Jim Kemna
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
Thirteen million acres have burned in Australia, an area twice the size of Maryland. It is truly shocking to watch the fires raging out of control. The fires have killed more than 25 people, destroyed 2,000 homes and 1,500 businesses. The effect on wildlife has been devastating. About 500 million birds and animals have died, including thousands of koalas. 3,000 year-old Huon pines are burning in Tasmania. But our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Greg Mullins, former New South Wales commissioner of fire and rescue, has 47 years fighting fires. He is convinced that over the last 20 years climate change has worsened fires. www.npr.org/2020/01/04/793572196/how-climate-change-is-affecting-australias-fires Hurricanes, storms and floods are getting more extreme. Tropical rain forests are burning. Canberra, Australia now has the worst air quality in the world. People in Sydney are coughing from the smoke. But our thoughts and prayers are with them.
The people of Australia are demanding action. But the prime minister argued that if China, India and the U.S. do not reduce emissions for Australia to do so would not make a difference. Australia has always been a leader in taking on tough issues such as apartheid and nuclear disarmament. They have often taken a moral stance and have tried to do the right thing as a nation. Many Australians are looking to other countries and asking where is the moral leadership on this issue. But the leaders of our country are still claiming that climate change is not real. What are we willing to do to make a difference for countries like Australia and many others that are beginning to feel the effects of climate change? Thoughts and prayers?