Changing climate and the resulting rise in the level of water is the biggest threat that the inhabitants of the islands of the Torres Strait in Australia are facing. The worst affected ones are the low-lying islands like the Murray Island where the tides of the ocean are terrorizing children and adults alike, by barging into their houses like unwanted monsters and robbing them of their lives and/or their belongings.
The scenario seems to be the same as in Kiribati and Tuvalu in the South Pacific region. What the victims of this natural upheaval are righteously demanding to know is that while the situation in the South Pacific nations mentioned is attracting a lot of international attention and such a lot is being done to combat the natural upheavals out there, why is any similar measure not being taken in the Torres Island region. In fact the saddest thing is that nobody knows about the Torres Islands outside Australia. So the question is should their cries for help fall on deaf ears? Should they suffer silently while the world just sits back and makes drawing room discussions about global warming, climate change, polar ice caps melting and such issues?
Finally an English scientist Dr. Donna Green has taken up the responsibility of educating the Torres Strait islanders about the impacts of climate change and how they handle situations arising out of it. It is a shocking revelation that though this remote island is in the danger zone in terms of the climate change hazards the Australian Government has not taken substantial steps to take care of the crisis. Worst still, this area does not figure out in the study of environmental hazard prone areas. The Department of Climate change does not even have a search engine entry of this place that is on the verge of sinking in the immediate future. Of course the workshops and the interactive sessions organized by Dr. Green are praiseworthy but according to her there are no or very less records for this place. It is only the knowledge that they inherited from their ancestors that she has to build up on.
Apart from the water rising the people are seeing changes in the other environmental spheres. The seasons have shifted and there is greater land erosion, the sea cow has virtually disappeared, the migratory patterns of birds have changed, marine life is also affected and agriculture has become an uncertain issue. On the whole, an ecological transformation or imbalance is being experienced by the natives of this island. This has a great impact on the economy of this indigenous lot of approximately 400 people who inhabit this land. The people are uncertain as to how they should deal with the situation. Some of them are contemplating relocation, but by and large the natives are emotionally attached to their islands and don’t want to leave them. Some good educated civilized assistance is all they need.
The natives desperately seeking help, point their fingers at the Australian government for helping out the Pacific lot but not taking care of its own people. Of course the Australian Government should take stronger measures to provide safety and security for the Murray and other low-lying area inhabitants of the Torres Strait.
Via: The Independent