Weird Weather Conditions and Bush Fires in Australia.

I mentioned in my last article the very hot weather that the Eastern States of Australia are currently experiencing. For instance Melbournians and New South Welshmen who might consider a very hot day to be around 98 degrees Fahrenheit are currently experiencing temperatures in the ranges of 110+ on an almost daily basis. I'd hate to endure our Western Australian weather if the maxima increased by around another 15 degrees, which would take us up around the 130 mark. Can people, plants and animals actually survive in such temperatures I am wondering.

Queensland is having severe floods and there are currently 3 cyclones hovering fairly close to each other and I heard it said the other day that 60% of the large state was underwater. Bush fires currently abound in NSW, Victoria and South Australia; fanned by fierce winds and very hot temperatures. Many people have lost their lives and the crises are far from over yet.

In the minds of some such natural disasters make it look as if Armageddon is near.

Many of the bush fires have been lit by arsonists. Early childhood behavioral markers that point to possible arson also point to a propensity for other violent crimes and indeed if teachers started screening for such behaviors they would catch a large number of children; many of them who would not grow up to be arsonists or violent criminals. Behavioral screening in older children just may be nearly as fraught an affair. .

Every year in Australia the habitats of many animals, trees and plants plus several homes are destroyed. I find it a heart breaking thing, and in response I think it is very important that we somehow develop strategies that can help identify potential arsonists before they start to light fires. Such knowledge could then be incorporated into the educational school system. Behavioral researchers need to focus much attention onto identifying the childhood behaviors of arsonists in the hope of better pinpointing and isolating more specific behavioral markers.

I think that punishments are of limited value when it comes to deterring crimes and there are many factors to be weighed when considering the possible deterrent effects that punishments may have on future crimes. However I feel that if the crime of arson were raised to a level akin to terrorism it actually may have some important deterrent effect. Terrorists get lengthy sentences. Perhaps arson would and should be considered to be environmental terrorism.

Just as we teach young children about the dangers of bodies of water I think we should also be teaching and educating them regarding the dangers of bush fires. Fire awareness beyond the "stop, drop, roll" approach should be broadened and the effects of arson and bush fires should become elements of core curriculum that are over arched throughout all study streams during school education.

The public should also be engaged to be on the lookout for arsonist behaviors and be better educated about what may constitute suspicious behaviors. The Neighborhood Watch Scheme should be expanded to include awareness of behaviors that point to possible arson and extensive public education should be implemented. A multidisciplinary approach needs to be taken.

There are experts who know far more about these matters than I do and I just hope that they too are seriously considering such matters. I feel that arsonists may be endangering our fauna and flora to a critical extent.

Keep posted.