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Bolivian Andes: narratives on glacial retreat and migration. Raoul Kaenzig, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. 17.07.2013. Case study in the Bolivian andes. RESEARCH. 2 approaches : 1 ) O n narratives How the relation between glacial retreat and migration is framed in the medias?
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Bolivian Andes: narratives on glacial retreat and migration Raoul Kaenzig, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland 17.07.2013
RESEARCH • 2 approaches : • 1) On narratives • How the relation between glacial retreat and migration is framed in the medias? • 2) On mechanisms • How glacial retreat may affect the decision to migrate?
« In Bolivia, Water and Ice tell of climate change » NYT, 2009 “El deshielo empuja la emigración en una comunidad indígena de Bolivia.” CNN Mexico, 2011
Mechanismsbetweenglacial retreat and migration Villagerssay: yes! “My four brothers are gone, they live in the city; because we lack terrain and we lack water. This year there is no water coming down the glacier!” (Khapi, man 32 y.o., 2012) Experts say: no! “They are enjoying an extra-amount of water. Until now, they have not experienced out-migration because of this.” (Environmental NGO director, La Paz, 2012).
Conclusion and further remarks • Mediatisation of the villages: • Victims VS agency…. A way to adapt? • Visual dimension of retreating glaciers has a strong impacts on decisions: migration as an anticipatory adaptive strategy? • Importance to consider the temporal dimension; Are they “sitting on a melting bomb?” • Moving to vulnerable destinations (cities), and then?
Raoul.Kaenzig@unine.ch www.unine.ch/geographie Thankyou !