The forest fires in Australia have tremendously affected people, animals and their homes over these past several months. Millions of animals have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed. Due to these scary statistics, I want to share some tips on what we can do to help out those affected and protect ourselves if there is ever a fire here.

While Australia's wildfires became much more severe in January 2020, the bushfires started in June 2019. In a BBC News article, a reported 1,600 firefighters were needed to put out the fires. This is something people should care about because people and animals are getting hurt. Animals are affected more drastically because their habitat is in the forest, and they cannot all relocate on their own. Houses were also destroyed by fire, which spread faster and faster throughout the country. 

We might not have experienced a wildfire, but we can still help others that are in need. Even though we might not live in hot climates, knowing what to do if you are ever in a fire or near a fire can be helpful.

“I just watched a show over the weekend about wildfires in Africa,” Keith Magni, a science teacher at Fenway High said. “It's less of a problem for the humans than it is for the animals.”

In some parts of the world, planned and controlled fires are used to reduce the risk of a bigger fire.  

“I've heard of controlled fires...every couple of years [they] are done to make sure things don’t build up to the point where there’s a lot of fires,” Magni said. Unfortunately, Australia’s wildfires were not controlled and put many lives in jeopardy.

People that live near the wildfires are affected differently than animals, but the impact is still negative. Humans have cars to distance themselves from fire and masks to help them breathe better. Even with these quick solutions, some people are left homeless from the fires. They may sleep at a hotel if they have the money or stay with friends and family that have not been directly affected. Oftentimes, they need to take advantage of resources that will help them stay safe and supported long after the fire takes their homes away.

The government in Victoria, Australia established a fundraiser for families and communities who have been affected by the fires. You can donate directly to the State Fire Authority or to the Australian Red Cross, which has already helped over 18,600 people stay safe after the fire. People can also donate to fundraisers that support healthcare and rehousing for animals. To find more information, visit the websites of the Australian Red Cross, Pray for Australia, About Australia and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors. 

Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors:

Finally, here are some ways you can stay safe when you are near a wildfire, according to Little Things magazine:

Remember when society said we should feed animals plastic? No? Well, me neither. However, it seems like humans don't mind eating celery for the rest of their lives in order to be healthy, so why are we ruining our wildlife and planet Earth by not taking care of it?   

The effects of environmental waste on animals are devastating. These effects are slowly making animals go extinct. Seals, turtles and crabs are eating our plastic waste and it is destroying their bodies. Nobody should be eating plastic but animals do not know any better, and it's not like they are seeking out this source of food. We are literally dumping our plastic waste into their oceans because we are not properly disposing of our trash. The Ocean Conservancy states that the U.S. adds 160,000 metric tons of plastic to the ocean every year. This is extremely upsetting because there are trash cans everywhere that are easily accessible. For example, on just a short walk from my school to the nearest train station, there are at least 10 trash cans. 

Environmental waste affects our land and our health. Environmental waste is man-made trash or junk that is not disposed of properly and can damage our environment. According to Green Choices, toxic gases like dioxins, when released by incinerating plastics, can cause air pollution and create acid rain. These toxins pollute and destroy the environment. Want to live in a barren wasteland caused by polluted air, or somewhere with a healthy environment? The barren wasteland will be boring with no wildlife, and the outside world will no longer be safe for us. The natural beauty of the Earth is fading away and soon we will not be able to remember the things we used to enjoy. Future generations will be far less active because they won't be able to enjoy activities like apple picking or climbing trees or simply appreciating the beauty of nature.

In the example of a healthy environment, there would be a clear sky, a soft breeze and fresh air. This path brings us to a world that is similar to life before technology. People used to enjoy outside activities like riding bikes and going to parks and being active. Even if you don't want to be active it's still nice to live in a world where you feel comfortable because the world is clean and the outside environment has been taken care of.

