When phrases such as “If you see me, cry” or “We cried and you will cry” appear inscribed on what have come to be known as “hunger stones” in the riverbeds of central Europe, these warnings at first glance suggest fear of drought, hunger and water shortages.
But its appearance this summer does not mean that the banks of the Elbe, Danube and Rhine rivers in Germany in particular are on the verge of famine. The link between the appearance of these stones and the occurrence of famine in Germany today seems exaggerated and far from reality. Germany is a country with an integrated food system and an economic structure capable of facing drought and water shortage crises.
However, the appearance of these stones this year has gained symbolic importance because their appearance when rivers dry up and water levels decline, reminiscent of severe periods of drought on the banks of these rivers. The most famous of these stones is located on the left bank of the Elbe River between the Deč region in the Czech Republic and Brna in Germany, and its inscription dates back to the year 1616.
Because the appearance of “hunger stones” was repeated in 2018, 2022, and this year as well, these stones have become a symbol of drought and climate change rather than a harbinger of famine, and although some social media outlets often tend to exaggerate and exaggerate whenever these stones appear, the repercussions of drought and the decline in river water levels have begun to appear concretely in people’s daily lives with the rise in transportation costs and the prices of some agricultural products.
To what extent have the effects of this crisis already begun to appear in people’s daily lives?
The Tagesschau news website quotes Thomas Pauls, responsible for the Department of Transport and Infrastructure Studies at the German Economic Institute, as saying that the goods transport sector has become more expensive in light of the current conditions. Prices for transporting goods from the Rhine region towards the port of Rotterdam have increased by about four times because ships are no longer able to sail except with very light loads.
With the drop in water levels, the expert adds, transportation routes across the Rhine River are likely to be cut off soon. Due to the limited carrying capacity of road and rail transport along the Rhine, these quantities of goods can only be transferred partially and at a very high cost. Some companies have already announced that they intend to reduce their production.
According to the site, the rise in transportation costs will lead to an increase in the prices of some food products, but above all fuel prices, which have already risen in the areas located on the Rhine River compared to the rest of the regions in Germany.
This is because river transport is an important part of fuel supply chains and therefore high transportation costs can quickly reach the consumer. It is also expected that the transportation crisis on the Rhine River will lead to a further increase in construction sector costs.
High food prices
Aside from the drop in the water levels of the Rhine River, the effects of the drought are already beginning to appear in stores. The prices of many types of fresh vegetables, especially potatoes grown in open fields, have increased due to the decline in supply. This especially includes types of lettuce, in addition to some types of cabbage, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
Meanwhile, German farms are increasingly trying to adapt to the effects of climate change. According to the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture, many farmers have begun to change farming methods, including using plant varieties that are more adaptable to new climatic conditions, and planting multiple varieties to spread the risk.
Acceptance of reality
According to Der Spiegel magazine, the current problem politically is that Germany has reached a stage of indifference towards the current situation. In an article entitled “We have reached the final stage of death,” the magazine borrows a model consisting of 5 stages that a person goes through in the face of death, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and then acceptance of reality.
The magazine believes that Germany has reached the final stage, that is, accepting the new climate reality and coexisting with it instead of trying to change it, saying that this summer what climate scientists have warned about for decades has become tangible: we have approached the turning point. However, she adds, we have not seen a reaction commensurate with the seriousness of the situation. Theoretical warnings have become reality, but we simply call this reality the “new normal.”
Surrender to new circumstances
According to the magazine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent statement that Germany must learn to live with the repercussions of climate change reflects surrender to the deteriorating climate conditions. This neglect may be understandable from a humanitarian standpoint, but its consequences on society and politics, according to the magazine, are dire.
This acceptance does not change the fact that the decline in water levels threatens Germany in the medium term with the loss of an essential resource for life, and the repercussions of this on the economy and industry, as well as on the health of the population, have already become serious. However, the German government’s policy is to ignore the problem and continue to wait for conditions to improve, as if the message is: “Don’t worry, it will rain again.”
Agriculture sector
For its part, “Focus” magazine says in an article entitled “The Rhine River is drying up and we are paying the price” that drought in Germany is no longer only an environmental problem, but has begun to turn into an economic problem that affects the daily lives of citizens. The decline in the river level hinders navigation and raises the costs of transporting coal, chemicals, grains and fuel, which may gradually be reflected in the prices of some commodities and fuel.
At the same time, the agricultural sector is under great pressure due to declining yields and high irrigation costs, especially in the cultivation of grains, vegetables and potatoes. Continued periods of drought can also increase the costs of providing drinking water, due to the need for new wells, tanks and water networks. High temperatures and water shortages also affect electricity production because some power plants depend on river water for cooling.
However, this does not mean that Germany is heading towards famine or a full-blown water crisis, as drinking water supplies are still guaranteed at the national level. Part of the crop shortage can also be compensated by imports. But recurring droughts make the economy more fragile.
Hence, it can be said that the appearance of “hunger stones” in the past was a reminder that falling river levels could lead to poor harvests, high prices, and suffering, while today this phenomenon reveals that drought does not necessarily mean famine, but it can turn into an economic bill for which society gradually pays.