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"It was a relief": Rebecca Gibney opens up on mental health struggles

Rebecca Gibney has revealed what a "relief" it was to finally open up about the mental health struggles she faced from 14 to 30-years-old. The New Zealand actress, 58, said she spent a lot of that time "pretending" she was okay despite growing up around domestic violence, as her mother suffered from abuse in the hands of Gibney's late father, Austin. In an interview with Stellar on Saturday, the Packed to the Rafters star shared that she is "loving" how mental health is now being framed. “When I started talking about my mental health struggles and anxiety ... it was a relief,” she told the publication. “I could drop the mask of pretending that I was OK. What I’m loving seeing is that more and more people are now going, ‘I’m not OK’”. Gibney first opened up about her struggles in 2017, when she opened up about the abuse her mother faced and how she was “beaten so badly she had bruises for six months on her legs. “She’d always shut the doors ... you’d hear the yelling and the shouting and the slapping, but you’d never actually see it," she told Women's Day, at the time. After Gibney's father died in 1982, the actress began seeing a therapist, but was "on Valium and in a dark place for quite a while”. In her latest interview with Stellar, Gibney also added that more needed to be done to prevent domestic violence and help survivors. “We still don’t want to talk about it. We need to really drill down (and question), ‘Why is this happening?’ We need more education, more centres," she said. “We need people to be able to get the help they need.” Images: Instagram

Mind

Women get far more migraines than men – a neurologist explains why, and what brings relief

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/danielle-wilhour-1337610">Danielle Wilhour</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-colorado-anschutz-medical-campus-4838">University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus</a> A migraine is far <a href="https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/what-is-migraine/">more than just a headache</a> – it’s a debilitating disorder of the nervous system. People who have migraines experience severe throbbing or pulsating pain, typically on one side of the head. The pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and <a href="https://theconversation.com/migraine-sufferers-have-treatment-choices-a-neurologist-explains-options-beyond-just-pain-medication-181348">extreme sensitivity to light or sound</a>. An attack may last for hours or days, and to ease the suffering, some people spend time isolated in dark, quiet rooms. About 800 million people worldwide <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.21857">get migraine headaches</a>; in the U.S. alone, <a href="https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/what-is-migraine/">about 39 million</a>, or approximately 12% of the population, have them regularly. And most of these people are women. More than <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/04/16/150525391/why-women-suffer-more-migraines-than-men">three times as many women</a> as compared to men get migraines. For women ages 18 to 49, migraine is the leading <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-020-01208-0">cause of disability throughout the world</a>. What’s more, research shows that women’s migraines are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04643-8">more frequent, more disabling and longer-lasting</a> than men’s. Women are more likely than men to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-015-2156-7">seek medical care and prescription drugs</a> for migraines. And women who have migraines <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-021-01281-z">tend to have more mental health issues</a>, including anxiety and depression. <a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/29586">As a board-certified neurologist</a> who specializes in headache medicine, I find the gender differences in migraines to be fascinating. And some of the reasons why these differences exist may surprise you. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lorXYK2OtAA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>A variety of medications and therapies offer relief for migraines.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Migraines and hormones</h2> There are several factors behind why men and women experience migraine attacks differently. These include hormones, genetics, how certain genes are activated or deactivated – an <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/epigenetics">area of study called epigenetics</a> – and the environment. All of these factors play a role in shaping the structure, function and adaptability of the brain when it comes to migraines. The hormones <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/estrogen-vs-progesterone#functions">estrogen and progesterone</a>, through different mechanisms, play a role in regulating many biological functions. They affect various chemicals in the brain and may contribute to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws175">functional and structural differences</a> in specific brain regions that are involved in the development of migraines. Additionally, sex hormones can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04643-8">quickly change the size of blood vessels</a>, which can predispose people to migraine attacks. During childhood, both boys and girls have an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102409355601">equal chance of experiencing migraines</a>. It’s estimated that about <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557813/">10% of all children will have them</a> at some point. But when girls reach puberty, their likelihood of getting migraines increases. That’s due to the <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2018.00073">fluctuating levels of sex hormones</a>, primarily <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/estrogens-effects-on-the-female-body">estrogen</a>, associated with puberty – although other hormones, including <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24562-progesterone">progesterone</a>, may be involved too. Some girls have their first migraine around the time <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.23903">of their first menstrual cycle</a>. But migraines are often most common and intense <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.39559.675891.AD">during a woman’s reproductive and child-bearing years</a>. Researchers estimate about 50% to 60% of women with migraines <a href="https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/menstrual-migraine-treatment-and-prevention/">experience menstrual migraines</a>. These migraines typically occur in the days leading up to menstruation or during menstruation itself, when the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-012-0424-y">drop in estrogen levels can trigger migraines</a>. Menstrual migraines can be more severe and last longer than migraines at other times of the month. A class of medicines that came out in the 1990’s – <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/triptan-migraine#side-effects">triptans</a> – are commonly used to treat migraines; certain triptans can be used specifically for menstrual migraines. Another category of medications, called <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/11086-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-medicines-nsaids">nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs</a>, have also been effective at lessening the discomfort and length of menstrual migraines. So can a variety of birth control methods, which help by keeping hormone levels steady. <h2>Migraine with aura</h2> But women who have <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-with-aura/symptoms-causes/syc-20352072">migraine with aura</a>, which is a distinct type of migraine, should generally avoid using estrogen containing hormonal contraceptives. The combination can increase the risk of stroke because estrogen can promote <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2020.05.008">the risk of blood clot formation</a>. Birth control options for women with auras include progesterone-only birth control pills, the Depo-Provera shot, and intrauterine devices. Auras affect about 20% of the people who have migraines. Typically, prior to the migraine, the person most commonly begins to see dark spots and zigzag lines. Less often, about 10% of the time, an inability to speak clearly, or tingling or weakness on one side of the body, also occurs. These symptoms slowly build up, generally last less than an hour before disappearing, and are commonly followed by head pain. Although these symptoms resemble what happens during a stroke, an aura tends to occur slowly, over minutes – while strokes usually happen instantaneously. That said, it may be difficult and dangerous for a nonmedical person to try to discern the difference between the two conditions, particularly in the midst of an attack, and determine whether it’s migraine with aura or a stroke. If there is any uncertainty as to what’s wrong, a call to 911 is most prudent. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tn91p-PY2h8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>If you’re a woman and your migraines happen at the same time every month, it might be menstrual migraines.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Migraines during pregnancy, menopause</h2> For women who are pregnant, migraines can be particularly <a href="https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=headaches-in-early-pregnancy-134-3">debilitating during the first trimester</a>, a time when morning sickness is common, making it difficult to eat, sleep or hydrate. Even worse, missing or skipping any of these things can make migraines more likely. The good news is that migraines generally tend to lessen in severity and frequency throughout pregnancy. For some women, they disappear, especially as the pregnancy progresses. But then, for those who experienced them during pregnancy, migraines tend <a href="https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/postpartum-headache/">to increase after delivery</a>. This can be due to the decreasing hormone levels, as well as sleep deprivation, stress, dehydration and other environmental factors related to caring for an infant. Migraine attacks can also increase during <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimenopause">perimenopause</a>, a woman’s transitional phase to menopause. Again, fluctuating hormone levels, <a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/perimenopause-and-migraines-4009311">particularly estrogen, trigger them</a>, along with the chronic pain, depression and sleep disturbances that can occur during this time. But as menopause progresses, migraines generally decline. In some cases, they completely go away. In the meantime, there are treatments that can help lessen both the frequency and severity of migraines throughout menopause, including <a href="https://www.webmd.com/menopause/menopause-hormone-therapy">hormone replacement therapy</a>. Hormone replacement therapy contains female hormones and is used to replace those that your body makes less of leading up to or after menopause. <h2>Men’s migraines</h2> The frequency and severity of migraines slightly increase for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102409355601">men in their early 20s</a>. They tend to slow down, peak again around age 50, then slow down or stop altogether. Why this happens is not well understood, although a combination of genetic factors, environmental influences and lifestyle choices may contribute to the rise. Medical researchers still have more to learn about why women and men get migraines. Bridging the gender gap in migraine research not only empowers women, but it also advances understanding of the condition as a whole and creates a future where migraines are better managed.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207606/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/danielle-wilhour-1337610">Danielle Wilhour</a>, Assistant Professor of Neurology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-colorado-anschutz-medical-campus-4838">University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/women-get-far-more-migraines-than-men-a-neurologist-explains-why-and-what-brings-relief-207606">original article</a>.

