Bush Fires

[flyboy77]

Fly - intensity would also depend on what is burning?

I get where you are coming from, however, I can't do the maths on how much extra fuel load exists on the ground:
- how is it measured
- what is the baseline
- how much is added each year if it is not burned
- what is the rate in which fuel load 'regenerates'
-  does drought increase the fuel load (low growth, but drier, more combustible load) more than wetter years where growth would be more significant, but may have lower combustion
- Is there a greater chance of lightning strikes causing fires in wetter or drier years - fires caused by lightning seem to cause more damage

These questions are probably answered in research and experience.

It's been interesting reading here and elsewhere, trying to understand where people are coming from - the city v country viewpoints are quite different.  More importantly is trying to understand how the issues intertwine and which are right and which are wrong.

I certainly accept that governments and big orgs have the ability to stuff things up as they are not nimble, unduly influenced by 'lobbyists' and now much more ideologically driven rather than doing 'what is for the greater good'

Cheers Dodge

http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/units/env207...viour.html

[dodge]

Thanks Fly.  Got to pretend to work today,  so will look later.

[LP]

It's the behavior of people that is the real problem, not the way fire behaves.

For example looking at the current media coverage, that stuff that influences political opinions and determines policy. It's clear the media like to emphasize the extremes, for example, nobody is claiming prescribed burning should happen everywhere to everything, in fact it's been shown widespread prescribed burning would be too frequent as old undergrowth areas are needed for biodiversity, areas where the undergrowth and debris accumulates for 50 to 100 years. But the moment somebody tries to sensibly discuss localised prescribed burning, around towns and properties, the media give some inner city based environmentalist an equal voice to infer that all prescribed burning is pure Armageddon, conveniently ignoring the "localised" part of the prescribed burning proposals. The bureaucratic response as painted by the media seems to be all or none, but is it?

Then just in case everybody hasn't been whipped into a frenzy of hatred, they have an extremist environmentalist telling us that once in a 100 year fire events are fine and natural, and we should just accept our towns and properties will burn to the ground at least once in a lifetime!

The media just hate offering middle ground, they always gravitate to extremism on every issue.

[Gointocarlton]

The sooner we listen to competent people the better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_conti...e=emb_logo

[Jack Burton]

The sooner we listen to competent people the better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_conti...e=emb_logo

Couldn't agree more. Most people are spending too much time blaming politics of every side. Let's just listen to the people who understand the land and know how to manage it, and start managing it!

[Thryleon]

Couldn't agree more. Most people are spending too much time blaming politics of every side. Let's just listen to the people who understand the land and know how to manage it, and start managing it!

I agree too.

HOWEVER.

Its important we understand a few things.

The running of our nation, requires resources X.

The actual resources we have is Y.

Y is actually a much smaller number than X.

The results are as follows.

Raise Y.

Decrease X.

To increase Y means that we need to pay more tax or we need better foreign deals.

To decrease X, means to neglect things.

What the governments and Politics is all about, is trying to minimising raising Y, whilst trying to decrease the gap between Y and X.

The problem?  They dont spend Y wisely enough as an overt Generalisation.  They spend it flippantly on crap that doesnt matter in the scheme of things (like a marriage equality referendum) meaning we have less of Y left over to spend on the real X's that matter.

Had the government had a back bone, perhaps there would be more funds available to undertake those tasks such as the burning mentioned by this indigenous fella.  The problem?  These idiots are too busy feeding from that trough, to actually do it appropriately.

This isnt about over politicising things either.  Its about ensuring we hold the politicians accountable, and I for one have had a gutful of politicians riding the gravy train for life at the expense of Joe Average, and the next generations fire policies.

[Gointocarlton]

I agree too.

HOWEVER.

Its important we understand a few things.

The running of our nation, requires resources X.

The actual resources we have is Y.

Y is actually a much smaller number than X.

The results are as follows.

Raise Y.

Decrease X.

To increase Y means that we need to pay more tax or we need better foreign deals.

To decrease X, means to neglect things.

What the governments and Politics is all about, is trying to minimising raising Y, whilst trying to decrease the gap between Y and X.

The problem?  They dont spend Y wisely enough as an overt Generalisation.  They spend it flippantly on crap that doesnt matter in the scheme of things (like a marriage equality referendum) meaning we have less of Y left over to spend on the real X's that matter.

Had the government had a back bone, perhaps there would be more funds available to undertake those tasks such as the burning mentioned by this indigenous fella.  The problem?  These idiots are too busy feeding from that trough, to actually do it appropriately.

This isnt about over politicising things either.  Its about ensuring we hold the politicians accountable, and I for one have had a gutful of politicians riding the gravy train for life at the expense of Joe Average, and the next generations fire policies.

Good work Thry. The bottom line is still that they are are incompetent and to blame for the the problem.

[Jack Burton]

I'm apolitical, but the problem I see is that both sides are as bad as each other. We can change the government, but all we'll get is a new lot with their noses in the trough trying to line their own pockets. Decades ago the major parties used to stand for something, and they were different ideologies. Now there is virtually no difference between the major parties, an extreme lack of competent and rational individuals in them, and close to zero governance over what they get away with. The minor parties range from scary to diabolical

[dodge]

The difficulty is that there isn't government for the greater good - there is government to suit their ideology, and if that means stopping a program that works, or not starting one that may, then they will do that.  Government departments are now politicised and instructed what to do by pollies that often have little experience in that field.  Governments used to go to the public service for advice.  This meant that ideological changes weren't as extreme.

There was a stark difference between parties at the last election.  One had policies that were spelled out, but couldn't convince the electorate to accept them.  The other had policies that strongly align to the top couple of % of the country.

Good example is East-west link in Vic.  Liberals gung ho and going to do it at any cost.  Labor gung ho and not going to do it at any cost.  Reports not really read/acted upon. 

Another current example is MacKenzie going against the advice of her department to award grants.

Sorry for going off topic - there will be bushfire implications in all of this as well!

[Gointocarlton]

The difficulty is that there isn't government for the greater good

My goodness that is both powerful and sad. As JB said above, once upon at time, pollies worked for the people. Now they work for their retirement benefits (pension, free travel, office and secretary). They are an utter disgrace. The poor decisions they make are un punished. Zero accountability, meanwhiles forests burn, lives are lost as well as homes and livelyhoods. How do these cretins sleep at night?