Hot like never before

I CANNOT remember a period when the weather was so hot and had persisted for so long. The occasional thunderstorms in the evenings have provided no respite at all. For the past two months, I have been spending most of my time in the bedroom where the air conditioner has been running non-stop day and night. Sleeping without turning it on is unbearable.

I shudder at the thought of the high electricity bills, and worse still, how I would cope if the air conditioner should break down. Bathing is of no use as the water coming out from the shower is tepid even late at night. It would have made me more uncomfortable.

Drinking more water does nothing to help me cool down. As my body has lost the ability to regulate temperature, I cannot sweat. More water going into my body merely increases the frequency I have to empty my bladder.

This is a problem people with spinal cord injury have to endure and be aware of. Keeping ourselves away from the sun in this hot season is not enough. We have to ensure that our body does not overheat. The best way is to stay in an air-conditioned environment.

Nowadays, my wife prefers to bring food from home for lunch to avoid stepping out from the cool comfort of the office. She said walking to the nearest coffee shop and back in the midday sun would cause her to sweat profusely.

This sweltering heat must be very torturous for people who have to be in the outdoors or on the road the entire day. Despite that, I still see the postman on his motorcycle delivering mail without fail every day and the policemen continuing on their rounds in the neighbourhood. They deserve kudos for their dedication in the face of such hardship.

On the days my wife and I had to go out to run errands, I am thankful our car’s tinting and air conditioner are efficient in keeping us cool. Without it, I would have collapsed from heat stroke. That is the reason I do not go out in open spaces during the day any more.

This is a vast difference from the early-1970s when my father got his first car. It came installed with a small oscillating fan as with many cars of that era. An air conditioner in the car was unheard of. Even then, the fan was not always turned on. We usually enjoyed the breeze from the open windows.

The weather was gentler then. As teenagers, my schoolmates and I could play a round of games in the afternoon before classes began. I have never heard of schools having to close because of the heat then. What is happening? Have we abused Mother Nature to the extent that we are now suffering the consequences?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the global average temperate over land and ocean surfaces for February 2016 was the hottest month since record keeping began 137 years ago.

In a news report on this topic, The Japan Times wrote that the world has set new temperature records roughly every three years since 1980. What is scarier is that 15 of the hottest years ever measured were in the 21st century.

Back in Penang, whenever there was an opportunity, I would traipse around the famous Botanic Gardens. The road leading to it was a sanctuary of greenery where the temperature was always a degree or two lower.

The crisp fresh air was as invigorating to the lungs as the foliage was soothing to the eyes. That was where I went to whenever I wanted peace of mind. It was the perfect place to recharge my tired soul as it was a short 10-minute drive from where I lived.

Over time, the trees were removed for the sake of development. Bit by bit, the refreshing coolness was replaced by an unpleasant humidity. The last time I was there, it was hot and stuffy. The sanctuary I had come to love was no more.

The data does not lie. What we are currently experiencing is apparent. The climate is changing at an unprecedented rate. While this extreme in weather is caused by the strongest El Nino on record we also have to take responsibility of how we have abused the environment with uncontrolled emissions of greenhouse gases and massive deforestation.

As individuals, we can each play a part by reducing our carbon footprint through recycling and conserving the resources that we use. While one person may not make a dent, the seven billion people in the world adopting good practices in recycling certainly can make a vast difference.

I am aware that using the air conditioner continuously in this heat wave creates a rather large carbon footprint. The thermostat is usually turned to the highest temperature I am comfortable with. My wife cleans the filter regularly to ensure it is functioning efficiently. We also recycle as much as we can to offset the carbon footprint we created.

One of the most thought provoking quotes on preserving what we have now for future generations is this ancient Indian proverb: We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. Perhaps if we take better care of Mother Nature, we can pass on a better world to those who come after us.