pathak presentation, melbourne uni 19-09-2013
TRANSCRIPT
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Bangladeshi Peasants:
Climate change & Health
presented by Bangladesh Krishok Federation (BKF)
www.krishok.org
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BKF started in 1976
BKF has over 1 millionmembers, made up of
peasant farmers
We are a food
sovereignty and
agrarian reform
movement organisation
Our members arealready facing the
challenges of climate
change.
Who we are
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Most Bangladeshis
are landless peasantfarmers (= dont haveenough land for house& subsistencefarming)
Tiny land area (160 million)
Highest population
density worldwide(apart from some city-states)
Mostly a low lyingdelta
context
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Bangladesh is veryvulnerable to climatechange. One
prediction: 1/3 ofBangladesh will beunderwater by 2050.
In the south:Sea level rise
Cyclones increasing infrequency & intensity,
coming further inlandWaves reaching
further inland
Salinity increasing
(b/c of above 3 points)
Climate change
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Climate change cont.
In the north:
Desertification Rivers are
flooding, thendrying up (b/c of
glacier melting inHimalayas)
Fog is increasing
Cold & hot seasonsare intensifying
Monsoon is nolonger regular
(across thecountr
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Knock-on effects Increased ground water
use for irrigation, so watertable is going down
Increased arsenicpoisoning b/c somegroundwater has arsenic
Increased migration tocity; more cheap labourfor garment industry &shipbreaking
Shift to shrimp cultivationin salty areas
Increased use of hybridsto deal with climatechanges; so increased
pesticide & fertiliser use
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Decreased river
transportation Hybrid paddy (needs
less water to grow)doesnt give long
straw, so now:corrugated iron or
asbestos is becomingcommon for roofing
Fewer cattle can befed (less milk, meat &cow dung for fertiliser& fuel)
So human nutrition
And on & on
Knock-on effects
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After cyclones, people are
drinking unsafe waterand facing diarrhoeaand other waterbornediseases
A
Health Impacts
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Increased use ofgroundwater in someareas means: Arsenic poisoning
Health Impacts
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Food shortages, peopleare facing malnutrition
(esp. b/c monsoon isirregular now)
Over heating, freezing,Salty water and wind
are also affectingpeoples health
Health Impacts
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Distributing blankets forthe cold
Health clinics aftercyclones
But we are NOT amedical NGO! (This is
just extra work on theside for us).
Our medical work
Pl t
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Please support us Cut your emissions; get everyone you know to cut their
emissions; get the Govt to cut Auss emissions, etc.
Join Friends of Bangladesh here in Melb; raising money &awareness; [email protected]
If you visit Bangladesh, we can organise clinic day/s and
translator, and you can get a unique experience & really help!
Donate working
laptops, digital
cameras & mobile
phones
Donate moneyFriends of BKF &
BKS Bendigo
Bank account
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected] -
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Pathak Lal Golder
Office Secretary &
Dhaka City Committee President,
Bangladesh Krishok Federation
www.krishok.org