With little habitable land, deepening poverty and dwindling supplies of water, the future looks bleak. And there is no sign of a slowdown.
Tag: Rural Areas
Australia’s Volunteer Firefighters Are Heroes. But Are They Enough?
The country relies heavily on civilians to contain its fires, but the monstrous blazes that come with climate change threaten to break the system.
In 2019, We Were There: 12 Favorite Dispatches From the Earth’s 4 Corners
This year, we delivered 125 dispatches from 44 countries and six continents, each one offering an immersive experience of one of the world’s most noteworthy places. Here are the highlights.
There Are No Children Here. Just Lots of Life-Size Dolls.
As Japan’s population shrinks and ages, rural areas are emptying out. In one childless village, two dozen adults compensate for the absence with the company of hundreds of giant handmade dolls.
First Comes Snapchat, Then the Bachelor and Spinster Ball
In the cities, technology has transformed social life. But in Australia’s vast rural areas, finding a mate is a bit more complicated.
French Baguettes From a Vending Machine? ‘What a Tragedy.’
In a country where it is said: “Without bread, there is no more life,” local bakeries are disappearing quickly.
Barred From Owning Land, Rural Chinese Miss Spoils of Country’s Success
A region that is the cradle of China’s economic overhauls shows how decisions made four decades ago are hobbling China’s farmers and hampering economic growth.
Brazil Fails to Replace Cuban Doctors, Hurting Health Care of 28 Million
After Cuba recalled 8,517 doctors from Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, the country’s new president, told Brazilians “we can solve this problem.” So far, he has failed, with millions paying the price.
English Village Seeks a Doctor, Using a Hashtag and a Video
Residents of Mevagissey, at the southwestern tip of England, have taken to social media to try to ensure their community keeps its local health services.
Britain’s big squeeze: ‘This Is All We Can Afford’: Shrinking Lives in the English Countryside
In Cumbria, a bucolic landscape masks growing poverty and isolation. As bus lines are cut and services dry up under austerity, older people are feeling new constraints.