Water Initiative

WATER INITIATIVES ORISSA(WIO)
On the eve of Nuakhai - the festival to celebrate a good harvest - WIO accelerates Its Campaign to Combat Climate Change


Climate Change may make Nuakhai history !!

Climate change may make agriculture redundant in the state of Orissa, India. While celebrating agriculture, it is also time to think ways to save it from climate change threats. An ambitious campaign to combat climate change in Orissa kick starts from Nuakhai(falling this year on 16th September)

- Water Initiatives Orissa launches campaign to combat climate change from this Nuakhai -Orissa's festival to celebrate first agriculture harvest.
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\u003cb\>\u003ci\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>\nThe campaign seeks ways out from the impacts of climate change on Orissa, a primarily agrarian economy. \u003c/span\>\u003c/i\>\u003c/b\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;text-indent:-0.25in;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>\u003cspan\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"Times New Roman\"\>\n-\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/span\>\u003cb\>\u003ci\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>\nThe campaign will reach local voices on climate change to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) being held in Bali this December. \u003c/span\>\u003c/i\>\u003c/b\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cb\>\u003ci\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>\n \u003c/span\>\u003c/i\>\u003c/b\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>As Orissa celebrates Nuakhai, a festival that marks a good harvest, threats of climate change induced by global warming on local agriculture are more real than what scientists believed. Agriculture being weather-dependent is going to be badly hit by climate change impacts.\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>From this \u003ci\>Nuakhai\u003c/i\>, Water Initiatives Orissa (WIO) aided by Manav Adhikar Seva Samiti (MASS), launches a massive public campaign to generate public awareness on climate change issues and also to involve people in finding ways to fight this crisis. The campaign is expected to reach out to at least 5000 people.\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>The feedback from the people will be taken to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) scheduled to be held - in Bali in Indonesia - from December 3\n\u003csup\>rd\u003c/sup\> to 14\u003csup\>th \u003c/sup\>where representatives from 180 countries will converge to discuss and decide of climate change issues. Such a campaign by the WIO is one of its first kinds in the region.",1]
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The campaign seeks ways out from the impacts of climate change on Orissa, a primarily agrarian economy.
- The campaign will reach local voices on climate change to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) being held in Bali this December.

As Orissa celebrates Nuakhai, a festival that marks a good harvest, threats of climate change induced by global warming on local agriculture are more real than what scientists believed. Agriculture being weather-dependent is going to be badly hit by climate change impacts.

From this Nuakhai, Water Initiatives Orissa (WIO) aided by Manav Adhikar Seva Samiti (MASS), launches a massive public campaign to generate public awareness on climate change issues and also to involve people in finding ways to fight this crisis. The campaign is expected to reach out to at least 5000 people.

The feedback from the people will be taken to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) scheduled to be held - in Bali in Indonesia - from December 3 rd to 14th where representatives from 180 countries will converge to discuss and decide of climate change issues. Such a campaign by the WIO is one of its first kinds in the region.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>The WIO has been in the forefront to inform people about climate change issues and impacts on local livelihoods. Earlier it did a survey on desertification in the state. (For more information on this contact the WIO email mentioned below)\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>Coming back to impacts of climate change in Orissa, only seven of the last 25 years have normal or more than normal rainfall, others are deficient rainfall years. Rainfall has become more uneven and less compatible to agricultural schedules. Floods have wrecked havoc in many less than normal rainfall years too. Disasters have spread to new areas. Drought prone districts like Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput etc. are facing recurrent flash flood furies and heat waves have begun hitting coastal regions. Similarly, WIO has also cautioned that while the average maximum recorded temperature in various centers of Orissa have gone up by up to 6 degrees Celsius the average minimum recorded temperature have come down by over 5 degrees Celsius in the last decade alone. \n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>All these climatic changes have resulted in an overwhelming bearing on the agricultural production and land quality. In thirteen years more than 7 percent of total geographical area has turned barren and unfit for agriculture. \n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>WIO has come out with analysis on how agriculture production of all major crops, including paddy, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are gradually falling in spite of high external inputs in the shape of chemicals, fertilizers and use of machineries. With all these worrying indicators, WIO has already cautioned that if things deteriorate at the present rate then in another 150 years Orissa will be a desert. \n",1]
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The WIO has been in the forefront to inform people about climate change issues and impacts on local livelihoods. Earlier it did a survey on desertification in the state. (For more information on this contact the WIO email mentioned below)

Coming back to impacts of climate change in Orissa, only seven of the last 25 years have normal or more than normal rainfall, others are deficient rainfall years. Rainfall has become more uneven and less compatible to agricultural schedules. Floods have wrecked havoc in many less than normal rainfall years too. Disasters have spread to new areas. Drought prone districts like Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput etc. are facing recurrent flash flood furies and heat waves have begun hitting coastal regions. Similarly, WIO has also cautioned that while the average maximum recorded temperature in various centers of Orissa have gone up by up to 6 degrees Celsius the average minimum recorded temperature have come down by over 5 degrees Celsius in the last decade alone.

