http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/02/05-0
As we are faced with the effects of global warming, extreme weather events isn’t a very new concept. The newest problem that has arisen in the past month or so in Europe, (east countries in particular) has been the extreme temperature drop and the coldest winter in many years. Snowfall that is almost unprecedented in parts of Italy caused panic and the closing of historic monuments and churches. The Colosseum for instance, has already experienced ice damage, making it unsafe for tourist with the threat of crumbling stone. Much more problematic, is the rising death toll as a result of the incredibly low temperatures in parts of Eastern Europe.
The following article sheds light on the problem from a scientific perspective. Scientists claim that these unusual weather events are indicative of the global-warming model predictions made in recent years that tie unrelated events, like the melting of Arctic Ice with weather patterns in other places. In fact, one of the predicted outcomes in studies of the melting is in fact colder winters in other parts of the world.
The problems associated with this temperature drop are diverse, and can been approached from a number of different angles. From an anthropological perspective, we can discuss how this freeze will affect the population, both in the short and long-term. Our relationship with the environment is complicated and intricate; for the most part, we are good at adjusting to it and even work to protect it. But ultimately, it seems, the environment has the upper hand and can behave in ways outside of human control. How will climate change continue to impact our lives and in what ways can we be proactive in anticipating these changes? As this current issue shows, we must consider these questions closely. The economic effects themselves can be devastating for Europe, as they are faced with unforeseeable spending and hardships for people as their sources of income are no longer viable. In the immediate state, cities must face the new issue of housing the poor or homeless that are dying in the bitter cold. And in the years to come, they will need to change and adapt as this is probably not the last of such bitter winters.
Another perspective to look at is the amount of homeless people who are dying from this extreme weather. As of February 7th, CNN reported that 250 people had died, and over half of them lived in Ukraine. Kiev, the major city of Ukraine, has 14,000 homeless alone, and these are the most vulnerable to the harsh winter. 50 people died in Poland and most of them were homeless as well. The country of Ukraine distributed as many as 3,000 emergency relief tents in order to help those who have nowhere to go. Hopefully all 14,000 homeless people at least in Kiev can have access to these tents.
ReplyDeleteI've put the link to the CNN article here, because the pictures that they have put up are absolutely amazing.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/06/travel/europe-cold-snap/index.html