Big problems in Oz

[Keith Antoine]

I have been busy and away for a while, nothing to do with computers.
One of the reasons was to try help out in the country, but its a losing 
battle.

We have not had any decent rain for 12 months and now there are towns that are 
going to run dry before xmas. The drought is the worst in 100 years maybe 
longer. Suicides amongst property owners is high and walk-offs are the norm. 
There are places that have had no wet for 40 years, but most places are 
destroying stock or have reduced it to paltry levels.

Sydney is in the grip of nasty fires with varying gusting winds that turn on 
the firefighters, they lost a water tender today. A snmall comunity near 
Sydney lost 15 homes last night and tonight is predicted to be worse.
Everything is tinder dry and I am talking 75% or more of Australia.
Some fire were started by careless smokers throwing butts away, so they have 
made is 10 yrs jail if caught doing just that. There are also arsonist 
children, they are being charged as adults.


They have projected a loss of 53% in the GNP for the next 6 months, whilst 
produce in the stores is vanishing and prices are skyrocketting. Ther is no 
sign of relief, yesterday was 38 here with 90% humidity, today 36 and gusty 
NW winds from the Solomons.

The weather predictions are that we will not see rain before April/May, by 
that time ther will be nothing green and no animals. We are ssing birds that 
we do not see normally coming to the coast for feed. Roos and Emus are also 
migrating to the coast and causing accidents on the roads, hitting a roo at 
night very often writes the small vehicle off; kills too. I actually saw a 
dingo 5 mins from our house a couple of days ago, that can be frightening 
with small kids around.

There have been prayer meetings for rain and even had an 'Indian' do a rain 
dance all to no avail, it is being blamed on El Nino, but one wonders where 
it will all end, but water is at a premium 'liquid gold' literally.
-- 
Keith Antoine (GANDALF) aka 'skippy'
18 Arkana St, The Gap, Queensland 4061 Australia PH:61733002161
Retired Geriatric, Sometime Electronics Engineer, Knowall, Brain in storage