The Anthropocene is a name given to the geological epoch during which human beings have come to fundamentally change the geology and ecosystem of the Earth. Increasingly we are controlling the world around us, removing unwanted vegetation and habitats, turning pastures into cities, paths into paved roads. We have drilled the Earth’s core, built towns in the desert, domesticated animals and introduced non-native species. The list goes on and on. I find it important to take a step back and remind ourselves that this is a self-proclaimed right. Other animal species utilise the gifts from Earth to keep themselves and their gene pool alive. In contrast, we, the rich and wealthy, take from the Earth in order to achieve increased luxury, status, enjoyment and wealth while others suffer devastating famine, injury and death. We want to move faster and reach higher than anyone else, we want to conquer the land, the water, the atmosphere and the outer space. We are indeed ruling Earth with an iron fist. The realisation that the effects of unrestrained human activity is reverberating over the planet and attempts to ameliorate the damage is making this abundantly clear; such as our efforts of keeping species at the edge of extinction alive and to prevent others from proliferating. We might seem to be in complete control of the planet. But then there is fire reminding us of our limitations.

Last year we witnessed another devastating bushfire season in California, largescale fires in the Amazonas – that along with deforestation is considered especially destructive for the ecosystem – and hundreds of bushfires in Siberia and Indonesia affecting the air quality in nearby cities. In Australia the fire season started early and is considered to be one of the worst ever recorded. These fires followed extreme heat and below average rainfall. The harm and damage from these fires are due to their location, many burning along the eastern part of the country, close to many human settlements. Many people have lost their lives, many more their homes, millions of acers of land have burnt, animals are dead or dying and the fire season is far from over.

Fire moves in and removes everything in its path. It is the Earth rising up against its emperor – not overthrowing it but weakening it substantially. As long as people have lived on this planet, fire has been by their side. Fire on Earth is indeed like the mythological Phoenix, causing death only for life to rise again from its ashes. After vegetation burns, new life returns. With fire by our side we have been able to conquer the world, remoulding the land encountered, making it habitable for us. But at times fire also keeps us in place. It comes in, it destroys, and it shows us that what we have built, the security induced oasis in its path, is in fact instable and fleeting. Reports of increased and more severe fires around the world following Anthropocene climate change, makes me wonder if fire is entering as the new dictator on Earth. Can we regain control over it, will we be forced to follow its orders, or can we learn to live side by side, respecting each other’s territories?

But how come the Australian government is denying the fact that fire has entered the political arena? While acknowledging the victims of fire, many Members of Parliament are still denying the fact that fires are exceptional and that they are induced by climate change. Now, I suppose it is a political game, part of its grandstanding, not to look the challenger in the eye and not to acknowledge their sway. Pretending that your adversary is lesser than you and indeed wishing for it to be so. But Scott Morrison, the next election is impending, fire is gathering its forces and the people, the people that you represent, are calling for a meeting between fire and you. We want to witness your confrontation, listen as you acknowledge fire’s existence and follow along as you prepare for the most important showdown of your life.