NSW Bushfires and Organizations Helping
The view from the Botanic Gardens mid-December
Living in Sydney, or any city can be like a bubble, but as I write this, the smell of smoke is wafting through the back door to our apartment. It smells like a bonfire and the air is heavy and still, visually dense from clouds that hang over Sydney, but never release, never rain. Climate change has caused an unprecedented disaster for our beautiful NSW, so much of which has been badly burned, with lives and homes lost forever and volunteer firefighters giving more of themselves than should ever be asked. It’s a privilege to live in Sydney and only smell or see the smoke and never the flames.
The beginning of our Christmas market season co-coincided with the start of the bush fires and by the time we got to early December, Amy and I didn’t feel much in the way of Christmas spirit. So many habitats destroyed and the fires have been especially devastating for koalas, with the loss of an important genetically diverse population. Birds have sensitive respiratory systems ala ‘a canary in a coalmine’ and I can’t begin to imagine how many we’ve lost. Fire currently rings Capertee Valley, the largest valley in the world after the Grand Canyon is an IBA, which stands for Important Bird Area and home to so many species, including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. It is both unprecedented and the new normal, a phrase that’s practically become a zeitgeist in the last several years as we’ve witnessed over and over again the effects of climate and world changes.
Our mission at Outer Island has always been to bring awareness to Australia’s native plants, animals and habitats; to share the magic of Australian nature with you in your home. We make a choice to make everything 100% in Australia and plastic-free because that’s the change we’d like to see most in the world. People aren’t the problem; businesses and governments are. And although we are a very small business, we still feel responsible for our part. This year saw us partner with charities we are proud to support through sales of selected products that match their mission. They are Birdlife Australia, Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens and the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
All three of these organizations face massive challenges ahead. Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens support the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mt. Tomah which suffered extensive damage in the fires. Birdlife Australia estimates that millions of birds are affected by the fires and they’re working to fireproof habitats and have created fire emergency teams to survey areas for birds as soon as it’s safe to go in to assess what needs to be done. The Australian Marine Conservation Society is facing increased temperatures in the Oceans, and in fact, an increase of 1 degree Celcius in the western Indian Ocean known as the Indian Dipole Effect, has led to drought which has caused fires. We need healthy oceans for healthy lands.
To support any of our three partnering organizations, you can make a tax-deductible donation:
https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
https://birdlife.org.au/current-appeal
https://www.marineconservation.org.au/
In addition to these, Amy and I have also donated to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, WIRES and the Rural Fire Service, which all need vital help as well:
https://www.koalahospital.org.au/
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/support-your-local-brigade
Climate change is overwhelming and so are these massive fires, but I do take some relief in knowing that these organizations have a plan to help. They make real change and protect what we hope to never lose; the sound of birds in the morning, of flowers in the garden at spring and colourful fish in our reefs. Our land, our air, our water, our world. Please consider supporting any of the organizations listed above this Christmas.
Cheers,
Stephanie + Amy