Sri Lanka’s Workers Struggle on the Edge as Politicians Seek Their Votes

September 18, 2024 Adler MorisLeave a comment

Sri Lanka’s Plantation Workers: A Struggle for Change Amid Election Promises

The Persistent Struggle of Plantation Workers

As Sri Lanka approaches its presidential election, the plight of its plantation workers remains a stark reality. Among them is Muthuthevarkittan Manohari, who resides with her four children and elderly mother in a dilapidated room on a tea plantation. Despite promises from both leading candidates to address the long-standing issues faced by plantation workers, Manohari remains skeptical about the prospects for meaningful change.

Historical Marginalization and Its Impact

For over two centuries, Sri Lanka’s plantation workers, descendants of Indian indentured laborers brought by the British during colonial times, have lived on the peripheries of society. Initially brought to cultivate coffee, and later tea and rubber—key drivers of Sri Lanka’s economy—their contribution has often gone unrecognized.

Following Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948, the new government stripped these workers of citizenship and voting rights, leading to the deportation of approximately 400,000 individuals to India. This severed many families and deepened the community’s marginalization. It wasn’t until 2003 that full citizenship rights were restored to the descendants of these workers.

Today, around 1.5 million descendants of plantation workers reside in Sri Lanka, making up about 3.5% of the electorate. Despite their significant presence, the plantation community continues to grapple with severe poverty, high malnutrition rates, and inadequate access to education and healthcare. The living conditions for many are substandard, characterized by overcrowded and poorly maintained housing.

The Harsh Realities of Plantation Life

Plantation workers often live in “line houses,” small, cramped dwellings owned by plantation companies. According to Tomoya Obokata, a UN special rapporteur, these 10-by-12-foot rooms frequently lack basic amenities such as windows, proper kitchens, and running water. Multiple families often share rudimentary latrines, and medical care is typically provided by unqualified estate medical assistants rather than licensed professionals. Obokata’s 2022 report described these conditions as indicative of forced labor and, in some cases, serfdom.

The harsh realities extend beyond housing. The conditions of labor on the plantations are grueling, with workers subjected to long hours and strenuous physical demands. The government has taken some steps to address these issues, including raising the minimum daily wage to 1,350 rupees (USD 4.50) and offering additional incentives for high productivity. However, the target for this productivity is challenging to meet, as many tea bushes are poorly maintained.

Promises of Change: Election Pledges and Political Dynamics

In the current election cycle, both major presidential candidates have proposed measures to improve conditions for plantation workers. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, running as an independent, has pledged to transfer the line houses and the land they occupy to the workers, developing them into proper villages. His main rival, Sajith Premadasa, has promised to dismantle the plantations and distribute the land among the workers as small holdings.

Despite these promises, the road to reform is fraught with obstacles. Both proposals are likely to face strong resistance from powerful plantation companies that benefit from the current system. The history of unfulfilled political promises has left many workers doubtful about the sincerity and feasibility of these new pledges.

A Community’s Frustration

Manohari’s skepticism reflects a broader sense of disillusionment within the plantation community. She is deeply concerned about the future of her 16-year-old son, who had to drop out of school due to financial constraints. Manohari’s experience is emblematic of the broader issues facing plantation workers, who have heard numerous promises over the years but have seen little tangible improvement in their lives.

Union leaders and politicians often visit the plantations during election seasons, making grand promises about housing and land distribution. Yet, once in power, these promises frequently go unfulfilled, leaving workers to grapple with the same challenges they have faced for decades.

The Broader Context

The plight of Sri Lanka’s plantation workers is a stark reminder of the deep-seated inequalities that persist in the country. Despite their crucial role in the economy and their significant presence in the electorate, this community remains marginalized and underserved.

Efforts to improve their conditions are often hindered by entrenched interests and systemic barriers. The challenges faced by plantation workers are emblematic of broader issues within Sri Lanka’s political and economic systems, where promises of change frequently fall short in the face of entrenched power dynamics and fiscal constraints.

Looking Forward

As Sri Lanka heads to the polls, the future of its plantation workers remains uncertain. While the promises made by presidential candidates offer a glimmer of hope, the reality on the ground suggests that significant change will require more than just election pledges. It will require sustained commitment from both political leaders and the broader society to address the long-standing issues faced by this marginalized community.

For now, individuals like Manohari continue to navigate a life of hardship, hoping that the next administration will deliver on its promises and bring about the long-overdue change that could transform their lives. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Sri Lanka’s plantation workers will finally see the improvements they have long been promised or if they will continue to live on the margins of society.

