On Wednesday, August 26, a glacier in Tibet collapsed, breaking off from a mountain and falling into a highly-populated valley. This set in motion a horrifying chain of events that led to tidal wave-like floods and mud slides.
The videos look like scenes from an apocalyptic film.
They begin with people running frantically, only then to show a giant wall of mud and water racing towards them, wiping out entire buildings, streets, bridges, and more. Currently, officials have confirmed that
upwards of 177 people have died. Another 1,300 people remain missing, including 700 foreigners from 30 different countries.
Sign the petition to demand action!While the glacier was located in Tibet, the flash-floods and mudslides have destroyed portions of communities in both Tibet and in Nepal. A security camera between Nepal and Tibet recorded the precise moment when the massive flood crashed across the border, swallowing up everything and everyone in front of it.
It's not clear yet if conditions have stabilized, or if there could be further floods.The glacier's collapse was so powerful and hit the ground with such impact, equipment originally recorded it as an earthquake. But now, scientists have identified the culprit.
Worsening climate change has led to radical destabilization of the ice system in the Himalayan mountains, with glaciers receding and melting at an alarming rate. Simultaneously, changes in weather have led to substantial rainfall, which sets the conditions for mudslides and erosion.
Even now, with more rain predicted soon, authorities are warning about a possible second horrific flood in the coming days.
Every year, it becomes more obvious that climate change is affecting all of us. We are in this together - this is our common future that we are fighting for. But governments around the world need to start acting like they understand this, rather than continuing to sell out our entire planet's future for the temporary greed of billionaires and tech bros.
Governments should be tackling climate change, and probably would be if it weren't for money in politics.Every country on this planet needs to get billionaires, corporations, and money out of politics. That starts with the U.S., but it doesn't end there. Sign the petition to demand that lawmakers around the world finally kick out the corrupt influence of these short-sighted wealth hoarders. They must remember their duty to work for the people and the planet, finally address climate change, and prevent more tragedies like the flash-flood in Nepal and Tibet!