Climate Change

Climate change is undeniably one of the most prevalent threats to humans that has the potential to affect the economy, community and environment on a global scale. In an article called “Indigenous farming practices failing as climate change disrupts seasons,” published by Peter Schwartzstein on October 14, 2019, the author highlights the numeros unforeseen weather fluctuations triggered by the disturbances to our Earth’s climate. The author initiates the article by giving a condensed description of a typical workday of the Hopi Tribesmen of northern Arizona; these farmers deduce the success of their crops’ growth by assessing the environmental conditions of their arid, mesa environment. However, due to the spreading issue of rapid climate change, their methods have been rendered futile, and has made it difficult for these tribesmen to continue sustaining themselves. 

Similar to the predicament of the farmers of the Hopi Tribesmen, Schwartzstien continues his article by explaining how the issue of climate change is worsening the living conditions of many peoples’ lives. However, he makes sure to prioritize the specific impact it has on the lives of farmers who heavily rely on their indegineous knowledge of seasonal weather and climate forecasting in order to maintain their crops. He reinforces their dilemma by providing the reader with a list of evidence highlighting a string of problems that mainly influences the forecasting methods of these indeginous farmers, such as bird migrations, wind direction, stars, and etc. The author also strengthens his reasoning by revealing that these farmers are oblivious to the concept of global warming, and explains how they are morally defeated as their indeginious wisdom that they and their ancestors have relied on for such a prolonged period are unfortunately becoming outdated. 

Schwartzstien’s article tries to persuade the reader of the issue of climate change and the specific effect it has on farmers who rely on indigenous farming methods by addressing the moral and mental toll these changes have had on these farmers. He makes sure to focus in on the emotion and trauma that the farmers are psychologically enduring as the methods their people have utilized for centuries are failing. He also tries to convince the readers of the situation of these farmers by mentioning the circumstances of the farmers, explaining how they are not equipped with the contemporary knowledge of our world’s situation in order to know what’s happening to the weather patterns. Schwartzstien’s main use of pathos helps to convince the readers that the situation of farmers in these communities and the ever growing issue of climate change is a devastating and unfortunate problem that will most likely continue to put them at a disadvantage if nothing is done to slow down the process of this global obstacle.   

Bibliography

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/10/climate-change-killing-thousands-of-years-indigenous-wisdom/