Destroying Sustainable Environment

Is anyone else living in or near Victoria sick of the smoke and all the lies associated with it? No I’m not talking about the bush fires they where different as they were not deliberate and everything was done to prevent them. What I’m grumbling about is the DSE's burn offs. Although let’s get one thing straight I don’t dislike the DSE and i have nothing against any of their employees they are just doing their job. Moreover, I know even some of them are a bit concerned about this. You can’t shoot the messenger after all its the Victorian government who’s to blame for all this. 

Some would tell you it’s needed or beneficial yes let me guess when you where young smoking (cigarette smoking) was good for you? How on earth is it beneficial? You don’t have to be a geniuses to realize that it’s not? 

Some of the arguments I’ve heard are: 

1. The Aboriginals did it. Does that make it right? The Romans made people fight to the death in stadiums for entertainment. Although I don’t think it happens a lot in Italy today. Not to mention we have little proof aboriginals in this area of the country did burn off. After all there wasn’t many of them and we pretty much killed them off when we arrived. For some reason I don’t think the first settlers asked them nicely before how they managed the environment. Also look at the environment, most of Victoria was once covered in Mountain Ash before we cut them all down. They are also not in the slightest bit fire tolerant and are badly affected by fire. 

2. It reduces the fire danger. No it doesn’t, I’ve seen areas that have been burnt off it doesn’t look very "reduced" in fact it just killed most of the undergrowth and half the trees (i admit that one got a bit out of control). There wasn’t less fuel there was in a way more due to all the dead timber around and grass that grew as a result. No amount of burning off and fuel reduction would have stopped the fires in Victoria earlier this year. Nothing could have stopped them. 

Burning our native forests isn’t going to help them or us. It just produces lots of air pollution and speeds up global warming that dries out our climate and there for makes the fires even worst. Not to mention the damage it does to the native flora and fauna. It kills many native animals and destroys their homes. It also kills plants they aren’t designed for this and they take years to recover. What sorta world are we creating for our children? 

Think of the damage it’s doing to us to? The amount of smoke in the air, it’s killing my lungs. I am getting rather sick of it and I’ve read other stories of people suffering rather badly as a result to. How’s this helping anyone? who’s it protecting in the long term the damage out ways any gains. 

Is this really likely to make fires less common? Nope, it doesn’t make us any safer. It’s about as beneficial as fridge magnets to protect us against terrorism. Ah what am I on about we all know that they stop terrorism sorry my bad. Considering most of the states, fires are started by arson. Then this really won’t make a difference. If the conditions are right, it will burn fuel or no fuel. 

PS: I am not attacking the DSE or their employees well maybe there bosses in Melbourne, as I am sure, they have a part in this but mostly my anger is directed at Mr. Brumby and the Victorian Government. I guess also to some extent the media for pushing this. Although I do blame the DSE for a "fuel reduction" burn a few years back that got out of control and burnt most of the Bluffs National Park. That last time I read was a Protected Environment and considered very special due to its unique plant species. Unfortunately with the drought and the fire much of this has been lots. Funny how as it wasn’t threatening any homes there was no resources committed to it at all.

For thoes that dont know. The DSE Stands for Department of Sustainability and Environment.