<
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240429-the-indigenous-community-repairing-tibetan-monasteries-crumbling-due-to-climate-change>
'
Extreme weather is threatening these intricate 15th Century Tibetan
monasteries, but local people are rising to the challenge to preserve them.
Tashi Kunga stands before the Kag Choede monastery, built into the Dhaulagiri
mountain range on the Tibet-Nepal border. The monk's carmine robes glint in the
rain, as he recounts the ancient legend of Guru Rinpoche's battle with a demon.
The legend goes that centuries ago, a demon wreaked havoc on a monastery in
Tibet. Guru Rinpoche chased it south to Upper Mustang in Nepal and defeated the
demon following a ferocious battle, burying the demon's remains across the
mountain range. The people of Mustang honoured the sacred grounds by building
monasteries atop the demon's body parts.
"And right on the demon's heart, the capital of Lo Manthang [was built] in
1380," says Kunga, pointing towards the narrow alleys, ancient monasteries, and
flat roofs adorned with prayer flags of one of the last medieval walled cities
in the world.
For centuries, Lobas, the indigenous people residing here, have thrived in this
remote region situated on top of the Tibetan Plateau. One thing that has
remained constant is the monasteries, locally known as "Gonpas", the most
treasured heritage of the region. But almost two decades ago, many of these
monasteries, which date back to the 15th Century, started crumbling.
Experts sounded the alarm, attributing the collapse to the severe impacts of
climate change. Data indicates a significant increase in the intensity of
storms and rainfall across the region. Increased rainfall saturates the
rammed-earth buildings, as moisture in the soil is drawn upward into the walls,
leading to issues such as leaking roofs and rising damp.'
Via
Positive.News
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
