The Australian bushfires have claimed 27 human lives, an estimated 1 billion animals are feared dead, and thousands of properties have been completely decimated.
The fires were caused by extreme heat and dryness, the result of 2019 being the country's hottest year on record, with average temperatures 1.52C above the 1961-1990 average.
The area hit hardest by the fires, New South Wales, also had its hottest year on record, with temperatures rising 1.95C above average.
Although some of the fires were started by arsonists, there's no disputing the fact that climate change helped to exacerbate the problem.
The Australian fires inspired James Murdoch, the son of conservative media mogul, Rupert Murdoch, to speak out about their father's role in amplifying climate change denial. His wife Kathryn was also included in the statement.
"Kathryn and James' views on climate are well established and their frustration with some of the News Corp and Fox coverage of the topic is also well known," a spokesperson for Murdoch and his wife told The Daily Beast website.
"They are particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial among the news outlets in Australia given obvious evidence to the contrary," the spokesperson continued.
Rupert Murdoch is the Australian-born Executive Chairman of News Corp and Co-Chairman of Fox Corporation. He is the owner of Fox News and more than 140 newspapers in Australia alone. James Murdoch sits on the board of Fox News and his older, conservative brother, Lachlan now oversees the station.
The statement from James and Kathryn aligns with the broadly accepted science on the issue.
"Human-caused climate change has resulted in more dangerous weather conditions for bushfires in recent decades for many regions of Australia," Australia's National Environmental Science Program said in a statement. "These trends are very likely to increase into the future, with climate models showing more dangerous weather conditions for bushfires throughout Australia due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions," the statement continued.
RELATED: We're finally starting to take climate change seriously, survey finds
The Murdoch media claims that "News Corp does not deny climate change" https://t.co/aXcIMxaPJP - Here's a Fox host suggesting Antarctic ice melt is due to a volcano, & that "there's a slant in the science" because "people that believe in global warming" get more research grants pic.twitter.com/2KqnAgBlXo
— StopFundingHeat (@stopfundingheat) January 10, 2020
A recent analysis by The New York Times found that News Corp-owned media outlets have worked to downplay that role the climate change has played in the fires and exaggerate the work done by arsonists.
RELATED: The U.S. reduced climate change-causing greenhouse emissions by 2.1% in 2019
Murdoch's flagship paper, The Australian has routinely claimed that this year's fires are no worse than those of the past. But scientists say that they have scorched more of New South Wales than the fires from the past previous 15 years combined.
In America, Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo blamed the arsonists for the fires, saying "They just arrested 12 people in Australia for those fires and they were blaming it on climate change. Wrong again!"
A study by Public Citizen found that from January to June 2019, 86% of the climate change mentions on Fox News were "dismissive of the climate crisis, cast warming and its consequences in doubt or employed fear mongering when discussing climate solutions.
The decision by James and Kathryn Murdoch to speak out against their powerful family was a brave move. But they haven't been quiet about their liberal-learning political views in the past. They have spoken about about the environment in the past and in 2008, Kathryn joined the Clinton Climate Initiative and later served on the board of the Environmental Defense Fund.
The couple also donated to Democrat Pete Buttigieg for the 2020 presidential election.
Climate Change has serious consequences and none are more evident than the wildfires happening in Australia. But so does the inaction caused by media moguls like Rupert Murdoch who have fanned the flames of ignorance that stand in the way of making a real impact on this intensifying global issue. It's time they are held accountable for the damage they've done by spreading lies about one of the greatest in human history.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.