2. Home Sweet Home
So, let's get into why we're really here..
Some of the world's top climate scientists and researchers acknowledge that people often show little or no interest in taking action against climate change. This, for many, can be attributed to the intangibility of climate change - it may not directly impact their day-to-day lives or be visibly prevalent in their immediate surroundings.
Now, if we relate this back to ourselves and consider how to change our mindsets, one thing we can do is to bring the crisis closer to our personal definitions of 'home'. In doing so, the level of care and concern should naturally increase, thereby initiating a response that can help to alleviate and reduce climate-related impacts.
Although I was born, raised, and currently reside in London, I consider it my home only to a certain extent. Where I'm originally from, India, is a place I can truly call home - the country where my culture, heritage, parts of my identity (including my DNA), and particular lifestyle choices all derive from. This feeling of 'home' extends beyond physical locations; it's also where love resides, and so if the people I care about are present, it naturally becomes a place of comfort and belonging.
I want to emphasise the importance of interconnectedness, whereby the destruction in one sector can cascade into another. This means that whatever each of us define as 'home' will be impacted; a lot of people have dreams of a secure future (for themselves and family), create generational wealth, buy and develop on land, retire their parents, buy property, travel to various countries, eat gorgeous food - you get the idea, basically everything. Well, all of this will be impacted by climate change.
Don't be scared or intimidated by the image below - it's pretty simple. It essentially shows how one risk is connected to another - so if we look at 'Natural resource crises' (green) it shows this will have an impact on the 'Cost of living crisis' (red) and 'Collapse of a systematically important supply chain' (blue). Let's break this down further and see how changes in climate can have a domino effect on other sectors.
FIGURE 1: Connections between climate risks
source - World Economic Forum 2023
Let's take rice for instance; a natural resource, rice is a staple food for over half the global population, with South and East Asia being the largest producers and consumers. The region's agriculture, particularly rice farming, is heavily dependent on predictable monsoon seasons and so temperatures exceeding the average can result in crop failure. Between 2008 and 2010, significant parts of South and East Asia experienced severe droughts, including Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
Impacts on Rice Supply Chain:
> Reduced Rice Yields: Paddies require a consistent water supply, and so the reduced rainwater led to a drastic decrease in rice production and yield.
> Export Restrictions and Price Hikes: Faced with domestic shortages, countries like India and Vietnam imposed restrictions on rice exports, leading to significant increase in global rice prices.
> Socio-Economic Ramification: The higher rice prices severely impacted food security in low-income communities in Asia and Africa, leading to political unrest in some areas. Livelihoods of farmers were also affected.
> Supply Chain Disruption: The global rice supply chain faced major disruptions, forcing countries reliant on imports from Asia to seek costlier alternatives.
Rice is a staple in Asian and African cuisine and culture, often representing more than just a meal; it's a vital part of what many people in these regions call 'home'. This grain can symbolise tradition, nourishment, and a sense of belonging, deeply intertwined with someone's cultural identity and familial memories. Much like how each individual's personal definition of 'home' is shaped by their unique experiences, heritage, and connections.
Global climate change is expected to reduce rice cultivation and production by almost 51% over the next century1. And so I leave you with this last thought, as rice production starts to decrease how will it feel if you can't regularly enjoy biryani, jollof, sushi, rice & peas, stir fry, bibimbap, or white rice? "there's rice at home" may soon be a phrase of the past 😔.
I'd love to know what your 'Home' is - think of somewhere, something, or someone and leave a comment down below!
1 - Hussain, S., Huang, J., Huang, J., Ahmad, S., Nanda, S., Anwar, S., Shakoor, A., Zhu, C., Zhu, L., Cao, X. and Jin, Q., 2020. Rice production under climate change: adaptations and mitigating strategies. Environment, climate, plant and vegetation growth, pp.659-686
- Please support and donate to the Palestine emergency appeal if you are able to - a little goes a long way
> www.islamic-relief.org.uk
> www.restlessbeings.org
> www.pcrf.net - Some Instagram accounts to keep you informed and up to date:
> AjPlus
> EyeOnPalestine
> PalestineSolidarityUK
The below are from August - December '23 - On repeat:
Melo (KwolleM)
I Came Home Late (Ama Lou)
Strength to Strength (Headie One & K-Trap)
Unfinished Business (Fredo) - Reading: 'Pink Sari Revolution: A tale of women and power in the badlands of India' by Amana Fontanella-Khan.
- Recently:
> Saw one of my favourites, Loyle Carner, live
> Had a timmme at Boiler Room x Soulection x Places+Faces festival
> Went to watch 'The Effect' at the National Theatre - I've always said that desserts would be my downfall in this life - well low and behold I've gone 8 weeks without any and i'm still alive and breathing. Along with training/gym-ing 6 times a week, no coffee and no refined sugar. I undertook this challenge to push my limits and because I find it ironic that shying away from disciplined activities like rigorous training and healthy eating for 'ease' actually increases the chances of your life becoming much harder in the long run. My first dessert was poffertjes (Duth mini pancakes) with choco sauce (Ve) and strawberries - I don't think I've ever smiled so much at a dessert before..
- You can use my Discount Code 'FIRDOSE57770' for 10% off your PlantMade order!
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