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Battered Australia a Preview of Climate Devastation

Country grapples with drought, wildfires, and heat

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 9, 2009 9:29 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Pummeled by drought, wildfires, and heat, Australia may be offering the world a preview of what’s to come as the planet warms, experts say. “Australia is the harbinger of change,” says a paleontologist. Many say climate change has already taken a human toll in the 173 killed by wildfires and 200 who died in a heat wave—to say nothing of a string of suicides among struggling farmers. The Los Angeles Times reports from a continent in transition.

While most of the country faces its worst drought in more than a century, the north is grappling with flooding and cyclones. Crops are failing and plants and animals face extinction. “We're holding on by the skin of our teeth. It's desperate times,” says a man whose orchard has dried up. Asked whether climate change is to blame, he says, “You'd have to have your head in the bloody sand to think otherwise.”

Sheep feed on a line of barley on a dusty field on a southern Australia farm, June 12, 2008.
Sheep feed on a line of barley on a dusty field on a southern Australia farm, June 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
A fireman douses a smoldering tree after a bushfire northwest of Melbourne, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.
A fireman douses a smoldering tree after a bushfire northwest of Melbourne, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)
Tony Wood stands on burnt-out Cofters Cottage Guest House property after a wildfire at Belgrave Heights, 35 km southeast of Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.
Tony Wood stands on burnt-out Cofters Cottage Guest House property after a wildfire at Belgrave Heights, 35 km southeast of Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)
Glen Phillips squeezes soil in his hand and watches as its dusty grains filter through his fingers on his farm in south Australia.
Glen Phillips squeezes soil in his hand and watches as its dusty grains filter through his fingers on his farm in south Australia.   (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Locals in Bellingen, Australia watch as the Bellingen River rises Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, cutting off road access.
Locals in Bellingen, Australia watch as the Bellingen River rises Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, cutting off road access.   (AP Photo/Vivien Jones)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Derni
Apr 9, 2009 10:10 AM CDT
Thoe up North can joke about it now-but when it comes are way your tune will change---
muleskinner
Apr 9, 2009 3:42 AM CDT
crap, and i wanted to move there, guess thats out-----
Robert_Dada
Apr 9, 2009 2:47 AM CDT
Where's Timinator2k's opinion on this?

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Green • World

 
climate change • environment • Australia • drought • global warming • cyclone • heat wave • flooding • extinction • wildfires

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