What We Talk About When We Talk About Drought

We have been spending a lot of time talking about drought. And thinking about drought. And reading about drought. The difference between thinking and talking about drought is context...and specificity. It is no longer just drought, but the drought. It is no longer an affected population but our affected population.

With distance comes an ability to think abstractly, to bring up scholarly articles and talk about diction-- things that are not possible (or are at least more difficult), when your neighbors are calling you from back home, asking how you will help, asking when you are coming and what you will bring, which is the case for our Kenyan Director of Operations. The ways he and I conceptualize drought are very different. I think it is best explained by our different comfort levels with TIME. My other American colleague and I are able to hang back, talk about the long-term impacts immediate drought relief will have on our organization, while he keeps getting phone calls...and thinking about home. Who is more reasoned in their response?

For more on the relationships between drought and famine, a key distinction not made nearly enough, check out the following knowledge from people far more educated than I. It is critically important to understand the relationship between the two terms, both for a better sense of the current situation in the Horn, and for an idea of how important long-term vision is in addressing these issues. When it is possible. Or useful. Which might be never.

1. drought does not equal famine

2. famine and drought

thanks, Texas in Africa. and Murakami.