The D Spot

Here is my contribution to Blog Action Day ‘09 Climate Change.

When I was a little girl more than 4 decades ago, I lived in a house overlooking a major river in my hometown. A dike separated the river from the houses. ‘Twas an idyllic place for little girls and little boys to frolic, catch fishes, wade, swim and even dream dreams.

But it was also something to fear about when rains would come and the river became swollen. I dread at the sight of the logs floating on the angry river. The dike was like a security blanket, serving as a protection us living by the side of the river from the raging waters.

Back then, summers were in March, April and May, and the rainy season in July and August.

Four decades later, the river was no longer there—it must have dried up, but the dike remains, bereft of the memories of time past.

And the rains come in any day and month of the year—from January to February…March…June…August…December. And the hot days? I remember savoring the cool times in the early days of February only to find myself sweating it out in the searing heat of the sun the next day!

Then I would hear of hailstorms in some parts of the city and other parts of the country, which have never or maybe rarely happened in this part of the world. It would rain and the next minute the sun is out. It’s a dry day one moment and a wet day the next, or dry and wet in the same day. The weather has become crazier by the day.

What is this, I asked myself? What is this? I have asked myself several times. And I found out from my friends in some parts of the world that they have been experiencing the same. A friend who has migrated to Canada told me that in a single day a few months back they have experienced all 4 seasons—winter, spring, summer and fall. Unbelievable! I thought.

These experiences are, simply put—the effects of climate change, making the words “climate change” self-explanatory. What will it be next? Things unimaginable perhaps?

It’s a good thing if climate change has its positive effects—but at the rate it is going on throughout the world, all we see are its negative effects. By the looks of it, climate change is here to stay.

Where did the world go wrong? Where did the people go wrong? Nay, I should ask myself first—where did I go wrong? As a individual, I cannot say that I am not at fault—I am at fault, like any other individual—you, and you, and you and you. We are all at fault—our lifestyles, our attitudes, our shortcuts, our conveniences, our quest for the good life, and so many more and on the larger scale deforestation, irrigation, emissions from fossil fuel, use of cement, aerosols, animal agriculture, and many more, ALL at the expense of Mother Earth.

We have been warned of the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. We have been advised to take care of the environment; conserve water; and love Mother Earth. We have heard this before, but we have turned a blind eye, a deaf ear, and an insensitive self. We must have thought that we were only individuals, and we would not have made a difference. We have pointed our fingers and put the blame to the big industries, to the multinationals, to the high and mighty who had a say. We didn’t realize that if there were thousands or millions or billions of us individuals—we must have made all the difference.

We are all doomed now. Look at the fury of Mother Earth—the latest are the destructive typhoons that hit the Philippines, the massive flooding in two states in India, the earthquake in Indonesia, the tsunami in Samoa…what next?

It might be useless to look back now, but it would help if we not only ask ourselves “What will I do to Mother Nature NOW?” but also to DO IT NOW! Do whatever positive mitigating thing we can and DO IT NOW! If I DO IT NOW (and YOU DO IT NOW) as an individual—imagine the effect even if a fraction of the world’s billions of people DO IT NOW (and tomorrow and the days after) also as individuals.

We will not of course immediately see the effect in climate change, not tomorrow and not the next few years (so much damage to Mother Earth has been done and now her fury) but slowly…slowly…we might be able to create a new beginning for the next generations to come. We our learning our lessons the hard way, but there is always HOPE!

I would like to quote a poem I wrote the other year—now, people tremble and cower in fear from the fury of Mother Earth.

Trumpet of Doom

Trumpet of doom
Don’t chase me now with your reverberating tune
I run away
I can’t bear to listen
I can’t bear to look back

Not my fault, I tell you
There are billions of people out there
collectively
ravaging forests
polluting rivers
dirtying the air
With no regard at all for Mother Earth

Trumpet of Doom
Don’t chase me now with your reverberating tune
I tremble
I cower in fear

But on second thoughts
Rather than slowly suffering
Shuddering
Blood oozing from my eyes, ears,nose
At the point of no return
When Mother Earth decides to avenge its wrath

When it is time
I will beg you
Trumpet of Doom
Chase me with your reverberating tune
And eat me alive, fast!

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