HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP RELIEF/RESCUE EFFORTS IN AUSTRALIA
Over the past three months, bushfires in Australia have escalated in intensity. They have scorched more than 12 million Australian acres - the smoke visible from space as shown in an image below. Thousands of Australians have evacuated their homes, and entire ecosystems and wildlife populations have been wiped out. According to the Huffington Post, an estimated one billion animals and at least 24 people have perished in the Australian fires since November 2019. The bushfires are an enormous disaster for biodiversity and environmental conservation at large. Experts say we've likely lost entire species, though it's too early to tell. For more visual information on the fires raging across Australia, see this fire tracker map.
Australia just hit its hottest and driest year on record, with temperatures rising to 40º C (or 120º F). Drought and record heat due to the climate crisis have caused the bushfires to spread rapidly and forcefully. Yet the prime minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, has signaled no change in his negligent policies and still denies climate change. He ridicules policy proposals to mitigate and reduce coal mining and incessantly promotes economic interests that favor Australia’s coal industry.
It’s only the very beginning of Australia’s summer, its warmest season, and the fires are expected to get even worse. Firefighters and animal rescue organizations are anticipating an uphill battle in tackling the fires and providing sufficient care for those in need. Below is a list of reputable and legitimate organizations that are helping animals affected and injured by the fires in Australia. When donating to any organization, always make sure to check their legitimacy using a service like Charity Navigator or Charity Watch.
Relief/Recovery Organizations Accepting Donations in Australia:
Wildlife Victoria - support their Victorian Bushfire Appeal, where funds will be distributed to wildlife shelters around the country.
SAVEM – South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management - donations go directly to saving animals in fire affected areas.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital rescues and rehabilitates injured koalas.
WWF Australia (World Wildlife Fund) uses funds to care for injured wildlife, and will help restore the damaged ecosystems that koalas, kangaroos, and other animals have lost.
It can be difficult to empathize with tragedies that occur far from home. We frequently fall into the bystander role. But as the effects of climate change worsen and become more visible, we cannot afford to continue following a behavior chain of ignorance and disengagement. Our hearts go out to those struggling from the Australian bushfires – both animals and people. It frightens us that climate change mitigation is still being neglected by so many, including political leaders. The disaster in Australia is a clear indication that climate change is real and poses a threat to every one of us here on Earth. We must act now.
In addition to helping out in Australia, please consider also supporting organizations like Earth Island Institute calling for an immediate transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar energy.