Today marks World Day to
Combat Desertification and Drought. This is a pretty heavy subject, but one
that is worthy of discussion.
To better explain the
significance of this day, perhaps understanding what desertification and
drought are would be a good first step. Desertification is “a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry
land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as
well as vegetation and wildlife.” While many factors play into this type of
degradation, the ones we most associate with contributing to this state are
climate change and human activity. Desertification has been present throughout
human history, however a current example would be the Sahara in Africa. Leading
to desertification is drought,
which is “an extended period of months or years when a region notes a
deficiency in its water supply whether surface or underground water.” Droughts
can occur in many areas around the globe, and is one of the greatest challenges
of agriculture. Because of this, negative health, economic, social, and
environmental impacts can be felt in the areas where droughts occur. According
to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (or UNCCD),
this awareness day first took place in 1995 as a way to “promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat
desertification and the effects of drought.” Since drought and desertification
are environmental concerns that see no boundaries, understanding their
significance is crucial to reducing their frequency. For more information,
visit the UNCCD’s website.
On
a happier note, today is also National Eat Your Vegetables Day! To me,
vegetables are often the best part of a meal, and I try to eat as many as I
can. I love the variety of flavours and colours of vegetables, and with so many
to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to get tired of them! Perhaps the best
part of where I am from is the proximity of fresh, locally grown vegetables. I
truly believe that this is part of what makes them taste so good – they’re
usually fresh out of the soil! I feel fortunate to have such a luxury. So
today, make sure you get your fill of vegetables! Why not start off your day with
a veggie omelette, followed by a roasted veggie sando for lunch, and a yummy
veggie-filled stir-fry for supper? Heck, while you’re at it, why not click here
and vote on today’s poll?!
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