Body

11 surprising home remedies for constipation relief

Constipation remedy: Sesame seeds Sesame seeds make great home remedies for constipation, according to a study published in the International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology. The oily composition of sesame seeds works to moisturise the intestines, which can help if dry stools are a problem and provide constipation relief. Add the seeds to cereals or salads for crunch, or pulverise them in a coffee grinder and sprinkle on food like a seasoning. Constipation remedy: Molasses One tablespoon of blackstrap molasses before bed should help ease your constipation by morning. The ingredient was studied by the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2019 on paediatric constipation with successful results. Blackstrap molasses is boiled and concentrated three times, so it has significant vitamins and minerals; magnesium, in particular, will help you achieve constipation relief. Constipation remedy: Fibre Fibre acts like a pipe cleaner, scrubbing food and waste particles from your digestive tract and soaking up water. It adds bulk to your stool, giving the muscles of your GI tract something to grab on to, so they can keep food moving along. The Mayo Clinic suggests aiming for 20 to 35 grams of fibre a day to stay regular. Foods particularly high in fibre include bran cereals, beans, lentils, oats, almonds, barley, many vegetables, and fresh and dried fruits. All of these things can be home remedies for constipation. If you’re constipated and taking in additional fibre, be sure to drink more water than usual to keep your stool soft and easy to pass. Constipation remedy: Mint or ginger tea Mint and ginger are both proven home remedies to help alleviate a slew of digestive problems. Peppermint contains menthol, which has an antispasmodic effect that relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract. Ginger is a ‘warming’ herb that causes the inside of the body to generate more heat; herbalists say this can help speed up sluggish digestion. Dr Stephen Sinatra recommends ginger in either capsule or tea form. In tea, the hot water will also stimulate digestion and provide constipation relief. Dandelion tea is also a gentle laxative and detoxifier. Constipation remedy: Healthy fats Olive oil, nuts and avocados all contain healthy fats, which can help lubricate your intestines and ease constipation, according to the experts at Harvard Medical School. A salad with fibre-rich leafy greens and a simple olive oil dressing, a small handful of nuts, or a tablespoon of natural nut butter on fruit or toast are good options. Even if you’re watching your weight, healthy fats are necessary for basic body functions; they are very satiating to keep you satisfied with less. Constipation remedy: Lemon water The citric acid in lemon juice acts as a stimulant to your digestive system and can help flush toxins from your body, providing constipation relief. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into a glass of water every morning, or add lemon to tea; you may find that the refreshingly tart water not only acts as a natural remedy to your constipation but also it helps you drink more water each day, which will improve your long-term digestion. And don’t be afraid to warm it up, says the American Cancer Society, sharing that warm or hot fluids can also be a helpful treatment. Constipation remedy: Coffee Coffee can stimulate your colon and speed up your trip to the bathroom. Other hot drinks work as home remedies for constipation too: herbal tea or a cup of hot water with a little lemon juice (a natural laxative) or honey may stimulate your colon as well. Coffee is also a diuretic, however, so make sure to keep drinking water or your constipation could become worse, according to Harvard Medical School experts. Constipation remedy: Raisins High in fibre, raisins also contain tartaric acid, according to Stanford Children’s Health, which has a laxative effect. Cherries and apricots are also rich in fibre and can help kick your constipation. Eat these fruits with a bowl of yoghurt for the added benefits of gut-soothing probiotics. Constipation remedy: Prunes This fibre-rich fruit is a go-to home remedy for getting your digestion back on track. Three prunes have 3 grams of fibre, and contain a phenolic compound that triggers the intestinal contraction that makes you want to go. Another great dried fruit choice is figs, which may not cause as much bloating as prunes. Constipation remedy: Castor oil This home remedy for constipation has been handed down for generations. One of the primary uses for castor oil is as a laxative, according to Cleveland Clinic; take one to two teaspoons on an empty stomach and you should see results in about eight hours. Why? A component in the oil breaks down into a substance that stimulates your large and small intestines. Constipation remedy: Exercise The Mayo Clinic promotes exercise as a way to increase muscle activity in your intestines. Even a daily 15-minute walk can help move food through your bowel more quickly. If you feel sleepy after a heavy meal, try to move around instead of lying down. Jump-starting the digestive process can help you avoid that painfully full feeling that often follows a large meal. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/11-surprising-home-remedies-for-constipation-relief-2?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Body

Sneaky reasons you’re bloated all the time

While bloating may be common, it is never enjoyable. Bloating happens when your gastrointestinal tract is filled with air or gas, and can make you feel overly stuffed. Not only can it be uncomfortable, but you may notice physical signs as well, including a swollen or misshapen belly. The good news? According to Abby Langer, a registered dietitian, not all bloating is bad. “Bloating itself is normal after eating,” she says, noting that it simply means your gut and intestinal bacteria are feasting. “But if it’s accompanied by gas, cramps or gastrointestinal symptoms, then it becomes problematic.” Your stomach should not feel hard, and you should not be experiencing severe pain. If you find yourself bloated all the time, the five factors below may be to blame. <h2>You ate capsicum or broccoli</h2> If you’re bloated all the time, it might be down to that heaping pile of veggies you had for dinner. Capsicum, broccoli, legumes and other cruciferous vegetables are rich in fibre and low in kilojoules, but they’re also big-time gas-producers. That doesn’t mean you should leave the veggies off your plate. “You may want to eat fewer at one time – but definitely don’t stop eating them,” says Langer. “Because, again, bloating can be a good sign that the bugs in our gut are having a party.” You can kerb the worst of your veggie bloating by drinking between six to eight 250mL glasses of water throughout the day and cutting down on any added salt, which causes water retention and will only add to the bloating. <h2>Your skim latte</h2> You don’t need to give up your morning coffee, but if you’re prone to ordering the “skim” version of drinks, or use sugar alcohol-based alternative coffee sweeteners like mannitol or sorbitol, this may be the reason you’re bloated all the time. “Sugar alcohols are very popular in the low-carb community,” Langer says. Unfortunately, sugar alcohols like xylitol, lactitol and isomalt also cause bloating – and may be the reason that you’re starting off mornings filled with air or gas. If you’re insistent on a lower-kilojoule take on coffee, you can always try drinking your coffee black – so long as you’re not typically sensitive to caffeine, of course. (In some studies, drinking coffee has been linked to gastrointestinal issues like bloating. Try keeping a journal of how you feel after your morning cup to see if it’s the culprit.) Switching to tea is also on option, since it’s usually less acidic than coffee and has tons of health benefits. <h2>Too much fibre, too fast</h2> According to Langer, many people experience unexpected bloating when they make healthy changes to their diet, thanks to the sudden influx of fibre. When you start eating more high-fibre fruits like apples, mangoes, bananas and strawberries, that fibre can sit in your colon and ferment, which causes bloating. Just as you shouldn’t cut veggies out of your diet, don’t ditch the fruit – or your quest to increase your fibre intake. (On average, women need 25 grams of fibre per day and men 38 grams, but most of us are only getting half that amount.) Go gradually, try a variety of fibre-rich foods and spread your intake across meals. And remember, drinking enough water throughout the day can help keep your bloating in check. <h2>You’re stressed out</h2> Stress and bloating can feel like being stuck in an endless loop. You’re stressed, so you’re bloated… and because you’re bloating, you’re stressed! “When we’re stressed out,” says Langer, “the brain tells the gut to slow down our digestion.” That’s because stress triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response. When that happens, your gut isn’t contracting as often and food isn’t moving through your digestive system because your brain and body are focused on the stressor. Defeating stress can be tricky – especially since we aren’t always outwardly aware we’re feeling that way. Maybe you’re on holiday at a warm, relaxing place, and yet the subconscious stress of travel means you’re both bloated and constipated. Miserable! <h2>You love carbonated water</h2> Many people love sparkling water as an alternative to flat water. In fact, the sparkling water industry is one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic beverage categories. It can be a much healthier choice than certain indulgences, such as soft drink and alcohol, so it feels like a win. But, “If you consume gas, you’re going to be having gas in your belly,” Langer says. Movement, whether it’s intense or gentle, can help move the gas through your system. Langer suggests getting up and going for a short walk, especially if you’ve been sitting at a desk all day. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/conditions/sneaky-reasons-youre-bloated-all-the-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. Images: Getty

Body

8 key steps to healing after loss

Healing may mean different things to different people and may also look different, but it has one common theme: getting better. Healing may seem simple, yet it is a complex process that often involves many intricate aspects and phases coming together in perfect synchronicity. In straightforward terms, healing means finding relief and getting and feeling better, which can be felt physically, emotionally and spiritually. Healing is not an easy process and nobody knows how long it will take for any individual to start feeling better. However, one thing is for sure: healing needs your active participation, and possibly even your complete devotion. It can be hard work and it requires intention, focus, support, faith, understanding, compassion, empathy and a large dose of love. Healing from any type of loss is a lifelong commitment. Although the work of healing yourself is always ongoing, it can be seen as a promise to be restored, a pledge to feel joy again. Through my exploration into healing my own trauma and working with grief I have found eight key elements that are vital in helping to move forward and embrace the joy of living. It can be a tough process but I have learned one simple fact: there is nothing wrong with admitting I am a work in progress and I am not perfect. You are a work in progress and you are not perfect, and that is completely fine. Acceptance of who you have become and who you are at the present moment will bring you inner peace. I hope you will find the eight key elements useful on your healing journey. 1. Make your intention to heal clear to the universe and, more importantly, to yourself. Use the following affirmation: ‘I am ready to heal.’ 2. Focus your attention: do not allow distractions or self-destructive talk. Take a few cleansing breaths to focus your mind and direct your attention on what you need to address in order to ease the healing process. 3. Keep an open heart: always keep your heart open to welcoming love and joy no matter how hard it is. 4. Release everything that does not serve you in your quest for healing. Use the following affirmation: ‘I release any negative energy that is obstructing my healing process. I invite only positive energy to bless my healing process.’ 5. Commit to undertaking the healing work every day. Use the following affirmation: ‘I commit to always do what it takes to heal every single day.’ 6. Have hope: inculcate a desire for change, as it will keep the flame of trust burning. 7. Love: love is our blueprint for life. Always go back to love. 8. Have faith: faith is knowing deep inside you will be all right. You may never be complete, but you will still be doing just fine. Do not fear grief, for it is a natural process and a partner in your healing. Remember: healing is an ongoing process so always be gentle and compassionate with yourself. Edited extract from The Art of Grieving: Gentle self-care practices to heal a broken heart (Rockpool Publishing, $29.95), by Corinne Laan. Now available where all good books are sold and online at <a href="http://www.rockpoolpublishing.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.rockpoolpublishing.co</a> Image: Shutterstock

Relationships

Why do antidepressants help with nerve pain relief?

