Curaçao is changing

Lisa lets out a deep sigh, grabs her water bottle, and takes a sip of the ice-cold water, which briefly cools her down.

“Kon ta bai, tanchi Lisa!” she hears two excited voices calling from a distance, momentarily distracting her from the scorching weather.

“Bon tardi, Tsean en Luka!” she replies with effort, yet cheerfully.

“Tsean! Tell your mom I got her lottery tickets.”

“Okay, tanchi, I will!” shouts Tsean back.

The heat seems to worsen each day, making it not just uncomfortable but really dangerous.

Lisa is selling lottery tickets on the street. Her car, always brightly decorated, attracts passersby and loyal customers alike.

Her enthusiasm usually leads to quick sales of all her lottery tickets. But today feels different. Time drags on, and even the large tamarind tree that offers shade and coolness seems to offer little relief. 

In the distance, she spots a shadow approaching. Looking through the shimmering heat rising from the pavement, she recognizes Tsean's mother Ella, coming to buy her lottery tickets.

Lisa stands up, walks to her car to retrieve the tickets. As she opens the car door and reaches for the tickets, her head feels light, her ears start buzzing, and suddenly everything goes black before her eyes.

“Lisa! Lisaaaa!” She feels a gentle tap on her cheek and slowly opens her eyes.

She sees black spots in her vision, with someone sitting beside her, a brown figure with long hair.

“What... what happened?” she asks softly.

“Take it easy, dushi, you're okay,” says Ella, her voice is familiar and comforting. Lisa looks up and notices the tamarind tree branches hanging overhead.

“You fainted from the heat, but fortunately I was just approaching when you collapsed,” Ella explains gently. 

Ella helps Lisa up and guides her to a bench, handing her a bottle of ice-cold water and using her hand fan to give her some fresh air.

“Drink up and rest. This heat is unusual and unbearable! Even with our air conditioning at home, it still feels hot, and I've noticed more people coming to my clinic with complaints like heatstroke, fainting, and heart problems.”  

“But why is it so hot?” Lisa asks worriedly. 

Ella shrugs and looks down.

“I'm not exactly sure, but I heard on the radio that the weather service issued a heat advisory. The person on the radio mentioned it's because of climate change. It's getting hotter in Curaçao, leading to more intense heatwaves. This heat isn't just tough on people, it affects nature and the economy too.”

Lisa looks surprised. “Nature? What does that mean?” she asks, feeling uneasy.  

“Well,” Ella replies, “the man on the radio said the heat increases the risk of wildfires, especially in places like Koraal Tabak.”  

“Just the other day, there was a fire near our house,” Lisa says, looking puzzled. "Luckily, it didn't get worse, but we saw plants and greenery burning. It was a nasty sight!”   

“Exactly! And that in turn leads to higher costs for wildlife management.”

“Also, our natural water sources can get polluted, and more algae can grow, affecting our plants and animals."

Lisa nods. “But I also think this heat is bad for the economy.”  

Ella shakes her head. “Definitely. Tourists are less likely to come when it's this hot. I also hear that local farmers are struggling to grow crops because of the heat. The whole island is feeling the impact.”  

“Isn't that an additional responsibility for the government?” Lisa asks hesitantly. 

“They're trying to take action,” Ella replies.

“For instance, they're shortening school hours and investing in air conditioners for schools. But it's tough for Aqualectra to power the whole island because the turbines can overheat. Using solar panels and wind turbines to power the whole island isn't easy either.” 

“It sounds like a big problem with no easy fix,” Lisa sighs, taking another sip of water.  

A silence settles between Lisa and Ella as the seriousness of the situation sinks in.

“What do we do now?” Ella asks finally.  

Lisa manages a weak smile. “We'll do our best to adapt. Like I said, drink more water, stay cool, and hopefully find ways to cope together. Understanding and cooperation, like the man on the radio said, are key.”  

“I'm also hoping for a bit of luck," Ella chuckles. “If I win the lottery, I'll buy you a bus with air conditioning, so you don't have to sit under this tree in your car anymore.”  

“A mini office with air conditioning and solar panels sounds good too,” Lisa laughs. “Let's hope for the win first, though!” Ella folds the lottery tickets and tucks them into her bag. 

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