As the effects of climate change continue to increase in severity, our world is beginning to face issues which go further than just rising temperatures and floods. Here are 3 ways in which our world's climate crisis is affecting culture, customs and traditions around the world. By Laia Photo by Christian Joudrey on Unsplash Vacation Culture A vacation on the Mediterranean coast, on an island like Hawaii or in an adventurous spot in south east Asia, is to most a dream, but one that climate change is causing to die. Over the past couple of years, a shift in tourism has been found around the globe, as the rapidly increasing effects of climate change have become more dire. With top tourist destinations becoming too hot, catching fire and even beginning to sink, travelers around the world have begun to find new spots to travel to. This is leaving countries which used to receive an influx of tourists every season, beginning to find themselves lower and lower on people's bucket list. A more severe example of this is Hawaii, one of the world's hottest vacation spots, and currently in a more literal than figurative sense. Since the fires which ravaged the island in early August, a large drop in tourism has been seen, specifically in Maui. Locals on the island of Hawaii have been complaining about the burdens that over tourism has brought along for several years. Though the same can not be said for the many other top tourist spots in the world - especially ones with economies that thrive off of foreign visitors. Photo by Nicolai Berntsen on Unsplash Skiing going downhill For many countries in the northern hemisphere, skiing is not only a sport or a leisure activity, it is a lifestyle. But as earth's temperatures increase, and snowfall becomes more and more scarce, skiing culture is beginning to change, and for many, beginning to die. According to the Washington post, many ski resorts in the United States, Europe and even Asia, have begun to use fake snow machines, using electrically frozen water to replicate snow. These machines are being integrated into ski resorts to make up for the lack of snow in the mountains, but many skiers feel as if it is breaking the rules, and have rejected the idea, leading to many ski resorts having to close down. This includes the Tigres alpine resort in France, which has experienced a severe amount of snow loss over the past decade. This is as most skiing sports in the Alps rely on glaciers to provide snow as well as water, making the rising temperatures a threat to a large number of resorts in the region. With sports such as skiing and snowboarding, which are so dependent on climate, beginning to fall on a rapid decline, it is not rash to wonder whether they will still exist in a few decades time. Photo by Thomas Marban on Unsplash Fish culture in Japan
Japan is undoubtedly notorious for their bright culture and traditions, and it is no different when it comes to their love for fish. This is likely why the country has been one of the top consumers as well as exporters of seafood in the world for decades. From their sushi to their fried tempura, Japan is renowned for their love of eating from the sea. Though with rising sea temperatures at an all time high, and a drastic change in ocean lifes population and migration habits due to climate change, Japan has begun to feel the effects of our earth's crisis, and now, it's hitting in their stomachs, and for many, their bank accounts as well. The country's fish catch hit an all time low in 2022, dropping by 7.3% from the previous year, and it has only been going downwards since then. This change has not only affected Japan culturally, but economically, as the decrease in supply has caused prices to increase. Now, what has been a standard product in the average Japanese household for centuries, is beginning to turn into a cost, which soon may become a luxury rather than a staple. Our world is at an ever changing point in time, with each day bringing new discoveries and changes; ones both good and bad. Cultures and traditions are the sacred foundations of our world, and arguably what keeps our societies together and running. But the times are telling, and the effects of climate change are beginning to beg the question: Is wealth, development and technology worth not only the cost of our planet, but of our values? Works Cited
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A beautiful eco lodge located on the dunes of the Dovela village in southern Mozambique. Reporting by Polly When we think of Mozambique there's a high chance the first thing that comes to mind are the wide range of beaches. Ponta, Tofo, Vilanculos and Pumene are some of the most popular beaches in Mozambique, but there are so many more. Inharrime is a town just under two hours away from Tofo and near it is the Dovela village, which leads to one of the most underrated resorts in Mozambique: Dunes de Dovela. The lodge was constructed by childhood friends Thomas and Fred “who have always shared a lifelong dream of creating a project.” When Thomas first visited Mozambique while living in South Africa he believed he had found the perfect place to develop the project of their dreams. So from 2007 until early 2011 they worked extremely hard and made those dreams come true: “a sustainable and luxurious nature oasis that would conserve rather than detract from its glorious