What I’m Reading

Today’s What I’m Reading includes three climate-related stories that point to humanity’s interactions with nature. Nikkei Asia reports from Vietnam, where the changing climate and actions up the river endanger the Mekong Delta. The Los Angeles Times covers a lake that recently reclaimed its home and buried signs of civilization. And The Washington Post brings us to a group of remote islands that humans are developing into a paradise for surfers.Writer Lien Hoang, supported by a multimedia team, delivers a wonderfully written and reported story. Climate change effects and projects by countries up the river (mainly China) put the Mekong Delta under severe pressure. The land is slowly sinking, and the once nutrient-rich soil is losing fertility. I enjoyed the multimedia elements that emphasize important points and provide valuable background information about the challenges in Vietnam. The article highlights local farming innovations that adapt the region to the changing environment. But the two points that stuck with me the most are the need for international cooperation to limit the damage to the ecosystem and the general need to think about balancing human activities and environmental protections.But it’s not the first time. The last time the lake returned was in the 1980s. It vanished after two years and has stayed away since then. The lake started shrinking again this summer, but only nature knows how long the lake remains. The article provides all the relevant information about how and why the lake comes and goes. And it includes a look at the dangers of what’s below the surface, from farming chemicals and equipment to people getting stranded or eating potentially contaminated fish. The beautiful featured picture drew me in. It puzzles me a bit upon closer inspection (likely because of the telephoto compression. I reckon). Anyway, I hope you enjoy the writing as much as the stellar photography.

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