Rain And Water

Day 135 of writing every day.

It has rained every day for the past several days and the cool temperature makes it feel like it’s going to take time before it actually gets warmer. The warm weather that preceded these rainy days felt like a lie.

Living in urban areas that remain largely desensitized to the effects of changing weather, it’s hard to tell whether or not climate change is happening, much less what the impact is. If anything, it’s the changing value of currency and disruptions caused by human conflict that’s most noticeable and trackable. We all really feel the impact when rising costs hit our wallets.

I haven’t heard of anything affecting banana production but prices have gone up close to 50% for a small bushel of bananas. Wheat prices have gone up because Ukraine is said to be a major producer and the war with Russia has devastated production and transportation routes, making less wheat available on the market and causing prices to inflate.

Other parts of the world where nature’s impact is more deeply felt can see the rain and water rise and wash away their homes. For some the ocean is rising and where there was land now remains inches below water. The reverse goes for others where lakes and bodies of freshwater have dried up. Misuse of water could be attributed to some situations but continued droughts play a bigger role.

I don’t know if Japan much of Japan has noticed any specific effects, but I’m certain this country is not immune to it either. The effects can be direct and indirect, and understanding what’s changing could help prepare everyone for the worst to come.

Not knowing how everyday weather patterns like rain and what a “normal” year should be like makes me feel out of the loop of what’s happening in the big picture. City life easily desensitizes humans from reality, as so much is made possible because of vast amounts of support systems that make city life possible in the first place.

Food is grown and harvested far out of sight and regularly delivered to urban distribution centers we know as grocery stores. They’re also sent to factories for processing, such as freezing, canning, or the whole package that turns them into ready to eat meals. How much rain falls this spring or in a short span will affect the harvest later on or even drown them before they can be harvested.

The greatest danger that any city dweller can pose to the greater ecosystem we all inhabit is to become indifferent to what’s happening. Too often I see people complain about the rain as an inconvenience when it’s something crops need to grow and for everything else to thrive.

Thanks for reading!