CAMELS DYING OF THIRST IN AUSTRALIA
Thirsty Wild Camels Rampage in Aboriginal Community
If you thrive on irony - and who doesn't? - then the one million thirst maddened camels rampaging in the Outback has got to give you one of those deliciously grim chuckles. The most recent escapade was in remote
Western Desert Aboriginal community of Warakurna, where the pack of hundreds of camels damaged toilets, taps and air conditioners in an effort to find water.
Why are there camels in Australia? It was another one of those excellent human ideas: the animals were imported in the nineteenth century to help explore the continent's rugged and dry interior. No longer necessary, roughly one million wild camels hang out in the Western Desert looking for moisure. this is the largest wild camel population in the world. For years, the increased numbers of feral camels has caused serious environmental, economic and cultural damage in the Outback. Most camels are currently exported live to Southeast Asia where they are slaughtered. The lack of a camel meat export licensed slaughterhouse prevents direct camel meat exports.
This is what a thirsty camel looks like
AUSTRALIA'S DROUGHT
Australia's drought is one of the worst for 100 years, (or 1000 years, depending on whom you listen to. If you believe it's 1,000 years and that it has something to do with Al Gore, you are probably liberal or a sissy). Nevertheless, in some places it hasn't rained at all in two years, and this particular waterless event is generally considered to be in its fifth year. Prime Minister John Howard is something of a bad ass like Georgle Bush, so he has a low opinion of droughts. Nevertheless, he has called an emergency meeting in Canberra to talk about it.
How dry is it? The Murray-Darling river system, which takes in about 4% of Australia's water, but provides 75% of the water consumed nationally, is already 54% below the previous record minimum. In October of 2005, the lowest October flow of all time was recorded. In 2006, inflow was 5% of the average. Sydney's largest reservoir is now 40% full and many small rural towns in east Australia face shortages within a month.
The drought has set off a fierce political debate in Australia about climate change. The country has maintained, with the US, a skeptical stance on the issue, and bad ass Mr. Howard has refused to sign the Kyoto agreement. Due to recent polls, however, AussieBush is beginning to pretend he is worried. It's like when Mr. Bush announced we were addicted to oil.
