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Two wildfires burning near Lytton have residents of devastated village on edge again
Two wildfires burning near Lytton have residents of devastated village on edge again

Vancouver Sun

timea day ago

  • Climate
  • Vancouver Sun

Two wildfires burning near Lytton have residents of devastated village on edge again

It's not summer for Tricia Thorpe. It's fire season. With two wildfires burning out of control in the area around Lytton on Tuesday afternoon — four years after the town and surrounding properties were devastated by fire — the community is pulling together to face what has become a perennial threat. 'I don't think people understand what has happened since 2021,' said Thorpe, referring to the year her home and 520 other buildings were destroyed by fire the day before Canada Day. 'We've had fires every year, and every year it has been traumatizing.' This year it's the Nikaia Creek fire — a fire covering the equivalent of about six soccer fields — that began burning on Monday, about two kilometres from downtown Lytton on the western side of the Fraser River. An evacuation order was issued for two properties in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, while several properties on Lytton First Nation land remained under evacuation alert on Tuesday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Also on Tuesday, a second smaller fire was discovered north of Lytton along Highway 12. Firefighters were attacking the slow-moving surface fire on Tuesday afternoon, when it was estimated at about one soccer field in size. B.C. Wildfire Service spokesperson Taylor Stewart-Shantz said the service responded to the larger Nikaia Creek fire Monday night with two initial attack crews and a rappel crew. Working through the night, they were able to lay a hose line around the fire for a 'direct attack,' with support from a helicopter making water drops. But with temperatures over 30 C forecast for Tuesday, as well as the possibility of winds, the fire continued to be listed as out of control. Crews 'remain aware of the weather' as they are fighting the fire, said Stewart-Shantz. Weather was a big factor in 2021, as a heat dome settled over B.C. and the temperature in Lytton soared into the mid-to-high 40s. The Lytton Creek fire, which started to the west of Lytton, leapt across the Fraser River to the village. That chain of events remains on the minds of many who have come back to rebuild, said Thorpe. 'There is a lot of anxiety, mostly because of the date,' she said. 'It's literally the four-year anniversary.' Since 2021, the region has weathered more fires. In July 2022, the Nohonim Creek fire destroyed six houses on Lytton First Nation land and several buildings on historic Earlscourt Farm, coming within 1.7 kilometres of the village. Due to the spring freshet, the ferry that crosses the Fraser River was closed, complicating efforts to fight the fire. In August 2023, the Stein Mountain fire led to evacuations on Lytton First Nation land as Canada sustained a record-breaking wildfire year. Last summer, there were more evacuations in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District as the Shetland Creek fire burned out of control near Spences Bridge. Thorpe said the past several summers have been difficult for many — with no indication this summer will be different. Thorpe said there was a moment after the 2021 fire when she and her husband talked about whether or not to stay. Support from their community persuaded them to rebuild. 'My husband is the fourth generation here,' she said. 'Right after it happened, people were reaching out to offer help and a place to stay. They wanted us to stay and there's something about having that community that you can't replace.' Because her property is in a rural electoral area, Thorpe was able to rebuild much quicker than those in the village, where delays have stretched several years, much of it caused by requirements for archeological assessments. The first dozen or so village residents moved back into rebuilt homes this year. Thorpe, who has since become the area director for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, said B.C. needs to put more resources into fire mitigation and response in rural and remote areas, where it can take B.C. Wildfire Service time to mobilize. 'Those first hours can make a big difference,' she said. 'We've seen small fires grow to be a monster in that time.' She said the province has made strides in recognizing the role of local community groups in responding to fires that threaten their homes and livelihoods, some of which are active in the Lytton region, but she'd like to see more training, equipment and guidelines for them. 'We're living it,' she said. 'We're the first boots on the ground … (and) the people impacted most severely.' gluymes@

Senator who heckled King Charles makes rude gesture outside Buckingham Palace
Senator who heckled King Charles makes rude gesture outside Buckingham Palace

