![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/bafd2527-bush-fire-cover.png\")
<\/p>\nAustralian bushfires have wreaked havoc on Australia<\/p>\n
Learn how you can help<\/p>\n
Evacuees, koalas, volunteers, and first responders need your support<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Things have finally gotten slightly less fiery in Australia with the arrival of cooler weather and rainfall. That said, the bushfires have already devastated over 11 million hectares, and the fires will continue to burn for some time. The fires have killed 33 people so far and have <\/span>potentially killed up to 480 million animals<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Part of the reason for these fires has been a weather phenomenon called the Indian Ocean <\/span>Dipole<\/span>(1) (IOD). This dipole relates to the water surface temperatures between the eastern and western parts of the Indian Ocean. <\/span>This year, the temperature difference is greater than it has been in 60 years.<\/span><\/a> The western part of the ocean is hotter, causing East Africa to face abundant rainfall and massive floods. The eastern part of the Indian Ocean is cooler, leading to extremely dry weather conditions and a high potential for <\/span>drought<\/span>(2)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many people have lost their homes. Animal species and natural ecosystems have been <\/span>scorched<\/span>(3). The Australian economy will take a big hit, and these fires will affect Australia for many years, if not decades, to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to help out, you can do so in a few ways.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you are outside of Australia, <\/span>donating<\/span>(4) money and spreading <\/span>awareness<\/span>(5) are the easiest options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Red Cross Australia<\/span> <\/a>is working hard to assist evacuees with first aid and long-term recovery programs. They are also covering volunteer expenses, emergency expenses, and so on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Salvation Army<\/span><\/a> is another great option. Your money will provide first aid, shelter, food, and other aid to victims and <\/span>first responders<\/span>(6).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n St Vincent de Paul Society <\/span><\/a>is providing money to evacuees trying to recover. One of their missions is to fight poverty and help people who are struggling financially.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Save the Children <\/span><\/a>is working to help evacuated children find places to feel safe and play. Trained staff will work with the children to help them <\/span>cope<\/span>(7) with the disaster and process their experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Australian comedian Celeste Barber started a fundraiser for the New South Wales <\/span>Rural Fire Service<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Authors For Fireys <\/span><\/a>is <\/span>auctioning<\/span>(8) books to help out. The proceeds will be sent to firefighters in Australia. They also provide links to donate to multiple different fire services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A donation to the<\/span> Koala Hospital <\/span><\/a>will help sick and injured koalas receive treatment and get released back in the wild. This organization is also working to expand the koala habitat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gofundme has a <\/span>fundraiser for koalas that have lost their homes<\/span><\/a> on Kangaroo Island. Your money will help with veterinary costs, supplies like milk and food, and general care for the koalas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WWF<\/span><\/a> is also taking donations via a koala adoption program<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>You won\u2019t literally adopt a koala, but your money will help with rehabilitating sick and injured koalas. The WWF is also one of the world\u2019s leading conservation organizations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WIRES <\/span><\/a>is taking donations and accepting volunteers. They are helping many different animal species that have been <\/span>displaced<\/span>(9) and made homeless in the wake of the bushfires.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lastly, <\/span>Animals Australia <\/span><\/a>is also taking donations to help koalas and other animals. <\/span><\/p>\n While this is a good list of organizations taking donations, there are plenty of others out there. Just be sure to avoid <\/span>scams<\/span>(10). If you are unsure if the organization you wish to donate to is legitimate, type the name into <\/span>Australia\u2019s list of registered charities<\/span><\/a> to check.<\/span><\/p>\n All donations help, even if it is a small amount. In honor of all the hard work and volunteering being done, I will be contributing a small amount of money to WIRES. If you cannot donate, try to spread the word to let other people know how they can help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 1. dipole (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def.<\/span> a pair of separated poles, one positive and one negative<\/span><\/p>\n Ex.<\/span> East Africa is flooding due to the Indian Ocean <\/span>Dipole<\/strong> and warmer waters in the western half of the ocean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 2. drought (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def.<\/span> a long period of time when there is little or no rain<\/span><\/p>\n Ex.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>Today\u2019s rainfall marks the end of the three-month <\/span>drought<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 3. scorch (v.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>to burn and slightly damage a surface by making it too hot; to be slightly burned by heat<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. My face is red. I got <\/span>scorched<\/strong> by the summer sun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 4. donate (v.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>\u00a0to give money, food, clothes, etc. to somebody\/something, especially a charity<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. My family <\/span>donated<\/strong> food to the local homeless shelter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 5. awareness (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def.\u00a0 <\/span>knowing something; knowing that something exists and is important<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Spreading <\/span>awareness<\/strong> about Australia\u2019s bushfires is one way to help out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 6. first responder (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>a person such as a member of the police or fire department in a position to arrive first at an emergency, who has been trained to provide basic medical treatment<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. They told the victim to calm down and wait for the first responders<\/strong> to arrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 7. cope (v.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>to deal successfully with something difficult<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Over time, the child learned to <\/span>cope<\/strong> with her parents\u2019 divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 8. auction (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>a public sale in which things are sold to the person who offers the most money for them<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. I won this fancy new watch in an eBay <\/span>auction<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 9. displace (v.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>to take the place of somebody\/something<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. We hope the bushfires will end soon and stop displacing<\/strong> families.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 10. scam (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>a clever and dishonest plan for making money<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Their <\/span>scam<\/strong> got people to email money to a fake charity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n fire-australia-koala-smoke <\/a>by\u00a0enriquelopezgarre<\/a><\/p>\n offering-hand-handful-of-help <\/a>by niekverlaan<\/a><\/p>\n hands-friendship-friends-children \u00a0<\/a>by jarmoluk<\/a><\/p>\n female-koala-and-her-bab <\/a>by FotoshopTofs<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-australia-50951043<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/science-environment-50602971<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Australian bushfires have wreaked havoc on Australia Learn how you can help Evacuees, koalas, volunteers, and first responders need your support<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":56241,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[1547],"tags":[1459,1461,1458,1462,1464,1463,1460],"yoast_head":"\nHow Can You Help?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/8298aa47-donate.png\")
<\/p>\nGeneral Aid Options\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/f6b136e0-children.png\")
<\/p>\nSupport the Children\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Support Firefighters and First Responders\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Support the Animals\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/75939eda-koala.png\")
<\/p>\nPrevent Scams<\/b><\/h2>\n
Vocabulary\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Photos<\/h3>\n
Sources<\/h3>\n