Sep
30
A Siege of Salt and Sand Reflection
September 30, 2023 | | 2 Comments
In Southern Tunisia, desertification has begun to impact citizens’ daily lives. Agriculture does not have enough water to continue operating, citizens’ homes are beginning to fill with sand, and food and water scarcity is at an all-time high. Climate change is causing people to suffer, and they may not have enough necessities.
The past regime in Tunisia focused on tourist attractions more than its citizen’s needs. While the hotels and their views were beautiful, the climate prevailed. Much of the greenery Tunisia’s citizens were used to is no longer there; palm trees are dying daily. The crops that many farmers and laborers could once grow can no longer survive. The sand storms devastate the industry.
Along with the sand, water scarcity is becoming an issue for the agricultural sector. There is not enough water for living plants to thrive. Many farmers have opted for private groundwater pumps. These pumps are not efficient for agriculture. They take significant time and effort to create. Many farmers want government aid to make more effective pumps. The reliance on groundwater and groundwater pumps can affect the environment; they dry up the land and contaminate the water source, making water even more scarce. These repercussions make agriculture more difficult for laborers and make clean water less accessible.
The fishing industry has also seen consequences. The ice caps are raising sea levels, making the industry more dangerous. Many laborers have issues with the government not providing aid to them. This lack of assistance may push many laborers to the city to find work and cause upset when there is a lack of jobs (a significant cause of the Arab Uprisings in 2011).
The lack of food and water has begun to impact citizens. Many citizens are food and water-scarce. The climate, as well, has started to affect citizens. Those who live close to the desert in Southern Tunisia have had their homes filled with sand, time and time again. Many recall when they did not live close to the desert, but desertification has come to them.
Everyone in Southern Tunsinia is affected by desertification. With the emigration of Southern Tunsinians to the North, the North will begin to see consequences: desertification, urbanization, and water and food scarcity. There have been laborers attempting to stop the issue of desertification by building artificial dunes. The concern is that nature is much more powerful than man. Tractors cannot stop desertification. Climate change is affecting people now, and its impacts will only worsen as the ice caps melt more and the temperature rises.
Comments
2 Comments so far
Do you see this documentary as confirming or conflicting with other course materials and concepts?
I feel that this documentary confirms the other course materials and concepts. Water scarcity is an increasing problem in the region, and Southern Tunisia illustrates this. It also shows first hand accounts of desertification and food scarcity.
The most important part of the documentary is that it shows people’s real life experiences. It shows just how devestating nature can be.