<div class="copy"> Tricyclic antidepressants have long been known to have more than one purpose: among other things, they can alleviate pain – particularly nerve pain. Recent research has finally established why these tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) can help with nerve pain. The discovery could lead to the rapid development of pain relief medications that don’t include the side effects of TCAs. Nerve pain comes from a variety of sources – including cancer, diabetes, trauma, multiple sclerosis, and infections. These treatments could address a range of different types of nerve pain. It turns out the drugs inhibit a key protein in our nerves, called an N-type calcium channel. These N-type calcium channels are shaped like tiny gates, allowing positively charged calcium ions, or Ca2+, through them. This helps with the transmission of pain signals in the body. Researchers have long been keen to find things that “close” the gate of these calcium channels because that’s likely to have analgesic effects. Adjunct Professor Peter Duggan, a researcher with the CSIRO and senior collaborator on the project, says that he and his colleagues initially stumbled across TCAs from a very different direction: they were investigating the toxins of venomous marine cone snails. “A few of the components in that toxin are actually painkillers and they block these calcium ion channels very, very effectively,” says Duggan. The cone snail toxin has the potential to be very dangerous to people, as well as needing to be administered in an impractical way, so the researchers started looking at similar compounds that might have some of the same properties. “What we’ve been doing is designing and making small molecules that mimic the activity of those kinds of toxins,” says Duggan. “One class that we looked at gradually trended towards the same structure as the tricyclic antidepressants.” Once they realised that TCA-like molecules could block these calcium channels, the researchers set out to look at TCAs specifically. Duggan’s collaborators at the University of Queensland set up a lab-based experiment with 11 TCAs and two drugs that are chemically very similar to TCAs. These 13 drugs were administered to in vitro neuroblastoma cells. “They’re (neuroblastoma) a type of brain cancer cell that naturally expresses the channel we’re interested in,” explains Duggan. Analysis of the cells by UQ, CSIRO and Monash University researchers showed that the drugs could all limit the amount of calcium that got transmitted through the cells. This means that these TCAs must alleviate pain by inhibiting the N-type calcium channel. A paper describing the work is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MD00331C" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in RSC Medicinal Chemistry. Duggan says that there may be other mechanisms by which TCAs kill pain as well, and they definitely have other biochemical effects in the body. But it’s unlikely that the calcium channel-blocking is helpful in treating depression. TCAs are a very old and well-established form of antidepressant, and for treating depression, they’ve largely been replaced by newer drugs with fewer side effects. “They’re what we call ‘dirty drugs’,” explains Dr Michael Vagg, dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, and an associate professor at Deakin University. “They have effects on lots of transmitter systems and receptors in the body. They don’t have just the one straightforward action; they have multiple actions.” This means that TCAs typically have several side effects, including drowsiness, blurred vision and constipation. But because the researchers now have a specific understanding of how they alleviate pain, they can develop new drugs that don’t have these side effects. “The more we understand about how TCAs are causing the painkilling effect, the actual intimate mechanism of how they’re doing it, then there’s more chance of us being able to develop compounds that target that type of activity and not have other side effects or the other antidepressant effects,” says Duggan. Vagg is optimistic that better drugs are on the way. He cites the recent proliferation of new migraine treatments, which arrived less than a decade after researchers <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/migraine-masters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">found a similar key mechanism</a> in the brain, as his reasoning for this. He emphasises that it’s not yet a done deal – any new drug based on this research would still need to make it through the development pipeline and clinical trials. “I think because the tricyclic drugs are already widely used, and already seem to have – for most people – an acceptable level of safety, I suspect that means that development will go smoother rather than rougher,” says Vagg. This is good news for the roughly one in 20 Australians who suffer from nerve pain. “Nerve pain is highly disabling and ruins lives. The best current treatments only work to a useful degree on every third or fourth person who receives them,” says Vagg. “We have not had any really effective new treatments for nerve pain for a long time and this work opens up the possibility of designing a new class of drugs with improved safety and effectiveness.” Image credits: Getty Images <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=189966&title=Why+do+antidepressants+help+with+nerve+pain+relief%3F" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/medicine/tricyclic-antidepressants-nerve-pain-treatments/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. </div>

Mind

Ed Sheeran joins concert for Ukraine relief

Ed Sheeran is the latest musician added to the lineup of a charity concert to help Ukraine. He joins the likes of Snow Patrol, Camila Cabello, Tom Odell, Becky Hill, Manic Street Preachers, Emeli Sande and many more, who will all be performing the fundraising concert in Birmingham. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian appeal, which is providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance to refugees in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. "I will be singing to try to help every human being forced to flee their home and in solidarity with those being racially discriminated against even within this humanitarian crisis," Emeli Sande said in a statement. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 💙💛 <a href="https://twitter.com/Camila_Cabello?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Camila_Cabello</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/edsheeran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@edsheeran</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/emelisande?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emelisande</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/GregoryPorter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregoryPorter</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/snowpatrol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@snowpatrol</a> are the first performers to be announced for Concert for Ukraine, a two hour fundraiser event raising money for the <a href="https://twitter.com/decappeal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@decappeal</a> humanitarian appeal in Ukraine on Tuesday 29 March on ITV 🌻 <a href="https://t.co/TnoBCfWX3f">pic.twitter.com/TnoBCfWX3f</a> — ITV (@ITV) <a href="https://twitter.com/ITV/status/1505822111448842244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote> "Nobody should be refused access to relief, aid and the right to cross the border to safety, and I'm pleased for the chance to support the DEC's appeal to help all people whose lives have been affected by the conflict." The concert will be hosted by Spice Girl Emma Bunton, alongside Marvin Humes and Roman Kemp on March 29th at the Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Another fundraiser concert will also be taking place in the UK at west London’s famous Shepherd’s Bush, with big name acts performing at A Night For Ukraine, with 100 percent of profits going towards the Disasters Emergency Committee‘s (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. Image credits: Getty Images

Music

France’s pledge to Ukrainian artists

In order to help struggling artists in Ukraine who have been impacted by the Russian invasion, the French government has announced a $1.5 million relief fund to help workers in the arts. According to a statement from the French Ministry of Culture, the initiative will also be available to “dissident” Russian artists fleeing the nation’s crackdown on free speech. “The emergency reception program will finance Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals and their families for a period of three months, via the Pause program, [consisting of] residencies within the network of public establishments of the ministry and through the Cité internationale des arts [an artist-in-residence building in Paris],” the ministry’s statement said. Two thirds of the funds will be dedicated to an emergency telephone service offered in both Russian and Ukrainian that will offer support to imperilled artists through networking with regional professionals and studio space opportunities. The remainder of the funds will be directed to help Ukrainian students to enrol at colleges and cultural organisations in France. Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, the French minister of culture, said the ministry “wants Ukrainian artists to be supported so they can continue their creative work in France…This additional support will be in the form of research grants and funding for artistic projects, but also for organising exhibitions.” Russia’s unprompted attack on Ukraine began on February 24th, and has seen at least 2.6 million Ukrainians flee their war-torn home country. According to the French interior minister, Gèrald Darmanin, the French government has pledged to accept around 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

Did we underestimate the health effects of the Black Summer bushfires?

