Contributed by Ugly

In Australia, we have just experienced warmest winter on record, with average maximum temperatures reaching nearly 2°C above average. Rainfall has also been very low. Who can now deny our weather is changing?

This record-breaking winter heat has set the scene for a dangerous bushfire season, which is starting earlier than normal in many parts of the nation.

Extreme weather is occurring and creating havoc around the world, including huge cyclones hitting the Caribbean and United states and South Asia. Millions of people have being displaced and it is only going to get worse.

It’s not only this year. Everybody knows that the weather patterns have been different in every part of Australia for over 10 years.

One of the great wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is dying, as the temperature of the ocean begins to rise.

Even in the face of this. Our reliance on burning up fossil fuels and sending greenhouse gases into the air continues. Many people are campaigning for change. Unfortunately, our government is not listening and continues to bow down before the fossil fuel industry.

The question is, when will we no longer be able to grow enough food to feed ourselves, if we continue the same course? This is already a dry land. Crops depend on water.

Australia is already the land of bushfires and as these become more frequent and severe, people are put at risk, as well as our native animals and plants.

It is time Australia did much more about it. If our politicians continue to drag their feet over this, they deserve the boot. We are the ones who must do it.