Lessons From People Already Adapting to the Climate Crisis | Dorcas Naishorua | TED

Summary

Dorcas Naishorua, the first Miss Climate and a Maasai daughter from Kenya, shares the struggle of her community against climate change. She describes the Maasai's reliance on cattle and the devastating impact of droughts and changing weather patterns. Naishorua highlights the community's resilience through sustainable practices like tree planting and beekeeping, and the need for support in education and land rights to combat climate change and secure their future.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Dorcas Naishorua is the first Miss Climate and a daughter of the savanna from Kajiado County, Kenya, bringing a story of resilience shaped by environmental change.
• 🐂 Cattle are central to the Maasai community, serving as companions, a source of income, and a foundation for their meals and livelihoods.
• 🌧️ Climate change is causing longer droughts and unreliable rains, leading to a struggle for limited resources like food and water.
• 🏞️ The Maasai land is changing, with the once vibrant plains becoming graveyards for cattle during the dry season, affecting the community's way of life.
• 👧 Girls in the community face increased vulnerability, with education often sacrificed as families struggle to survive, and health and safety compromised.
• 🌱 The Maasai are adapting to climate change by planting trees, transforming land into community ranches for beekeeping, and implementing sustainable pastoralism practices.
• 🔆 Renewable energy projects, like solar power, are being adopted to produce water for nurturing tree seedlings and to combat climate change.
• 📚 Education is emphasized as crucial for empowering communities with knowledge and skills to adapt to climate change and build long-term resilience.
• 🤝 International and local support is needed for the Maasai to address unique challenges and to collaborate with organizations that respect their Indigenous knowledge.
• 🏞️ Policies recognizing and protecting land rights are required for the Maasai, as secure land is fundamental to their food security.
• ⚠️ Early-warning systems for extreme weather are essential to help the Maasai prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters, ensuring food supply stability.
• 🌍 Dorcas calls for a collective effort to prioritize sustainability, equity, and respect for the environment, urging a nurturing spirit of resilience and hope for a sustainable future.

Q & A

Who is Dorcas Naishorua and what is her significance in the script?

Dorcas Naishorua is the first Miss Climate in the world and a daughter of the savanna from Kajiado County, Kenya. She represents the Maasai community and shares their story of resilience and the challenges they face due to climate change.

What is the Maasai community's relationship with cattle?

Cattle are central to the Maasai community, serving not only as companions but also as a source of livelihood, income, sustenance, and fuel for their families.

How are the Maasai people affected by climate change?

The Maasai people are experiencing longer droughts and unreliable rains, leading to food and water scarcity, which in turn causes conflicts with wildlife and other communities over limited resources.

What impact does climate change have on the Maasai's daily life and their traditional practices?

Climate change disrupts the Maasai's routine, causing the death of cattle, withering of crops, and increased vulnerability for girls who must walk long distances for water, leading to health risks and safety concerns.

How does climate change affect the education of Maasai girls?

Education is often sacrificed as families struggle to meet basic needs during times of hardship caused by climate change. Girls may also be forced into early marriages and are sometimes traded for grass to feed livestock.

What are some of the adaptive measures the Maasai community is taking to combat climate change?

The Maasai are planting trees to create a shield against the sun, transforming unused land into community ranches for beekeeping, dividing land into paddocks for livestock, and embracing renewable energy projects like solar power.

How do renewable energy projects benefit the Maasai community?

Renewable energy projects, such as solar power, help the Maasai produce water for nurturing tree seedlings, store food more efficiently, and combat climate change by reducing reliance on traditional fuel sources.

What role does education play in the Maasai community's resilience to climate change?

Education is crucial for empowering the Maasai community with knowledge and skills to adapt to climate change, fostering resilience and enabling them to diversify their sources of income.

What kind of support does Dorcas Naishorua call for in her speech?

Dorcas calls for international and local support, collaboration with organizations that understand the Maasai's unique challenges, policies that protect their land rights, and early-warning systems for extreme weather to prepare for climate-related disasters.

What is Dorcas Naishorua's vision for the future of the Maasai community?

Dorcas envisions a future where the Maasai community not only survives but thrives, with girls laughing and living a life of prosperity, embodying the enduring spirit of their land.

What message does Dorcas Naishorua convey about the importance of sustainability, equity, and respect for the environment?

Dorcas emphasizes the need to prioritize sustainability, equity, and respect for the environment in our efforts to nourish the growing global population and restore the Earth, highlighting the interconnectedness of our well-being and the health of our planet.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Maasai Land's Climate Struggles and Resilience

Dorcas Naishorua, the first Miss Climate and a Maasai daughter, introduces herself from Kajiado County, Kenya, highlighting the Maasai's deep connection with the savanna and the impact of climate change on their way of life. She describes the community's reliance on cattle for livelihood and sustenance, and the challenges posed by prolonged droughts and unreliable rainfall. The script paints a vivid picture of the savanna's transformation during the dry season, leading to food insecurity, the disruption of daily routines, and the harsh reality faced by girls in the community, including the risk of female genital mutilation and early marriage. The paragraph concludes with the stark reality of girls being traded for grass to sustain livestock during droughts.

