Climate Change
Who will pull Santa’s sleigh?
24 December 2018
| Written by La redazione
Global warming is halving the reindeer population. The delivery of Christmas gifts is in danger
In a few perhaps they will know that the legend of Santa Claus originates from the story of Saint Nicholas, a bishop who actually existed and lived in the fourth century, who still today in some European countries is competing with Santa Claus in terms of gifts. One of the substantial differences between these two benefactors, so loved by children, are their “means of transport”: the common horse used by St. Nicholas, in fact, in the eyes of children cannot compete with the magical flying sledge pulled by reindeer Santa Claus. However, the good Santa Claus, unfortunately, will soon have to think of an alternative means for his nocturnal movements because the number of reindeer in the Arctic has sadly fallen in the last 20 years. The fault is of the usual climate changes.
The reindeer. The International Union have classified the reindeer as "vulnerable" by for the Conservation of Nature and the numbers are merciless: the Arctic Report Card, a document recently released by the Noaa, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the total number of reindeer in the last two decades and caribou decreased by 56%. The causes are due to a number of factors, all linked to the sad and inevitable consequences of climate change. Increasing temperatures, increasingly extreme atmospheric phenomena, changes in vegetation, periods of drought and lack of food: these are all elements that have led to this sad situation, which does not seem to be reversible in any way.
What can we do? Do we really want the new generations to grow up thinking of reindeer as a mythological animal, a sort of unicorn of the millennials? If, as we said, we can no longer go back, it is just as far as we can reduce emissions to slow (or even stop) climate change. For once, we could be a gift to Santa and save Rudolph, Comet, Dancer, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Donder, Blitzen and Cupid from a sad destiny that seems already written.
La redazione
Last post by La redazione
