Polish woman questions why Europe heatwave gets compassion but India does not
Agnieszka Hadała, a Polish woman based in India, has questioned global media's contrasting treatment of heatwave crises in Europe and India.
A Polish woman living in India has sparked a conversation online after questioning what she calls the double standards in the way climate crises are portrayed across the world.
In a widely shared Instagram video, she argued that while European countries receive empathy during extreme weather events, India is often ridiculed for facing similar challenges.
Agnieszka Hadaa, who is currently in Poland, began the video by pointing to the ongoing heatwave sweeping across parts of Europe.
"Why is empathy reserved for the West, while ridicule is reserved for India? When India suffers, it's called failure. When the West suffers, it's called a tragedy," she said.
Describing the conditions around her, Hadaa said temperatures in the mountainous region of Poland had crossed 35 degree Celsius.
"Trust me, it feels brutal," she said, adding that schools were shutting, outdoor activities were being restricted, roads and railway tracks were being affected by the heat, and power systems were struggling under rising cooling demand.
She also noted that many homes and offices in Europe lack even basic cooling systems. "Many homes and offices don't even have air conditioning or fan like we have in India."
Drawing a comparison with India, she pointed out that such temperatures are relatively mild in many parts of the country.
"Now think about this. In India, 35 degrees is considered pleasant in many places. Indian summers regularly cross 40 degrees and in several regions even touch 50 degrees Celsius."
Watch the video here:
Hadaa contrasted the global response to heatwaves in Europe with past coverage of India. Recalling images of people sleeping outdoors during power cuts in Mumbai, she said those scenes were turned into jokes and memes. "Today, across parts of Europe, people are spending nights sleeping on beaches and grass in parks because that's the cheapest air conditioning option they have. This time, the world doesn't mock them, it empathises. Empathy is exactly what every human deserves."
While acknowledging that India continues to face infrastructure gaps and poverty, she argued that criticism should be balanced with recognition of the country's progress.
"Be objective, criticise India where criticism is deserved, but celebrate India's achievements with the same confidence," she said, adding, "Because if we don't respect our own country, no one else will."
Her remarks struck a chord with many social media users, with supporters saying the video called for a more balanced and consistent approach to discussing global challenges, regardless of which country is affected.
A Polish woman living in India has sparked a conversation online after questioning what she calls the double standards in the way climate crises are portrayed across the world.
In a widely shared Instagram video, she argued that while European countries receive empathy during extreme weather events, India is often ridiculed for facing similar challenges.
Agnieszka Hadaa, who is currently in Poland, began the video by pointing to the ongoing heatwave sweeping across parts of Europe.
"Why is empathy reserved for the West, while ridicule is reserved for India? When India suffers, it's called failure. When the West suffers, it's called a tragedy," she said.
Describing the conditions around her, Hadaa said temperatures in the mountainous region of Poland had crossed 35 degree Celsius.
"Trust me, it feels brutal," she said, adding that schools were shutting, outdoor activities were being restricted, roads and railway tracks were being affected by the heat, and power systems were struggling under rising cooling demand.
She also noted that many homes and offices in Europe lack even basic cooling systems. "Many homes and offices don't even have air conditioning or fan like we have in India."
Drawing a comparison with India, she pointed out that such temperatures are relatively mild in many parts of the country.
"Now think about this. In India, 35 degrees is considered pleasant in many places. Indian summers regularly cross 40 degrees and in several regions even touch 50 degrees Celsius."
Watch the video here:
Hadaa contrasted the global response to heatwaves in Europe with past coverage of India. Recalling images of people sleeping outdoors during power cuts in Mumbai, she said those scenes were turned into jokes and memes. "Today, across parts of Europe, people are spending nights sleeping on beaches and grass in parks because that's the cheapest air conditioning option they have. This time, the world doesn't mock them, it empathises. Empathy is exactly what every human deserves."
While acknowledging that India continues to face infrastructure gaps and poverty, she argued that criticism should be balanced with recognition of the country's progress.
"Be objective, criticise India where criticism is deserved, but celebrate India's achievements with the same confidence," she said, adding, "Because if we don't respect our own country, no one else will."
Her remarks struck a chord with many social media users, with supporters saying the video called for a more balanced and consistent approach to discussing global challenges, regardless of which country is affected.