<div> <div class="copy"> Research led by the Australian National University (ANU) has discovered undocumented health problems among people exposed to bushfire smoke. This suggests that the physical and mental impacts of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/climate/what-fuelled-australias-black-summer-fires/" target="_blank">Black Summer fires</a> were more extensive than previously thought. The team surveyed more than 2000 residents of areas around Canberra, Australia’s capital city, who were affected by widespread bushfires during the deadly summer of 2019–20. The survey asked a range of questions about physical and mental symptoms, as well as their behavioural changes during that time. “We found that almost every single respondent to our survey experienced at least one physical health symptom that they attributed to the smoke,” says Iain Walker, co-author of the study and a professor of psychology at ANU. The most common physical symptoms were coughing and eye and throat irritation. “In addition, about one-half of our respondents reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as sleep loss,” says Walker. But less than one-fifth of respondents (17%) went to a medical practitioner for help, and only 1% went to hospital. This means that the official rate of people presenting to the health system as a result of bushfire smoke is almost certainly much lower than the actual number of people affected. Walker explains: “It is likely that official statistics greatly underestimate the prevalence of health problems because of the major hurdles in the way of anyone presenting into the system, and we think many residents were motivated to avoid overburdening the health system at a time when it was stretched.” We have long known that bushfire smoke can cause health problems. It contains a mix of particles and gases that can be transported by wind through the atmosphere, including fine particulate matter (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) that impact the functioning of the respiratory and cardiac systems, as well as impair the immune system. Every year, 340,000 premature deaths <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2010.01868.x" target="_blank">can be attributed</a> to bushfire smoke around the world, and during the Black Summer, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50511" target="_blank">millions of people</a> were exposed to extreme levels of air pollution. This new research from ANU highlights that bushfire smoke affects mental health as well as physical health. Some of the mental effects were direct, such as anxiety and stress, and others were secondary, such as disruption to normal routines – the likes of sleep and exercise – that promote wellbeing. There was also, Walker says, “significant disruption to relationships with friends, family and community, which are all things that help maintain our wellbeing”. Some of these impacts may sound familiar from COVID-19 lockdowns, but this data was collected in February and March 2020, meaning there was minimal overlap. This adds to the relatively few studies that look directly at the impacts of bushfire smoke on psychological health and wellbeing, separate from exposure to bushfires in general. But while a survey is a good way to gather information from a large number of people, it does have limitations, says Brian Oliver, a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/we-know-bushfire-smoke-affects-our-health-but-the-long-term-consequences-are-hazy-129451" target="_blank">respiratory researcher</a> at the University of Technology Sydney and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. For example, he says, it is difficult to get a baseline with which to compare the responses. “It’s not clear from the study whether or not they’ve actually compared these people’s symptoms to a similar period,” says Oliver. “So for example, are these the people that would visit a health care professional regularly anyway?” But Oliver says this is still valuable work, especially since it is “incredibly difficult” to access healthcare records in Australia to obtain similar information. “In the Netherlands, for example, there’s one database…and your whole medical history is there,” he says. “But in Australia, we’re not set up for that, so this is a really nice snapshot of something that will allow other researchers to build upon it with more detailed, investigative-type studies.” Walker agrees that it’s becoming increasingly important to investigate the health effects of bushfire smoke. “We have known for some time from the climate science that the frequency, intensity and severity of bushfires in Australia will increase, so it’s something we need to learn to adapt to,” he says. “Part of that is understanding the consequences of things like exposure to bushfire smoke.” Walker recalls that during the Black Summer, the bushfire smoke was so intense in Canberra that it was constantly setting off smoke alarms at all ANU buildings. It was a logistical nightmare – to the point that the university had to close the campus. “It’s kind of a little microcosm of what happens in that sort of widespread catastrophe,” he says. “Services – service support, service delivery – are stretched beyond capacity.” Not only are disasters like bushfires expected to increase, but they are also likely to cascade into each other – imagine, for example, if the Black Summer had overlapped with the peak of COVID. “Broadly, I think we as a nation need to look closely at our various health systems and the ability to cope with a massive surge in demand,” Walker says, referring to not just hospital admissions but access to pharmacies, mental health services and more. “We are conducting further studies to understand how bushfires continue to affect the mental health of people impacted by these fires and the smoke, and how we can build resilience among individuals and communities.” Oliver says these kinds of studies are also important so that “the pollies don’t forget that bushfires have devastating consequences. “The more evidence and the more data we have showing that this is actually what happens in the real world when there are bushfire events, the more likely we are to get an appropriate response in the future.” For example, if there were major fires in Canberra, GPs, psychologists or other health services from Sydney could be called in to help share the burden. There are still many unanswered questions around the impacts of bushfire smoke, including the simple fact that we don’t have a good understanding of the long-term health consequences. This is partly due to lack of funding for health-related research. Even after the Black Summer fires, Oliver says that comparatively little funding was put into research around the impacts of smoke – a total of $5 million was <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/5-million-for-bushfire-related-health-research" target="_blank">offered</a> from the federal government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) in January 2020. “For the magnitude of these events, it’s not proportional,” he says. “In general, Australia’s [health funding] is quite low.” He gives Singapore as a comparison: the country has a population one-fifth the size of ours, yet the Singaporean government puts more money into medical research than Australia. “The New South Wales government receives more income from gambling than the federal government spends on health and medical research,” adds Oliver. The study was <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.682402" target="_blank">published</a> in a special edition of the journal Frontiers in Public Health devoted to rapid-response research to bushfires. Image credits: Getty Images</div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/health-effects-of-bushfire-smoke/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Lauren Fuge. </div> </div>

Body

Promising pain relief

Chronic pain is a global health burden. In Australia, it is estimated that over 3.4 million people suffer from persistent pain. Nonetheless, a lack of therapeutics has led to <a style="font-size: 14px;" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/medicine/pain-education-could-end-the-opioid-crisis/" target="_blank">overprescription of opioids</a>, which provide only limited relief in patients with chronic neuropathic pain and can lead to severe adverse effects, <a style="font-size: 14px;" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/medicine/opioids-and-overdose-risk/" target="_blank">including addiction and overdose</a>. <div class="copy"> Neuropathic pain is often chronic and occurs when the pain system – brain, nervous and immune system – is not working correctly. When the pain system function well, nerves fire “danger” signals to the brain when a threat is present – when your hand is touching a stove, for example. If the brain perceives the threat as dangerous – the last time you touched the stove, your finger got badly burned – it creates pain to protect the body. An injury, a viral infection, a disease or cancer treatment can damage the pain system leading the nerves to misfire such danger signals and the brain to misinterpret threats. The pain persists because the brain thinks the body needs constant protection. Opioids are the most commonly prescribed painkillers, but while they might be very effective in acute pain episodes, they are ineffective for the long-term treatment of ongoing pain and carry many severe side effects. In a new study <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03897-2" target="_blank">published today</a> in Nature, Monash University researchers reported a new class of molecules that might be a safer and effective alternative to opioids. “The world is in the grip of a global opioid crisis, and there is an urgent need for non-opioid drugs that are both safe and effective,” said Professor Arthur Christopoulos, dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University and author of the study. The researchers discovered that these molecules, called positive allosteric modulators (PAM), bind the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R), which has long been recognised as a promising therapeutic target for non-opioid drugs to treat neuropathic pain, with high precision in rats. By binding to A1R, the PAM regulates the increased adenosine levels in the spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain. Although non-opioid analgesic agents targeting A1R had been studied before, the development of therapeutics has failed because of a lack of drug-A1R binding selectivity, which led to low efficacy and adverse effects. The Monash researchers used high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy to solve the structure of the A1 receptor bound to either its natural activator, adenosine, and an analgesic PAM to the atomic level. That allowed them to zoom in into the mechanism underpinning allosteric drug actions, said Associate Professor Wendy Imlach, head of the Pain Mechanisms lab at Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and an author of the study. Understanding the drug-A1R binding mechanism to the atomic level could help researchers design an allosteric drug that best binds A1R. “This multidisciplinary study now provides a valuable launchpad for the next stage in our drug discovery pipeline, which will leverage structure-based insights for the design of novel non-opioid allosteric drugs to treat chronic pain successfully,” said Professor Christopoulos. While the current best scientific evidence on chronic pain treatment includes a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/australia/pain-and-the-brain-closing-the-gap-between-modern-pain-science-and-clinical-practice/" target="_blank">combination of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical therapies</a>, the lack of therapeutics has led to a global opioid crisis. If proved safe and effective in humans, this new class of analgesics could offer some relief to the millions who suffer from chronic pain across the world.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=164905&title=Promising+pain+relief" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> </div> <div id="contributors"> <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/non-opioid-painkillers-are-on-the-way/" target="_blank">This article</a> was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/manuela-callari" target="_blank">Manuela Callari</a>. Dr Manuela Callari is a Sydney-based freelance science writer who specialises in health and medical stories. </div>

Body

Princess Eugenie’s touching words after Australian bushfires

Princess Eugenie has shared a throwback photo to when she paid a visit to Australia’s Mogo Wildlife Park, which recently reopened after being threatened with bushfires earlier in the year. The never-before-seen photos from 2009 show Eugenie posing with meerkats at the park, which is located near Batemans Bay in New South Wales, during a trip to see her aunty Jane Ferguson. “I was lucky enough to go to @mogowildlifepark in 2009 whilst visiting my Aunt in Australia,” wrote the Queen’s granddaughter. “It was such an incredible experience to be with the animals and meet such a dedicated team of people supporting these magnificent creatures.” Eugenie then spoke about her “awe” at the zoo’s staff for their determination to protect the park and the animals from the bushfires that ravaged the NSW South Coast in January. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9PAQUJlwOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9PAQUJlwOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">I was lucky enough to go to @mogowildlifepark in 2009 whilst visiting my Aunt in Australia. It was such an incredible experience to be with the animals and meet such a dedicated team of people supporting these magnificent creatures. Mogo Wildlife Park reopened this past weekend after the devastating bushfires threatened the park and lives of the keepers and animals. Chad Staples, the zoo’s director, received a text "leave now to the east towards the beach and shelter in place", but he and his team chose instead to stay and fight the fire to save the park. I'm in awe of how human determination and drive can overcome such terrifying circumstances and I wanted to share this story of hope after what Australia has been through. All my thoughts have been and are with all those who are affected by the fires in Australia. @mogowildlifepark @zookeeper_chad</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Mar 2, 2020 at 6:22am PST </div> </blockquote> “Chad Staples, the zoo’s director, received a text ‘leave now to the east towards the beach and shelter in place’, but he and his team chose instead to stay and fight the fire to save the park’,” she wrote. “I’m in awe of how human determination and drive can overcome such terrifying circumstances and I wanted to share this story of hope after what Australia has been through. “All my thoughts have been and are with all those who are affected by the fires in Australia”. Instagram users shared those same sentiments, while praising Eugenie for her thoughtful words. “Those keepers at Mogo are absolute heroes,” wrote one user. “The animals would have perished in the fire if they hadn’t stayed and defended. They also took the smaller animals into their own homes for protection. Amazingly brave and dedicated men and women.” Another added, “thank you for supporting the Aussies”.

