This site aims to generate discussion on the 2009 Australian bushfires in Victoria (Black Saturday) in order to develop a framework of social justice analysis on environmental concerns. Social Reflections: Climate and Compassion - Victoria Fires (Click here)

This is mainly not about policy development or the advocacy of a course of action, but rather to understand how we can better accompany and understand such disasters.

This process, in the context of the 2009 bushfires, is to develop and strengthen the skills to do scientific, social and theological analysis. It is hoped that this process will also engage various sectors-the academe, environmental agencies, schools and non-government groups- towards a deeper understanding this disaster.

Ultimately this exploration should provide a bases or template for doing socio-theological analysis of Australian issues that have a global relation and a synergy in Ignatian activity.

Photo sources: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/bushfires_in_victoria_australi.html

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESOURCES

Reflection

• Andrew Hamilton "Putting the flame to blame." EUREKA STREET, Volume 19, no. 2, 12 February 2009  http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=11696

Analysis and Commentary

•  Karoly, D. "Bushfires and extreme heat in south-east Australia." RealClimate. 16 February 2009. Real Climate. 23 April 2009. http://www.realclimate.org/ index.php/archives/2009/02/bushfires-and-climate/.(Understanding the climate science behind the 2009 Black Saturday Victoria bushfires)
• Keenan, R. "Time to rethink bushfire governance?" Triple Helix Consulting. http://www.triplehelix.com.au/documents/Timetorethinkbushfiregovernance.doc
• "Hazard Reduction: The Blame Game." 18 February 2009. RealDirt. 23 April 2009.
  http://realdirt.com.au/2009/02/18/hazard-reduction-the-blame-game/#comment-3785
• Griffiths, T. "We have still not lived long enough." Inside Story, 16 February 2009. Australian Policy Online. 23 April 2009. http://inside.org.au/we-have-still-not-lived-long-enough/#comments.

•  "Old Wisdom and New Ideas: Reducing the Impact of Forest Fires in Victoria." Proceedings of a Forum by the Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) and the Earthwatch Institute. 16 August 2007. Triple Helix Consulting. 23 April 2009. http://www.triplehelix.com.au/documents/VICFire-newideasandoldwisdom2007_000.doc.
• Lucas, C. et. al. "Bushfire Weather in Southeast Australia: Recent Trends and Projected Climate Change Impacts." Consultancy Report prepared for the Climate Institute Australia. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. September 2007. Triple Helix Consulting. 23 April 2009. http://www.triplehelix.com.au/documents/ TCIBushfirefullreport.pdf
• Zylstra, P. Fire History of the Australian Alps - Prehistory to 2003. Australian Alps Liaison Committee, May 2006. http://www.australianalps.deh.gov.au/publications/ fire/history.html
• Hateley, R. "Fire-stick Farming in Victorian Forests." A chapter from a forthcoming book. Triple Helix Consulting. 23 April 2009.http://www.triplehelix.com.au/ documents/ChapterfromaforthcomingbookbyRonHateley_000.pdf

McGourty, John, ed. Black Saturday: Stories of love, loss and courage from the Victorian Bushfires. Harper Collins Australia, April 2009.

Clack, P. Firestorm Trial by Fire. Queensland: John Wiley and Sons Australia Pty Ltd,2003 http://www.peterclack.com.au/view_chapters.php?id=2

• Kerr, B. "Australian Bushfire Analysis." 18 February 2009. Bill Kerr. 23 April 2009. http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2009/02/australian-bushfires-analysis.html
• Marohasy. J. "Victorian Bushfires: The Result of Human Folly." 23 March 2009. Blogotariat. 23 April 2009. http://www.blogotariat.com/item/victorian-bushfires-the-result-human-folly