Climate change: India’s unique handicraft Aranmula glass is under serious threat, change in soil quality
Aranmoola mirrors set in metal frames are a centuries-old handicraft from Kerala and are adorning everything from the British Museum to Buckingham Palace.
But, the GI protected Aranmula glass making art is now under threat due to climate change as the changing weather cycle has affected the quality of the clay used to make these glasses.
The incidence of floods and excessive rainfall is increasing in Kerala and due to this the availability of Pamba basin soil, an essential raw material used in handicrafts, is decreasing. This clay is used to make molds. Aranmula glass is called ‘Aranmula Kannadi’ in Malayalam, as it is manufactured at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.
These metal-made glasses were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2004-2005. PM Narendra Modi presented Aranmula Kannadi to the then First Lady Samantha Cameron during her visit to UK in November 2015.
Difficulty in finding clay: Due to floods and landslides, artisans are facing difficulties in finding clay to make glass. The proportion of metals used in making Aranmula glass is not disclosed to anyone and traditionally the art is passed on to the next generation.
Change in soil quality in 13 districts
Manoj S, who has been making Aranmula glass for the past 20 years, said that the quality of the soil has changed after the 2018 floods. Earlier we used to take top soil from the fields for casting glass. Now for this one has to dig deep. According to the Kerala Soil Survey Department, there has been a significant change in the soil quality in 13 districts after the floods. The situation may worsen due to heavy rain events.
Five countries, including America, account for 90 percent of carbon emissions
In terms of carbon emissions, developed countries like America, Germany in the Global North are indebted to countries like India in the Global South. During industrialization, these countries made huge carbon emissions. These countries have 90 percent stake in it. In this context, India is entitled to compensation of $1,446 per capita by 2050 from these developed countries.
India entitled to compensation of $1,446 per person by 2050.
According to research published in the journal Nature Sustainability, the countries of the North should pay $170 trillion in compensation for carbon emissions. Researchers from Britain’s University of Leeds analyzed 168 countries to determine responsibility for climate change and presented an evidence-based compensation mechanism. In this sense, the US, Germany, Russia, the UK and Japan are the debtors for $ 131 trillion, while India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria and China are claimants for compensation of $ 102 trillion.