Bali Halts Construction to Combat Overtourism and Safeguard Environment

September 13, 2024 Adler MorisLeave a comment

Bali Imposes Construction Freeze to Address Overtourism and Protect Environment

Moratorium on Development

In response to escalating concerns about overdevelopment and environmental degradation, Indonesia is set to impose a comprehensive construction freeze in Bali, one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan announced this decisive measure on Sunday, which targets the halt of new hotels, nightclubs, and villas. The moratorium, potentially lasting up to a decade, aims to preserve Bali’s agricultural lands and mitigate the impacts of unchecked tourism growth.

Luhut emphasized the flexible nature of the freeze, stating, “We’ll see later [how long the moratorium is in effect]. It could be five years, it could be 10 years. It just depends on the evaluation.”

Response to Overdevelopment

The initiative comes following a formal request from Bali’s acting governor, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, who highlighted the urgent need to address overdevelopment in the island’s key tourist areas: Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan. These regions, central to Bali’s tourism boom, have been under increasing strain from both environmental and infrastructural pressures.

Since reopening to international visitors post-pandemic, Bali has seen a dramatic rise in tourist arrivals, with 3.89 million visitors from January to July this year, up from 2.9 million during the same period last year. This influx has intensified the burden on the island’s infrastructure, which supports 4.4 million permanent residents.

Impact of Tourism Surge

The sharp increase in tourism has not only stressed local resources but has also sparked social media outrage over visitor behavior. Instances of visa overstays and disrespect for sacred sites have led to the deportation of 340 foreign nationals last year.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno confirmed that the government is drafting a policy to address these challenges. “The government is working on a comprehensive strategy to prevent unsafe and uncomfortable conditions arising from excessive construction,” Uno stated. The focus will be on promoting high-quality tourism that supports local communities and job creation.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental groups have long voiced concerns about Bali’s rapid development, which threatens the island’s agricultural heritage and natural ecosystem. Made Krisna Dinata, executive director of Walhi Bali, criticized the delayed response to overdevelopment, arguing that action should have been taken years ago. “Bali is overbuilt. Tourism has caused significant damage, with green spaces replaced by concrete,” Dinata noted, highlighting that the number of hotels on the island has surged from 249 a decade ago to 541 today.

The transformation of rice fields into commercial properties raises additional concerns about food security. Interim governor Mahendra Jaya emphasized the need to protect agricultural lands, noting that high water consumption by hotels exacerbates local resource strain. Environmental experts are advocating for stricter regulations to manage land use and protect Bali’s delicate ecosystem. However, some, like Associate Professor Agung Wardana, remain skeptical about the moratorium’s effectiveness, pointing to potential challenges in enforcing the policy.

Global Trends in Managing Overtourism

Bali’s new policy aligns with a broader trend among popular destinations grappling with overtourism. Similar measures have been implemented in Kyoto’s Geisha district in Japan, where streets are closed to manage tourist behavior, and in Venice, Italy, where a daytrip fee has been introduced to control visitor numbers.

Given Bali’s heavy reliance on tourism for economic growth, the government faces the difficult task of balancing economic benefits with the need to preserve local culture and resources. With 200,000 foreign residents on the island, Luhut reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices. “Without preserving our culture, tourism will not thrive. This needs to be managed properly,” he concluded.

Summer 2024: The Hottest Season Ever Recorded Globally

September 10, 2024 Adler MorisLeave a comment

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Summer 2024 has set a new record as the hottest summer ever recorded globally. This unprecedented warmth extends beyond just the summer months, highlighting a trend of increasing temperatures worldwide.

Record Heat Across Europe

Summer 2024 was not only the hottest globally but also the warmest ever experienced across Europe, with temperatures averaging 1.54°C above the 1991-2020 long-term average. This surpassed the previous European record set in 2022.

August 2024 marked the 13th time in a 14-month period where global average temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, underscoring the persistent trend of extreme warmth.

Regional Variations in Temperature

While the UK saw its coolest summer since 2015, much of Europe faced significantly higher temperatures. For instance:

Austria experienced its hottest summer on record.
Spain recorded its warmest August ever.
Finland had its joint warmest summer.
Switzerland saw its second warmest summer.

However, cooler conditions were noted in parts of the Republic of Ireland, the UK, western Portugal, Iceland, and southern Norway.