surroundings”, according to the Dovela website. You may ask yourself, what makes Dunes so unique? Alex, a woman who left her life in Paris behind in order to start a new one in the resort, has now been living there for almost 15 years and here is what she had to say: “I guess that what makes Dunes so unique depends on everyone's taste and everyone's sensibility. For some, it will be the chance to be alone on a beach, for others the paths through the still preserved forest and others the possibility to walk through the village as if it was theirs. For me, what makes Dunes unique is that it has been built (and now run) with people from the community and that this small company is useful for the village.” Another unique thing about the lodge is the quality of activities offered. Although we are used to finding ocean safaris and diving courses at the typical beach resort, in Dunes you get the opportunity to choose one of many guided nature walks through the dunes or village, learning more about Mozambique and its culture. If this doesn't interest you, you can try kayaking through the Poelela lagoon near the village, and enjoy a relaxing day with clear blue waters. In addition, snorkeling in the natural rock pools created during low tide is still a beautiful way of spending your time at the resort. Even If you prefer just relaxing on the beach, then Dunes is the perfect place for you, as the beach is always quiet and peaceful and, if you need it, a built up shade will await you. The cuisine at the resort is also a highly recommended experience. Alexandra, together with Hilario and Veronica, create wonders in the kitchen. The three do their best to create delicious meals twice a day inspired by a Mozambican and French fusion. Almost everything they serve is exquisitely homemade, all the way from bread to their fantastic macarons and passionfruit tarts. As Alex describes it their goal is to “give a nice experience (taste and freshness) to the guests, local products for spreading more cash in the area and having a lesser impact on the environment. The three objectives are at the same level” This means enjoying freshly caught lobster and other seafood as well as a wide range of fresh fruit desserts or local vegetable tarts and salads. And you can enjoy all of this whilst having a charming view of the Indian ocean. During whale season binoculars are around, but even without them, you will be quick to spot many whales breaching in the sparkling ocean. Dunes de Dovela is only one of the many hidden treasures of Mozambique waiting to be discovered. To get more information about the eco lodge visit the their website.
All images used with the permission of Dunes de Dovela. AISM parent Laura Alvarey tells a compelling story about a unique encounter with wildlife in Namibia Reporting by Laia Laura Alvery is one of many parents in AISM, who has had her share of exciting adventures and travels, many of them occurring in her time in Namibia with her family, where she lived for 3 years before they arrived in Mozambique in 2022. Laura and her family, as well as her brothers, found themselves in Bwabwata National Park, a protected game reserve that is abundant in all kinds of wildlife, including lions, leopard, zebras and blue wildebeest. It is located in Kavango East region of Namibia, bordering both Angola on its top half and Zambia on its bottom one. After driving 12 hours from Namibia's capital, Windhoek, they camped right by the river bed in a very remote area in the park, with their heads nearing the edge of the water. In the middle of the night, whilst everyone was sleeping, she and her husband began to hear noises coming from the water, right next to where they were lying. “We could smell the river being churned up, and even the animal before we heard it.", said Laura. They quickly realized that it was a hippo who had come up from under the water, and was eating some form of food. Laura described feeling a mixture of shock and fear, as she was worried that something might happen to her and her family. After the hippo had left, she fell back asleep, but her slumber was cut short when she was woken up only a few hours later by another noise that sounded almost like a saw being used. It turned out to be a leopard breathing only a few feet away from them, but Laura wasn't fully aware of this at the time. "A part of me wanted to get up and look around to see what it was making the noise, but I was honestly too scared to even move from my sleeping bag", she remembers. The next morning, they found leopard print tracks around their campsite, proving that the animal had been just nearby. Laura described the experiences as nerve wracking but also very exciting, as it was almost as if she was experiencing all the different senses of the animals at close quarters. Although Laura's encounters with wildlife in the savannah went smoothly, and turned out to be a story to be shared, the events of that night could have taken a much more dangerous turn, and to make it through two close encounters with some of the most dangerous animals in the region is extremely lucky. Although it doesn't happen often, it is not completely uncommon for tourists and people visiting national parks and reserves to be attacked by animals, especially when one is camping out in the open at night. Wild times indeed.
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