Re: [ConstellationTalk] 36.3 Celsius 114 Fahrenheit
- From: Alison Rose Levy <LevyAR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:18:42 -0500
Hi Chris:
Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us and as we found in NYC
on 9/11, the most significant gift of these catastrophes is the humanity,
community effort, and camaraderie they evoke--- which you are sharing with us.
Particularly loved the humor plain spoken, rough edged and outrageous
without a sprinkle of it even amidst tragedy, we¹re lost.
Alison
Hi David,
I am so happy you and Janne ran away and live to fight another day!
Thanks to others from around the world for outpourings of support both
privately and through this forum.
Many people I know have been directly threatened by these fires. Some good
friends still are. I have two patients who live in areas where there were
lots of deaths and I still haven't heard from them. The weather is much
cooler now and it is more possible to fight the fires and to escape them.
They are gradually coming under control. The carnage is unfolding moment by
moment as we are flooded with grotesque images and horrible stories and
intense suffering on the television.
This is juxtaposed with stories of great good fortune selflessness and
bravery. There are massive outpourings of compassion and good will. Even
politicians and insurance companies are behaving well. Our pre-organised
disaster plans are being enacted extremely quickly and efficiently. Even
though we like to think it is a very Australian trait The Chinese showed us
after their earthquake last year that natural catastrophes have the capacity
to bring out the very best in human behaviour. That is certainly happening
here with massive donations of shelter, food, clothing, money, time and
blood. The blood products are very important for treating burn victims.
Our wry humour is returning which is a great sign. On TV I saw a policeman
addressing the people of Yackandanda in the town square. They are under
serious threat. He said:
"We all saw what happened to Marysville (It was razed and many singed dead
bodies still lie dead there in the houses and streets) I won't lie to you.
It could happen here. So as we prepare I will say to you if you are old or
infirm and live in a house surrounded by eucalyptus trees.............just
bugger off now!!!"
The unexpectedness, vulgarity and clarity of those last four words elicited
such a wonderful belly laugh that undid so much tension. I don't know if
other people in the world understand it but that is our characteristic
Australian humour at its most typical and it serves us well.
hasta la vista
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
webpage: <http://www.cwalsh.com.au> www.cwalsh.com.au
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of David Ward
Sent: Monday, 9 February 2009 3:58 PM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] 36.3 Celsius 114 Fahrenheit
Hi Chris.. our place was in the direct path of the fire and was saved by
a wind change...Dariecha and Rachana - they run constellation work at -
The Centre for Human Transformation - a few kms from us - lost their
house and their Centre and became trapped and were only saved when
their son arranged for a private helicopter to pick them up..as I
understand it was a very close call..right now there's been a wind
change from the SW to there SE...the kids were sent home early from the
school next door this afternoon ...and I'm about to get on the roof
because friends of ours a couple kms away are coming under 'ember
attack' ...any way still hope to see you Wednesday...just to make sure i
haven't give the wrong impression ....Janne and I fled on Saturday...no
heroes here...all the best David..Fresh Medicine ...Healesville
Chris Walsh wrote:
Yesterday in my home town we had the hottest day on record. It was
unbearable. When you went outside it was so hot it was difficult to
breathe
There are still terrible bushfires burning. They are the worst bush
fires we
have ever had. So far 66 people are dead and we expect the death toll will
rise to well above 100. Far more have suffered horrendous burns. Over 700
homes have been destroyed. Whole townships have been razed as if they were
carpet bombed. God knows how many animals kangaroos, possums, koalas,
cattle
and sheep have been killed and injured. I saw images on the television of
kangaroos jumping away from the flames as fast as they could in these
searing conditions. They must have been exhausted and dehydrated if they
ever made it to safety.
And at the same time as all this, I was facilitating a constellation
workshop. Some participants had their own homes directly threatened.
Everyone knew someone in danger or directly affected. The premier of our
state of Victoria cried on television. The prime minister took a grown man
into his arms who was sobbing. Australians usually bear crisis with
defiant
good humour. This was different.
This was our hurricane Katrina. I am afraid we all more and more
vulnerable
to extreme weather events like this with global warming. Please send
us your
good wishes. God knows we need them.
hasta la vista
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
webpage: <http://www.cwalsh.com.au ;<http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
<http://www.cwalsh.com.au ;> >
www.cwalsh.com.au
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