Australia burns and Friday song day.

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen.  Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.  Regular readers may have noticed that I skipped my Friday song day last week.  With Australia burning, I just didn’t have the heart for it.  I feel much the same this week, but, you know, it’s like falling off a horse ….

Over the last few days there has been a constant stream of water bombers and choppers flying overhead on the way to the fire grounds.  We all know how dangerous it is fighting fires on the ground, but it is also exceedingly dangerous providing air support.  A helicopter crashed into a reservoir yesterday.  Thankfully the pilot managed to escape from the craft and swim ashore.  Last year, another helicopter pilot died when the bucket underneath his chopper caught in trees.  And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, there are fears that the reservoir where yesterday’s helicopter crashed, could now be contaminated.  The reservoir provides drinking water for nearby communities.

I thought I should pick a song in appreciation of the efforts of the water bombing crews.  I had picked Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” but after the horrible events in Iran, that song now seems totally wrong and I can’t think of an alternative.  However, I thought it would be rude to pass this day without offering my thanks to the firefighting aircrews for the valuable and dangerous work they undertake.  Without them, the fire situation in Australia would be much worse.

On a sour note, I can’t believe the rubbish/trash that is circulating on certain social media sites.  The bots and climate change denialists have emerged from the roach holes from which they spew an ever increasing stream of pseudo science and conflated data to throw doubt on the link between climate change and more extreme drought and bushfire events.  Nor can I believe people’s willingness to share that rubbish.  Please don’t do it.  Do some research.  Many environmental challenges can be, and have been, mitigated and/or overcome with appropriate action.  We need to get on with the job of drastically reducing global carbon emissions and not keep arguing about it.

As a tonic, I thought we should listen to Joe Dolce’s mum.  Have some respect.  Respect for science, respect for our firefighters, respect for country and respect for our world.

Sing it everybody.

It’s on, ladies and gentlemen, three massive fires have combined into a mega-blaze in the Snowy mountains.  It’ll be coming round and over the mountain, when it comes.

It’s 11pm and 33ºc in Canberra, the national capital of Australia.

Kind Regards.
Tracy

Also for the Ragtag Daily Prompt — Shut.

 

 

45 thoughts on “Respect”

  2. The southerly change has just arrived here, Tracy and is howling around our roof and chimney. I hate to think what it must be like in those fire zones.
    The plethora of rubbish circulating in the ether is almost as distressing as the fires. I wonder what these people have got against doing a bit of research and finding out information for themselves instead of running with the denialist herd.
    It was interesting to read the comments made by Emily Townsend. She’s a brave woman who I fear will be torn to shreds by certain sections of the media

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I’m feeling more hopeful today, Jane. If I start to creak it is a good sign we will get rain. That hasn’t happened yet but I can tell my body is thinking about it. 🙂 I hope you had a better day today after yesterday’s shocker. Still much work for our firefighters to do, but hopefully it has been less hazardous.
      I hope Emily Townsend gets a lot of positive publicity for her stand against the climate denier columnists and their deliberate attempts to mislead the public. Like you, I fear they will soon show themselves to be the bullies that they are. I expect nothing less than a character assassination.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I’m glad to know that the aerial fight has begun on your fires. When we have fires, it is always somewhat reassuring to hear the water bombers in the sky. I hope they are dropping retardant as well. I know it’s dangerous, and the firefighters are so very brave! After a fire, large or small, here, there are signs on every corner, painted to say “Thank you, first responders.” and “Thank you, firefighters.” I hope there is a chance that the weather will change to a more helpful stance, and the fires will be out soon!

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    1. Yes, they are dropping retardant too. Seems to have helped protect some of small towns.
      Your thank you signs are a very nice gesture. They deserve it.
      I imagine there will be quite a party for the fire fighters and affected communities when the fires are out. It can’t take away the trauma, but is a good way to get some closure and release the stress imo.
      Rain is forecast this coming week. Not enough to put the fires out, but hopefully it will be enough to slow them down. Fingers crossed.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I can only imagine how hard it must be to hear people say and write this sh** when you’re right there where there’s proof of it! I’m always horrified when I hear and read about people denying what’s happening with our climate, how can they be so stupid??

