There’s a good chance you’ve heard at least something about the brush fires in Australia. Like any region, Australia is prone to seasonal wildfires. This year, things have seemed a bit worse, and as a result, the environmentalists are up in arms.
You’re not going to be surprised by much in this story, but it’s important to always call out the lies where they appear. If you’re ready, we can take on another pile of lies right here and now.
The Claim
Left-wing media and social media warriors have been in a tizzy. They are inundating every outlet with cries for regulatory action in the U.S. Somehow, this is deemed a rational response to fires across the world.
Before we get into the ridiculous, it’s worth noting that the Australian fires are no joke. Thousands have been evacuated. Hundreds have lost their homes. At least 25 people are dead so far. It’s estimated that half a billion animals have been killed. These fires are a problem.
But, the crazy left can’t simply mourn a tragedy. They have to blame it on society, and as you have no doubt guessed, they’re claiming that this fire problem is solely the result of climate change.
The crying sounds pretty similar to claims made about the Brazilian Amazon last year (which were thoroughly debunked). Basically, according to the left, Australia is going to be completely destroyed by fire because Americans haven’t given up capitalism. Don’t ask how that conclusion is supposed to make sense. Nobody knows.
Lie Number One
There are two big lies here. The first and grandest is that these brush fires are the result of climate change. That’s completely incorrect. These fires, some of which have become massive, uncontrollable infernos, are the result of arson. More than 20 Australians have been arrested for deliberately setting hundreds of fires.
Let’s clarify. This is not the case of a dozen or so campers letting fires get out of control. These people who have been arrested started brush fires on purpose. While official announcements haven’t been made, at least a few of the culprits are rumored to be ecoterrorists. They started fires as a demonstration against climate change. If that isn’t the richest, dumbest and most dangerous display of irony you’ve ever seen . . .
Lie Number Two
The second big lie is that climate change has exacerbated the fires. Australia has had a brush fire season for decades (if not centuries). This year is worse than normal. There must be a reason, and that reason must be climate change, right? Wrong again, lefties.
The brush fires have grown progressively worse over time because of Australian regulations. Once upon a time, farmers would clear excess growth and brush every one to five years (much like what happens in Brazil). The practice fertilized the soil and prevented the risk of wildfire.
The Australian government banned that practice, citing environmental concerns as their motivation. In another display of stupid irony, a so-called effort to help the environment has made things tragically worse.
Here’s the lesson. Australia is suffering from genuine tragedy. The loss of human life, homes, wildlife and environmental damage are all regrettable. They’re also the direct result of deliberate, human decisions. Between bad policy and overt acts of evil (from the arsonists), the good people of Australia are made to suffer. All the while, American leftists are politicizing the event to push policies that would bring the exact same harm to our people and homes.
