MEDIART
  • Home
  • About
  • BLOG
  • Praxis Greece
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • BLOG
  • Praxis Greece
  • Contact
  MEDIART

MEDIART

2023

Protect Earth, Restore Land, Engage People

17/6/2016

Comments

 
Today, 17 June, we celebrate the World day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

Most people probably haven’t heard of it. Yet, desertification, along with drought, are part of the most challenging environmental issues of our time.


The fight against droughts and desertification is one the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals.


WHAT IS DROUGHT? WHAT IS DESERTIFICATION?

Droughts can be defined as extended period of lack of rainfall. Desertification is the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems by human activities and by climate change.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Desertification can be caused by multiple factors direct and indirect factors. It occurs when arid and drylands, which are naturally vulnerable, are used inappropriately and over-exploited: unsustainable farming, mining, overgrazing are amongst the causes of soil degradation and desertification.

WHICH CONSEQUENCES CAN DROUGHTS AND DESERTIFICATION BRING?

Droughts are increasing worldwide. Desertification is also one of the most severe and most serious problems we are now facing.

The lack of rainfall, along with mismanagement of land will lead to food insecurity, water scarcity, increase of the risks of climate change and ultimately an increase of hunger and poverty in the affected regions.


Due to drought and desertification, each year 12 million hectares are lost, where 20 million tons of grain could have been grown.


The affected populations are now starving, while there is a substantial amount of land that could be used for growing food.


Therefore, there is an urgent need for a better and more sustainable management of the soils. Actions are essential for the effective eradication of poverty.


WHERE IS IT HAPPENING?

Almost half of the terrestrial land of the world’s surface is comprised of of drylands, according to the World Atlas of Desertification by the United Nations Environment Programme. Drylands are the more vulnerable regions for drought and desertification.

Drought and desertification are increasing phenomena in all regions, but especially in Africa, where they are responsible for the poor sustainable development in that continent.


East and Southern Africa, for instance, are experiencing the worst drought in recent decades. The affected populations now face food shortages and hunger. Since the economy in Africa is mainly based on agriculture, and being many of the farmers affected by poverty, the management of the lands is many times not the best.


But not only Africa is affected by desertification. Europe is also threatened by this phenomenon, especially Mediterranean countries, where traditional agricultural practices have triggered land degradation and soil erosion.


WHAT WE CAN DO TO COMBAT DROUGHTS AND DESERTIFICATION

To protect ourselves from droughts, there is much we can do in terms of water conservation.

700 million of people are affected by the water shortages in 43 different countries. We can take part in changing the management of water.


Everybody can take part in saving water. For example, by using rainwater to water the plants and the garden, fixing water leaks and by generally responsible when using this natural resource. At an national and international level, much can be done to promote water preservation and engage with water re-use.


As for desertification, across the globe, there are up to 2 billion hectares of land, equivalent to twice the size of China that could be restored and rehabilitated globally.


Forests, for instance, are also one of the keys to recovering from desertification. About 30 per cent of the world’s surface is covered by forests. Since the 21st century, 5 million hectares of forests have disappear per year from natural causes and 13 million disappear because of the human development. The reduction of the use of wood and tree and land regeneration can be the first steps to fight against desertification.


ENGAGE PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS
While many countries fight for soil protection and sustainable land management, we must be all united to support them with all our energies.

Many lives are at risk. Therefore there is a need to attract attention by promote public awareness to combat desertification and the effects of drought.


​This international day was created as part of the global concern to protect our planet.
Picture
Comments

les muses 

16/6/2016

Comments

 
La muse tient le pinceau, la plume, elle est à l'origine de la transe, de la crampe et de la tache d'encre. Elle est fougueuse, aussi belle que folle, elle court, elle entraîne, elle tient éveillé...

Quelquefois, elle s'en va et laisse son bourreau au fond de son encre. Et elle revient en hurlant, à en froisser la feuille.
Qui est le maître et qui est le pantin ?
Ils ne sont rien l'un sans l'autre et le feu qui se tient entre eux peut en un soupir immoler leur union.
Picture
Picture
Comments

Celebrating a healthy ocean

8/6/2016

Comments

 
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated that “urgent action on a global scale is needed to alleviate the world’s oceans from the many pressures they face, and to protect them from future dangers”.

Today, June 8 is World’s Oceans Day, a UN recognised event. This year, the celebrations will focus on the theme “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet”.

Besides serving as a mean of transportation connecting people across the globe, the world’s seas and oceans regulate the climate, shelters many species and provides oxygen and sustenance for the millions of people.

Pollution is a major threat for the health of aquatic animals which are part of our food chain. By preventing contamination of the ocean and seas we are caring for our health.

By celebrating this day we are joining a worldwide movement of citizens for the oceans.

​We are aiming at achieving a sustainable management of the many resources of our oceans. The health and safety of future generations will depend on how well we care of our oceans and seas.
Picture
Photo by Mark A. Johnson, Australia.
Comments

    Categories

    All
    Antifascism Day
    Christmas Holidays
    CLAP!
    Coming Together - Bringing Down Barriers
    COP21
    Democracy Day
    Film Festival
    Food Day
    Halloween
    Human Rights Day
    Imag'in
    International Day
    Peace Day
    Podcast
    Refugee Experience
    Stereo Typical
    Tourism Day
    UrbanArtVentures
    Video
    World-aids-day

    Archives

    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Jorge Franganillo