Famine stones, witnesses to a life close to nature

Droughts, floods or volcanic eruptions: the whims of nature have led to crop failures since time immemorial. The fact that these no longer trigger famines is also thanks to modern agriculture, says Udo Pollmer.

In midsummer, the Elbe had low water. Young activists unfurled posters in the riverbed to show the world their indignation about the glorious weather. The word "climate change!" was emblazoned boldly on the banner. If they had inspected the riverbed with curiosity instead of standing around bored, they would have made enlightening discoveries: for example, famine stones.

"The Elbe," wrote the Teplitz newspaper in 1876, "offers a sad sight as a result of the persistent drought, the like of which has not been seen since 1842: famine stones protrude everywhere and the metre level indicator at the Dresden Elbe bridge is no longer touched by the water at all." One large stone bears the inscription: "Whoever once saw me wept. Whoever sees me now will weep."

When the drought came, first the old, who were no longer given food, starved to death, then the children. The survivors were marked by suffering. To document this, there are famine stones at the bottom of many rivers.

The oldest one is in the Spreewald. On it is written "If you see this stone again, you will weep, so shallow was the water in 1417." The list of known famine stones is almost endless. In some cases, up to seven years of drought occurred over a period of two decades. A drying up river was a common sight before the times of so-called climate change. Today, it is so far removed from citizens' experience that they can turn to luxury questions like: How many sexes are there or are farm animals allowed to be used or do diets make you slim?

Bad harvests and famines are not new

The most devastating drought hit Europe in 1540. Already in winter, Italy had temperatures that were usually only reached in July. After that, it hardly rained at all in Central Europe for eleven months at sub-tropical temperatures. The forests caught fire, settlements with their half-timbered houses fell victim to the flames. When the wells dried up, dirty water was drunk - with epidemics in its wake.

The weather depends on our central star, the sun. Its activity is subject to considerable fluctuations. Some are considered anomalies, others are attributed to numerous cycles ranging from eleven years to several millennia. If the maxima or minima of several cycles coincide, the effect is comparable to a spring tide. The caprices of the sun are possibly the most important reason for drought catastrophes.

In the case of crop failures and famines caused by cold and continuous rain, it is easier to find the cause. When the volcano of Laki erupted in Iceland in 1783, the northern hemisphere was enveloped in a cloud of smoke. It became cold, the winters lasted endlessly, and severe floods followed. It also became cold and wet in 1816 - a year earlier Tambora had erupted. After Krakatoa exploded in 1883, the weather events were repeated.

The ash spewed by volcanoes is dispersed in the atmosphere and reflects the sun's rays back into space. Then it gets colder. This also happened in 2011 after the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland the year before. After the huge ash cloud had dispersed evenly in the upper atmosphere, the summer became noticeably cooler.

When the sun does crazy things

Since people tend to look for someone to blame for their fate in their desperation, catastrophes have always been followed by pogroms. The fact that a dry riverbed today has as little impact on the supply situation as floods does is thanks to oh-so-climate-damaging inventions such as artificial fertilisers, crop protection, world trade and the hitherto indispensable diesel engine. Since then, the days of burning weather witches and infidels have also passed.

Are we prepared when the sun does crazy things or there is a crack somewhere in the earth's crust? Then it really will be the end of the world. Do we have enough surpluses? Are the states' storerooms well stocked and equally well protected from pests and looters? Is there an orderly distribution? These are the questions that come before every meal. Have a good meal!

Source