Have humans incited the wrath of
God? Now, as well as Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel, a severe plague of locusts has descended
over the unique island of Madagascar.
Quote from the bible, Exodus 10. 'The Lord said to Moses: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields'.
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| www.discoverwildlife.com |
Whether we believe the bible
word-for-word or not, the collection of stories forms part of our history.
Presumably, the change from grasshopper to locust was a natural occurrence even
then, and one feared by mankind. It must have been terrifying to have all
available food wiped out by an unstoppable swarm.
The island of Madagascar is
heavily exposed to tropical cyclones which bring torrential rains and
destructive floods. A recent cyclone provided optimum conditions which allowed
another generation of locusts to breed. About half the country is infested by
hoppers and flying swarms made up of billions of plant-devouring insects.
Madagascar is the world's fourth
biggest island. Because of its isolation off the east coast of Africa, most of
its mammals, half its birds, and most of its plants exist nowhere else on
earth. Click here to see the unique mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, trees
including Baobabs and the habitats. The
World Bank has estimated that 70% of the population lives on less than $1 per
day. Poverty and the competition for agricultural land have put pressure on the
island's dwindling forests, home to much of Madagascar's unique wildlife and
key to its emerging tourist industry.
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| commons.wikimedia.org |
Now, locusts will devour rice
crops and decimate livestock. 22m people could be threatened by a significant
worsening of hunger in a country that already had extremely high rates of food
insecurity and malnutrition. The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization estimated
the need for $22m to avert starvation for
60% of the population.
I can't help wondering why groups
already at risk are the ones most likely to suffer hardship. Divine providence
or Mother Nature's forces? No matter which, the weak are targeted.
