Week 1: International News

Floods in Australia

Australia hit by one of the worst floods it’s seen since 1993. The flood, which happened not long ago is still one of the most enticing global news at this moment. In Brisbane, for weeks, the flooding in eastern Australia has been a slow-motion disaster.The flooding, blamed on rains triggered by a La Nina weather pattern in the Pacific has devastated huge areas of Australia's eastern seaboard, flooded parts of Brisbane, the nation's third-largest city, shut vital coal mines and rail lines, and destroyed crops.The floods have devastated Queensland and Victoria the most. In Queensland, the estimated death toll has reached to about 33 people with 20 people reported dead this month, while another 9 people are believed to be missing. More than 6000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.

Rebuilding estimates from banks and economists have mostly ranged from around A$3 billion to A$10 billion, but illustrating the uncertainty ANZ bank warned it could come in at close to double that when floodwaters subsided and the full scale of the devastation became clear. "The Queensland Premier's statement that 28,000 homes will need to be rebuilt will alone come at a cost of around A$8bn on our estimates, suggesting the total rebuild effort could be in the order of A$20bn," the bank said in a research note.

In wake of Australia's devastating floods, talk show host Oprah Winfrey has renewed calls for donations to help those affected by the disaster. She told her viewers, "(I'm sending my) thoughts and prayers to our Aussie friends in southern Queensland... It is the worst flooding they have experienced in over a century... Our hearts continue to go out to the victims and their families.... We know Aussies are strong and resilient and are already starting to recover." Stars including Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia and Mandy Moore have led calls for donations to the flood relief efforts to help fund the massive clean-up operation. 

We should do our part by trying to donate to the foundations supporting the flood victims in Australia; even if it may, a small contribution. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the flood victims from all over the world, and as we look to a better tomorrow. 

"Give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you." ~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Wishing he could be of more help,

..JP.