In a heartening turn of events on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon, my 11-year-old daughter handed me a letter, surprising me. “Baba, can you please mail this for me?” she asked. Despite being from a generation less inclined to write physical letters, she had composed one to Santa Claus. Apologizing for the delay due to their recent relocation to Canada, she expressed confidence that Santa would receive it in time, given their proximity to the North Pole and the assumed faster delivery in the absence of snow.
The topic of snow, or the lack thereof, has become a frequent conversation piece for us lately. As I examined the letter, written on a torn page from her practice notebook, I noticed a particular request: “Some snow please (lots, if possible).” This request invoked memories of our preparations for the move from New Delhi to Canada, with my daughter eagerly anticipating experiencing a genuine snowy Christmas, unlike the artificial snowflakes made with cotton wool in India.
Her perception of Canada was shaped by online news coverage of Saskatchewan’s snowy landscape as they finalized their departure from Delhi. Hollywood movies depicting festive scenes in the snow further fueled her excitement. However, the reality of a potentially snowless Christmas and New Year in Saskatoon loomed ahead, contrasting with her festive expectations.
As global leaders convened at the COP28 conference in Dubai to address climate change, the prospect of more brown Christmases in their region raises concerns. Observing deflated festive balloons symbolizing the subdued holiday spirit, my daughter humorously likens them to “dead bodies,” a somber reflection of her likely snowless Christmas in sunny Saskatoon.
The anticipation of a “brown Christmas” prompts contemplation on the pressing need for collective action to address climate change. As we navigate through the holiday season with unmet snow wishes, the significance of environmental stewardship becomes increasingly evident, urging us to confront this challenge with greater urgency.