MaximsNewsNetwork: MALDIVES / CLIMATE CHANGE

MaximsNewsNetwork: 14 May 2010 - n 2004, one of the largest natural disasters in recent history swept across the Indian Ocean. In its wake, 200,000 people died or disappeared. Maldives, the smallest nation in Asia, lost 20 islands during the 2004 tsunami. Since then, the government has come up with a plan to protect its population from the rising sea.

SOUNDBITE (English) Abdul Gayoom, native of the Maldives:
"I was never this scared. I am sure that the waves swelled up to 20 feet, then came crashing down."

Abdul Gayoom's island became uninhabitable.

SOUNDBITE (English) Abdul Gayoom, native of the Maldives:
"I was forced to leave because of the tsunami."

Now 81, he had spent his life on one of the 1,200 islands that make up the nation of the Maldives, located off the coast of India.

A tiny speck of land floating in the ocean, Kandholhudhoo, was once a thriving fishing village of nearly 4,000 people.

Now, it's a ghost town. With most buildings in ruins and ground water contaminated by sea water, no one can live here.

The tsunami was a wake-up call to the fragility of the Maldives. Scientists say it was a grim preview of what could happen to the entire country if global warming continues uncurbed, and sea levels continue to rise.

The archipelago of the Maldives is made up of coral islands.

Its sandy coral beaches, crystal blue lagoons, along with a rich collection of exotic live corals and tropical fish, have drawn people here from around the world, bringing in billions of tourist dollars.

But with an average height of less than six feet, these islands are in increasing danger of disappearing into the rising waters. Over the last six years, storm surges as high as 15 feet have flooded half of the Maldives' 200 populated islands, crumbling houses and causing severe coastal erosion.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Nihad, Chief, Huraa island:
"What you can see here is erosion in action now. The sand near the trees has started moving out. The whole beach is eroded from there. The roots will die, and palm trees will fall down."

Ahmed Nihad, Chief of the Huraa island, says his island, home to about 2,000 people, is shrinking. There is a fear that within one or two years some houses will be right next to the water.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Nihad, Chief, Huraa island:
"I believe the sea level is rising."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Shaig, environmental expert:
"With climate change, the debate is ongoing."

Dr. Ahmed Shaig is an environmental expert.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Shaig, environmental expert:
"Our view is that you can debate on it, but we can't sit around here until one of you wins or until one of you says I told you so."

Many Maldivians, like Gayoom, are fishermen on the other small islands. They use the traditional technique of pole and line to catch fish one by one. Protecting these small and vulnerable fishing communities from rising waters is an almost impossible task.

..... ( UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION: UNTV ) .....
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Category:

News & Politics

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• Indian Ocian
• rising seas
• island
• fishing
• Kandholhudhoo
• Ahmed Nihad
• Hurra island
• MaximsNews Network
• UNTV
• United Nations