Farmlands, or agricultural landscapes, captures the interest of a number of researchers based at the Department of Human Geography, Stockholm University. On this blog we share information about research findings, activities, events and comments related to our work.

Our interest in farmlands has three roots: farming, landscape and society.
Farming as a practice, including farmers knowledge and labour investments
Landscape as society-nature relations, congealed history, and as space and place
Society as a short form for institutions, gender relations, political economy and scientific relevance

Most Welcome to FarmLandS!

Monday, March 30, 2015

Climate change realities in the Pacific

Sandra Duong is a master student at Stockholm University and has been granted a Minor Field Study scholarship from the department of Human Geography. She is writing her master thesis on climate change impacts in the low-lying atoll country Kiribati and the use of migration as an adaptation strategy.

I have spent the recent two months in Kiribati and I feel great apprehension about leaving this country and especially the amazing people that I have met. During this short period of time I have witnessed some stresses that climate-related impacts put on this least developing country.
During my second week in Kiribati I got infected with chikungya, a vector borne disease that caused an outbreak of an ongoing epidemic that started in 2014. Rising temperatures and increased precipitation can aggravate the spread of vector borne diseases and cause epidemics.
The main source of freshwater in atoll countries is well water. Sea level rise and inundation cause salinization and pollution of the well water. Eventually the water can become unsuitable to use for drinking, sanitation, and growing crops. While where I stayed you don’t drink the well water, you could still tell that the quality was not good because my eyes got irritated and dry and I developed skin irritations as well. It became too unbearable so I had to start have my showers with rainwater instead.

On February, 19 a king tide hit the capital South Tarawa. It measured up to 2,3 m and caused flooding 200 m in-shore which resulted in damages to houses and power cuts. The densely populated islet Betio was most affected and the hospital was completely flooded. Many of the staff left and relatives came to evacuate the patients. However, not everyone had the possibility to leave and many were still in great need of care. I spoke to a young mother whose four months year old baby had been admitted for pneumonia and the baby’s condition was critical. The young mother did not know what to do.

King tide washing over the sea wall


Patients at the Betio hospital waiting to be picked up by their relatives


And then, last month, Cyclone Pam occurred. For three days straight the sky was dark and we experienced constant rain and storm. Luckily, no fatalities were recorded. The biggest destruction happened to the causeway that connects Betio to the rest of South Tarawa. Large parts of the sea wall were destroyed and parts of the causeway broke apart. Due to safety no vehicles were allowed to pass the causeway for days. Betio is the port where all shipping comes in and petrol quickly ran out in rest of South Tarawa. Traffic stopped and many missed out on work and school during those days.

The aftermaths of the indirect effects from Cyclone Pam

The cyclone did not run directly across Kiribati which was fortunate. While my thoughts go out to Vanuatu, there is a frightening realization of that Kiribati is not resilient enough to survive a cyclone.
The low development in Kiribati makes it extremely vulnerable to environmental disasters. Kiribati is highly dependent on its land, imports, remittances and foreign aid. Traditionally people live a subsistence lifestyle and they rely on their land for their staple foods coconuts, breadfruit, and bwaibwai (a kind of taro) and the ocean for fish. In recent years cash income has become more important for survival due to increasing urban migration, loss of land and dying crops. Floods and damages to infrastructure have become part of daily life, even for me during this short stay, and the people of Kiribati rise up, rebuild their houses, replace their losses and take every day as it comes.


8 comments:

  1. Hello Everybody,
    My name is Mrs Sharon Sim. I live in Singapore and i am a happy woman today? and i told my self that any lender that rescue my family from our poor situation, i will refer any person that is looking for loan to him, he gave me happiness to me and my family, i was in need of a loan of S$250,000.00 to start my life all over as i am a single mother with 3 kids I met this honest and GOD fearing man loan lender that help me with a loan of S$250,000.00 SG. Dollar, he is a GOD fearing man, if you are in need of loan and you will pay back the loan please contact him tell him that is Mrs Sharon, that refer you to him. contact Dr Purva Pius,via email:(urgentloan22@gmail.com) Thank you.

    BORROWERS APPLICATION DETAILS


    1. Name Of Applicant in Full:……..
    2. Telephone Numbers:……….
    3. Address and Location:…….
    4. Amount in request………..
    5. Repayment Period:………..
    6. Purpose Of Loan………….
    7. country…………………
    8. phone…………………..
    9. occupation………………
    10.age/sex…………………
    11.Monthly Income…………..
    12.Email……………..