05:04

🌱 Adaptation and Innovation in the Face of Climate Change

The second paragraph details the Maasai community's efforts to adapt to climate change and the need for international and local support. It discusses the community's innovative approaches to sustainable pastoralism, such as planting trees for shade and beekeeping on unused land, as well as dividing land into paddocks for better pasture management. The introduction of renewable energy projects, particularly solar power, is highlighted for its role in water production for tree seedlings and food storage efficiency. The importance of education in empowering communities to adapt to climate change is emphasized, along with the need for policies that protect land rights and early-warning systems for extreme weather. The paragraph concludes with a call for collective action to prioritize sustainability, equity, and environmental respect, envisioning a future where the Maasai girl not only survives but thrives, symbolizing the enduring spirit of the land.

Keywords

💡Maasai

The Maasai are a traditionally pastoralist community in East Africa, known for their vibrant culture and deep connection to the land. In the script, Dorcas Naishorua identifies herself as a daughter of the savanna, hailing from Kajiado County, Kenya, which is part of the Maasai land. The Maasai's way of life, heavily reliant on cattle and the environment, is central to the video's theme of climate change and its impact on traditional communities.

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions. It is a central theme in the video, as Dorcas discusses how the Maasai community is experiencing its effects through longer droughts and unreliable rains, which are altering the landscape and affecting their livelihoods.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or adapt to change. The script highlights the Maasai's resilience in the face of climate change, as they adapt their traditional pastoralist practices to ensure their survival and maintain their way of life.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In the script, Dorcas talks about sustainable practices adopted by the Maasai, such as tree planting, beekeeping, and renewable energy projects, which aim to combat the effects of climate change and ensure long-term food security.

💡Livestock

Livestock refers to domesticated animals raised for various purposes, such as food, fiber, or work. In the context of the video, livestock, particularly cattle, are crucial to the Maasai's livelihood, providing income, sustenance, and a cultural identity. The script describes how climate change is affecting the health and survival of their livestock, which in turn impacts the community's way of life.

💡Food Security

Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. The script discusses how climate change is threatening food security in the Maasai community, with longer dry seasons leading to crop failure and livestock death, causing hunger and hardship.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation in the context of climate change refers to actions taken to deal with the consequences of climate change. The Maasai are adapting by implementing new practices, such as community ranches for beekeeping and dividing land into paddocks for better pasture management, to cope with the changing climate and its effects on their traditional pastoralist lifestyle.

💡Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, and rain. In the script, Dorcas mentions renewable energy projects like solar power, which are being used to produce water for tree seedlings and to store food more efficiently, contributing to the community's resilience against climate change.

💡Education

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. In the video, education is emphasized as a crucial tool for empowering communities to adapt to climate change. It is highlighted that educating the Maasai about sustainable practices and climate resilience can help them better manage their resources and secure their livelihoods.

💡Indigenous Knowledge

Indigenous knowledge refers to the traditional knowledge, practices, and understandings developed by indigenous peoples over generations. The script calls for respect and recognition of the Maasai's indigenous knowledge in their efforts to adapt to climate change, suggesting that their traditional practices and insights can play a vital role in sustainable development.

💡Land Rights

Land rights are the legal rights to use, control, and benefit from land. In the video, Dorcas emphasizes the importance of secure land rights for the Maasai, as it is foundational to their food security and way of life. The script suggests that policies that protect their land rights are essential for the community's ability to adapt and thrive in the face of climate change.

Highlights

Dorcas Naishorua is the first Miss Climate and a daughter of the savanna from Kajiado County, Kenya.

The Maasai community relies on cattle for income, education, and sustenance.

Climate change is causing longer droughts and unreliable rains, affecting the Maasai's way of life.

Limited resources like food and water lead to dangerous encounters with wildlife and other people.

The Maasai are adapting by planting trees and transforming unused land into community ranches for beekeeping.

Renewable energy projects like solar power help produce water and store food more efficiently.

Education is crucial for empowering communities to adapt to climate change and build resilience.

Policies recognizing and protecting land rights are needed for food security.

Early-warning systems for extreme weather can help prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters.

Sustainability, equity, and respect for the environment must be prioritized for a sustainable future.

The Maasai are learning, evolving, and embracing innovation to overcome the challenges of climate change.

Girls in the community face increased health risks and safety compromises due to long walks for water.

Education is often sacrificed as families struggle to make ends meet during times of hardship.

Girls are sometimes traded for grass to feed livestock and sustain families during droughts.

The Maasai are not surrendering but adapting to the changing climate and finding innovative solutions.

