Bushfires continue to devastate Australia, destroying homes, smothering cities in smoke, and killing people and wildlife alike. Temperatures in some parts of the country have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) this week and are expected to climb above 50 (122 Fahrenheit), as part of a heatwave promising to further stoke the blaze. And it isn't even three weeks into summer.
It's a crisis, and not just a national one. These bushfires alone have have emitted 250 tons of carbon dioxide since August — nearly half of Australia's overall emissions for the entirety of 2018.
As Christmas approaches, many Australians are understandably finding it difficult to find the joy of the season. Now, a new art installation in Sydney's CBD is attempting to revive the holiday spirit despite the haze.
Tweet may have been deleted
Commissioned by the City of Sydney and the Australian Red Cross, The Burnt Tree is constructed from materials recovered from bushfire-affected areas, from charred tree branches to burnt ceiling fan fittings. The atypical Christmas decoration is intended to show support for people impacted by the fires, and inspire hope in a dire situation. It was created by artist James Dive and advertising agency DDB.
"[The Burnt Tree] symbolises the devastation caused by the fires, and the resilience of the communities that have been impacted," said Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
Over seven million acres have been burned in NSW and Queensland alone, killing six people and destroying over 680 homes. The bushfires are expected to continue for months, with Australia forecasting below-average rainfall at least until March.
SEE ALSO:Photos show the devastating impact of eastern Australia's bushfiresA tap-and-go EFTPOS terminal has been erected at The Burnt Tree, allowing people to donate to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. For those who can't make it down to the Tree in person, the Australian Red Cross also accepts donations through its website.
Donations go toward providing affected people with "shelter, psychological first aid, information, and practical support," as well as training volunteers and purchasing equipment.
Credit: The Australian Red Cross
Credit: The Australian Red Cross
Credit: THE AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS
Credit: THE AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS
Credit: THE AUSTRALIAN RED CROSSView this post on Instagram
Tweet may have been deleted
TopicsSocial Good
(责任编辑：時尚)
Teacher absolutely nails it with new homework policy
Justin Bieber covers Tracy Chapman and 2Pac because he contains multitudesMusical.ly has a privacy problem and now one school wants it bannedStar Trek at 50: You made me who I amNancy Pelosi warns colleagues after info hackedMashReads Podcast: What makes a good summer read?
Summer is coming to a close and that means one thing -- last-minute vacations! 。SEE ALSO:'Ice Cream B
...[详细]12 people confess their Netflix guilty pleasure shows
Neflix knows some of our deepest, darkest secrets -- our guilty pleasure shows.。From embarrassing po
...[详细]Fellow NFL players join Colin Kaepernick in National Anthem protest
Colin Kaepernick's protest is receiving support from fellow football players.
。As the National Anthem
...[详细]Sydney lockout report recommends laws be (barely) relaxed for music venues
A lot of people are going to be very disappointed. A highly anticipated inquiry into Sydney's lockou
...[详细]One of the most controversial power struggles in media comes to a close
One of the world's biggest media companies has been embroiled in a complex personal and professional
...[详细]LinkedIn cofounder will pay $5 million for Donald Trump's tax returns
LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman is the latest Silicon Valley mogul to put some of his personal fortu
...[详细]LinkedIn launches LinkedIn Lite, opens Placements service for students in India
Tech companies are increasingly realizing that if they want to make their services more accessible t
...[详细]Jon Polito of 'Seinfeld,' 'Homicide' and 'The Crow' dies at 65
LOS ANGELES -- Veteran character actor Jon Polito died of cancer Thursday at the age of 65, and with
...[详细]Two states took big steps this week to get rid of the tampon tax
This week was a big one for those advocating against a tampon tax. 。 First, on Thursday, California t
...[详细]Apple announces Australian prices for the iPhone 7 and it ain't cheap
As the prophets foretold, Apple has put to death the headphone jack. 。The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, launch
...[详细]Two states took big steps this week to get rid of the tampon tax
Was the iPhone 7 just listed on Apple's website?