Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
An Aussie expat living in London has copped backlash online for labelling Brits struggling during a historic heatwave as ‘soft’.
Britain, along with the rest of Europe, is currently grappling with unprecedented high temperatures, with countries experiencing their hottest days on record.
It’s causing mayhem across the continent with schools, hospitals, transport networks and water companies struggling to cope with the searing heat.
In severe cases, its even caused fatalities with more than 1,300 excess deaths recorded since 21 June “linked to high temperatures in Europe”, according to WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Amid the cancelled trains and early school closures, Queensland woman Talia Batiste has sparked a vicious debate with one opinionated video about the heatwave.
In a clip shared to her 26,000 followers, Ms Bastite discussed the measures being taken by the UK to manage the temps, calling Brits “a bit soft” for their reactions to the heat.
“I’m just on the train London, because of the heatwave they have reduced services,” she began the video.
“So the next few days there are less trains and they are advising you not to travel unless it’s completely necessary. Also schools are closing early because of the heat.
“Can you imagine in Australia if we got sent home, or couldn’t get to and from work because of the heat? My God the whole economy would shut down”.
The video was not received well online, with many users rushing to call out the content creator.
One person commented: “Girl, my classroom today was 37 degrees today. I had no air con, 30 kids and old infrastructure that’s designed to retain heat. Please, sit this one out.”
Another person said: “It’s almost as if Australia has always had very hot summers and has the infrastructure to deal with it???”
One user shared: “This is the equivalent to you freezing in your home in Australia during the winter because your homes aren’t designed to keep the heat in”.
In an interview with news.com, she admitted she had ‘rage-baited the whole of England’.
“I’m being called uneducated because I’m simply saying that in Australia, life would go on as normal,” she said in defence of her video, that has since had nearly half a million views.
“Meanwhile, schools and public transport are shut down, and the city is on red alert in London if it hits 30 degrees.
“They were getting so defensive and angry — probably because they’re hot. I have rage-baited the whole of England.”
Despite the backlash, Ms Batiste revealed she would not back down from her opinion, stating British people needed to “toughen up”.
“I’ve been in England during summer four times now, and every time there has been a ‘heatwave’,” she said.
“Why are they not realising this is their climate changing, and maybe their infrastructure and attitudes need to change too?
“A heatwave in summer is not new for them, but they are acting like it’s an apocalypse.”
