12.07.2015 Views

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

FROM POVERTY TO POWERLIVING ON THE EDGE:AFRICA’S PASTORALISTSForeign visi<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> the Kenyan capital of Nairobi are used <strong>to</strong> seeing,amid the traffic jams and smog, the distinctively tall, red-cloakedforms of Maasai herdsmen on a visit <strong>to</strong> the city. The Maasai are themost internationally recognisable of the world’s 100–200 millionpas<strong>to</strong>ralists – mobile lives<strong>to</strong>ck herders living in arid and semi-arid areasthat constitute some of the harshest and remotest places on earth. 112In such hostile conditions, it is hardly surprising that pas<strong>to</strong>ralistsare subject <strong>to</strong> higher levels of risk and vulnerability than people livingin areas where farming is a viable option. Rain is scarce, infrastructureis almost unknown (or at best dilapidated), and guns abound due <strong>to</strong>poor security. Nevertheless, there is a considerable body of evidencethat pas<strong>to</strong>ral livelihoods are in fact well-designed risk managementand adaptation strategies. 113 Several studies have even found thateconomically, pas<strong>to</strong>ralism compares favourably with commercialranching. 114Pas<strong>to</strong>ralists are not only an important and sizeable group in themselves,but their livelihood epi<strong>to</strong>mises the links between poverty, risk,and vulnerability. Pas<strong>to</strong>ralists are experts at risk management, showingextraordinary resilience, but all <strong>to</strong>o often their efforts are underminedby the prejudice and incomprehension of governments and societyat large. Pas<strong>to</strong>ralists are also at the sharp end of climate change,and could provide valuable lessons in how <strong>to</strong> cope with a drier,hotter planet.268

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!