Australian Bushfires, What You Can Do
I hope you are well and safe during this start of 2020.
Prior to Christmas, I deleted Facebook and Instagram from my phone, as I felt that would help me to take a proper break in between rounds of Flourish: The Art of Creative Living and while the Gentle Business Mastermind group took time off for the holidays.
In their place, I downloaded The Guardian, an independent newspaper, and Presently, an app that reminds you to jot down what you were grateful for today.
Little did I know how profoundly each app would impact the coming weeks.
With the unfolding bushfire disaster, I found myself reading article after article in The Guardian and watching the ABC News covering the devastation unfold as fires swept through towns, whole communities and millions of hectares of bushland. Like many Australians, I tried to keep in touch with family as my uncle evacuated from East Gippsland, and at times I have found it difficult to sleep as I’ve been processing what is still unfolding.
During the holidays, I woke up each morning with a thud of realisation that our country was on fire, and read article after article about the climate emergency, our government’s lack of leadership and poor climate policy. As I read from different outlets and cross-referenced the articles, it brought home how important it is to follow independent media sources, as so much of the media in Australia is truncated, omitted or twisted by the climate change denying coverage from the Murdoch press. I read articles highlighting the fact that 97% of the publishing climate scientists are in agreement about human impact on climate change.
Personally, as with many folks, I’m furious with Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his lack of leadership, compassion and pro-action. He failed to meet with 23 fire chiefs who wanted to meet with him in April to prepare for what they could see was going to be a terrible fire season, and he has evaded so many of his responsibilities as leader during this unfolding crisis.
If you are wondering what you can do right now, here are some ideas:
Write to your local MP
Regardless of which political party we each vote for, there is a very clear and powerful action we can take in relation to the environment, and that is writing to our local Members of Parliament — using our voice to share about climate policy and renewable energy.
I sent a letter to my local MP today (I had to pull the printer out from the locker in the V-berth on the boat, but it was worth it!) If you would like more information about sharing your voice, Anna Rose Richards has written a letter to your MP template and recorded an insightful video (that’s gone viral) explaining how federal government makes policy changes in Australia. You can easily find your local MP’s details here.
Support Independent Media & Newspapers
Another powerful thing we can do to support the mitigation of climate change in this country is to support the independent press, and not financially support Murdoch, as public sentiment is one of the biggest obstacles to climate change, scientists say. [Another very interesting article on this topic of climate change apathy is this one from the UK here].
Indeed, we need to be proactive – do our own research, and not believe everything we read or hear on both sides of the debate – and be aware of bots on social media. A few questions worth asking around climate issues in the press are, “Who is benefiting from this coverage? Where does the trail of dollars lead? What is their vested interest?”
Donate
Richard Di Natale wrote about donating, “If you are fortunate enough to be in a position that you can make a donation, take some time to consider where you want to give your money. As well as the relief effort and support for our firefighters, you could consider organisations that do critical work supporting climate science, organisations that support First Nations people to protect country, or organisations that are looking after injured wildlife in the wake of the fires.”
More Ideas for Action
Terri Connellan, a fellow member in The Gentle Business Mastermind and creator of The Sacred Creative Collective, a program in which I am honoured to be a guest teacher, has written an informative post “Australian bushfire emergency: responding and taking action.” She writes that she did this “…to put key information in one place and also provide options for responding and taking action.”
Terri says, “In a spirit of creativity, I have highlighted a number of innovative campaigns underway to raise money for the bushfire emergency including #AuthorsforFireys. I have also linked to a few key posts I have found helpful, comforting and insightful in different ways.”
A Note on Wellbeing & Self-Care
Regarding responding during a crisis, Terri wisely says in her post how important it is to take care of our personal emotions and wellbeing.
“I feel it is important to be informed and witness these stories and I am not one to turn away from the media at this time. But as Nicole Cody wisely reminds us in ‘What to do when your beds are burning‘, it’s also critical for our self-care and wellbeing to have a balanced response:
‘Your number one priority is to tune in, and then ask yourself how you are coping. Binge-watching these tragedies unfold may not be helping you. Do you need some time out from your news feed? Can you go for a walk, read a book, watch a movie and give yourself a positive mental-health break?
Stay informed, but also manage yourself, and know when you or your loved ones need a screen or news break. No-one can live in crisis 24/7. That will burn you out. Fast.’”
New free Creative Living video series
As with so many folks, I’ve found it difficult to return to work amidst such devastation.
I keep bursting into tears each time I see animals in pain or hear the distress in bushfire victim’s voices on the news.
I’ve found myself wondering how to show up in a way that is appropriate at this time. I don’t want to distract from the events unfolding, and yet I also know creative expression can be a great support during difficult experiences. I myself have felt a sense of relief and clarity from journaling and writing over the previous weeks.
Alisha Rose Kruger, a popular guest teacher from Flourish: The Art of Creative Living wrote to her community yesterday,
“You can shine your light AND be actively supporting the fires in many ways: donating money, time or resources, spreading awareness, writing to your MP (@annarose_richards has an incredible template you can use), sharing stories of hope, leaving water out for wildlife, sending prayers, visualising rain, getting honest about the small changes you can make to live a more sustainable life…
Choose what feels good to you. There’s no right or wrong.
Continue to show up in the way that only you can. For your loved ones, your children, your clients and staff… there’s revolution in that, too.
And of course, take care of your self: your emotions, your body, your energy and your heart. We’re in this for the long game, and the world needs your light.”
So, after reflecting on what I feel I have the emotional capacity to do, along with how I can best be of service to you, my beloved community — I am continuing to work towards releasing a new free video series on Creative Living as planned. I am aiming to have it ready for you in the coming days. My hope is it will be a support to you as it offers tools and practices to nurture your creativity, dissolve creative blocks and be kind to yourself.
You’ll find more details on the new video series and how you can sign up for it, here.
My heart goes out to all who have been affected by this tragedy and, and, as even more distressing global events transpire, please, take care of you, and stay safe.
With my warmest wishes,
Nicola
PS. What’s coming up? I’m aiming to have a new three-part Creative Living video series ready for you — and envision it will begin landing in your inbox in the next week. More details and how to sign up for the free series HERE!