First wave: The presidents of two island nations draft escape plans, anticipating sea level rise

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/40789/title/First_wave

First wave

The presidents of two island nations draft escape plans, anticipating sea level rise

By Cristine Russell
February 28th, 2009; Vol.175 #5 (p. 24)

The Maldives, a chain of some 1,200 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, sits about 700 kilometers southwest of Sri Lanka and lures more than half a million adventurers each year. They come to this smallest of Asian countries to scuba dive, surf, fish and cruise in picturesque atolls known for white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters and coral reefs teeming with tropical fish of rainbow colors.

About 11,000 kilometers east, halfway between Hawaii and Fiji, lies the little-known nation of Kiribati. Spread over about 3.5 million square kilometers in the central Pacific Ocean, its three major island groups — the Gilbert, Phoenix and Line islands — are too remote and inaccessible to attract much tourism. Kiribati, however, gained scientific notice when it recently set aside more than one-tenth of its territory to establish the world’s largest marine preserve harboring one of the last pristine coral reef ecosystems.

These two exotic equatorial paradises may soon be known for something far less desirable than ecological preservation and idyllic vacationing. They are among the lowest spots on Earth and consequently are in danger of becoming the first drowning victims of global warming.

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[BlooInBloo]

1. Ah - I had assumed it would be Titanic-style (not enough boats for the little people)...

It appears as though they're trying to plan for everybody. Good for them.

[defendandprotect]

2. "Do not ask for whom the bell tolls" . . .

Americans are waking up too slowly --- this is happening much more in real time

than they understand.