Looking for leadership

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2020 has gotten off to a very scary start. Over Christmas we spent time with Peter's dad in Bairnsdale.  The air was think with smoke, but not overwhelming. There is something about the smell of smoke in the air that taps into a primal feeling. Uneasiness. A desire to leave.

But what unfolded by New Year's eve could not have been imagined. We woke up at the beginning of a new year and new decade to see footage on the news of walls of flames engulfing trees and houses. We saw the eerie images of blood red skies, day turned to night and people cowering on beaches to escape the flames. Men, women, children and pets hoping the water would save them. Stories from people on boats off shore being showered with hot embers, driving them further out to sea.

Footage from within a fire truck heading into effected areas showed the sickening horror. Limited visibility, surrounded by fierce raging flames as fire blankets were placed against the truck windows to protect the inhabitants from radiant heat. I was terrified by the footage. Later one of the men from the truck was interviewed. He said the door handles and mirrors had melted. I simply can't get my head around it.

The loss of animals, both native wildlife, family pets and farming is heartbreaking. It's been reported that 500 million animals have perished, some likely to never recover and are now essentially extinct. We saw one fire fighter interviewed saying how he could hear koalas screaming. He looked broken as he said it. That line will stay with me but I'm sure it's nothing to the sights, smells and sounds that will haunt people who are at the fire front.

I was glued to my news feed. Everyone I knew felt helpless, sitting in the city while people battled the blaze and fought for their lives and property.  We wanted to say something. Do something. But what? Luckily, for the hellmouth social media can be, it is excellent in sharing information.  The hive mind can get information out there faster that traditional news. It can be the best of people. My feed was filled with sites to donate money, for volunteer firefighters, wildlife vets and carers, indigenous groups, foodbanks, book donations for kids. Bands organised fundraising gigs within days. Designers and makers were donating money from sales. Cafes donating tip money. People just wanted to help in any way they could.

This started a conversation online between myself and someone on instagram. I said donating was great (and essential) but only helped in the short term. What we need is political and policy change on climate change if we want any chance of curbing the climate catastrophe. She responded with 'I did not vote for our current PM but we need him to step up and make brave, bold and decisive decisions about climate change. Our lives depend on it. I have been heartbroken for many years about the lack of leadership and political indecision by both sides of politics around this issue and we are now seeing the consequences. How do we give permission to our leaders to make change? I am totally conflicted '.

I thought about it overnight. The reality is I'm just like everyone else.  Trying to figure out a way through this frustrating mess.  So here's my response:

I think we have given politicians space and permission to do better. There have been polls leading up to elections about attitudes to climate change. The school/climate strike sent a massive message that this is important to us. But many conservative politicians responded with apathy and disrespect. Looking at the hive mind there have been great ideas about supporting these communities once the fires are over. Visiting and spending money to boost local economies. But to help force policy change - we have to protest. Send a message. Lobby your council, state politicians and federal politicians. Hound them all about investing in renewables, sustainable practices and environmentally supportive initiatives. Everything from planting more trees to proper recycling and reduction of plastics. We can get involved in organisations that support this, whether it’s political, activist or environmental groups. Numbers count. Lastly educate people. This is hard, as we are in a bubble talking to people who think like we do. Changing mindsets is hard. But there are articles online about talking to people of different ideologies and finding ways to tap into their beliefs and talk. It’s hard not to feel despondent but we have to turn our feelings and anger into action. Or we look at France and HK and take to the streets! 

So for anyone who needs it. To feel connected. To feel like they are doing something rather than waiting for our leaders to lead, here are some links.  Please let me know of any other amazing /useful links and I'll add them:

Want to talk to your local politician about climate change?  Thanks to Emma for the idea and some of these great sites:
Get educated. We don't need to be experts, as we have actual climate scientists for that.  But it could be handy to know more:
 Prefer books?  Check out these lists:

Want to get a little more activist?  Climate Action Network Australia has a list of members - tons of smaller groups active in this space.  Find someone near you.  It might help you not feel so alone or helpless in this fight. Or if you need to be 'active with the activists' as Billy Bragg sings - there's always Extinction Rebellion.

All we can do is keep up the momentum. Not let these fires pass into headline history.  Keep the pressure on the government to change, take action on a new environmentally friendly way of living.  Commit to emission reduction targets, sign accords and agreements.  Be leaders.  Like the inspiring PM across 'the ditch', whose country is currently being effected by the smoke from OUR fires!

If you're looking for leadership, this is what it looks like.

  
 

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