It was like a scene from Armageddon. A thick red dust shrouded Australia’s largest city in what appeared to be ecological apocalypse. A dry wind swept millions of tonnes of red dust from the country’s drought-ravaged interior and dumped it on Sydney, much to the horror of the harbour city’s inhabitants. The landmark Opera House was bathed in orange, flights at Sydney and Brisbane airports were delayed, building sites shut down, people choked on dust, and emergency services were flooded with calls as the worst dust storm to hit Australia in 70 years darkened the skies. Health officials urged people to stay inside as the city’s air was expected to remain choked with particles for up to three more days. “As soon as my eyes opened, I could see an eerie light behind the shades and the first thought in my mind was “Oh my god, it’s the day after tomorrow””, says Sydney resident, Marcelle Ventoura.

Minority groups are not so much excluded as forgotten. But activists would do well to leverage their support

From The Guardian, 4 December, 2009