The Earth Is Burning
February 10, 2009 by Bird
Filed under Navel Gazing, Ranting
All yesterday I kept coming to my computer to upload and share images of a snowy, festive London, and every time I tried my eye was caught by news of unfolding devastation in Australia. It seemed grossly inappropriate; I just couldn’t do it. Harrowing eye witness accounts of entire towns lost in a four storey conflagration made the British reaction to our own extreme weather event feel mortifying, almost laughably hobbit like – people complaining because they couldn’t get to work? Stamping their feet in indignation when our otherwise gentle climate throws a wobbly and we – horror of horrors – run out of grit for the roads? I do not mean to belittle the danger in our recent unusually heavy snow and rain (people have died here) but I’ve been observing our nations joyless reaction to the whiteout with a growing sense of disbelief. Actually, I’ll qualify that last remark by saying that every single “real” human being I’ve spoken to has loved the unaccustomed snow (the rain not so much) and the carnivalesque effect it has on human behaviour. The unfolding news in Australia has I hope given a new sense of perspective to politicians and press who enjoy the whipping up of shamefully petty discontent and anger to such futile and self serving effect.
I’m currently looking out of my window at swirling black rain clouds and hissing rain; the beauty of last week utterly vanished, we have a leaking roof in the kitchen and it’s so dark here I’m having to work with the light on. There’s no sign that the rain will let up any time this week, and right now it feels like it could easily go on forever. Right now however I’m also profoundly glad of these cold soaking conditions – my dreams have been scorching, acrid.
Ranting about climate change at this point is horribly tempting but then I’d be no better than the politicians and the press – hijacking real and terrible human suffering to pursue an agenda. Right now I just want to express my horror and sympathy to the Australian people, and to anyone with loved ones there.
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Wow. This is a powerful and quite essential post. I say “essential” because you really do get to the essence of the topic, and it is the essential manner in which it should be expressed. I, too, am horrified by the scenes on TV coming from Australia and, although I heard there are views from space, I can’t bring myself to search them out. Good for you to celebrate the snow. We had a similar unusual snowstorm in our Oregon valley (that usually gets rain with some light snow some winters) at the holidays. It was glorious, even though my husband had to stay at a motel for three nights because the 15 mile drive was out of the question. I absolutely understand the gloominess when the rain washes the snow away. And I absolutely understand your gratitude for rain when a part of our world is scorched and burning. And, no, the discussion – the valid science behind it all – doesn’t fit here, not at this moment; you’re right about that too.
To sum my wordiness: thank you for real words.
Thank you for this Lydia; I’ve been so horrified by events I had to write something and to be honest I was a little nervous about being inappropriate. I am and always have been grateful to live in a climate that is mostly kind; I do intend to share my snowy pictures soon, perhaps later today. Having read the eye witness accounts and seen some of the photographs of what has happened in Australia I feel so lucky to live where I do right now.
Excellent post, Bird.
Most of the time I think we only need to look around us to quell the anguish we feel in our own lives. There’s always someone or someplace that is worse off than ourselves. If we would remember that, it might help to cure some of the lack of compassion and self-centeredness that seems so prevalent.
There are times when I allow myself to be overcome by gloom, but ultimately I have a roof (albeit a leaky one) over my head, food to eat, people to love, and I am grateful. Anything else really is a bonus. Everything we care about could be taken from us at any given moment and the tragedy in Australia reminds me of this. I hope all of us lucky ones begin to look around and see what we really have, and like you I hope we can learn some generosity and compassion from it.
I hear you. There’s always other things going on in the world to put our own lives in better perspective.
Sorry for my recent, absence, btw. I had a problem w/a firewall blocking my access to your blog for some reason. Had to have my ISP sort it out for me.
Hey Lana, good to see you back. I think perspective is the word here, also that unearthing our compassion and celebrating our own luck is the thing those of us not directly affected need to learn from this.
As to the blog access problem I remember last time you were here saying that there was something strange going on with the site, I’m glad you sorted it out at your end because I couldn’t find any reason for it on this end. Will dig deeper just in case as I’m worried others may be getting blocked too – thanks again for the heads up.
So, so well spoken. My heart weeps.
I am SO blessed.
I think a lot of us will be counting our blessings today.
Me too I cannot believe what is happening with those wildfires, and especially I cannot believe that someone would do such thing. Now that reminds me the incident in Greece a while ago. Thanks for posting. Anna
It’s difficult to get your head around the idea that people made this situation worse.
What is happening in Australia is sad. Natural calamities have become too often and of alarming proportions each time. Global warming and global dimming are said to be the causes-both man-made. The silver lining is that we have the power to collectively control them both.
I’m finding it hard to see a silver lining to this anywhere at the moment. The only possible silver lining is if everyone gets together and something tangible and effective is actually done, and that most likely means taking it out of the hands of politicians. Sorry if that’s gloomy; maybe this is the turning point though, which would indeed be a good thing.
I agree, one is reminded to count one’s blessings; all it takes is looking over the shoulder!
So true!
It is very tragic. I find it difficult to comprehend but having seen the the mess on Skiathos after the fire the year before last, it is so sad in so many ways. The loss of human life just makes it even more terrible.
Btw, I didn’t stamp my feet cos I couldn’t get to work. This hobbit went out with the camera…
I’ve never seen the results of a fire like that, but the eye witness accounts were so vivid and terrifying. You’ve seen the aftermath of a really awful one so you have a better idea than I do. It must be horrifying to see a landscape where absolutely nothing is left.
I’m glad you went out in the snow and had fun… you know what? I think almost everyone, with very few exceptions did. It’s only the politicians, press and business leaders that had hissy fits
This is too sad. Its a warning that we really need to be aware of the environment.