World Environment day (5th June) this year brought yet another nation endangered on account of global warming to the fore. The low lying pacific islet Kiribati that is believed to become uninhabitable in about half a century from now is facing mass relocation. President Anote Tong is very concerned about the crisis his nation is facing and has taken the occasion of the World Environment Day to appeal to the world to help the people of his nation relocate. At present he is on a visit to New Zealand to discuss the matter with Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Kiribati is made up of three atolls and has a population of just 90,000 inhabitants. It lies just about 2 meters above sea level and that certainly is a matter of concern given the rate at which global warming is making progress in recent years. The high tides of the sea are causing soil erosion which is a matter of grave concern in terms of the survival of any life form. The rising sea level has not spared the water supplies even that are getting contaminated at an alarming pace.
New Zealand has already accommodated a small community of Kiribati inhabitants and according to Prime Minister Clark, the worst situation will see only an increase in the number of Kiribati inhabitants in her country.
According to President Tong, vacating the islet is inevitable. He prefers his people to be available to another country as a trained and skilled lot. It is implied that he wants his people to be useful members of the country they migrate to and not add to the burdens of that country.
Global warming is a threat that the world has to gear up for in the near future. Many islands around the globe are already bearing the brunt of this potentially devastating natural phenomenon. Being rendered homeless can be a terrible thing to happen to anybody. The people of Kiribati and those of other places facing a similar threat need the strong support of the international community to tide over the condition. In the case of Kiribati, Australia’s help can contribute in a major manner. They should be able to understand the situation of the Kiribati population better because their own Murray islanders of Torres Strait are in a similar state.
via: ABC News