Maldives and climate change

www.distantocean.com

President Mohammed Nasheed of Maldives is a vociferous campaigner who wants to rescue the world from the clutches of global warming. He is a degree holder in Marine Studies from UK, and is showing his outmost keenness to tackle the affects of climate change and save his country from permanent inundation.
Mr. Nasheed came into limelight by holding an underwater cabinet meeting, a symbolic gesture to draw the attention of the world community to the dangers of sea level rise. It is said that Maldives will be completely submerged if the sea level rise by 1 meter or more in the near future.
Recently, Maldives was declared the first 100% carbon-neutral country of the world, a hard choice for an exclusively tourism based economy. The president has even expressed his willingness to buy a new homeland for 340 thousand people of his country, if the leaders of the world fail to address this serious issue immediately. In a recent article (The Guardian, March 15, 2009) he wrote “If the world can't save Maldives today it will be too late to save London, New York or Hong Kong tomorrow.”
Higher sea levels due to melting of polar ice and permafrost resulting from temperature rise will also affect other countries including Bangladesh. A rise by one meter or so will inundate at least 10% area of Bangladesh, which is a matter of grave concern for such a densely populated country.
In the best-worst case scenario, it is predicted that the world temperature will rise between 1.1 to 6.4 deg-C by the turn of this century. An Indian scientist further warns that a ½ degree rise in temperature will reduce wheat yield by 25 % (Hindustan Times, Oct 23, 2009).
The situation will be further compounded due to recurring droughts in many parts of the subcontinent. Therefore, investment in irrigation expansion through appropriate water management practices will be of prime importance.
President Mohammed Nasheed is trying to do what is needed, and he must get support from the leaders of his neighbouring countries.

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Attention of all citizens of the world has been drawn to the cabinet of the Maldives going under sea to hold a meeting. But the countries are absolutely unresponsive to the situation, despite consecutive reminders given to them through the international press.
The world citizens with conscience and feelings for others must come forward to help the country in peril.
ALB Duza, BSA (affiliated with ITF London), Agrabad, Chittagong