7 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE AUSSIE BUSHFIRE CRISIS

Image: Via Instagram/@bradfleet

Image: Via Instagram/@bradfleet

BY JESSICA BOSCO

As Australia continues to burn awith no signs of the devastating bushfires easing up anytime soon, we’re all settling into the new year with an overwhelming sense of sadness, despair, anger and helplessness. But over the last few weeks, with such tragedy and devastation, there has also come many moments of hope and the power of humanity, proving what can happen when people step up.

We’ve seen people like Celeste Barber who has single-handedly helped raise over $50 million (the largest fundraiser in Facebook’s history) and help project the bushfire crisis on to the global stage. Then there have been incredible moments of bravery from our firies on the front line as well as every day heroes doing their bit, like Aussie grandmother Toni Doherty who ran into a bushfire to rescue a koala, cradling him with the shirt off her own back while he cried in pain after being burnt from the fire. Sadly Lewis the Koala didn’t make it, but Toni’s selfless act of bravery remains an inspiration.

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And we’ve seen the Australian people (and people from all over the globe) dig deep, donating millions to help those who have lost everything, inundating charities with emergency supplies for those affected as well as helping the billions of animals affected by these fires who do not have a voice or the ability to protect themselves.

But as life for many of us goes back to “normal”, as we head back to work and the kids go back to school and the daily grind sets in, we can’t forget that for all of us Aussies life will never be the same, and so there is still so much we can, and should be doing to help.

1. Keep donating (if you can)

So many people have given so much already, but if you can give more, then do. In situations like this when the news stories slow down and it’s not as pressing an issue there can be some donor fatigue - either people are unaware that there is still a pressing need for funding or they become desensitised or overwhelmed. But the need is still very real and very large and will be for a long time to come.

@misskyreeloves has put together an amazing break down of the best places to donate - from all the larger charity organisations on the ground from the RFS and the Red Cross, to the organisations helping the injured and displaced wildlife and right through to the individual families who have lost everything - including the families of the firefighters who lost their lives - and have set up their own donation pages. Check it out here.

At this point, so many organisations have been overwhelmed by donations of goods and many have asked for people to cease until further notice as they don’t have the resources to process them. However, if you are keen to give items then do your research and see who is still accepting goods - Givit is a great place to start. Otherwise, stockpile them in your garage and keep an eye out for when they are needed. So many people have lost everything and when they are ready will be rebuilding from scratch.

2. Shop smart

If you’re not in a position to donate money directly, then you still might be able to give back inadvertently by shopping smart. So many amazing businesses both big and small are pledging big donations, some on certain days and some for the entire month of January. So shop around and make your money count. The amazing Turia Pitt has started an Instagram account @spendwiththem featuring small businesses affected by the fires who need a helping hand so get on there and get shopping.

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(And here’s another excuse to shop big in the chocolate aisle:)

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3. Get informed

Not sure what all the fuss is about climate change? Or what are fossil fuels? And who the bloody hell is Adani? You’re not alone, it’s confusing and can feel overwhelming but get reading, watching documentaries and start up conversations. Climatecouncil.org.au has a wealth of information and is a great place to start but don’t stop there. There has been a lot of false reports and misleading news stories throughout the bushfire crisis - and we all know the internet is a breeding ground for fake news and misinformation - so be smart about where you are getting your information, check sources and fact check what you do find.

4. Get active and SPEAK UP

Don’t think you can’t make a difference, there are loads of protests happening around the country so make your voice heard - or sit down and pen a letter to your local member.  @annarose_richards has created a template letter which you can simply download and fill in the blanks and send to your local government. Download the letter here.

View this post on Instagram

“Create whatever starts a revolution in your heart”-Liz Gilbert. . Last Thursday I sat & put pen to paper to create a letter that felt right in my heart. . A letter, I hoped, could be used by Australian’s to respectfully ask their local Federal Member of Parliament to act as a matter of urgency on any & ALL Legislation so our nation never has to go through what we are experiencing right now….again. . I was raised by my incredible mum telling me, “if you know better, you can do better”, & I thought that sharing my insights, the things that I knew better from a political perspective that I KNEW can make legislative change, & if I did that from a non-biased, non-political perspective, then maybe, just maybe it could make a small impact. . But instead, it accidentally went viral. . So I am popping my ‘head’ (arms? Hands?) back in here to lovingly ask of you 1 thing & 1 thing only. . You sharing the video I made & making it go viral (with the letter available in my IG Bio) is INCREDIBLE, because the message is being spread to hundreds of thousands of people. . But I need to know you are ACTING. I need to know you are printing the letter (or writing your own!) & sending it to your Federal MP. . Because know this. . Politicians can (& do) ignore a pissed off, albeit loud on social media minority. . Politicians can (& do) ignore a pissed off, albeit loud on social media MAJORITY. . BUT; what Politicians cannot & WILL not ignore, is a mobilised electorate of voters, impassioned enough to send a letter respectfully demanding change on a particular subject; at the same time. . They want & need your vote, & they are an elected representative to represent you, the constituent, in parliament.IF you aren’t mobilising & speaking direct to them though, YES  they tow the party line, but that changes, it HAS to change if their electorate is mobilised, engaged, and active in voicing their concerns as a mass crowd. . Our fellow Australians NEED our immediate help, which I have said in every post I have done, which is donations, yes.But I am being the voice for the long term of our environment & nation (& asking you are too). . Lets do this Aus.Our people & it’s wildlife depend on it

A post shared by Anna Richards (@annarose_richards) on

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4. COMMIT TO LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY

Make 2020 the year you go green - it doesn’t have to be overwhelming and drastic, start small - but whatever you do just start. A few things you can easily do include things like:

  • Pledge to have meat-free Mondays (or go vegetarian) - and make sure the meat (and seafood) you purchase is sustainably and organically farmed wherever possible.

  • Leave the car at home one day a week (or more if you can) and catch public transport or hop on a bike

  • Reduce your water usage - take shorter showers!

  • Reduce energy consumption - things like turning off lights and appliances, hang your washing on the line, reduce air-conditioning usage etc

  • Switch to a greener energy provider

  • Check to see if your bank and/or superfund are investing in fossil fuels and if they are then consider making the switch to one that isn’t

  • Shop local - support local farmers and growers

  • Reduce food wastage - eat your leftovers, meal plan and shop smart and get composting anything that can’t be eaten

  • Stop using single-use plastic and disposables

  • Shop less and say no to fast fashion

RELATED: SIMPLE WAYS TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AT HOME

5. Book a holiday - but keep it local

This year the top travel destinations are those that need our help the most. Book a road trip and go with an #emptyesky and spend up big with the small businesses that so desperately need our help to say afloat. Stay in their hotels, shop in their stores and eat at their restaurants.

Another great Instagram account called @staywiththemau is a great place to start.

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6. Plant a tree

You don’t have to go out and do this yourself (by all means do if you want) but from as little as $1 organisations like One Tree Planted will plant it for you. They will also plant the right trees in the right areas to help best support the regeneration process.

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7. BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, Don’t forget

As we all settle back into our busy lives it can be easy to forget that the situation is still critical for so many and that even long after the fires stop burning so many people will spend years rebuilding. Keep donating, keep sharing the stories on social media, keep the conversation going and keep making changes to lessen our impact on the environment.

And if you need another reminder why, Aussie actor Ben Lawson sums it up pretty perfectly:

social goodnessJessica Bosco1 Comment