Australia's Fires and How You Can Help
Updated: Nov 26, 2020
Despite various propaganda making its rounds, the Australian bushfires are the most recent world-spotlighted disaster fueled by the effects of climate change. Despite exaggerated arson claims and science-refuting narratives by some social and political groups desperately fighting against their interests, what is happening in Australia is real, devasting, and urgent.
What’s Happening
In 2017, Australia experienced a prolonged drought, creating more perpetual arid conditions. By September 2018, the east coast’s rainfall measured under a fifth of its average and the month was recorded as Australia’s driest ever.
Little relief would be experienced in the coming months, as Australia was met with its driest spring on record for September to November 2019. In September 2019, the fires began. In October 2019, the bushfire season was well underway.
Persistent drought conditions parched the land and created ideal fuel for fires to spread rapidly, consuming everything in their paths. Embers could quickly ignite the dry landscape as heavy winds propelled flames forward. Some editorials have accurately described Australia at this point as “a tinderbox.”
On November 11, 2019, a State of Emergency was declared in Queensland and New South Wales, preceded three days before by the first human deaths of the fires.
By early December 2019, for the first time in history, US firefighters were deployed to Australia to aid in gaining control over the raging fires. Ten days later, Australia broke its record for the hottest day. The average temperature was 105.6 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 degrees Celsius).
Ten days before the new year, one of the bushfires, located in East Gippsland, Victoria, created its own thunderstorm. The clouds created from the fire, known as pyrocumulonimbus clouds (also known as cumulonimbus flammagenitus clouds), developed into a downburst of rain, which at first blush sounds helpful. However, it also created lightning, which began to spark more fires in the area. Residents of this area were told to evacuate on December 28.
Just two days later, people who hadn’t left sooner were trapped there as roads had been closed.
On January 2, 2020, Victoria declared a State of Disaster.
For comparison and contrast, the Amazon fires (one of our focus areas of Witches Healing the World and the event that inspired its creation in the first place) saw over 2.2 million acres (900,000 hectares) burned. The California wildfires of 2018 burned just under 2 million acres (800,000 hectares).
What’s the measurement of land consumed by the Australian bushfires? Over 12 million acres (4.9 million hectares).
At least 27 people have been killed, several more are missing, and we have lost millions of animals, with an estimation that it could reach one billion. Millions of animals have also been displaced. Thousands of Australians are left homeless, with countless others left with respiratory issues and fire-related health complications.
Political Interference
While there are considerable efforts by many wonderful organizations and individuals all over the world to aid Australia, Australia’s conservative media outlets are attempting to derail the accurate message. They are diminishing the impact climate change has had on the intensity and ferocity of the fires by claiming that this year is no worse than previous years or by overstating the role of arsonists. This New York Times article gives an idea of what strategies are being used by Australian conservative media. It also illustrates parallels to conservative attempts in the United States and Britain to diminish the message of climate change.
What You Can Do to Help
Similarly to our article written about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Australia urgently needs your assistance. That assistance is required with practical solutions that are complemented by, but not replaced by, our magical work as witches. Here are 8 things you can do to help
Donate to vetted relief funds and charitable organizations. This is one of the two things you can do with the most immediate impact. If you have the resources to give, please do this first. Organizations like the ones listed below are high-impact concerning the Australian disaster. These organizations are the boots on the ground, and they know better than we do what Australians and Australian wildlife need at any given moment. Sometimes the best role we can play is that of supporter to an organization that has more influence than we have on our own.
Donate directly to Australia's firefighters on the frontlines. Support the Australian firefighters by donating to County Fire Authority (CFA). Since the majority of these firefighters are unpaid volunteers, some working longer than 12-hour shifts to battle the fires courageously, let's help them out.
In addition to the above, pray for rain—without lightning—in Australia. The reason Australia's fires have been able to grow as massive as they have is because of the ongoing drought. Australia needs quenching, so whether by ritual, spell, meditation, or prayer, send your energy for rain. I would personally refrain from using candles or fire magic in your work for Australia or other fire-affected areas like the Amazon Rainforest. Instead, opt for fire's polar element, water.
Consider donating a portion of your proceeds to a reputable charity, such as one listed below. If you are a witchy entrepreneur, consider marking a part of your profits to be donated to charity, either in your name, your client's name, or the name of Witches Healing the Earth. Consider using your platform to inspire action, both practically and magically, in our global community of witches.
