by Anne Tedder OConner
(Hamilton, Canada)
I think the term environmental migrant is kind of a cop – out. Climate refugee is a stronger, more urgent term,Many of these people eg. in the Horn of Africa need IMMEDIATE recognition and attention, not just with feeding programs but for the rich nations to open their doors like they did to the Vietnamese boat people or other refugees.
There’s a a colossal tragedy happening. When one pictures the proud Masai people dragging the last of their starving cattle to the cities to sell the meat for canning, because sources of water have dried up. Then what happens to them? Is th UN just to corral these people in camps, forever growing larger as the problem expands? It’s not in the future. the future is here and its a horror.