International Travel

Vets implore those living in bushfire areas to consider their pets safety

Australia’s national vet association are appealing for pet owners to consider their pets’ safety and wellbeing this bushfire season. “People living in bushfire zones will have planned ahead and be prepared for such emergencies, but we can’t stress enough how critical it is that pets are also included in any emergency plans,” said Dr Julia Crawford, President of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). Dr Crawford also urged pet owners to ensure that they take the necessary steps to look after their animals in extreme heat. “It's crucial to remember that our pets can't perspire in the way humans do and produce only a tiny amount of sweat through their footpads. They cool themselves down by panting, but sometimes this isn't enough, and they start to overheat.” Heat stress can occur rapidly, and signs can include noisy panting, seizures, drooling and collapse. “Heat stress can kill your pet, it is an emergency in itself, so it is critical to know the signs and get your pet to a vet as soon as possible,” said Dr Crawford. “This might not always be possible during a bushfire, so it is equally essential that you know how to assist your pet until you can get to a vet”. “Place your pet in front of an air conditioner or a fan and put wet towels on the hairless parts of their body, such as footpads and the groin, to help them cool down, and ensure they have access to plenty of cool fresh water.” The AVA recommends an emergency kit for pets ahead of time in case evacuation becomes necessary, which includes non-perishable food and water in spill-proof containers. “If it starts to look likely that evacuation may be necessary, try to confine your pets to the safest enclosed room of the house, such as the bathroom, where they can be quickly collected. Make sure you also have your pet’s carry cages and leads on hand, so you don’t have to search for these if the decision is made to leave” said Dr Crawford.

Family & Pets

Why celebrity concern about bushfires could do more harm than good

From Australian superstars such as Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Chris Hemsworth and Nicole Kidman to Hollywood heavyweights including Ellen DeGeneres and Bette Midler, a lengthening list of celebrities are helping to shine a spotlight on Australia’s bushfires. Some have donated <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/aussie-celebrities-and-sports-stars-are-pledging-big-donations-to-bushfire-relief-efforts-2020-1">large sums of money </a>and used social media to publicise their donations, encouraging fans to follow suit. Some have used their profile and platforms such as the Golden Globes awards to draw attention to the fires. Others are donating items for auction or appearing in charity events. For attracting attention and money to a cause, celebrity-driven attention is hard to beat. But there’s also a downside. If that interest is superficial and fleeting, it may actually hinder recovery efforts in disaster-ravaged regions. Our research into <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:263209">disaster recovery efforts for Victoria’s Gippsland region</a> after the deadly “Black Saturday” fires in 2009 suggests celebrities’ best contribution needs to be in the weeks and months to come – and requires them putting “boots on the ground”. Negative implications Studies confirm the influence of messages from celebrities, be it <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:227015">brand choice</a>, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235261651_If_Kate_voted_Conservative_would_you_The_role_of_celebrity_endorsements_in_political_party_advertising">political opinion</a> or <a href="https://news.rutgers.edu/news-release/celebrity-endorsements-lead-increases-charitable-donations-public/20130926#.Xh5oEFczaUk">charitable giving</a>. It’s great that celebrities want to use their influence for good causes. Not all celebrity advocacy, though, should be applauded uncritically. One study has suggested it is <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1367877914528532">less effective than sometimes supposed</a> for development causes, and can simplify a complex issue to a single outcome – usually giving money. This fails to address how people can make an ongoing difference in other ways. In terms of natural disasters, a very practical way to help communities recover is the resumption of tourism. Perceptions play a big part in this, and celebrities can play a big part in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1300/J073v02n02_12">forming images</a>. It’s why they have long featured in tourism campaigns, from Paul Hogan in the 1980s to Kylie Minogue and others in the humorously idealised imagery presented by Tourism Australia to Britons a few weeks ago. <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QMAq8F8N2Fg"></iframe></div> Now these images are being replaced by the message globally that Australia is “<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/australia-fire-literally-so-are-its-climate-politics-n1104351">on fire, literally</a>”, and that much of the country is an “<a href="https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/australia-is-literally-on-fire-because-of-climate-change-so-why-wont-more-governments-act/">apocalyptic nightmare</a>”. Tourism effects Even if celebrities have the best of intentions, their emotional appeals and shared of images of red skies and smoke-filled cities along with heartbreaking images of devastation and loss can contribute to fans cancelling holidays plans, even while they’re donating to bushfire appeals. <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tourism-industry-suffers-as-bushfire-images-scare-off-international-travellers">There are already reports</a>, for example, of tourists aborting plans for visits months away. The <a href="https://qualitytourismaustralia.com/">Australian Tourism Industry Council</a> says cancelled bookings in towns unaffected by the bushfires <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tourism-industry-takes-1b-hit-as-australians-cancel-their-holidays-20200115-p53rr1.html">are up to 60%</a>. The <a href="https://www.atec.net.au/">Australian Tourism Export Council</a> estimates the loss of international bookings will cost the nation <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/tourism/tourism-loses-4-5b-to-bushfires-as-overseas-visitors-cancel-20200116-p53s0s">at least A$4.5 billion</a> in 2020, hurting regional areas the most. It doesn’t help when <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-08/misleading-fire-maps-go-viral-during-australian-bushfire-crisis/11850948">misleading information</a> is spread, as the American singer Rihanna inadvertently did when she <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-08/misleading-fire-maps-go-viral-during-australian-bushfire-crisis/11850948">shared an image on Twitter</a> that exaggerated the size of the bushfires. This image suggested huge swathes of Australia were no-go zones. Ellen Degeneres did something similar in telling her audience “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSWveTGTMBA">nearly a third of their habitat has been destroyed</a>”. This was an exaggerated misstatement of Australia’s environment minister saying <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/govt-is-working-to-address-threats-to-native-species:-ley/11828480">a third of koala habitat in New South Wales</a> had been destroyed. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1447677016300626">Our research confirms</a> the further someone is from a destination in crisis, the more likely they are to be confused about the location and think a greater area is affected. Fires in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales, for example, were called “the "Sydney fires” elsewhere in Australia. Overseas they were referred to as the “Australian bushfires”, confusing domestic and international tourists. Where celebrities can really help So while celebrities might have the very best of motivations, their contribution in generating donations in the short term might be offset by the longer-term effect of amplifying the misconception that Australia is not safe for tourists. This is demonstrated by past experience. After Victoria’s 2009 Black Saturday fires, the Gippsland region experienced a major tourism downturn, despite just 5% of the region being directly affected. But celebrites can also use their mass-pull to aid tourism recovery. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10548408.2012.638565">Our research</a> suggests their star power is unmatched as a means to encourage tourists back to regions recovering from disaster. In the case of Gippsland, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10548408.2012.638565">we surveyed 691 people</a> with nine different advertising messages. Themes included solidarity, community readiness and even short-term discounts. We found celebrity endorsement made the greatest impression, with test subjects indicating it made them more likely to visit the region. In the months after the Black Saturday bushfires, former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins and legendary cricketer Shane Warne <a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/02/07/black-saturday-media-moments/">visited affected towns</a>. These highly publicised events sent the message these towns were ready to welcome visitors again. So celebrities can definitely help in the coming weeks and months. They can share positive stories about local communities’ resilience, and maybe even visit. This is likely to do more for recovery efforts in the long term than helping to spruik for donations.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129627/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gabrielle-walters-159430">Gabrielle Walters</a>, Associate Professor, School of Business, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/judith-mair-11132">Judith Mair</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/monica-chien-933029">Monica Chien</a>, Senior lecturer, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/celebrity-concern-about-bushfires-could-do-more-harm-than-good-to-help-they-need-to-put-boots-on-the-ground-129627">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

You’re not the only one feeling helpless: Eco-anxiety can reach far beyond bushfire communities

