IRAQIS ACKNOWLEDGING CLIMATE CHANGE: In Baghdad, a shopkeeper is changing attitudes — one umbrella at a time
By Fatima Karim in Baghdad
In the busy streets of the Al Rashid shopping district in Baghdad, the store owned by Abdul Rahman Salman used to be considered a little strange.
For over 15 years, Salman sold school supplies, stationery and posters here. But recently, after several summers of record breaking heat that saw temperatures rise over 50 degrees Celsius, Salman started stocking umbrellas.
“At first, people mocked me and told me umbrellas were for winter,” the 38-year-old recalled. “But I believed in what I was offering and decided to continue.”
Salman’s son works outdoors and had fainted in the heat. That’s when Salman began promoting the use of umbrellas in the sunshine. As temperatures climbed and locals increasingly recognized the need for protection like this, Salman’s umbrellas began to sell. His umbrellas cost between IQD 5,000 and IQD15,000 (between around US$4 and US$12) despite he has resisted prices their increasing popularity.
Despite slowly growing awareness of climate change, many Iraqis still see umbrellas as winter accessories, symbols of rain and cold. But the ever-hotter summers have challenged these traditional views. “More people now realize the health benefits of carrying umbrellas during summer,” Salman says.
Most days, Salman opens his store at 9 a.m. but starts earlier on the weekends because there’s always a rush then.
“The market is crowded on Fridays with people shopping and visiting local streets,” he explains.
Al Rashid Street, a central shopping hub in Baghdad since 1910, has always been home to diverse shops with many antique stores, cafes and bookshops.
Salman has loyal customers for his umbrellas. “At first I was afraid of what people might think,” says Baghdad local Abbas Kazem, 52, one of Salman’s customers. “But after using it, I realized its value. Now I never leave home without it.”
Maryam Hamid, a 27-year-old student and restaurant worker, shares a similar story. “I was embarrassed to carry an umbrella at first, feeling like I was the odd one out,” she recounts. “But as the heat became unbearable, I realized I was protecting myself while others suffered.”
Salman’s umbrella sales are more than a business success story. The umbrellas represent a gradual shift in social norms when it comes to ever-hotter summers in Iraq and climate change.
“We shouldn’t fear being a bit different when it comes to our health and safety,” Salman argues. “Using an umbrella is a simple, healthy choice.”
With each umbrella sold, a little more sunlight is kept at bay, and a few more minds are changed, he concludes happily.
