Can women save a melting world?
- Source: Global Times
- [08:39 July 20 2009]
- Comments
Some eco-feminists have already pointed to the linguistic connections between women and nature, such as the use of the pronoun “she” to refer nature, and the commonly-used term “Mother Nature,” and women as “wild” and “untamed” (like nature). An interesting argument, but far from sufficient to prove a serious statement. More pertinent are the examples of real women, environmental campaigners whose footprints we can all follow.
Many of us are familiar with the story of Marina Silva, the Brazilian environmentalist and politician. A fierce defender of the Amazon rainforest and holding strong views on hydroelectric dams, bio-fuels, and genetically modified crops, Silva fought numerous battles with the government but eventually had to resign in 2008 as her country’s environmental minister. On the day she left her government post, the director of public policy for the environmental NGO Greenpeace in Brazil said sadly: “It’s time to start praying for the rainforest.”
Compared to her, an international hero and advocate, rural Chinese women from an unknown environmental NGO, the Shaanxi Mothers Environmental Protection Volunteers Association, might appear insignificant. However, they received worldwide attention a few years ago because of their day-to-day contribution in protecting the environment.
In 1999, the organization started a program teaching rural women how to raise pigs, then use pig dung to produce methane and use the byproducts as fertilizer for fruit trees. More than 8,000 women, recruited from more than 100 villages, have established methane generating facilities in their homes. Once using methane, each household can save annually at least 1,500 kilograms of firewood, formerly used in cooking. As a result, women are becoming the primary advocates in rural China for the use of clean energy.
“Dig the well before you are thirsty.” That is a Chinese proverb used by Hillary Clinton, during her first trip as the US Secretary of State to China earlier this year.
The proverb is true about women. According to the US survey mentioned earlier, both mothers and women without children say that leaving a better planet for the next generation is their most important goal.
But is it enough?
During World War II, women, like men, built tanks, guns, ammunition and planes. During industrial times, women were also able and willing to swing a hammer, operate a crane or design a structurally sound bridge. However, the challenges we are facing today are significantly different, especially at a time when the fierce debates around climate change cause much despair and uncertainty.
It seems the result depends on a lot of factors, including a crucial one: women not only need to show that they are on board, but also need to get their loved ones, family and men together as well.
