Society

Cultural heritage in danger in Sri Lanka

Héritage culturel en danger au Sri Lanka Jybe

Une catastrophe écologique d’une rare violence est en cours au large du Sri Lanka. Ce ne sont pas que les 278 tons of fuel oil that the container ship was carrying, but especially its cargo: 25 tons of nitric acid and several tons of plastic microbeads.

Jybe, positive digital media, ne se lamentera pas de cette situation, mais tentera plutôt d’en comprendre les enjeux.

This shipwreck highlights the urgent need to study the ancestral knowledge of indigenous peoples. Indeed, more than environmental, this disaster is mainly human.

The city of Negombo, located a few dozen kilometers from the shipwreck, has seen for several weeks his beaches covered with plastic and fishing is prohibited. This city is home to some of the last fishermen sailing on traditional catamarans: the Teppams or Katamarans. This situation puts in danger the peoples rich in valuable know-how and fruits of centuries of adaptation that rely on the sea to live.

Further south, near the town of Galle, the life of the pole fishermen will be disrupted for several weeks. They have developed an original technique: perched a few meters above the tumult of the Indian Ocean, they catch their prey with their lines.

 

Pêche traditionnelle Sri Lanka, article Jybe
Traditional local fishing in Sri Lanka

 

How many of these fishermen will cease their activity following the sinking of the X-Press PearlThey will then turn like many others to tourism for a living? With them, irreplaceable knowledge on ecosystems, resource management, woodworking and many others will disappear.

At Jybe, we want to hear from these men and women of practical intelligence. As young citizens, we believe we have a lot to learn alongside the first victims of our unsustainable lifestyle.

Current events show us that this mission is becoming urgent!

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