    Regards.
    Managements
    Email Kindly Contact: urgentloan22@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Everybody,
      My name is Ahmad Asnul Brunei, I contacted Mr Osman Loan Firm for a business loan amount of $250,000, Then i was told about the step of approving my requested loan amount, after taking the risk again because i was so much desperate of setting up a business to my greatest surprise, the loan amount was credited to my bank account within 24 banking hours without any stress of getting my loan. I was surprise because i was first fall a victim of scam! If you are interested of securing any loan amount & you are located in any country, I'll advise you can contact Mr Osman Loan Firm via email osmanloanserves@gmail.com

      LOAN APPLICATION INFORMATION FORM
      First name......
      Middle name.....
      2) Gender:.........
      3) Loan Amount Needed:.........
      4) Loan Duration:.........
      5) Country:.........
      6) Home Address:.........
      7) Mobile Number:.........
      8) Email address..........
      9) Monthly Income:.....................
      10) Occupation:...........................
      11)Which site did you here about us.....................
      Thanks and Best Regards.
      Derek Email osmanloanserves@gmail.com





      Hello Everybody,
      My name is Ahmad Asnul Brunei, I contacted Mr Osman Loan Firm for a business loan amount of $250,000, Then i was told about the step of approving my requested loan amount, after taking the risk again because i was so much desperate of setting up a business to my greatest surprise, the loan amount was credited to my bank account within 24 banking hours without any stress of getting my loan. I was surprise because i was first fall a victim of scam! If you are interested of securing any loan amount & you are located in any country, I'll advise you can contact Mr Osman Loan Firm via email osmanloanserves@gmail.com

      LOAN APPLICATION INFORMATION FORM
      First name......
      Middle name.....
      2) Gender:.........
      3) Loan Amount Needed:.........
      4) Loan Duration:.........
      5) Country:.........
      6) Home Address:.........
      7) Mobile Number:.........
      8) Email address..........
      9) Monthly Income:.....................
      10) Occupation:...........................
      11)Which site did you here about us.....................
      Thanks and Best Regards.
      Derek Email osmanloanserves@gmail.com

      Delete
  2. Hello Everybody,
    My name is Mrs Sharon Sim. I live in Singapore and i am a happy woman today? and i told my self that any lender that rescue my family from our poor situation, i will refer any person that is looking for loan to him, he gave me happiness to me and my family, i was in need of a loan of S$250,000.00 to start my life all over as i am a single mother with 3 kids I met this honest and GOD fearing man loan lender that help me with a loan of S$250,000.00 SG. Dollar, he is a GOD fearing man, if you are in need of loan and you will pay back the loan please contact him tell him that is Mrs Sharon, that refer you to him. contact Dr Purva Pius,via email:(urgentloan22@gmail.com) Thank you.

    BORROWERS APPLICATION DETAILS


    1. Name Of Applicant in Full:……..
    2. Telephone Numbers:……….
    3. Address and Location:…….
    4. Amount in request………..
    5. Repayment Period:………..
    6. Purpose Of Loan………….
    7. country…………………
    8. phone…………………..
    9. occupation………………
    10.age/sex…………………
    11.Monthly Income…………..
    12.Email……………..

    Regards.
    Managements
    Email Kindly Contact: urgentloan22@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. please delete Dr Purva Pius emails from this important site.

    Can you please tell me the date and time of the photo showing the wave overtopping the wall.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Are you in need of a loan? Do you want to pay off your bills? Do you want to be financially stable? All you have to do is to contact us for more information on how to get started and get the loan you desire. This offer is open to all that will be able to repay back in due time. Note-that repayment time frame is negotiable and at interest rate of 3% just email us creditloan11@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Evans finance services is currently giving out loans at three percent interest rate no credit check. Apply now for urgent loan any purpose through our email (evansloanfirm44@gmail.com) apply for loan at Aspire finance services we guarantee you 100% delivery.

    BORROWER’S DATAS

    1)Full Name:………………………
    2)Country:………………………
    3)Address:………………………
    4)State:………………………
    5)Sex:………………………
    6)Marital Status:………………………
    7)Occupation:………………………
    8)Phone Number:………………………
    9)Currently position in place of work:…………………
    10)Monthly income:………………………
    11)Loan Amount Needed:………………………
    12)Loan Duration:………………………
    13)Purpose of Loan:………………………
    14)Religion:………………………
    15)Have you applied before..........

    So contact us today via email evansloanfirm44@gmail.com

    Thanks
    Mr Evans

    ReplyDelete
  6. My Brothers and Sister all over the world, I am Mrs Boo Wheat from Canada ; i was in need of loan some month ago. i needed a loan to open my restaurant and bar, when one of my long time business partner introduce me to this good and trustful loan lender DR PURVA PIUS that help me out with a loan, and is interest rate is very low , thank God today. I am now a successful business woman, and I became useful. In the life of others, I now hold a restaurant and bar. And about 30 workers, thank GOD for my life I am leaving well today a happy father with three kids, thanks to you DR PURVA PIUS Now I can take care of my lovely family, i can now pay my bill. I am now the bread winner of my family. If you are look for a trustful and reliable loan leader. You can Email him via,mail (urgentloan22@gmail.com) Please tell him Mrs Boo Wheat from Canada introduce you to him. THANKS

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Customers.

    We invite you all to participate in our new business and project funding program, We are currently funding for Business start-up Business developments, Business acquisition Business expansion, Project funding and Working capital etc.

    This Funding program allows a client to enjoy 3% low interest rate and payback period of 1 to 35 years. We can approve a loan/funding for up to $500,000,000.00 or more depending on the nature of business we are currently funding for and we satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed

    Application Available
    Apply via email: standardonlineinvestment@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete