Please Read!! – Blog Action Day 2009 – Climate Change and its Effects on Women

What is Blog Action Day?

For more info on Blog Action Day, please visit their website.
Blog Action Day is organized by Change.org.
My contribution to Blog Action Day 2008.

I’ve must admit I was not super excited about the topic of Climate Change for this years Blog Action Day. I have never bought into all the scare tactics related to this topic (I’m staring at you Al Gore!). Although, I do believe we, as in the entire world, should be responsible caretakers of our planet. Don’t get me wrong, it is important but, I do not believe it is the most urgent threat facing our generation. I’ve struggled with how to write this post. Be that as it may, I had to find a way I could relate this topic to what I really feel passionate about. I did not anticipate it being a very easy task, but was pleasantly surprised to find tons of information on the interwebs.

So, what is it that I am passionate about?
Women’s and children’s issues, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Why?
Because, I feel these subjects are highly important and don’t get nearly enough coverage.
Not by the media.
Not by celebrity causes.
Not by schmarmy politicians.
Not by anyone.

Where and How?

Southeast Asia basically consists of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The map below shows which areas are being affected the most by climate change.

The table below shows specific areas of concern, along with the dominant hazard facing the people living in those regions.

(Climate Hazard Maps from Climate Change Vulnerability Mapping for Southeast Asia report.)

So how does climate change potentially affect women?

Why climate change affects women more in the developing world. (from Oxfam East Asia Blog)

* Climate change affects us all, but it has a bigger impact on women than men throughout the developing world.
* Women often grow the family’s food, fetch fuel and water, and bring up the children. So when clean water becomes harder to find during a drought, crops are destroyed by floods, or children become sick, women are hit hardest and they have to find solutions.
* Women are also hardest hit by disasters. In the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh, the death rate for women was almost five times higher than that of men. Women had not been taught to swim, and did not receive warning information.
* In the tsunami in Sri Lanka in December 2004, many more women died than men because they did not know how to swim or climb trees.
* In south-west Bangladesh, increased salinisation of drinking water sources is making women travel longer distances on foot, up to 10km every day in search of water.
* Droughts in the Philippines are making it harder for women to look for food, fuel and water, which were previously available within communities. In remote areas, women and girls are forced to walk for hours to fetch water. This makes them more vulnerable to accidents and acts of violence.
* After a food crisis, women and girls often reduce their intake in favor of males, which increases the likelihood of malnutrition.

What can be done?

Women do not have to be helpless victims of climate change. They can play a powerful role. Leading their communities to adapt and overcome each new challenge. Many organizations, to include the United Nations, are trying to ensure that women participate at all levels of decision making to guarantee gender responsiveness to climate change and disaster risk reduction. All actions must take into account cultural sensitivity and human rights of all in the region.

Women produce most of the world’s staple crops. They also have to face multiple discrimiations, that men do not have to. Lack of education and health care, unequal access to land, and inability to obtain credit consistently hamper them. Particularly at risk are poor urban and rural women who live in densely populated coastal and low-lying areas, drylands and high mountainous areas.

Many organizations throughout the world are helping women with microloans, business education and employment opportunities. Government and nonprofit agencies are working on gender equality in access, use and control over science and technology, formal/informal education and training.

How you can specifically help:

Please consider donating to a worthy organization that helps women, especially those in developing countries. Even the smallest amount, makes a huge difference. If you are unsure where to find such an organization. Please check the links below to get started:

Change.org has a huge list of every kind of non-profit organization imaginable, many of which specialize in womens issues, around the globe.

Oprah/For All Women is a great place to find non-profits specifically specializing in microloans. Be sure to click on the other tabs to find many ways to help women.

The Girl Effect

Numerous studies have shown that girls/women that are educated and given the opportunity to own businesses, make the biggest impact on their respective societies, especially in developing countries. Much more so than giving the same opportunities to men. This is not a discriminatory statement towards men. It’s just a fact. It has been proven again and again. And if these women can change their lives, it also changes the lives of the children and men as well. So it is good for everyone.

I posted this video on last years post. I have to post it again. It is that AMAZING!

For more information on this incredible organization, please visit their website, The Girl Effect.

Girls Count has even more great information.

I also wanted to let you know there are numerous global commitments and agreements that make the linkage between gender equality and climate change. All acknowledged the pivotal role women play in sustainable development. (from United Nations website)

The International Conference on Population and Development (1994)
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)
World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)
2005 World Summit
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 44th Session (2009)