For generations, the people of Bangladesh have relied on the sea for food and on the monsoon rains to water their crops. Like so many farmers around the world, their lives have been shaped by the rhythm of the seasons.
But today, water—once their trusted ally—has become a threat. Caught between melting Himalayan glaciers to the north and rising waters from the Indian Ocean to the south, entire communities are being swallowed by the sea. While people in the West try to imagine what life might be like if temperatures rose by two or three degrees, Bangladeshis are already living with the daily consequences of climate disruption.

One local resident explains: “Here, we feel the effects of climate change every single day. I’m not talking about tomorrow—I’m talking about what’s happening right now. Floods used to happen once every ten years. Now we get two or more every year—sometimes right before or just after the monsoon. People are forced to leave their homes during these floods. They lose their lives, their houses—and even the land they stood on disappears. They have no choice but to move. Along the coast, there are cyclones. They used to hit once every two or three years, but now they come without warning. Riverbanks collapse, saltwater seeps into the soil, and farmland is ruined. Fish are disappearing. People can no longer make a living just by fishing. Life has changed.”

Today, Bangladeshis are bearing the brunt of a global warming crisis they did not cause. And yet, they are among its first and hardest-hit victims. It’s estimated that over 8,000 people die here every year because of extreme weather events—more than in any other country in the world.

Excerpt from the film Bangladesh: Facing the Climate Change
by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Anastasia Mikova
© 2015 Hope Production

"Water — Friend or Enemy?

Bangladesh is a country far away, next to the sea. There, people have always lived with water. The sea gives them fish, and the big rains—called monsoons—water their fields so they can grow food.
But now, the water is changing. It rains too hard, too often, and the sea is rising higher and higher. Rivers overflow, and salty water covers the land. The plants can’t grow anymore. A long time ago, big floods only came once in a while. Now, they happen almost every year. Sometimes, the water washes everything away—houses, gardens, even toys and photos.
The people in Bangladesh didn’t do anything wrong. But they are the ones in trouble because of climate change. We can learn from them. They already know what it’s like when the world starts to change. If we all help, we can find ways to protect our planet—together.

© Couleurs Grands Lacs – Text | © Armand Amar – Music
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