Australia has been on fire for months, but nobody seems to know that.
This is an image of an evacuation on a beach in Australia.
January 9, 2020
The bushfires in Australia has been destroying habitats, devastating land, and ruining lives. A statistic given by the CNET states that “Since September, at least 20 people have died and over 1,500 homes have been destroyed. Another 28 people have been confirmed missing…” (Ryan) People seem to care more about what is going on with celebrities, for example, a rapper, DaBaby, being arrested in Miami, or Justin Beiber teasing a North American tour. These, in reality, have no real impact on our lives. On the other hand, the bushfires in Australia have a significant impact on our lives, even though we are all the way in America.
One example is that the fires are greatly connected to climate change. The bushfires are causing carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere. CNET writer Jackson Ryan supports this by writing, “In just three months, Australia’s fires are estimated to have released 350 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Experts warn a century or more will be needed to absorb the carbon dioxide released.” This is important because the harm of these bushfires are already becoming almost irreversible.
In addition, many animal populations have been greatly affected. One example is the koala bear, which is a token animal of Australia. Ryan writes, “Ecologists at the University of Sydney estimate that up to 480 million animals may have perished in the conflagrations, including up to 8,000 koalas.”
What can you do to help?
There are various sites that accept donations for the cause.
Help Thirsty Koalas Devastated by Recent Fires
Make a difference in an animals life today!
You can also use a free search engine called Ecosia. They use their profits to plant trees where they’re needed. The trees planted help reduce carbon dioxide harm in the world. It can easily be added to Chrome.
However, the biggest thing you can do is be aware and also raise awareness. An easy way to do this is to share stories that you see online about the bushfires.
Bibliography
Ryan, Jackson. “Australia Is Burning: Everything We Know, How You Can Help and Where to Donate.” CNET, www.cnet.com/how-to/australian-fires-everything-we-know-and-how-you-can-help/.
