The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Climate change threatens India’s economy, food security, says UN report Posted: 31 Mar 2014 08:31 AM PDT The latest report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stresses the risks of global warming and tries to make a stronger case for governments to adopt policy on adaptation and cut greenhouse gas emissions. "This is the most extensive piece of science done on climate adaptation up until now," Aromar Revi, one of the lead authors of the report, told a news conference. "The key issue as far as India is concerned is vulnerability and exposure." The report predicts a rise in global temperatures of between 0.3 and 4.8 degrees celsius and a rise of up to 82 centimetres in sea levels by the late 21st century due to melting ice and expansion of water as it warms, threatening coastal cities from Shanghai to San Francisco. Experts say India is likely to be hit hard by global warming. It is already one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world and many of its 1.2 billion people live in areas vulnerable to hazards such as floods, cyclones and droughts. Freak weather patterns will not only affect agricultural output and food security, but will also lead to water shortages and trigger outbreaks of water and mosquito-borne diseases such as diarrhea and malaria in many developing nations. "All aspects of food security are potentially affected by climate change including food access, utilisation of land, and price stability," said Revi, adding that studies showed wheat and rice yields were decreasing due to climatic changes. The IPCC lead authors said India, like many other developing nations, is likely to suffer losses in all major sectors of the economy including energy, transport, farming and tourism. For example, evidence suggests tourists will choose to spend their holidays at higher altitudes due to cooler temperatures or the sea level rises, hitting beach resorts. India ranked as the most vulnerable of 51 countries in terms of beach tourism, while Cyprus is the least vulnerable in one study which was examined by the IPCC scientists. Extreme weather may also harm infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports, impacting delivery of goods and services. "The world has realised mitigation is absolutely critical and probably the most effective form of adaptation but adaptation processes have to be accelerated, especially in ... lower middle-income countries like India," said Revi. – Reuters, March 31, 2014 |
| Young Malaysians giving thought and time and food for the homeless Posted: 31 Mar 2014 02:26 AM PDT Pooling their resources, the group launched the Dapur Jalanan (Street Kitchen) programme to feed the homeless in the capital city once a week. With the initial small budget, the basic meal on offer was a capati (a thin pancake of unleavened whole-grain bread cooked on a griddle) and a cordial drink. Dapur Jalanan celebrated its first anniversary last weekend with a feast of food for the homeless contributed by students from three universities and a religious school in the country. Despite a steady drizzle on Sunday, about 100 homeless turned up and were treated with cupcakes, muffins, satay, rice, dishes, chicken soup and fruits. The volunteers and donors of food had gathered by word of mouth and Facebook postings. "People are hungry. These people on the street, they can't feed themselves because they just cannot afford it. Yet, money is being wasted, there is excessive spending everywhere. "So we thought, well, this is something that we can do to protest, as well as to share whatever food that we have with them," said one of the group's founders, Abdulhadi Khalid, 31. This informal gathering of generous hearts distributes its meal packets in Jalan Panggung, behind Jalan Tun HS Lee, every Sunday. Abdulhadi said their programme is run voluntarily. "We do not force anyone to come. I guess it is because the Dapur Jalanan concept is very loose. We are not an association or organisation so volunteers can come and go as they please," said Abdulhadi. One group from a Tahfiz school in Kuala Kubu Baru said a group of 15 of them decided to help after being told about it by a friend. They took a one hour train ride to the city to be part of yesterday's programme. "This is my second time here. I missed most of it because it is quite far, but I do come whenever I have free time. It is good to spend time like this, then wasting my time doing nothing," said the student who goes by the name Amir. Besides Amir and his friends, there were also students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya and UiTM. One of the recipients who identified himself as Azhar, 30s said he used to be a lawyer until he was disbarred, two and a half years ago. It has been downhill since then and now he is reduced to renting a room for RM250 a month. He can barely make enough to pay for the room and because of that, he has to depend on programmes like the one organised by Dapur Jalanan. "It is sad, but I am surviving. There is nothing wrong in feeding myself like this. I work. I just don't earn enough to buy my own food," said the man. He said that although food is always welcomed, he would like government agencies to get on the ground and offer work for the homeless. "I want to work. I wish there is an opportunity for me to make a bit more money than what I am getting right now," he said. A fact sheet on the homeless by the Welfare Department in 2010 published in The Star, stated that there were about 2,500 individuals who were living this way. With the rising cost of living, it will not be surprising if the number increases. Dapur Jalanan, will continue with its programme for as long as there is a demand for it. "We are not trying to make them dependent on us. We just want to share what we have. The meal is simple. Enough to get them by," said Abdulhadi. One can measure the insignificance of one meal for one day in one week, but how can one weigh the generosity of spirit and giving that prompted these young Malaysians to give time and thought and food to the disadvantaged? If, as the cliche goes, the young are the future of the country, this group is a striking counter-argument to the sour and the cynical who only see doom and gloom ahead for the country. – March 31, 2014. |
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