TED Talks Daily - Lessons from people already adapting to the climate crisis | Dorcas Naishorua

Episode Date: June 28, 2024

The Maasai people have lived sustainably off the savanna for centuries, raising cattle for sustenance and income. Climate activist Dorcas Naishorua paints a picture of how the climate crisis is threatening their way of life — and calls for local and international support as they're forced to adapt to a changing environment.

TED Audio Collective. You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host, Elise Hu. Today, we're hearing from the world's first Miss Climate, Dorcas Naishora. She's a member of the Maasai people of Kenya. In her 2024 talk, she paints a picture of

the effect of climate change on their way of life and how they're adapting. This urgent talk about climate resilience is coming up after the break. Support for this show comes from Airbnb. If you know me, you know I love staying in Airbnbs when I travel. They make my family feel most at home when we're away from home. As we settled down at our Airbnb during a recent vacation to Palm Springs, I pictured my own home sitting empty. Wouldn't it be smart and better put to use welcoming a family like mine by hosting it on Airbnb? It feels like the practical thing to do, and with the extra income, I could save up for renovations to make the space even more inviting for ourselves and for future guests.

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Don't get left behind. Listen to Disruptors, the innovation era, and stay ahead of the game in this fast-changing world. Follow Disruptors on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. And now, our TED Talk of the day. Jambu, greetings from the hearts of Masai Land. My name is Dorcas Nishorwa, and I'm honored to be here today,

not only as the first Miss Climate in the world, but also a daughter of the Savannah, hailing from the vast plains of Kajado 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 savannah, the gentle mowing 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. Kettle 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 a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, kwa kwa hivyo. Kwa kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa hivyo, kwa 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 a hundred 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.

This effort aims 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 roots. 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 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 spirits of our land. Thank you.

Can Indigenous ways of knowing help kids cope with online bullying? At the University of British Columbia, we believe that they can. Dr. Johanna Sam and her team are researching how both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth cope with cyber aggression, working to bridge the diversity gap in child psychology research. At UBC, our researchers are answering today's most pressing questions. To learn how we're moving the world forward, visit ubc.ca forward happens here. Support for this show comes from Airbnb. If you know me, you know I love staying in Airbnbs when I travel. They make my family feel most at home when we're away from

home. As we settled down at our Airbnb during a recent vacation to Palm Springs, I pictured my own home sitting empty. Wouldn't it be smart and better put to use welcoming a family like mine by hosting it on Airbnb? It feels like the practical thing to do. And with the extra income, I could save up for renovations to make the space even more inviting for ourselves and for future guests. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.ca slash host. That was Dorcas Nishora recorded for the TED Countdown Dilemma Series on the future of food in 2024. If you're curious about TED's curation, find out more at TED.com slash curation guidelines. And that's it for today. TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective. This

episode was produced and edited by our team, Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Green, Autumn Thompson, and Alejandra Salazar. It was mixed by Christopher Faisy-Bogan. Additional support from Emma Taubner, Daniela Balarezo, and Will Hennessey. I'm Elise Hugh. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feed. Thanks for listening. Looking for a fun challenge to share with your friends and family? TED now has games designed to keep your mind sharp while having fun. Visit TED.com slash games to explore the joy and wonder of TED Games.