Dividing land into paddocks helps secure enough pasture for livestock during extreme dry seasons.

International and local support is needed to collaborate with organizations that understand the Maasai's unique challenges.

The Maasai girl can not only survive but thrive with the right support and opportunities.

Transcripts

(In Swahili: Hello.)

Greetings from the heart of Maasai land.

My name is Dorcas Naishorua and I'm honored to be here today,

not only as the first Miss Climate in the world,

but also a daughter of the savanna,

hailing from the vast plains of Kajiado County, Kenya.

I bring with me a story of resilience,

one shaped by the changing patterns of our land

and the challenges we face

in a world grappling with climate change.

Imagine waking up to the symphony of the savanna,

the gentle mooing of cattle,

the vibrant calls of birds

and the graceful sway of the golden grass

and the aesthetic sounds from the beautifully beaded clothing.

This is the melody of my life,

deeply intertwined with the well-being of our environment.

Cattle are not only our companions,

but also our livelihoods.

As the Maasai community,

we rely on our cows not just for income or to keep our children in school,

but also for sustenance

as they form the foundation of our meals

and provide the fuel that keeps our families going.

However, this melody is changing.

We are witnessing longer droughts and unreliable rains.

The signs of climate change are becoming increasingly evident.

The land that once sustained us now thirsts.

The struggle for limited resources, particularly food and water,

pushes us into dangerous encounters with wildlife and other people

as we fight for survival.

It's a competition

where the very ground beneath our feet seems to shift.

This is not just about food insecurity.

It's about the erosion of our way of life.

Let me provide a clearer picture of our daily lives.

After milking the cows,

the sale of the milk brings in a modest income,

allowing us to purchase essentials

and have our children go to school.

At home,

a simple meal of milk and ugali, a staple food, sustains us.

However, this routine is often disrupted.

The dry season presents a different reality.

The once vibrant plains transform into graveyards for cattle,

with their skulls serving as a haunting reminder

of the harshness of climate change.

Our crops wither, leaving families with empty stomachs

and schools with empty classrooms.

The impact extends beyond hunger.

Girls, already vulnerable,

are forced to walk for long distances in search of water,

and this leads to increased health risks

and also compromises their safety.

Girls in particular bear the brunt of this harsh reality.

Education is often sacrificed

as families strive to make ends meet.

In desperate attempts to survive, unimaginable things happen.

Girls are traded for grass.

What goes beyond this harsh reality

is the rite of passage from childhood to adulthood,

which involves a painful circumcision

known as female genital mutilation,

followed by early marriage.

Girls are exchanged for grass to feed the remaining livestock,

to sustain the family for some time and see them live miserably

for what they didn't choose.

This desperate measure highlights the depths of our struggle,

where girls are married off for as little as 100 bales of grass

to sustain the cattle for some time in times of drought.

Livestock have been our sole source of income.

Now, due to the actions of others,

our way of life must change.

This is happening in many other pastoral communities as well.

Whether it's adapting to climate change

or defending against attempts to seize their land.

However, we, the Maasai,

are not people who surrender.

We are people who adapt.

We are planting trees alongside our crops

to create a shield against the scorching sun

and to provide additional food and herbal medicine.

We are transforming unused land into community ranches for beekeeping,

and we are dividing our land into paddocks

to secure enough pasture for our livestock.

These efforts aim to embrace a more sustainable form of pastoralism,

enabling us to better withstand the extreme dry seasons

while also utilizing our land for agriculture.

Renewable energy projects, such as solar power, are also taking root.

They allow us to produce water for nurturing tree seedlings

and contribute to combating climate change.

Renewable energy also helps us produce and store food more efficiently,

reducing waste and safeguarding our livelihoods.

Education is also crucial,

and empowering our communities with knowledge

and skills to adapt to climate change is key to long-term resilience.

By fostering climate resilience,

livelihoods and diversifying our sources of income,

we can provide alternatives during times of hardships.

We are learning,

we are evolving and embracing innovation to rewrite the narrative of our struggle.

But we cannot walk this journey alone.

We need both international and local support,

collaborating with organizations that understand our unique challenges

and respect our Indigenous knowledge.

We require policies that recognize and protect our land rights,

as secure land is the foundation of our food security.

Additionally, early-warning systems for extreme weather

will assist us in preparing and responding

to climate-related disasters,

ensuring the stability of our food supply.

As we work towards nourishing 10 billion people,

that I believe we can

while restoring the Earth,

we must prioritize sustainability,

equity and respect for the environment.

From the heart of the Kenyan savanna,

I urge you, let us not only nourish our bodies,

but also nurture the spirit of resilience,

the power of community

and the unwavering hope for a sustainable future.

Together, we can rewrite the ending of this story,

where the Maasai girl not only survives but thrives.

Her laughter echoing across the plains,

a testament to the enduring spirit of our land.

Thank you.