You’re scrolling through your phone and transfixed by yet more images of streets reduced to burnt debris, injured wildlife, and maps showing the scale of the fires continuing to burn. On the television in the background, a woman who has lost her home breaks down, while news of another life lost flashes across the screen. You can’t bear to watch anymore, but at the same time, you can’t tear yourself away. Sound familiar? We’ve now been confronted with these tragic images and stories for months. Even if you haven’t been directly affected by the bushfires, it’s completely normal to feel sad, helpless, and even anxious. Beyond despairing about the devastation so many Australians are facing, some of these emotions are likely to be symptoms of “<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/b2e7ee32-ad28-4ec4-89aa-a8b8c98f95a5">eco-anxiety</a>”. If you’re feeling down, you’re not alone Research on <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/black-saturday-the-hidden-costs">previous bushfire disasters</a> shows people directly affected are more likely to suffer mental health consequences than those who have not been directly affected. After Black Saturday, about one in five people living in highly affected communities experienced persistent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or psychological distress. Recognising this as a critical issue, the Australian government has announced funding to deliver <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/emergency-health-management/bushfire-information-and-support/australian-government-mental-health-response-to-bushfire-trauma">mental health support</a> to affected people and communities. Government of Victoria But living in an unaffected area doesn’t mean you’re immune. In addition to contending with rolling images and stories of devastation, we’ve seen flow-on effects of the bushfires reach far beyond affected areas. For example, schools and workplaces have been closed, people have been forced to cancel their summer holidays, and sports matches and community events have been called off. This disruption to normal activities can result in uncertainty and distress, particularly for children and young people. What is eco-anxiety? Distress around the current fires may be compounded by – and intertwined with – a pervasive sense of fear and anxiety in relation to climate change-related events. The American Psychological Association defines <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf">eco-anxiety</a> as “a chronic fear of environmental doom”. While concern and anxiety around climate change are normal, eco-anxiety describes a state of being overwhelmed by the sheer scale, complexity and seriousness of the problems we’re facing. It can be accompanied by guilt for personal contributions to the problem. The Australian bushfires may have signalled a “tipping point” for many people who held a passive attitude towards climate change, and even many who have held a more active view of climate denialism. In the face of current circumstances, the crisis of climate change now becomes almost impossible to ignore. While eco-anxiety is not a diagnosable mental disorder, it can have significant impacts on a person’s well-being. Whether you think you’re suffering from eco-anxiety or more general stress and depression about the bushfires, here are some things you can do. We’re pretty resilient, but support helps We’re now living with the environmental consequences of a changing climate, and this requires people to adapt. Fortunately, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0004867417714337">most of us are innately resilient</a>and are able to overcome stress and losses and to live with uncertainty. We can enhance this resilience by connecting with friends and family and positively engaging in our communities. Making healthy choices around things like diet, exercise and sleep can also help. Further, supporting those who are vulnerable has benefits for both the person giving and receiving assistance. For example, parents have a critical role in listening to their children’s concerns and providing appropriate guidance. Become part of the solution Seeking to reduce your own carbon footprint can help alleviate feelings of guilt and helplessness – in addition to the positive difference these small actions make to the environment. This might include walking, cycling and taking public transport to get around, and making sustainability a factor in day-to-day decisions like what you buy and what you eat. Joining one of the many groups advocating for the environment also provides a voice for people concerned about the changing climate. Finally, there are many ways you can provide assistance to bushfire relief efforts. The generosity shown by Australians and others internationally has provided a sense of hope at a time when many are facing enormous hardship. Seeking professional help Some people, particularly those living with unrelated psychological distress, will find it harder to adapt to increased stress. Where their emotional resources are already depleted, it becomes more difficult to accommodate change. Although we don’t yet have research on this, it’s likely people with pre-existing mental health problems will be more vulnerable to eco-anxiety. If this is you, it’s worthwhile seeking professional help if you feel your mental health is deteriorating at this time. Whether or not you have a pre-existing mental health disorder, if you’re feeling depressed or anxious to a degree it’s affecting your work, education or social functioning, you should seek advice from a health professional. Evidence-based psychological interventions like cognitive behavioural therapy <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23870719">reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression</a>, improving mental health and well-being. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Written by Fiona Charlson and James Graham Scott. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/youre-not-the-only-one-feeling-helpless-eco-anxiety-can-reach-far-beyond-bushfire-communities-129453">The Conversation.</a>

Caring

Federer and Nadal go above and beyond at Aussie Open's Rally for Relief

The tennis world has dug deep to raise a staggering $4.8 million for bushfire victims in a night of thrilling entertainment at the Rally for Relief which took place at Rod Laver Arena. The man behind the groundbreaking initiative was none other than Aussie’s own Nick Kyrgios, who was completely overcome with emotion after the total figure of $4,826,014 was revealed to him on court. The crowd in Melbourne was thrilled as he went head-to-head with Roger Federer in a one-set finale that was the highlight on the night. “I just got goosebumps when you said that number,” said Kyrgios. “It’s been an emotional couple of weeks. I just wanted to send a message, I just had to do it so I wrote the Tweet. “The whole Aussie team got behind it and I woke up the next day and it exploded, it was so emotional. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> "It's been an emotional couple of weeks," says <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKyrgios?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NickKyrgios</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rally4Relief?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rally4Relief</a> To contribute: <a href="https://t.co/a3qgsExZQj">https://t.co/a3qgsExZQj</a> <a href="https://t.co/RKvhFLyscU">pic.twitter.com/RKvhFLyscU</a> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1217393053138288640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2020</a></blockquote> “Back home at Canberra I couldn’t even go outside (due to the smoke), it was hard and I’m just so happy that we had Roger, Rafa, Novak – some of the greats – to get behind this.” The one-off special event saw some of the biggest names in tennis taking part, including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, who donated their time to encourage support for charities helping deal with the bushfire crisis. The night was enjoyed by many, as the atmosphere was lighthearted with 12 players competing in a series of jovial matches and challenges to help raise money for the natural disaster. Spanish favourite Nadal also made a major announcement, revealing that he and Federer had donated a cumulative $250,000 from their own pockets after chatting earlier in the day. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> "Talking with Roger, we decided to give $250,000 together." 👏 👏 👏 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rally4Relief?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rally4Relief</a> To contribute: <a href="https://t.co/9RPgZ7cBoB">https://t.co/9RPgZ7cBoB</a> <a href="https://t.co/ocdiw8D0if">pic.twitter.com/ocdiw8D0if</a> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1217378578188447745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2020</a></blockquote> “Talking with Roger a couple of hours ago we decided to give $250,000 Australian dollars to the bushfire relief together,” he said. “Hopefully that can keep inspiring people to support this terrible disaster that we were going through and helps to recover all the things that we need (sic).” Later in the night, a Victorian firefighter had her dreams come true after she was given the chance to play with Nadal himself for an epic doubles match. Deb, a member of the Stuart Mill fire brigade, revealed on air that for the last few weeks she has been involved in battling fires in the crisis gripping the country. She admitted that it had been a very difficult time, as she witnessed neighbourhoods and wildlife being destroyed due to the fires. "We're there trying to make all the farmers feel safe while they go about their business."

Money & Banking

Australian bushfires could drive more than 700 animal species to extinction

The scale and speed of the current bushfire crisis has caught many people off-guard, including biodiversity scientists. People are scrambling to estimate the long-term effects. It is certain that many animal species will be pushed to the brink of extinction, but how many? One recent article suggested <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-season-in-hell-bushfires-push-at-least-20-threatened-species-closer-to-extinction-129533">20 to 100</a>, but this estimate mostly considers large, well-known species (especially mammals and birds). A far greater number of smaller creatures such as insects, snails and worms will also be imperilled. They make up the bulk of biodiversity and are the little rivets holding ecosystems together. But we have scant data on how many species of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-01-08/insects-invertebrates-frogs-affected-by-bushfire/11843458">small creatures</a> have been wiped out in the fires, and detailed surveys comparing populations before and after the fires will not be forthcoming. So how can we come to grips with this silent catastrophe? Using the information that is available, I calculate that at least 700 animal species have had their populations decimated – and that’s only counting the insects. This may sound like an implausibly large figure, but the calculation is a simple one. I’ll explain it below, and show you how to make your own extinction estimate with only a few clicks of a calculator. Using insects to estimate true extinction numbers More than <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/science/abrs/publications/other/numbers-living-species/contents">three-quarters</a> of the known animal species on Earth are insects. To get a handle on the true extent of animal extinctions, insects are a good place to start. My estimate that 700 insect species are at critical risk involves <a href="https://conservationbytes.com/2011/07/26/predicting-marine-biodiversity/">extrapolating</a> from the information we have about the catastrophic effect of the fires on mammals. We can work this out using only two numbers: A, how many mammal species are being pushed towards extinction, and B, how many insect species there are for each mammal species. To get a “best case” estimate, I use the most conservative estimates for A and B below, but jot down your own numbers. How many mammals are critically affected? A <a href="https://time.com/5761083/australia-bushfires-biodiversity-plants-animals/">recent Time article</a> lists four mammal species that will be severely impacted: the long-footed potoroo, the greater glider, the Kangaroo Island dunnart, and the black-tailed dusky antechinus. The eventual number could be much greater (e.g the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/04/ecologists-warn-silent-death-australia-bushfires-endangered-species-extinction">Hastings River mouse</a>, the <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/fires-rage-across-australia-fears-grow-rare-species">silver-headed antechinus</a>), but let’s use this most optimistic (lowest) figure (A = 4). Make your own estimate of this number A. How many mammal species do you think would be pushed close to extinction by these bushfires? We can expect that for every mammal species that is severely affected there will be a huge number of insect species that suffer a similar fate. To estimate exactly how many, we need an idea of insect biodiversity, relative to mammals. How many insect species are out there, for each mammal species? The world has around <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/science/abrs/publications/other/numbers-living-species#downloads">1 million</a> named insect species, and around <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/science/abrs/publications/other/numbers-living-species#downloads">5,400 species</a> of land mammals. So there are at least 185 insect species for every single land mammal species (B = 185). If the current bushfires have burnt enough habitat to devastate 4 mammal species, they have probably taken out around 185 × 4 = 740 insect species in total. Along with many species of other invertebrates such as spiders, snails, and worms. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/309629/original/file-20200113-103971-8f6187.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/309629/original/file-20200113-103971-8f6187.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> There are hundreds of insect species for every mammal species. https://imgbin.com/ For your own value for B, use your preferred estimate for the number of insect species on earth and divide it by 5,400 (the number of land mammal species). One recent study suggests there are at least <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/far-fewer-species-animals-plants-5803977">5.5 million</a> species of insects, giving a value of B of around 1,000. But there is reason to suspect the real number could be <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-earths-biodiversity-could-be-much-greater-than-we-thought-61665">much greater</a>. How do our estimates compare? My “best case” values of A = 4 and B = 185 indicate at least 740 insect species alone are being imperilled by the bushfires. The total number of animal species impacted is obviously much bigger than insects alone. Feel free to perform your own calculations. Derive your values for A and B as above. Your estimate for the number of insect species at grave risk of extinction is simply A × B. Post your estimate and your values for A and B please (and how you got those numbers if you wish) in the Comments section and compare with others. We can then see what the wisdom of the crowd tells us about the likely number of affected species. Why simplistic models can still be very useful The above calculations are a hasty estimate of the magnitude of the current biodiversity crisis, done on the fly (figuratively and literally). Technically speaking, we are using mammals as <a href="https://conservationbytes.com/2011/07/26/predicting-marine-biodiversity/">surrogates</a> or <a href="https://methodsblog.com/2018/10/08/biodiversity-vascular-plants/">proxies</a> for insects. To improve these estimates in the near future, we can try to get more exact and realistic estimates of A and B. Additionally, the model itself is very simplistic and can be refined. For example, if the average insect is <a href="https://blog.csiro.au/the-impact-of-bushfires-on-australian-insects/">more susceptible</a> to fire than the average mammal, our extinction estimates need to be revised upwards. Also, there might be an unusually high (or low) ratio of insect species compared to mammal species in fire-affected regions. Our model assumes these areas have the global average – whatever that value is! And most obviously, we need to consider terrestrial life apart from insects – land snails, spiders, worms, and plants too – and add their numbers in our extinction tally. Nevertheless, even though we know this model gives a huge underestimate, we can still use it to get an absolute lower limit on the magnitude of the unfolding biodiversity crisis. This “best case” is still very sad. There is a strong argument that these unprecedented bushfires could cause one of biggest extinction events in the modern era. And these infernos will burn for a while longer yet.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129773/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mike-lee-8293">Mike Lee</a>, Professor in Evolutionary Biology (jointly appointed with South Australian Museum), <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-bushfires-could-drive-more-than-700-animal-species-to-extinction-check-the-numbers-for-yourself-129773">original article</a>.

