Saturday, November 20, 2010

Guardian article: Because Ugandan salt workers have sexual health problems, we need a massive global warming swindle

Why the salt miners of Uganda's lakes are dying for a deal on climate change | Environment | The Observer
Many workers improvise as best they can. Men tie plastic bags around their genitals or wear condoms in an effort to avoid the extreme desiccating effects of the brine, while some women put flour inside their vaginas as a barrier to the toxic water. These improvised strategies have little effect and sexual health problems are rife among the Katwe workers.

"It's very dangerous," said Rutura Rwankangi, head porter at Katwe, who describes impotence as a major problem for workers.
...
Climate scientists predict that weather patterns in Uganda will shift as a result of global warming, although it is hard to say with absolute certainty whether the unpredictable rains are part of that shift. What is certain is that it is hitting the salt miners hard. Too much rain means not enough evaporation to produce salt.

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