Many in the industrialized world talk a good deal about climate change, many also try to deny that our lifestyle has any effect whatsoever. Our governments may talk the talk, but few walk the walk. For millions across the globe this procrastinating is ruining their lives and in many cases killing them slowly.
If hunger were a malevolent demon it could choose no more vulnerable prey than Somalis, driven from their homes by a vicious civil war — and now forced into harm’s way by a drought that has swept across Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
“This drought is the worst in 60 years,” said Stephen Gwynne-Vaughan, CARE’s country director for Kenya. “Even if people could plant now they wouldn’t get anything back. The forecasts say it’s not going to rain until October.”
Some may even shrug their shoulders and talk about over population being the main problem, this however is not the way to go about it in my humble opinion.
Many talk about the disparity between rich and poor in our own respective countries and there is truth in that; but there is an even bigger rift between us and the poorest countries in the world. Personally I cannot remember the last time I had to walk 25 miles for some brackish disease laden water if it can be found at all
Now I could show some heart rending images at this point to try and drive the point home but many seem immune; and those in the photos also have a right to their dignity, they can be seen elsewhere.
Even $1 helps, this is the equivalent of one days work in some of the affected areas. We bear some responsibilities for our way of life and its knock on effects, and articles such as in Scientific America have made the link to local weather extremes
"Our figures indicate a trend towards an increase in extreme weather events that can only be fully explained by climate change," says Peter Höppe, head of Munich Re's Geo Risks Research/Corporate Climate Center: "It's as if the weather machine had changed up a gear
It really doesn't take much to save a life
You can help here:
UNICEF has increased humanitarian assistance to countries in East Africa, where nearly two million children under five are currently at risk of starvation.
Save the Children has made an urgent call to donors to provide life-saving help to thousands of children in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia whose lives are at risk due to severe food shortages. The UN has called this East Africa’s worst drought in 60 years.
Large parts of East Africa are facing the world's worst food crisis. Across the region Oxfam's humanitarian response is aiming to reach approximately three million people.
Or any other charity of your choice.