I honestly don’t know what to think about the arsonists that caused some of the fires. I agree that they have little respect for human life and I could care less about their fate… but I also don’t want us to ignore anything we can learn from this to stop it from happening again. I still think many people just want vengeance and putting an arsonist on trial gives people a face to blame while everything else that contributed to the fires is covered up.

But so many good things came from the fires as well; how people came together, the donations, the support, the friendships… it’s so easy to forget that. I’m trying to focus on that instead while the wounds heal.

Hope everything’s okay and you’re settling in now after your move. I’m thinking of you and wishing you the best.

Suffice to say that some humans simply care for nothing and dont’ care whom they hurt. It makes me wish they would get caught in their own web sometimes.
Annie

I’ve heard of the Healesville Sanctuary; the work they’ve been doing with the animals after the fires has been amazing. That story about the koalas they’re helping was very moving. I don’t know if they’ll be able to be released again as most of the bushland was burnt out, but the sanctuary will probably be able to support or relocate them. They actually have a list of stories about some of their patients, including one of the koalas who’s making a full recovery. The animals really are the forgotten victims in all of this and I was worried that they might be overlooked; it’s good to know that they’re getting the help they need as well.

Love is certainly something we could all use more of at the moment, isn’t it? First the fires and the plane crashes, now the earthquake in Italy… it’s been a sad couple of months. Let’s hope the rest of 2009 is less eventful.

Peace and good thoughts to you, Muse, always.

Nipun – Thanks for your comment, and thanks for stopping by. I always appreciate hearing from readers and I’m grateful you think so highly of my blog. I haven’t felt up to blogging recently as I’ve had a lot on my mind but so far self-hosting is working for me; it’s been very freeing.

The fires were awful and the best way I can describe it is that it was like a perfect storm; everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, and when that happened I think there was little anyone could do to stop it. I think you’re right, though, there’s a lot we can learn from the fires. The main thing it has highlighted for me is the danger of climate change; while this might have been rare now, the conditions that sparked these fires might not be so rare in 30 years if we do nothing to reduce the threat. I don’t think you’ll find many sceptics left in Australia after we had savage floods and fires in such a short space of time.

The other thing is just the amount of value we place upon material goods. So many people lost their homes and possession but again and again you hear them say they were just lucky to escape with their lives, while other people complain about the minor problems in their daily lives. For a long time now I’ve thought we place too high a value on material possessions and I think the fires – and the financial crisis – highlight that. People have lost their lives and homes in the fires, are losing their jobs and security because of the economy; in the end what do our small troubles matter if we have our lives and our family? That’s the lesson I take from this. And that all life is precious, no matter it’s form; in the end, we’re just animals too, after all.

I haven’t read that much lately but I’d definitely recommend Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. How the Booker overlooked it is beyond me. Also, any of the Pendergast novels by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are great; they’re like a modern day Sherlock Holmes. I’d start with either Relic or Brimstone. I’m also enjoying Robert J. Sawyer’s Flash Forward a lot as well at the moment, and I’d recommend that if you like science fiction.

Thanks again for stopping by, and let me know if you like any of the books; I’d be interested to know what you think. Happy reading.

I saw the devastation and carnage the fire caused in Australia. It’s really sad and one feels helpless in front of nature’s fury, isn’t it? But, there are some lessons to be learnt from this incident. I feel really sad about the devastation caused to wild life. We, the human race can recover well from such losses in time, but, seeing those charred bodies of Koalas is heart wrenching.

In the end, I just hope that everything gets back to normal. For a moment, seeing all the mayhem on T.V. reminded me of the same sorta scene in ‘The Road’. One can just hope and pray that these incidents don’t occur again.

Take care, buddy!

P.S. Can ya suggest some good novels that you’ve read recently and are worth reading apart from the ones you’ve already shared with your readers. It’d be really nice of you.

~ Peace ~