Let's not lose more than we stand to gain. Deforestation is causing extensive loss of our biodiversity, hunger and extreme poverty due to compromised rainfall patterns when trees that act as rainfall catchments in tropical forests are constantly cut down for commercial reasons. A bleak future awaits a generation which will not put in place accurate measures to denounce deforestation.
Caste and Climate Change
Caste-based discrimination affects more than 260 million Dalits worldwide who suffer from the hidden apartheid of segregation, exclusion and discrimination. Dalit women and girls are the most discriminated, systematically excluded and historically oppressed group in the sub-continent. Dalit women lag behind in most of the areas of human development indicators. Unequal access to resources and opportunities makes Dalit Women more socially vulnerable and frequently exposes them to the chance of being a victim to caste, class and gender-based violence. A woman’s caste in South Asia can increase her exposure to mortality as a result of factors such as poor sanitation and inadequate water supply and health care, says a report by the UN Women. It states that the average age of death for Dalit women is 14.6 years younger than for higher caste women. This story depicts how the historic, institutionalized and systemic oppression of Dalit women from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal will make them one of the most vulnerable, susceptible and high-risk targets in the changing climate.