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It leaves me in a pit of despair, Sarah. People who aren’t convinced about human-induced climate change or don’t appreciate its seriousness, often think it is just bad luck, Sarah, or that it is a bad year, rather than it being a sign that escalating carbon emissions from human activity is causing damaging change to the climate and its ecosystems. If those same people are having those views reinforced by media driving that line and their leaders who deliberately mislead them, then it is not difficult to see why they think the way they do. It also makes it so much easier for bots and naysayers to hit their mark to create division. Well, that my observation. It’s marketing 101 and a huge con job.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I know, Tracy, and it would take superhuman strength not to fall into that pit of despair. I often despair at people’s stupidity and ignorance, and what drives me even more crazy is that politicians worldwide actually want their people to be that stupid and ignorant, so that they can go on filling their pockets with money, and more money, and more money… 😦 As if that would help when there’s no place to live anymore.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. I was glad when the helicopters finally stopped flying over my house from a dam next door to the fires. They added to my anxiety. I am very grateful they were here though

    Liked by 3 people

  7. I felt the same way last week, just felt I couldn’t blog but the misinformation and the government BS just got me so angry I found myself writing blog posts on that. This is an absolute bloody nightmare and there feels like there is no end in sight. Thank you for the smile though I have not listened to Shudda up your face for years. Hope things get better down south soon.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It looks like the Indian Ocean Dipole is loosening its grip on us, Punam. We may soon get rain. Fingers crossed. If not, the fires are just 50kms of dry, heavily timbered terrain (with wildlife aplenty 😦 ). One day at a time. Could do without the stupid people who are in the ascendancy at the moment given the useless climate action policy for which they voted (at least in this country).

      Liked by 2 people

  10. Oh my Tracy I do hope you and all those you love and care about are ok! I agree 100% about the chopper pilots and the efforts required to fly in the bladders and drop the where needed. We had them flying here for weeks, months and even now a year later all my neighbours and I all check to see what is going on and the message chain reassures us. Just a tourist one.
    I am always taken back to a lovely place when I hear that song, Yet with your and Joes mums words RESPECt. . It is so so sad that there are such people about us and that sadly the negative of the world wide web, gives everyone a voice.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I don’t worry for me, Tazzie. My job is to look after my pets. Everything else is secondary. I’m more worried about the destruction of habitat for the animals, birds and plants. If I lost my house, well that’s seems only fair for the destruction we have reaped on so many animals. Sorry to be so gloomy. This next week will be a very anxious one for all Canberrans.
      The trauma lingers, doesn’t it?

      Liked by 2 people

  11. I’ve been thinking of you Tracy, and wondering how things have been going for you during these frightening times. Have been off the blog map myself for a while, for a number of reasons, including frustration with the dumbed down-ness of the human sector of this planet. You are an inspiration. Stay safe and keep on keeping on.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for thinking of me, C. Sometimes the garden is the best antidote for the craziness. We are in a safe place here, although there is much city-wide anxiety from a previous encounter with a past inferno.
      As for being an inspiration? That is a massive compliment, totally undeserved on my part, but thank you nevertheless.

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  12. It is just horrible to read about the deaths of so much wildlife. I feel sorry for the people who have lost their homes or family members of course but the number of creatures that have died is just staggering. I hope that the fires won’t get too close to you in Canberra. I remember 2003. I had friends living in Canberra at that time and as we had fires in Tassie that summer too we were phoning each other for updates regularly.
    That people can still say climate change is not a factor in this is unbelievable and it makes me so mad when I hear or read comments blaming “greenies” for all this.
    Thank you for the happy tune at the end. I remember seeing it on Countdown when it came out. You have to smile at it and especially at Molly Meldrum with the worst moustache ever.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you got a smile from that song, Vanda. Goodness knows we need a little bit of levity now.

      I hope the fires don’t get close either, Vanda, but they are in the hills now and it is terribly, terribly dry there. A lot of the alpine plants are dying. The parks and reserves are all closed as are our nature reserves in the city. It is desolate. We shall see. We’re hoping for the best. It is well known that climate change is a factor. That is the advice that the government’s own agencies are giving it. It is a failure of leadership and beggars belief that the LNP has been spinning the facts and shirking its responsibility to suit its agenda,

      Liked by 1 person

  14. We in the US are following the fires closely. We had fires out west this year that we’re far smaller but sadly a sign it things to come if we don’t address the issues. Sally Donato has a link this week to. New effort underway by TEDx that sounds really terrific. I forwarded it to our mayor and community association and hope we will participate. It’s a worldwide effort to educate and generate ideas. It’s here https://countdown.ted.com

    Liked by 1 person

  15. My heart goes out to you all in Oz, Tracy. I am hoping the much needed rain comes and the relief crews get the international support they need to fight these blazes. We’ve been in “fire” country in Tasmania last year and Vancouver. It’s a surreal and frightening experience. I’ll check out Tina’s link, too. Positive action is what’s needed. Not climate denial! Take care.

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  17. It has been an absolute war zone on social media, many of us have been relentlessly posting against the bots and trolls and murdoch media. As I write it seems that the info wars tide is turning. Shame about the chopper and the dam! Glad its coming under control everywhere.

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