While there are a myriad of effects (mostly negative) of this phenomenon, there is one in particular that strikes me as an incomparable loss.
The loss of an entire nation. Maldives is a nation made up of 1192 small islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, just southwest of Sri Lanka. It is the flattest country in the world, and at present, sits about 7 feet above sea level.
On April 22, 2008, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom appealed to the Business for the Environment conference, pleading for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on a global level. His country is in danger of being lost at sea... if sea levels continue to rise. He has written and circulated a book about it, titled "Paradise Drowning".
Never mind that this is unquestionably one of the most beautiful places on our planet, but for the 350,000 people who live there, it is home. It has been since before 3rd century BC.
Maldives produces less than .01% of the greenhouse gases that may be their undoing.
We must do our part. We must all cut back in every way we can, every time we can.
It is imperative.
Mark Serreze, the senior research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center made a painfully ironic point when he stated, "There's also, of course, oil at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. Now, the irony of that is kind of clear, but the fact that we are opening up the Arctic Ocean does make it more accessible."
More accessible to exploitation... the effects of which destroy our planet, a bit at a time, until it is uninhabitable.
All photos are from TrekEarth.com
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17 comments:
Beautiful photos...very sad news. :-(
Perhaps this economy will help us learn to do the right thing. Seems like everyone I know is figuring out how to drive less and looking for fuel efficient cars. Now, if I can just get them to recycle!
The pics are beautiful and it is frustrating to think we might lose such a wonder.
Gayle
Tragic indeed; thank you for bringing attention to this...and yes, those photos are unbelievably gorgeous.
Hey Christina!
Yes... to both.
God I hope it isn't lost.
Hello Gayle,
Welcome!
I agree 100%, but at least the populace is becoming more and more aware of it and trying to repair the damage. Who knows, maybe there are miracles in store.
Thanks for dropping by!
Sognatrice!
Perhaps if there is enough attention, something can be done.
Yes... so gorgeous, we need to go visit while it is still there!!!
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
It is a grim reality that the poorest in our world always get hit hardest. Let's hope and pray something can be done and it's not too late!
It just makes you want to DO something, make them all stop and listen, but capitalism stides steadily on regardless. How can we have let it get this bad?
Sorry, I ranted a bit there!:)
great posting...
if you come over to my place
and
i am not posting
it is because i am busy
TRYING to prevent
off-shore drilling
here in florida.
:-0
what are people thinking?
drilling in our parks,
drilling in our sea....
it should not be
supply and demand...
instead,
it should be supply, demand
and *innovation*...
where oh where
is our innovation?
why use more of the same?
it just makes me sick..
sometimes
i just want to shake people
up........
anyway,
thanks for letting me RANT!
off-shore drilling!
man....
Scarlett,
Indeed a paradise. To lose it to man's folly would be a tragedy; one of many I'm afraid.
I/we have been "green" since 1972, but I fear we are still in the minority. We, as a whole species seem programed toward self destruction. Gotta just keep plugging away.....Organic is much more prevalent today than when I started reading Organic Gardening and Farming (OGF) magazine in "72.
Faith, hope and putting forth personnal effort, that's all anyone can do.
rel
Amen Jon, I couldn't have said it better than that.
Suburbia,
Rant all you want, we're in agreement. It's ridiculous to lose something so beautiful to ignorance and stupidity.
SomePinkFlowers,
Viaggiatore and I will come stand with you to fight the greed monsters!
Keep up the good fight!!
Rel,
You are an inspiration. I'm not surprised, but I am so glad that you are one of those who are taking care of the planet.
We're in excellent company, methinks.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
It can get to be a little depressing and a feeling of hopelessness can overwhelm, but I guess we must keep doing our bit and fight to save places like the Maldives.
Ugh. So horrid. Manhattan, too, is in danger, as are many coastline cities in the world. I continue to marvel at folks who do not believe that global warming is real.
Dear Kay,
We must keep the faith, and keep on working on it, and we will succeed.
Hi Jules,
Those who believe that it isn't real are falling into a minority. Our children, and our children's children will grow up knowing the dangers, and finding ways to reverse the damage done by generations before them.
They must, there is no other option.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
It's a beautiful place and one which I've long threatened to visit and then I keep thinking if I go will the place vanish while I'm there - and if I don't go soon enough will there be anything to go.
Those beautiful atolls are so low in the ocean, the risk to them is so huge - as with several of the Polynesian islands and I don't think we begin to realise the havoc one person's actions can cause on another. I real pebble in the pond phenomenon.
Well then, Vanilla, let's go.
Let's go and take lots of photos to show and tell the whole world to knock it off and take things seriously before we do not have a choice any longer.
We'll pull the pebble out of the pond.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
I heard about this, and I heard that the appeal of the Maldive leadership to international bodies was ignored.
Well, we may think that Maldives is ignorable, but since most of the world's big cities sit not too far above sea level, we'll have to do something eventually.
ECD,
It cannot be ignored.
We cannot lose a nation to ignorance, stupidity and carelessness.
We cannot lose more than that, either.
We just simply, CANNOT.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
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