What I’m Reading
October 24, 2023
What I’m Reading returns with three climate stories you should consider. The New York Times will bring you to the beaches of Dubai for a unique perspective on the consequences of heat. I found a fascinating piece about the emotional consequences of natural phenomena in the pages of the Los Angeles Times. And finally, I think you’ll find a photo essay about coal mining in South Africa worth a study.
Climate And The Heat
To Escape the Heat in Dubai, Head to the Beach at Midnight leaves me with ambivalence.
Vivian Nereim’s (writing) and Andrea DiCenzo’s (photography) The New York Times dispatch from Dubai tells of the nightly activities on the beaches of the Arabian metropolis as a response to the daytime temperatures.
The story emits a beautifully eerie atmosphere through its photography and observations, highlighting the severity of a warming planet and ways to cope.
It also emphasizes the sad reality of climate change impact on societies: how well people can manage to live with climate change depends on wealth.
Even though the launching point for opening Dubai’s beaches at night was more commercial than environmental, the following line from the article sums up why stories like this are much needed and why I hope you give it your time:
“Nocturnal schedules are one of many cultural adaptations to the extreme heat that could someday spread to places like Los Angeles and Miami as climate change upends lives around the world.”
Climate And The Vibes
The second recommendation is a bit of a quirky story about the aftermath of what could have been a double disaster.
What happened when a ‘hurriquake’ struck Ojai? Little damage, plenty of weird vibes, written by Laura J. Nelson and photographed by Allen J. Schaben for the Los Angeles Times, looks at how the people of a small Californian town reacted to a weekend that sent a tropical storm and an earthquake to their doorstep.
With damages on the low side, the talk of the town includes broken liquor bottles, conspiracy theories and “gut feelings” about the origins of the earthquake that hit the “bohemian and spiritual retreat for wealthy residents of Southern California,” as Nelson describes the small town of Ojai.
The read includes a bit of everything: alarming environmental changes, a happy ending because of limited damage, and a wide range of human responses — worth a read and view.
Climate And The Energy
Finally, Coal Coma by photographer Stefan Kleinowitz documents the grim mining industry in South Africa.
His 27-image photo essay, published on the zReportage blog, includes images and reporting from four months and several regions across the country. The issues coal mining has brought to many parts of the country are its topic.
They range from unemployment and poverty to environmental damage and health threats. The powerful photographs show kids playing soccer under power lines while their community doesn’t have power. You’ll find strong portraiture that highlights the health threats and working conditions.
Coal Coma represents important and impeccable reporting and photography. It’s journalism that you should see.
Those are all the reading recommendations for this week. If all things go to plan, I should have a training-related post ready for publication later in the week. The fortieth edition of Fun With Cameras will follow with nature discomforts on Sunday. Until then, enjoy your readings.
