When people think of the Arctic, they seldom think of the indigenous people living in the frozen tundra. But, in fact, these people do exist, and they are in great peril, according to a recent Al Jazeera article entitled, “Climate change threatens Arctic food security and culture.” This article describes how climate change is forcing previously adapted peoples to alter their way of life, to suit their rapidly changing environment. The author of this article cites mainly a UN report entitled, “Global Biodiversity Outlook 4.”
This article concludes that indigenous people in the Arctic are being seriously impacted by climate change. Climate change has led to increased human activity in the Arctic, for fishing and fossil fuel development. Thus, it has becoming increasingly difficult to find sufficient food using traditional hunting methods, with unpredictable hunting seasons, and food sold in stores is too costly for the indigenous people to afford. As a result, food security has become major a problem.
This article assumes, first and foremost, that the reader believes that climate change is happening. While this is scientific fact at this point, there are still people who deny its existence. For this reason, it should be pointed out that the author assumes that the reader is abreast of the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change, and is too, on board with the idea.
As evidence, the author uses a convincing mix of first-hand accounts (interviews with village chiefs and people who are experiencing the trauma) and scientific evidence, like testimonies of Arctic scientists. The article itself is based on a UN report, and it uses the report’s findings as evidence. To supplement the ethos of the UN, the author also includes evidence from the World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservancy, and the United States Arctic Research Commission. The author also includes the point of view of an Alaskan village chief, who testifies to the struggle of Arctic communities. I feel that the article is balanced: towards the end, it also includes the point of view of native people who have managed to adapt to the changes, though these are certainly not the majority. This melange of evidence is (on the whole) scientific and convincing. I came away from the article with a definite sense of empathy for the Arctic peoples.
The conclusion is basically that climate change is affecting everyone, even at the far reaches of the globe. It is a serious, culture-endangering, phenomenon. Whole civilizations are at stake, and so climate change must be taken seriously. It is beyond some abstract environmental concept: it is here, it is happening, and it is dangerous.
Link: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/10/8/melting-arctic-icethreatensfoodsecuritycultureofnorthernpeople.html