Stay informed and spread awareness. Be aware of hidden agendas downplaying the role of climate change on natural disasters. While, yes, arson may play a role in Australia's current devastation, the ultimate culprit is climate change, at our own hand as humankind. Stay vigilant and informed.
Become knowledgeable about the cause and effects of climate change and do your best to mitigate your footprint. Please do not underestimate the very immediate changes we need to make in our world to save our home. While the Australian bushfires are giving us no choice but to be reactive, we need to make changes now to prevent future calamities as the Australia and Amazon fires. As Greta Thunberg stated, "I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear that I feel every day. And then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if your house is on fire. Because it is." We only have one earth. Let's protect her.
Contribute rituals, spells, and chants to Witches Healing the Earth. If you are comfortable creating or sharing a group ritual, many of our members would love inspiration. Write a ritual and share it on the blog.
Share this article with friends and fellow witches. Let's cast a vast web of networking witches joined in the fight for Australia, the earth, and humanity.
Vetted Organizations
1. Direct Relief. A non-governmental, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit organization, Direct Relief provides emergency preparedness and disaster response assistance programs without regard to politics, religion, ethnic identities, or ability to pay.
2. Australia Wildfire Fund. This fund was established in response to the Australian fires and is presented by Earth Alliance. You may recognize Earth Alliance as being tied with Leonardo DiCaprio’s name. He co-chairs the alliance with Emerson Collective founder Laurene Powell Jobs and investor and philanthropist Brian Sheth. Brian Sheth chairs Global Wildlife Conservation, which is managing the funds raised through the Australia Wildlife Fund. For this purpose, I am including the Charity Navigator Score for the Global Wildlife Conservation. 100% of funds raised for the Australia Wildlife Fund are being used to assist local firefighting efforts, support affected local communities, and rescue and recover wildlife. Funds are also being used to implement long-term solutions to restore and repopulate unique ecosystems destroyed by wildfires, increasing climate resilience, and reducing the threat of future wildfires.
Charity Navigator Score: 96.29 (out of 100) CharityWatch Score: NA
3. Save the Children. This organization is secular, meaning it does not proselytize faith, as some other humanitarian organizations do. You can choose to make a one-time donation, a recurring donation, or you can choose to sponsor a child. Concerning the Australia fires, this vetted organization is providing a unique way for you to give to Australia’s children. Recognizing the traumatizing event of living through a bushfire, Save the Children has found a way to help Australia’s children feel a little safer. Your donation can go to set up a child-friendly space where children and play and socialize with other children in a safe and supportive environment. This particular Appeal is only able to accept donations from Australian addresses, so they request that you visit their Facebook Fundraiser here if you live outside Australia.
4. Global Giving. This organization is unique because it’s the most significant global crowdfunding community. They connect donors (like us), non-profits, and companies. For the Australia fires, they have a specific relief fund here. If you don’t feel comfortable choosing which organization to donate to, donating to Global Giving takes that pressure off, as they will disperse the funds as they feel most impactful.
Charity Navigator Score: 98.23 (out of 100) CharityWatch Score: N/A
5. Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. While this organization doesn’t have a score on Charity Navigator or CharityWatch, most likely because it’s not American, I do trust them. Unfortunately, it also does not have a score on ChangePath, which is an Australian charity rating organization. Consider researching this one a little more if you want to make sure your donations are reaching the farthest. The Australia Zoo is owned by Terri Irwin, wife of the late Steve Irwin. The Irwins live at the zoo and have already rescued 90,000 animals from Australia’s bushfires and are continuing to save more.
Charity Navigator Score: N/A
CharityWatch Score: N/A
ChangePath Rating: N/A
6. Australian Red Cross. The Red Cross is a well-known organization that has been in existence since 1881, touting over a century in service. The Australian Red Cross was founded in 1914, nine days after the start of World War I. Back then, it was a branch of the British Red Cross and later changed its name. It became incorporated in June 1941. The Australian Red Cross provides emergency preparedness assistance as well as recovery programs and emergency aid in communities affected by disasters.
7. Australian Wildlife Conservancy. This highly-rated organization works to protect Australia’s wildlife and in response to the bushfires, they are working to support various organizations. They are working to provide a safe haven for Australia’s threatened wildlife.
Sources:
Charlie Nichols is the founder of WHE and a staff contributor. Charlie studied Journalism & Mass Communication, Marketing, and Psychology at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin. She has practiced witchcraft for over two decades and is a certified spiritual empowerment coach, a certified ethical psychic, and a certified crystal healer. Charlie lives on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, USA with her partner, daughter, and animal companions.
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