Tuvalu is the smallest of all the nations, with the exception of Vatican. 11,000 Tuvaluans live on nine coral atolls, totaling 10 square miles scattered over 500,000 square miles of ocean south of the equator. Think about this before you look at the photos that follow. Tuvalu has no industry, burns very little petroleum, and creates less carbon pollution than a small town in America.
Despite the little effect this tiny nation contributes to Global Warming, they are on the front line of Climate Change.
The increasing intensity of tropical weather, the increase in ocean temperatures, and rising sea level -- all documented results of a warming atmosphere -- are making trouble for Tuvalu. The people of Tuvalu face the possiblity of being amongst the first climate refugees (although that tern is never used). "Their whole culture will have to be transplanted." This is the greatest problem Tuvaluans are facing, rising sea levels. Tuvalu's highest elevation is 4.6 meters, though most of it is no more than a meter above the sea. Several times a year, the regular lunar cycle of tides rides over the roads, sloshing into neighborhoods.
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Oh wow! That is awful! Something needs to be done about the warming climate, but what? All I know is that our actions are making life worse for other people all over the world. We should at least think about how our trash is impacting others, and maybe, just maybe it will help our planet.
ReplyDeleteThat crazy. I couldn't imagine what they go through when the roads and neighborhoods flood. It sad to think that climate change is affecting this little nation so immenseley.
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