Urvashi Babajee
The cyclonic weather on Monday, January 15th 2024, was devastating and deeply impacted many people. “Belal” played a decisive role in highlighting the urgency of establishing a shared future for Small Island Developing States like Mauritius. It remind us of the power of Mother Nature and evoked a profound sense of faith that we must not strip nature of its gifts. Many of us shed tears in solitary and dealt with a wide spectrum of emotions while watching videos on social media platforms.
In contrast, the cries of people echoed in the streets of Port Louis and around the island. As offices, shops, and restaurants began to shut down, many employees had to walk, drive, and struggle with the flooding out of panic. In the midst of this emergency, working-class people fought for their lives to be back home safe with their families. Men and women from diverse cultures pushed to their limits, fighting an invisible devil in spaces where nature’s beauty had turned into nothingness. From nowhere to go, the sense of human solidarity transcended all social and environmental settings. Many, like me, have seen the haunting images of one dead man floating from the debris and muddy water. Families will have to grapple with their daily lives.
Sometimes, I wonder what home is? We have lost trees, lands, and biodiversity due to greed, power, and ego, which have swallowed up the land we once lived on. Even the dead cannot rest peacefully. Seeing how the graveyard at St. Jean, Quatre-Bornes, was overflowing out of space is a deep distress. Can we complain to a prime minister who is angry himself? His message of hope cannot replace the apprehension, the agony, and the broken souls of the locals. Does he stare at himself in the mirror and think about his people? Do the hands of his ministers not shake when signing treaties and agreements for COP28? Blaming it on a natural disaster is too easy. This is a crime against humanity. This massive obsession with winning elections probably makes our leader a man with no feelings. This is what breaks us. Because our feelings, vision, and love for our country are the opposite.
What do locals most look forward to as we emerge from that natural catastrophe? If policymakers do not take effective measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change seriously, we will face a challenging future. It is not enough for politicians to make grandiose statements about the issue; we need stringent regulations and commitments to pave the way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. If we rely solely on the “blah-blah of politicians”, the climate crisis will only worsen, and our ability to create a transition will be hindered. To combat this, Mauritius must involve its people in climate action, get their commitment to support the necessary policies and improve their behaviours. What is happening now is an opportunity to manage and restore the valuable resources that our island contains. Today, only a small fraction of the valuable resources remain, and we have long known that. A recovery is possible if we address the challenges and collectively manage resources. But to live up to that potential, short-term to long-term goals must not be viewed in a compressed manner. We still have a long way to go if human relationship with nature is respected.