Family & Pets

Expert weighs in: In this new world of bushfire terror, I question whether I want to have kids

As fires continue to burn along Australia’s south-east, it’s impossible to ignore how climate change can wreak devastation and disrupt lives. Australia has always experienced bushfires. However, climate change <a href="https://theconversation.com/weather-bureau-says-hottest-driest-year-on-record-led-to-extreme-bushfire-season-129447">means</a> this year’s bushfires were so extreme in their ferocity and spread they could be <a href="https://www.space.com/australia-wildfires-space-station-astronaut-photo.html">seen from space</a>. And this is just a taste of what’s to come. I’m a marine scientist, and research the effects of climate change on coral reefs. Aside from bushfires, coral bleaching is one of the most severe manifestations of climate change in Australia. Watching corals turn white and die is just another daily reminder of the disasters our children will be up against. Until now, my partner and I have both wanted to be parents one day. Now I’m not so sure. Here are the things I’m weighing up. The forces at play I am not alone in these family planning concerns. In September last year I hosted a Women in STEM seminar and photography <a href="https://www.emergingcreativesofscience.com/women-in-steam">exhibit</a> showcasing female scientists at the University of New South Wales. One of the major points of discussion was how to plan for a family, knowing how climate change will affect the quality of life of the next generation. Cases of “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-eco-anxiety-climate-change-affects-our-mental-health-too-123002">eco-anxiety</a>” when it comes to family planning are on the rise. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/it-doesn-t-feel-justifiable-the-couples-not-having-children-because-of-climate-change-20190913-p52qxu.html">Many couples</a> in my generation are rethinking what it means to start a family. Even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-harry-reveals-how-many-kids-he-and-meghan-will-have/news-story/1f6acaf856c50b6e613cd882aa0d9f74">said last year</a> they’ll have only two children at most, for the sake of the planet. But other factors also affect family planning decisions, such as religious, cultural and societal expectations. And of course there are the views of partners and spouses to take into account. In my case, I come from a large Italian-American, Catholic family. My family expects me to settle down and have babies as soon as possible. But my partner and I both agree the planet cannot sustain a growing population that results from these traditional religious expectations. Would going childless make a difference? Studies show having fewer children is one of the most effective ways an individual can mitigate climate change. Choosing to have one less child prevents <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541#erlaa7541f1">58.6 tonnes of carbon emissions</a> entering the atmosphere each year, according to a 2017 study. That’s like 25 Australians going car-free for the rest of their lives. In fact, even if you do your bit to reduce emissions in your lifetime, such as riding a bike and using energy-saving lightbulbs, having two children means your <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-family-planning-could-be-part-of-the-answer-to-climate-change-32667">“legacy” of carbon emissions could be 40 times greater</a> than that saved through lifestyle changes. But having one less child is not a quick fix for climate change. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4246304/">As research in 2014 pointed out</a>, even one-child policies imposed worldwide, coupled with events causing catastrophic numbers of deaths, would still leave the world population at 5–10 billion people by 2100 – enough to cause stress on future ecosystems. So it’s critical we, as consumers, start now in making our lifestyles more environmentally friendly if the world’s population continues to grow. The above research concluded the most immediate and effective way to keep the planet’s warming at bay is policies and technologies to reign in global emissions. The planet our children will inhabit On our current business-as-usual trajectory, we’re on track for at least a <a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/global/temperatures/">4℃</a>temperature increase by 2100. Even if the temperature increase was limited to 2.8℃ (now an optimistic scenario) major changes in <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/07/major-us-cities-will-face-unprecedente-climates-2050/">weather patterns would occur by 2050</a>. These changes would bring more <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/climate-change-and-drought-factsheet/">severe droughts</a>, <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/updates/articles/a023.shtml">flooding</a>, <a href="https://time.com/5627355/climate-change-heat-waves/">heatwaves</a>, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/">sea level rise</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/11/what-are-the-links-between-climate-change-and-bushfires-explainer">bushfires</a>. This is not a future I want for my children. Already, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0315-6">climate hazards have been implicated</a> in pre- and post-natal health problems for children. Children whose mothers were exposed to floods while pregnant exhibited increased bedwetting, aggression towards other children and below-average birth weight, juvenile height and academic performance. What’s more, exposure to smoke from fires during pregnancy may have affected brain development and resulted in premature birth, small head circumference, low birth weight and foetal death This season’s bushfires caused a <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/spike-in-ambulance-calls-for-help-before-smoke-haze-worsens-20200107-p53pea.html">51% spike</a> in people needing help for respiratory issues on one of the most extreme days in Melbourne. Children are among the most vulnerable to respiratory issues stemming from poor air quality. But it’s not just physical health in question – mental health is also at risk. Today’s children already know that without major change, the world they were born into will limit their quality of life. It’s not only affecting their <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/the-dread-and-worry-keeping-young-australians-up-at-night-20191115-p53aw5.html">mental health</a>, but also their process of identity formation, with children experiencing an “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-terror-of-climate-change-is-transforming-young-peoples-identity-113355">existential whiplash</a>”. They’re caught between two forces: the belief held by previous generations that if you work hard you’ll have a high quality of life, and knowledge that climate change will make parts of the planet inhabitable. Weighing it all up Of course, improvements in family planning are not solely a matter for the developed world. As <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2102">experts have stated</a>, family planning has the potential to empower women in developing nations, giving them the basic human right to choose whether to have children. Policies to support this – such as better access to contraception and giving more girls a quality education – <a href="https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/11/08-062562/en/">would be a “win-win”</a>, improving reproductive rights and slowing the population growth to combat climate change. As for my own situation, my mind isn’t yet made up. I am seriously considering not having kids altogether. Or perhaps my partner and I will have only one child, or adopt. But one thing is clear. Whether you want to create a healthier planet or you’re concerned about the Earth your children will inherit, climate change should weigh heavily on your family planning decisions. Written by Melissa Pappas. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-this-new-world-of-bushfire-terror-i-question-whether-i-want-to-have-kids-126752">The Conversation.</a>

Retirement Life

"Just perfect": Family affected by bushfires surprised by $1 million lotto win

A Queensland mans whose family property was destroyed in bushfire has won $1 million in a lottery win that will allow the family to rebuild. The winner wishes to remain anonymous but lives in Redland, south of Brisbane. His family owned a property in northern New South Wales that was devastated by the bushfires. Lauren Cooney from The Lott notified him of the win and said that the man was overcome with emotion. "He told me his family had just lost their home in the bushfires," she said to the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-09/bushfire-destroyed-home-then-owner-wins-lottery/11855640?pfmredir=sm&sf227733330=1&fbclid=IwAR3a-7QY21rcqyk7Yq3RD8TzmVCd_cMWIR0dgofE9z6woiYBz8k2dNQ0cB4" target="_blank">ABC</a>. "The home wasn't insured, so this prize meant that they would be able to rebuild which initially, they thought they wouldn't be able to," she said. The man said to Cooney that the family had returned to the property, which was “very sentimental and special to them”. "They were going through the site looking for any special family mementoes that they could salvage, but all they could find was some teacups,” Cooney explained. However, this win has turned things around. As the man was the only division one winning entry to the draw, he is able to claim the whole $1 million prize. He said that the circumstances were “just perfect”. "He said he couldn't have imagined more impeccable timing which meant that he could use his prize to rebuild their family home," Ms Cooney said.