All these climatic changes have resulted in an overwhelming bearing on the agricultural production and land quality. In thirteen years more than 7 percent of total geographical area has turned barren and unfit for agriculture.

WIO has come out with analysis on how agriculture production of all major crops, including paddy, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are gradually falling in spite of high external inputs in the shape of chemicals, fertilizers and use of machineries. With all these worrying indicators, WIO has already cautioned that if things deteriorate at the present rate then in another 150 years Orissa will be a desert.
\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>Since people dependent on agriculture and natural resources are going to be hit the most by climate changes and accompanying disasters, thus WIO chose the NUAKHAI as the most suitable occasion to directly convey the message to the most vulnerable sections of the society about the urgency of the situation. \n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>From Nuakhai, WIO will embark on a series of activities. The activities will focus on three inter-linked issues: 1. Understanding the link between poverty and climate change in context of Orissa, 2. Raising awareness about it among local communities and policy makers, 3. To propagate means of adaptation and mitigation to survive the crisis.\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>WIO is reaching out to 5000 people in this campaign. As they celebrate the festival a letter will be sent to them accompanied by a post card. The letter gives general information on impacts of climate change on their lives. The post card asks them to write down their experience, perception and suggestion on how to fight climate change.\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>The campaign targets at agriculture communities, besides urban dwellers. In future it expects to increase the scope of the campaign.\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>WIO believes that a major reason for such climate change is human induced and can be checked or reduced.\n",1]
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Since people dependent on agriculture and natural resources are going to be hit the most by climate changes and accompanying disasters, thus WIO chose the NUAKHAI as the most suitable occasion to directly convey the message to the most vulnerable sections of the society about the urgency of the situation.

From Nuakhai, WIO will embark on a series of activities. The activities will focus on three inter-linked issues: 1. Understanding the link between poverty and climate change in context of Orissa, 2. Raising awareness about it among local communities and policy makers, 3. To propagate means of adaptation and mitigation to survive the crisis.

WIO is reaching out to 5000 people in this campaign. As they celebrate the festival a letter will be sent to them accompanied by a post card. The letter gives general information on impacts of climate change on their lives. The post card asks them to write down their experience, perception and suggestion on how to fight climate change.

The campaign targets at agriculture communities, besides urban dwellers. In future it expects to increase the scope of the campaign.

WIO believes that a major reason for such climate change is human induced and can be checked or reduced.
\u003c/span\>We sincerely feel that with wide scale awareness drives and action we can at least mitigate human induced climatic change.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\u003cspan\>\n \u003c/span\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>The basic idea is to learn from people's own knowledge, disseminate their own information and make them involved in the process of combating climate change by integrating their knowledge and experiences with academic researches.\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>WIO will try to compile all collected and analyzed information into a systematic report on climate change in Orissa which will be prepared with complete support of people, researchers, experts and other concerned stakeholders. \n\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt\"\>This is a massive campaign and simply impossible to succeed without support of almost everyone concerned for the cause.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>WIO has requested people from within the state to write back \u003cspan style\u003d\"color:black\"\>or inform WIO about their experiences and observations of impacts seen around their environment that they feel are due to climate change.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>These could include changed behavior of animals, birds, plants and almost anything.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>We have also appealed people to suggest actions to combat climate change.\n\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>WIO plans to cover at least five thousand people in this survey and compile these into a 'first of its kind' report on climate change in Orissa.\u003cspan\> \u003c/span\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:14pt;color:black\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/p\>\n\u003cp style\u003d\"margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:justify\"\>",1]
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We sincerely feel that with wide scale awareness drives and action we can at least mitigate human induced climatic change.

The basic idea is to learn from people's own knowledge, disseminate their own information and make them involved in the process of combating climate change by integrating their knowledge and experiences with academic researches.

WIO will try to compile all collected and analyzed information into a systematic report on climate change in Orissa which will be prepared with complete support of people, researchers, experts and other concerned stakeholders.

This is a massive campaign and simply impossible to succeed without support of almost everyone concerned for the cause. WIO has requested people from within the state to write back or inform WIO about their experiences and observations of impacts seen around their environment that they feel are due to climate change. These could include changed behavior of animals, birds, plants and almost anything. We have also appealed people to suggest actions to combat climate change. WIO plans to cover at least five thousand people in this survey and compile these into a 'first of its kind' report on climate change in Orissa.

To make this gigantic task a real success, we need cooperation and support of all of you who are reading this mail.