The world responses to the Australian bushfires

Since September, more than 25 people have died and thousands have been displaced due to the fires along the eastern and southern coast of Australia, where most of the population resides. These fires, which have covered more than 15.6 million acres, are said to have been caused by lightning strikes and accidental sparks. Some fires have also allegedly been set deliberately.

A hot, dry spell caused by the natural weather phenomenon, called the Indian Ocean Dipole, is one cause of the bushfire outbreak. This natural phenomenon leads to the regular expected bushfires. However, the intense temperatures have made this year’s fires more aggressive and harder to control.

Although every state in Australia has experienced fires, New South Wales has been hit the hardest, with 100 fires still burning. With humans to be blamed partially for these fires, the New South Wales police have already charged 24 people for purposely setting bushfires and have also taken legal actions against 183 people for fire-related offenses since November. 

Natural parks such as the Blue Mountain National Park, along with bushlands and wooded areas have also been burnt. The smoke from these fires has blanketed the affected cities under plumes of smoke. In Sydney, the air quality was measured to be 11 times the level needed to be deemed hazardous.

Historically, the fire season in Australia has always been dangerous. The 2009 Black Saturday fires that killed 173 people in Victoria made it the deadliest bushfire disaster one record. Compared to Black Saturday, these bushfires are less deadly. However, the fires have destroyed more land, as only two million acres were burned back in 2009.

Social media accounts have also been in the spotlight, claiming that police arrested 200 arsonists, aiming to discredit those who claimed that the rampant fires were a consequence of climate change. The actual number of arrested arsonists was 24. These falsehoods spread through social media have increased the spread of misinformation about the fires. 

“Given the nature of misinformation, it can spread wildly, much like a bushfire can,” political communication expert at La Trobe University, Dr. Andrea Carson, said in an interview with ABC news.

However, aside from the negative attention that social media has brought, celebrities have used social media platforms as a way to campaign and raise funds to support efforts in Australia. On Facebook alone, nearly a million people raised more than $26 million for The Trustee For NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund, a fundraiser started by actor, writer and comedian Celeste Barber. Facebook has confirmed that the fundraiser was the largest the platform has experienced. 

“I’m glad people are making it a well-known issue with social media, as this should be something people around the world should be aware of. It’s a crisis, and we should all try to play a role in helping them, whatever it may be,” Richard Montgomery junior Guy Felix said.

The #AuthorsForFireys hashtag has also trended on Twitter, serving as a campaigning strategy to auction items and experiences. Twitter, according to Emily Gale’s tweet, is the auction room, while the fans are their own auctioneer. Launched by Australian authors Nova Weetman and Emily Gale it has quickly gained momentum and has raised over $181 million. With this hashtag, authors donated several hundred items that were auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the firefighter in Australia. 

MCPS students like Walter Johnson junior Minupama Weerawatte support this movement to donate. “I think people should stop sharing the same things over and over again saying ‘I’m spreading awareness’ and actually donate money or start a place to collect funds to send to Australia,” Weerawatte said.

Article by Sarasi Gunasekara of Richard Montgomery High School

Graphic by Sophie Zheng of Cabin John Middle School