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Australia: Thousands protest against climate change with bushfire in focus

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaEdited By: Bharat SharmaUpdated: Dec 11, 2019, 04:37 PM IST
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Photograph:(Reuters)

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The protests have been demanding action by the government amid the bushfire crisis

The thick smoke that has covered Sydney for weeks has sparked protests across Australia. 

Thousands gathered outside Sydney's Town Hall, as cooler winds eased bushfires and contained the haze around the city.

The protests have been demanding action by the government amid the bushfire crisis. The protesters wore face maks, held placards, and chanted slogans.

The bushfires have claimed the lives of four people since November. Additionally, the fires have burnt about 2.5 million acres of farmland and bush. More than 400 homes were destroyed in the mega-fire.

Owing to public outcry, Australia's Liberal-National government defended its policies regarding climate change. According to them, there is no link between climate change and the severity of fires. 

Watch: Australia's bushfire now a 'mega blaze'

The devastating fires have focused attention on climate change, with scientists saying the blazes have come earlier and with more intensity than usual due to global warming and a prolonged drought.

At least 5,000 people showed up at Wednesday's protest, according to organiser Chloe Rafferty, who said the bushfires and smoke haze had created anger at the conservative government's inaction on curbing emissions.

"I think the wider public can see that we are not expecting the climate crisis in the future but we are facing the climate crisis now," she told AFP.

"People are experiencing it in their day-to-day lives."

As well as a rise in people visiting hospitals with smoke-related health symptoms, the number of emergency calls for ambulances spiked 30 per cent last week. 

"For most people, smoke causes mild symptoms like sore eyes, nose, and throat," top health department official Richard Broome said.

"However, people with conditions like asthma, emphysema, and angina are at greater risk because the smoke can trigger their symptoms."

(With inputs from Reuters)