glitch central

Hey guys. I know I rarely ever post anymore but I just wanted to show and tell you guys what’s been going on in Australia right now. I’ve honestly got no idea if the rest of the world has been reporting on these bushfires but I feel like this really needs to be known.

Australia is the driest continent on planet Earth. We have always been prone to harsh bushfires, it’s something that occurs every year during summer. This is normal for us. However, what is not normal is for these bushfires to begin at such extremities - before the official bushfire season has even begun. Below is a current-time screenshot of the bushfires currently burning in Australia, the country is literally on fire:

We are currently in the worst bushfire crisis ever recorded. Summer, and the “official” bushfire season, has only just begun and yet these bushfires have been ongoing since August this year. In Australia, August is the last month of winter. These fires have been ongoing since WINTER, and if this doesn’t speak volumes on what climate change is doing to our planet then I don’t know what will.

These bushfires have been caused for a plethora of reasons, including severe and extreme drought, heat, arson, and climate change. We have been in EXTREME drought for the majority of the year.

Farmers and those living in rural areas of Australia are currently experiencing the highest levels of water restrictions that are able to be imposed. Warragamba Dam (the greater Sydney region’s primary water source) is steadily drying out and water is steadily depleting. In fact, today (December 10, 2019) level 2 water restrictions have been imposed for those of us living in Sydney. Compared to our rural counterparts, this restriction level is insignificant. Below is imaging of Warragamba’s current numbers in comparison to last year (2018):

It doesn’t help that our government are firm climate change deniers. Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of NSW, cut funding to fire and rescue services before the fire season begun. With our country on fire and our wildlife steadily burning to death, the PM was too busy checking out the “longest Qantas flight” (New York to Sydney) with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce instead of addressing and aiding with bushfire relief.

I’m sure some people might know about what has happened to the koala’s, with them being deemed “functionally extinct”, which is why I implore you to please donate to koala sanctuary’s and hospitals if possible! Wildlife experts have stated that these fires have been so extreme, that any koalas trapped within the fires would have been cremated. Their bodies will never be found which will make koala numbering that much more difficult.

I also want to include photos of Sydney today. This is my home. I was born here. I have NEVER seen this level of pollution, never breathed in air so poor in quality like this, and have never had to be on alert for people who could suffer from such severe smoke inhalation. The following images were taken off of Twitter (I do not own any of them).

This is Sydney on a normal day versus Sydney today, taken in the exact same position (credit). That’s not cloud or fog, that is bushfire smoke. It really just puts into perspective how poor the air quality is here, especially when you can barely see in front of you.

These are images of Coogee beach taken today. I come to this beach often during summer so to see such familiar environment developing into this state is heartbreaking. The water is filled with soot and the shore line is becoming absolutely polluted in it. It has worsened since these photos were taken (credit).

I implore that you all do further research into the statistics and facts of these fires! Climate change is very real and it is destroying this planet to the point of irreversible repair. I have donated to various bushfire relief-aids this season and I urge that you do too, or at least spread the word!