Rising Temperatures and Future Projections

The global average temperature so far in 2024 is 0.7°C above the 1991-2020 average, the highest on record to date. Given this trend, 2024 is on track to become the warmest year globally, following the record-setting temperatures of 2023.

Impact of Extreme Weather Events

The Copernicus Climate Change Service has observed that temperature-related extreme weather events are becoming increasingly intense. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director at Copernicus, noted, “The extreme temperature events we saw this summer are likely to become more severe.”

The Influence of El Niño

Human-induced climate change has been the primary driver of rising global temperatures. However, the El Niño phenomenon, which lasted from June 2023 to May 2024, further intensified the warmth. El Niño, a natural warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific, contributed additional heat to the atmosphere.

Although the El Niño event has ended, its effects will continue to influence global temperatures throughout 2024.

Looking Ahead: The Role of La Niña

Scientists at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology anticipate a shift to the cooler phase of La Niña in the coming months. La Niña could potentially influence future temperature patterns, but the overall trend of rising temperatures remains a critical concern.

As the climate continues to warm, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events are expected to increase, emphasizing the urgent need for global climate action.

Bringing Trolls to Life: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Thomas Dambo’s Artistic World

September 10, 2024 Adler MorisLeave a comment

A Journey into the Trolls’ World

Sitting on the back of a golf cart, I find myself cruising through Ninigret Park in Charlestown, Rhode Island, with Thomas Dambo, the internationally renowned recycle artist and troll builder, at the wheel. Beside him is Bardur, one of his lead builders. Both towering Danes dwarf me as I attempt to capture footage for a documentary, evoking a hobbit-like feeling as if documenting the “Fellowship of the Ring.”

We’re en route to a hidden corner of the park where Dambo and his team are working on “Greta Granite,” a troll that will soon join the ranks of his globally recognized sculptures. Upon arrival, the spot is an empty, circular clearing, framed by bare trees and the first hints of spring.

Sculpting Imagination: The Process Behind Greta Granite

Thomas quietly surveys the area before sitting cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed, mentally mapping out Greta’s position. Watching him, I wonder aloud what’s going through his mind.

“I’m figuring out the placement—how high she should sit, how much she should be covered. If the troll leans back too far, the necklaces will fall on her knees,” he explains. His process blends imagination with practical concerns—ensuring both artistic expression and structural integrity.

For the next three weeks, I get a front-row seat as Dambo and his team create two trolls for Ninigret Park: “Greta Granite” and “Erik Rock,” Rhode Island’s first of many planned trolls.

The Art of Recycling: Dambo’s Mission

As we hop back on the golf cart and head to the location of “Erik Rock,” Dambo reflects on his inspiration for these works. “I love big stones,” he says, gesturing toward the boulders framing Greta’s future home. “Denmark doesn’t have big bedrock like this. It felt like the start of a fairy tale.”

When we reach Erik’s construction site, Dambo has something on his mind. He asks me to ready my camera as he heads toward the half-completed troll.

“I judge my sculptures not just by their looks,” he begins. “I’m a recycle art activist, so it’s critical that they’re made from recycled materials.” Pointing to the wood, he explains, “This wood came straight from the lumber yard, and that really bothers me.”

The team had initially received new wood instead of recycled material. Although the mistake was quickly corrected, Dambo’s commitment to sustainability runs deep. “Even if the sculpture looks beautiful, using non-recycled wood would tear at my integrity as a recycle artist,” he says, clearly passionate about his cause.

A Balancing Act: Creativity and Responsibility

Over the three weeks I spent filming, I observed Dambo balancing an increasingly demanding schedule. As his work gains popularity, so do his obligations. From media interviews and future site visits to filming for his own YouTube channel, Dambo juggles it all while making time for his wife and young twins. Ironically, the one thing he seems to have the least time for is actually building trolls.

“I love to build,” Dambo confides. “It’s something I’ve been passionate about since I was a kid, building treehouses and underground caves. Now I’m lucky if I get to spend half my time actually building.”

Trust in the Team: The Hands Behind the Trolls

Fortunately, Dambo’s longtime collaborators, Bardur, Julian, and Jacob, have become trusted hands in bringing his visions to life. They allow him to continue dreaming big, while he navigates the responsibilities of being a globally recognized artist.

As I watch the final touches being added to Greta and Erik, I can’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship and care that goes into each troll. Dambo’s world is one of imagination, sustainability, and a deep connection to nature. Through his trolls, he invites us all to see the magic in the ordinary, one recycled sculpture at a time.

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