Drought, Climate Change, and Societal Problems

The problems Kenya faces right now are probably indicative of common situations the world will have to face as the century winds on.

Kenya is in the middle of a terrible drought. This happens from time to time, though certainly climate change can make droughts worse. There are lots of people and cattle in Kenya as well, putting too much pressure on the limited resources of the country. When drought hits, people start killing each other over control to resources. In the last week, more than 30 Kenyans have died in tribal raids to steal cattle in order to replenish depleted herds.

We can't blame any one drought or hurricane or natural disaster on climate change, even though they are likely to become more common. But we can directly link climate change to melting glaciers, a situation which is making Kenya's water supplies even more threatened. Right now, with the drought combined with dwlindling glacial melt, there isn't enough water to run the nation's power plants. People are getting increasingly desperate and turning to violence as a result.

It's going to be a real worldwide challenge to deal with these conflicts in coming decades, both within and between nations.

Historical Image of the Day

Bombing of U.S. embassy, Nairobi, Kenya, 1998

Historical Image of the Day

Jackie Robinson speaking to Kenyan students in the U.S., 1959

Old Political Hacks Don't Die

I'm stealing the title for this post from the blog Somewhere in Africa. The hack in question--Dick Morris, who is causing controversy for his recent work in the Kenyan presidential race of all things.

Kenya? I don't really have that much to say about this except to wonder how greedy Morris must be. Supposedly this work is pro bono. Why do I not believe this to be true? Is it because Dick Morris is incapable of telling the truth? It is because of the deep corruption in African politics? Is it because it is blindingly obvious? Or all of the above?

Global Voices Online has a more comprehensive discussion of Morris' African turn.

Climate Change and the Poor

Who will suffer the most from climate change? The poor, rather obviously.

Kenya Environmental and Politics News Weblog reports on the rising incidence of malaria in Nairobi. Kenya's capital is at about 1700 meters, above the normal danger zone for malaria. But this is changing. Warming temperatures are creating better habitat at higher elevations for mosquitoes. Kenyans are poor. Many live in slums and are more likely to pick up diseases. Several decades ago, malaria was eradicated from Nairobi thanks to the draining of swamps and other health measures. Now it is back and affecting growing numbers of people.

The larger issue here is that impoverished people are more likely to succumb to diseases resulting from climate change. In fact, climate change will radically change the lives of some of the world's poorest people, whether residents of Bangladesh, who will be increasingly susceptible to monsoon flooding, the people of the Pacific Islands who are seeing the oceans take back their lands, or the indigenous people of the Arctic whose livelihood is literally melting away.

I believe that perhaps the most important issue within the social justice movement this century will be dealing with climate change. Are we prepared to handle the massive problems it will cause people? Absolutely not.

Via Global Voices Online