Daily Mirror

time24-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Daily Mirror

Senator who heckled King Charles makes rude gesture outside Buckingham Palace

Outspoken Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe, who previously confronted the King during his visit to Australia, has made a strong statement to the monarch outside the gates of the Palace An outspoken Australian senator has made a rude gesture and strong anti-monarch statement towards King Charles while standing outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. Lidia Thorpe, who previously confronted the King during his tour of Australia last year, took photos while giving the middle finger to the Palace as she wrapped herself in the Aboriginal flag. ‌ The Indigenous politician first made international headlines in October 2024 during King Charles' visit to the Australian capital city of Canberra, when she interrupted Charles and Camilla 's trip to Parliament House to protest their trip to the country with a series of anti-monarchist remarks. ‌ And while in London this week for a conference, Senator Thorpe stopped by Buckingham Palace, sporting a shirt that read "Blak Sovereign Movement", to hold up the Aboriginal flag at the gates. She posed for a photograph making a rude gesture with her middle finger to the royal residence, which she shared on social media with the caption: "Dropped by to collect all the stuff this lot stole, but Charlie wasn't in." Thorpe's actions divided many Australians online, with many saying that they do not share her anti-monarchist views, while others praised her outspokenness. Following Senator Thorpe's actions in Canberra last year, she was censured by the Australian parliament last November, with a motion passed by 46 votes to 12. It condemned her actions as "disruptive and disrespectful", but there were no further constitutional ramifications. ‌ Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said Ms Thorpe's behaviour was not of the standard "Australians rightly expect of parliamentarians". Despite the censure motion passing, Thorpe said she "did not give a damn", and would continue to be outspoken on her anti-monarchist views. ‌ In an interview with Australian public broadcaster ABC, she said: "If the colonising King were to come to my country again, our country, then I'll do it again. And I will keep doing it. I will resist colonisation in this country. I swear my allegiance to the real sovereigns of these lands: First Peoples are the real sovereigns." Moments before her protest, the King had delivered a speech in which he paid his "respects to the traditional owners" of Australia, as is tradition before major events. The King later said he was "unruffled" by the protest and determined not to let it spoil a "wonderful day". Senator Thorpe was sworn in as a senator for the Greens party in the state of Victoria in 2022, during which she described the queen as a "coloniser" before being told to recite the oath as printed on the card.

Former Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe slammed as 'a disgrace' to Australia after 'egregiously' flipping off Buckingham Palace in provocative social media post
Former Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe slammed as 'a disgrace' to Australia after 'egregiously' flipping off Buckingham Palace in provocative social media post

Sky News AU

time23-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Sky News AU

Former Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe slammed as 'a disgrace' to Australia after 'egregiously' flipping off Buckingham Palace in provocative social media post

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has caused fresh controversy after sharing photos of herself making a rude gesture outside Buckingham Palace. The 51-year-old former Greens senator posted several images to social media on Friday showing her standing outside the gates of the royal residence, holding the Aboriginal flag and raising her middle finger. She also wore a "Blak Sovereign Movement" T-shirt. "Dropped by to collect all the stuff this lot stole, but Charlie wasn't in," she captioned the post. It's understood Thorpe, a proud Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman, was in London this week to attend a conference. Her post quickly drew mixed reactions, with some critics questioning whether her trip was taxpayer-funded. "Who paid for your trip?" one user asked, while another wrote: "Do you know you don't speak for Australia. We actually can't stand you, I personally look forward to your term ending in the Senate!" Others praised Thorpe's actions, calling her "Queen" and applauding the gesture. "The only Queen I'll ever recognise!" one user commented. On Sunday, the stunt was blasted by News Corp columnist and Sky News contributor Angela Mollard during The Royal Report. "She's in England at the moment, she's gone to Buckingham Palace, and outside of it, she's held up a flag, and she's egregiously put up the middle finger to the King," Mollard told host Caroline Di Russo. "She is a disgrace to this country, honestly." Mollard said she had "done a deep dive" to determine whether the Melbourne-based politician was in the UK on any official business. "Of course she has the right, like anybody has, for freedom of speech," she said. "But if she's there for any meeting, any tax-paid funded part of that trip- I'm presuming it's a private trip- then she needs to be hauled over the coals for this." Mollard also referenced Thorpe's previous clash with King Charles III during his visit to Australia with Queen Camilla last year, when Thorpe interrupted a reception at Parliament House, shouting: "You are not our king. You are not sovereign." Just moments before, the 76-year-old monarch had delivered a speech praising Australia. Thorpe was removed from the event by security and later censured by the Australian parliament in a 46 to 12 vote condemning her conduct as "disruptive and disrespectful". Reflecting on that moment, Mollard said: "Last year when that happened in parliament, I was on air all day in the UK doing television and radio crosses because the Northern Hemisphere could not believe we would have someone of that note in a public setting like that screaming at the King." She added that Thorpe's latest stunt may only strengthen public support for the royal family. "So every time she does something like this, it drives the populous to think, 'Well, she's nuts, and actually, we quite like the royal family'- they do lots of service, King Charles has been there for 76 years, he's coping with cancer and he still turns up for multiple things during the week. "She's the one who looks silly." Di Russo added that the "wild irony" was that Thorpe had to pledge allegiance to the King in order to become a senator. has contacted Senator Thorpe for further comment.