A healthy environment leads to healthier relationships. We don't want future generations to miss out on the beauty of nature. But let's not worry about the future too much, we have a lot on our plate right now. Now we have factories polluting our wildlife and our health, and we see our animals slowly dying. But we can prevent such horrors by not buying unnecessary items, not buying over-packaged things, buying reusable bags and reusing glass or non-perishable items. Many items have the recycling symbol that means you can cycle or reuse that item. Embrace the green life and accept the celery.

On so many corners in the city of Boston we can get clean water to drink. If you go to the store the cheapest liquid you can purchase is water. There is even access to free water as there are fountains placed across the city and many of us have refillable water bottles which means access to water is pretty easy here. But, don't think that everyone can get fresh water every day. Imagine if you didn’t have water, what would happen? No water to drink, no showers or no water to cook with. Would you be happy as you are now? 

In 2010, the United Nations officially announced water was a fundamental human right and declared that “the right to water and sanitation is contained in existing human rights treaties and is therefore legally binding.”

Water is a basic need that must be available in order for humans to survive as we need it for blood circulation, respiration and converting food to energy. After oxygen, water is the body’s most important nutrient. It’s simple, you need water to move your body. 

Africa has a serious water crisis across the continent. The World Health Organization estimates that the Sub-Saharan African (the area of the continent that lies south of the Sahara) population of 319 million still lacks access to water. According to the United Nations, lack of access to clean and safe water has complicated poverty reduction efforts greatly as Sub-Saharan African countries spend 40 billion hours searching for water. This time and energy could have been used for other productive activities.

Since water in Africa is a core ingredient for sustainable development like farming, washing food and making electricity, its availability is key to human survival. There are limited sources available that provide clean and drinkable water for the entire population of Africa. According to The Water Project, surface level water sources in Africa are not only highly polluted but creating pipes that brings fresh water to arid areas is very expensive. Furthermore, groundwater is the best resource to tap into to provide clean water to the majority of areas in Africa but this is also an expensive endeavor. Women and children in Africa walk for miles to obtain water from streams and ponds that often might contain disease causing organisms, like those that cause cholera, typhoid fever, and infant diarrhea. 

Africa also has other obstacles, one being decreased rainfall. According to the United Nations, Southern Africa is expected to face a decrease in precipitation of 20%. It is difficult for local populations in some of these areas to continue their traditional lifestyles or farm because of the decrease in rainfall. Some people are turning to cutting down and burning trees to create charcoal to sell as fuel in order to make a living. The consequences of no clean water or access to adequate sanitation are widespread. Young children die from dehydration and malnutrition because of diarrhea which is something that could be prevented by clean water.

I interviewed Miss Adelina, a teacher at Boston International Newcomers Academy . She is from one of the 10 islands that make up Cape Verde off  the West Coast of Africa. Her experience of the water crisis in Africa is that “there are so many things going on in Africa: lack of water is causing droughts because it’s dirty water. There is not enough clean water.”

Adelina says, “Well I think kids in America are very spoiled. They don't understand hardship like a youth of Africa having to walk three miles to get fresh water. That kid in Africa might not be wearing shoes or having food in their belly, so here in America we have the land and a good plenty. We can walk to the corner grocery store and get whatever we want to eat, like cake, candy and sodas. In Africa they don't have all those resources —  they might be lucky if they eat breakfast or lunch.”

How can teens in Boston help this situation? Adelina says, “first of all, make them aware of what's going on in Africa. If they don't know what's going on there, it's a low chance they’ll understand the water crisis in Africa. Second, we should teach them how water is important to human life, and maybe take some youths in Boston on an internship to Africa to see with their eyes how people are struggling to get water.”     

The issue of water scarcity in Africa is one that we all can learn from. As the water crisis in Africa becomes more widely known, more people are stepping forward to help make a difference in the lives of millions of families struggling to find water. You and I are responsible for not only reading or writing articles but we are also responsible for finding a way to help people get water even if they are thousands of miles away. Mother Theresa said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we all can do small things with great love.” So it's time we realize that we must stop wasting water and appreciate the things that we have, and teach our children how important water is to mankind.