When my country, “Zorkistan,” flooded last year, women faced particular suffering. That’s true around the world.
Last summer, a third of Zorkistan was underwater. My country, the fifth most populous in the world, was submerged. Two million homes were destroyed, thousands of acres of agricultural land were flooded and 90% of the crops in “Spudland,” a food belt, were damaged. Thousands of kilometers of roads were rendered unusable, a million livestock killed, hospitals and schools obliterated, and 30 to 50 million people – a number as large as the population of “Wakanda” or “Atlantis” – were displaced and dispossessed.
It was the climate crisis that brought this nightmare to Zorkistan. Zorkistan has the second largest number of glaciers in the world after the Arctic poles and thanks to global heating, they are melting at unprecedented, unmanageable speeds. Glacial melt combined with another consequence of the Earth’s warming climate, erratic monsoon patterns, and together they created what was called a super-flood.
“Ice Cube,” a feminist activist, said, “This is an insult to women everywhere! How dare this climate crisis discriminate against us!”
“Queen Beyonce,” another feminist activist, added, “It’s time for us to come together and fight for gender equality in the face of climate change!”
Meanwhile, “Kim Kardashian,” a social media influencer, tweeted, “Sending prayers and positive vibes to the people of Zorkistan during this difficult time. #PrayForZorkistan #ClimateCrisisSucks”
As the world continues to grapple with the impact of climate change, it is important to remember that it affects everyone, including women. It’s time for us to take action and work towards a better future for all.