Anglican Church can't grow if it fails to accept gay reality
Anglican Church can't grow if it fails to accept gay reality

The Age

time21-06-2025

  • Politics
  • The Age

Anglican Church can't grow if it fails to accept gay reality

The other day a friend showed me photos of her friends' same-sex wedding. Such joyful scenes as family and friends celebrated with the happy couple. It wasn't a church wedding, and certainly not an Anglican wedding – not even a wedding blessing. While the Anglican Church's highest court has said it is not against the church's constitution to bless same-sex weddings, only a handful of Australian dioceses have permitted that. And now Melbourne Diocese – once the progressive capital of the Australian church – has elected an archbishop firmly opposed to same-sex weddings. There will be no wedding blessings here. He is quoted in last Sunday's Age as saying that church must welcome people in same-sex relationships. But that rings hollow. How can you welcome people while damning their relationships as sinful? The newly elected archbishop, Ric Thorpe, a bishop from London, is first and foremost a church planter. That is why his Melbourne supporters have chosen him. The church is in decline in Melbourne, with numbers of worshippers dropping and many small parishes struggling for survival. His supporters want to see significant growth in the church, and think that means planting lots of new congregations. But will those brave new plants be attractive to Australians in the 21st century, when presumably they will be preaching against same-sex marriage, given the core group of Melbourne Anglicans who campaigned for his election hold the same view? When more than 60 per cent of Australians voted in favour of same-sex marriage in the 2017 plebiscite? Bishop Thorpe claims the Scriptures are clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that cannot be set aside. Many significant scripture scholars read the Bible differently. They say the very few Bible verses that are claimed to prohibit same-sex relationships actually prohibit only promiscuous, predatory relationships. But conservatives have latched on to same-sex prohibition as their line in the sand. Some would argue they took up the cause when they lost the debate in the 1990s about ordaining women. It has given them a stick to knock progressive Anglicans into the ground. The election of Bishop Thorpe shows they are winning. The debate has echoes of the nasty debate that raged in the Anglican Church over divorce last century. Divorced people could not remarry in church, and often were made distinctly unwelcome in congregations. It was Melbourne Diocese in the 1970s that overturned that, and pushed the national church to change. And in 1972, Melbourne Diocese called for homosexuality to be decriminalised, eight years before the state government agreed. How sad that Melbourne has now joined the conservatives. Bishop Thorpe is quoted as saying that the same-sex debate is 'a distraction' from the message of the church. No, it is harming the church's message. The church's message is that God is love, and loves all people unconditionally – and that includes gay people, their spouses and their families.

Anglican Church can't grow if it fails to accept gay reality
Anglican Church can't grow if it fails to accept gay reality

Sydney Morning Herald

time21-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Sydney Morning Herald

Anglican Church can't grow if it fails to accept gay reality

The other day a friend showed me photos of her friends' same-sex wedding. Such joyful scenes as family and friends celebrated with the happy couple. It wasn't a church wedding, and certainly not an Anglican wedding – not even a wedding blessing. While the Anglican Church's highest court has said it is not against the church's constitution to bless same-sex weddings, only a handful of Australian dioceses have permitted that. And now Melbourne Diocese – once the progressive capital of the Australian church – has elected an archbishop firmly opposed to same-sex weddings. There will be no wedding blessings here. He is quoted in last Sunday's Age as saying that church must welcome people in same-sex relationships. But that rings hollow. How can you welcome people while damning their relationships as sinful? The newly elected archbishop, Ric Thorpe, a bishop from London, is first and foremost a church planter. That is why his Melbourne supporters have chosen him. The church is in decline in Melbourne, with numbers of worshippers dropping and many small parishes struggling for survival. His supporters want to see significant growth in the church, and think that means planting lots of new congregations. But will those brave new plants be attractive to Australians in the 21st century, when presumably they will be preaching against same-sex marriage, given the core group of Melbourne Anglicans who campaigned for his election hold the same view? When more than 60 per cent of Australians voted in favour of same-sex marriage in the 2017 plebiscite? Bishop Thorpe claims the Scriptures are clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that cannot be set aside. Many significant scripture scholars read the Bible differently. They say the very few Bible verses that are claimed to prohibit same-sex relationships actually prohibit only promiscuous, predatory relationships. But conservatives have latched on to same-sex prohibition as their line in the sand. Some would argue they took up the cause when they lost the debate in the 1990s about ordaining women. It has given them a stick to knock progressive Anglicans into the ground. The election of Bishop Thorpe shows they are winning. The debate has echoes of the nasty debate that raged in the Anglican Church over divorce last century. Divorced people could not remarry in church, and often were made distinctly unwelcome in congregations. It was Melbourne Diocese in the 1970s that overturned that, and pushed the national church to change. And in 1972, Melbourne Diocese called for homosexuality to be decriminalised, eight years before the state government agreed. How sad that Melbourne has now joined the conservatives. Bishop Thorpe is quoted as saying that the same-sex debate is 'a distraction' from the message of the church. No, it is harming the church's message. The church's message is that God is love, and loves all people unconditionally – and that includes gay people, their spouses and their families.

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