Money & Banking

Ellen DeGeneres announces her bushfire donation effort

Ellen DeGeneres has launched a GoFundMe page to help raise $5 million for the Australian bushfire crisis. The celebrity talk show host made the announcement on her show yesterday morning. “I love Australia,” she said. “I love Australia so much; I even married an Australian. “A few years ago, I got to see how incredible Australia is in person. We took our show there. “And I fell in love with the country and the people.” DeGeneres said right now, Australia needed help. “Wildfires have been burning for four months and with record-breaking heat, the winds are so strong, and it’s getting worse,” she said. “Thousands of people have been displaced. Homes have been burned. Lives have been lost. Nearly half a billion animals have been killed. It’s unbelievable. Nearly a third of their habitat has been destroyed. “Our goal is to raise $5 million.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> Australia is in an emergency like nothing anyone on earth has seen before. Please help. Donate if you can. The loss of homes, and the lives of people and animals is catastrophic. <a href="https://t.co/vn6Qky3BbX">https://t.co/vn6Qky3BbX</a> <a href="https://t.co/MeOZJDIsRX">pic.twitter.com/MeOZJDIsRX</a> — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1214662633720143872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2020</a></blockquote> She then started off the campaign with a $100,000 donation from Shutterfly, The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s philanthropic partner. “It’s going to take years for Australia to rebuild and they need our help, so please donate,” she concluded. Her page joins dozens of fundraisers on GoFundMe that have raised millions of dollars already. OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw" target="_blank">Vinnie's website</a> to donate.

How animals survive bushfires

Have you ever wondered how our native wildlife manage to stay alive when an inferno is ripping through their homes, and afterwards when there is little to eat and nowhere to hide? The answer is adaptation and old-fashioned ingenuity. Australia’s bushfire season is far from over, and the cost to wildlife has been epic. A <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/01/03/a-statement-about-the-480-million-animals-killed-in-nsw-bushfire.html">sobering estimate</a> has put the number of animals killed across eastern Australia at 480 million - and that’s a conservative figure. But let’s look at some uplifting facts: how animals survive, and what challenges they overcome in the days and weeks after a fire. Sensing fire In 2018, a staff member at Audubon Zoo in the United States accidentally burned pastry, and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10164-019-00628-z">noticed something peculiar</a>. In nearby enclosures ten sleepy lizards, or Tiliqua rugosa, began pacing and rapidly flicking their tongues. But sleepy lizards in rooms unaffected by smoke remained burrowed and calm. It was obvious the lizards sensed the smoke from the burnt pastry, probably through olfaction, or sense of smell (which is enhanced by <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-why-do-snakes-flick-their-tongues-29935">tongue flicking</a>). So the lizards were responding as they would to a bushfire. In Australia, experiments have shown smoke also awakens <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938417304419">Gould’s long-eared bats</a> and <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/111825/StawskiMatthewsKoertnerGeiser_SmokeAshTorporActivity_PhysiolBehav2015.pdf">fat-tailed dunnarts</a>, enabling their escape from fire. Animals also recognise the distinct sounds of fire. Reed frogs <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2002.1974">flee towards cover</a> and eastern-red bats wake from torpor <a href="https://sbdn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Scesny-MS-Thesis-2006-Red-bats-and-fire-detection.pdf">when played the crackling sounds of fire</a>. Other species detect fire for different reasons. Fire beetles from the genus <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanophila">Melanophila</a> depend on fire for reproduction, as their larvae develop in the wood of burned trees. They can detect fire chemicals <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2161-4296.2008.tb00424.x">at very low concentrations</a>, as well as infrared radiation from fires. The beetles can detect very distant fires; <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/related?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0037627">one study</a> suggests individuals of some species identify a fire from 130km away. Stay or go? Once an animal becomes aware of an approaching fire, it’s decision time: stay or go? It’s common to see large animals fleeing a fire, such as the kangaroos filmed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/abcinsydney/videos/3094496487228353/?t=3">hopping from a fire front in Monaro</a> in New South Wales a few days ago. Kangaroos and wallabies make haste to <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewjohngill/status/1211986832763707392">dams</a> and creek lines, sometimes even <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/Fulltext/WR08029">doubling back through a fire front</a> to find safety in areas already burned. <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TRm14TfPL6g"></iframe></div> Other animals prefer to stay put, seeking refuge in burrows or under rocks. Smaller animals will happily <a href="https://media.australianmuseum.net.au/media/dd/Uploads/Documents/38347/ams370_vXVIII_05_LowRes.ffb19ac.pdf">crash a wombat burrow</a> if it means surviving a fire. Burrows buffer animals from the heat of fires, depending on their depth and nearby <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2404417.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A123188cf5406548889c46d62508dae77">fuel loads</a>. From here, animals can <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ecog.02251">repopulate the charred landscape as it recovers</a>. For example, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ecog.02251">evidence suggests</a> populations of the agile antechinus (a small carnivorous marsupial) and the bush rat recovered primarily from within the footprint of Victoria’s Black Saturday fires. Avoiding fire is only half the battle The hours, days, and weeks after fire bring a new set of challenges. Food resources will often be scarce, and in the barren landscape some animals, such as lizards and smaller mammals, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320715002086">are more visible to hungry predators</a>. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.3401">Birds of prey arrive quickly at fires</a>. <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-Ethnobiology/volume-37/issue-4/0278-0771-37.4.700/Intentional-Fire-Spreading-by-Firehawk-Raptors-in-Northern-Australia/10.2993/0278-0771-37.4.700.full">Several species</a> in northern Australia have been observed intentionally spreading fires by transporting burning sticks in their talons or beaks. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.3401">One US study</a> published in 2017 recorded a seven-fold increase in raptor activity during fire. They begin hunting as the fires burn, and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2028.1987.tb01088.x">hang around for weeks or months to capitalise on vulnerable prey</a>. In Australia, introduced predators can also be drawn to fires. Feral cats have been observed travelling up to 12.5km from their home ranges <a href="https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/153672/2/01_McGregor_Extraterritorial_hunting_2016.pdf">towards recently burned</a> savanna ecosystems, potentially drawn by distant smoke plumes promising new prey. <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/Wildlife-Research/volume-42/issue-8/WR15011/Amplified-predation-after-fire-suppresses-rodent-populations-in-Australias-tropical/10.1071/WR15011.full">A 2016 study</a> found a native rodent was 21 times more likely to die in areas exposed to intense fire compared to unburned areas, mostly due to predation by feral cats. Red foxes have an <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2656.13153">affinity for burned areas too</a>. So should a little critter hunker down, or begin the hazardous search for a new home? Staying put Perhaps because of the risks of moving through an exposed landscape, several Australian mammals have learnt to minimise movement following fire. This might allow some mammal populations to recover from within a fire footprint. Native mammals have been found <a href="https://media.australianmuseum.net.au/media/dd/Uploads/Documents/38347/ams370_vXVIII_05_LowRes.ffb19ac.pdf">hiding in beds of ash</a> after fires. Short-beaked echidnas seek refuge and, when finding it, <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2016.0382">lower their body temperature and limit activity</a>, so reducing the amount of food they need for energy. Despite their spiny defences, echidnas have been found more often <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/98/3/835/3063279">in the stomachs of foxes following fire</a>, so staying put in a little refuge is a good move. Small marsupials such as brown and yellow-footed antechinus also <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0134">use torpor to suppress their energy use</a> and therefore the need to seek food. Running the gauntlet Not all wildlife have adapted to stay put after a fire, and moving in search of a safe haven might be the best option. Animals might take short, information-gathering missions from their refuges into the fireground before embarking on a risky trek. They may, for example, spot a large, unburned tree that would make good habitat, and so move towards it. Without such cues to orient their movement, animals spend more time travelling, wasting precious energy reserves and <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2008.1958">increasing the risk </a>of becoming predator food. Survival is not assured Australia’s animals have a long, impressive history of co-existing with fire. However, a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/brv.12486">recent study</a> I led with 27 colleagues considered how relatively recent threats make things much harder for animals in fire-prone landscapes. Some native species are not accustomed to dealing with red foxes and feral cats, and so might overlook cues that indicate their presence, and make the bad decision to move through a burned landscape when they should stay put. When fires burn habitat in agricultural or urban landscapes, animals might encounter not just predators but vehicles, livestock and harmful chemicals. And as this bushfire season has made brutally clear, climate change is increasing the scale and intensity of bushfires. This reduces the number of small refuges such as fallen logs, increases the distance animals must cover to find new habitat and leaves fewer cues to direct them to safer places. We still have a lot to learn about how Australia’s wildlife detect and respond to fire. Filling in the knowledge gaps might lead to new ways of helping wildlife adapt to our rapidly changing world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129327/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dale-nimmo-15432">Dale Nimmo</a>, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/animal-response-to-a-bushfire-is-astounding-these-are-the-tricks-they-use-to-survive-129327">original article</a>.

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