north of Qld is under 2m of flood water - and the Gulf country's floods are almost completely off the media radar.

Australia is being battered at the moment.

I checked out with my friend's Mum, and she is ok. She lived in the south east of Melbourne, and she and her partner are both in St. Johns. She is helping out with Comms, and he is driving an ambulance, so it is no wonder she hasn't replied to my emails.

Websailor

Yes Webbie, there's a bit of a 'spirit of the blitz' thing happening. There are posters up at my local shops - the school is asking for donations of clothing and blankets and will coordinate the delivery of it all. Half my office is planning to donate blood (I can't). Me, I'll be giving the Red Cross some money.

Feisor, I can't remember where I read it, or about which fires, but the police do suspect arson in some cases. I think the Latrobe Valley fires are on that list. It's impossible to keep track. It's nice to see you here, by the way.

Thanks to all of you for dropping by. As astute observers will note, I'm breaking my own rule and posting from w*rk... Hence the rush, and the incomplete reply. I'd better go and do something w*rklike now. But first, I need to post a very grim number.

173.

This is getting worse and worse.

Do you know whether Europe will send fire fighters, people, money, anything at all? I really, really hope they'll do.

Britain has offered - I think we've got a few navy ships in the area and are offering the troops and money.

Sending caring thoughts and sincere condolences out to you and your nation at this time.

Gosh, a visit from the Fabled One.

I'm breaking the rules again. Still at w*rk.

Yes, the UK has offered help - not sure of the details though.

NZ and US firefighters are on their way over.

One of my esteemed colleagues is a member of the Army Reserve - he's been told he's likely to be called up tonight to go and help.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7880332.stm?lss

Yes the UK are offering help, Gordon Brown was quoted on last night's news but I can't find a direct link. The BBC News channel I was watching repeatedly gave out the phone number for the Red Cross appeal line, but it's not been reported that they've done so; and as I've felt so inadequate about this appalling situation I am going to make a donation to the Red Cross today for Ivan, Feisor, Hel2 and others

GB - we all feel inadequate here.

It's raining in Sydney today and all anyone can say is "I wish we could send Victoria this weather."

Every second person I speak to has some connection and there's just nothing to say .....

People are donating blood and the Red Cross and the Salvos donation site and phone lines have been flooded.

There's a conference of climate change specialists in Melbourne this week and I saw an interview with some of them. They say that the increase in extreme weather events (fires, floods, cyclones, snow storms) is something that we will all have to get used to.

The government is calling a Royal Commission into the fires and future planning is high on the agenda - we can hope.

In the meantime everyone is aware that the effected areas are going to need not only material help but compassion and support for a long time.

People who survived and didn't lose their houses are suffering "survivor guilt" - others are angry for many reasons .... I'm afraid that the worst is still to come for some ...

Australia will grow stronger

my thoughts and wishes go to all down there

and not forgetting the wild life!, that will also recover

I have nothing to say because there is nothing to say, but I wanted to drop by and say it.

Ben

Thanks for saying it, Ben.

The nightmare continues - 181 confirmed dead, 20-something fires still burning. And there's at least one idiot I'd really like to see suffer: http://www.smh.com.au/national/abortion-laws-allowed-devil-to-destroy-pastor-20090210-83i8.html - words fail me.

*sigh*

The insensitive idiot!

here is a link to a newspaper article about my friends friends.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25037997-5018723,00.html

Quite, Lil. There's not much else that can be said about him on a genteel site like this.

Grimness of course continues today - 1033 homes confirmed lost, crops ruined, many people missing but no further confirmed deaths.

Any number of businesses and schools here are organising to collect goods and send them down to where they're needed. It's only natural that this should be a large-scale exercise in Canberra; we know only too well exactly what it's like in the immediate aftermath of an event like this. In some ways, it's a chance to repay Victoria for all the help they gave us in 2003.

In other news, here's a couple who really do deserve some sort of sponsorship deal: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/11/2488374.htm