It was yet another first for Maldives – an underwater cabinet meeting. President Mohamed Nasheed, Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed and 11 cabinet ministers donned scuba gear and submerged 4 meters below the surface of sea to hold their confabulations Saturday.
The idea was to push for a stronger climate change agreement in the upcoming climate summit in Copenhagen.
World Health Day
Recent stats from WHO indicates that 25% of the world's diseases are due to contamination of air, food, water and soil caused by dramatic changes in climate.
Recent stats from WHO indicates that 25% of the world's diseases are due to contamination of air, food, water and soil caused by dramatic changes in climate.
President Nasheed and the ministers used a water proof pencils to sign the declaration, 'SOS from the frontline', printed on a white plastic slate, to be presented before the landmark UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December.
“Climate change is happening and it threatens the rights and security of everyone on Earth” the SOS message said. The SOS, endorsed by the cabinet, further called for people to “unite in global effort to halt further temperature rises, by slashing carbon dioxide emissions to a safe level of 350 parts per million”.
Maldives Aims for Action Behind Words on Climate Change
White sand and crystal clear water that laps around the Maldives draw thousands to the islands every year, but in the waves lie the seeds of the country's possible destruction.
White sand and crystal clear water that laps around the Maldives draw thousands to the islands every year, but in the waves lie the seeds of the country's possible destruction.
The country is grappling with the very likely possibility that it will go under water if the current pace of climate change keeps raising sea levels. The Maldives is an archipelago of almost 1,200 coral islands south-southwest of India. Most of it lies just 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) above sea level.
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Fighting Climate Change the Maldives Way - Buying Land in Other Countries!
Maldives, threatening to lose considerable land, if not submerged completely, as sea rises relentlessly, is considering various options – including buying lands in other countries!
Maldives, threatening to lose considerable land, if not submerged completely, as sea rises relentlessly, is considering various options – including buying lands in other countries!
The country's capital, Male, is protected by sea walls. But creating a similar barrier around the rest of the country will be cost-prohibitive.
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Climate Change Could Swallow One-third of Bangladesh: Moni
Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has expressed concern over the rising oceans due to climate change, and warned that it could swallow one-third of the low-lying country.
Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has expressed concern over the rising oceans due to climate change, and warned that it could swallow one-third of the low-lying country.
“What we are trying to make people realize is that the Maldives is a frontline state. This is not merely an issue for the Maldives but for the world. If we can't save the Maldives today, you can't save the rest of the world tomorrow”, said President Nasheed further.
When asked what would happen if Copenhagen fails, the President said that “we are all going to die”. However, he said the Maldives would be the first country to adopt any amicable climate agreement that comes through Copenhagen.
In March this year President Nasheed announced that the Maldives would be the first country in the Maldives to go carbon neutral, and the Maldives would achieve the target by 2020.
President Nasheed, who is an influential voice on climate change, is a certified open water diver, while other ministers took diving lessons recent weeks.
After the dive, signed wet suits of the President and the ministers will be auctioned on www.protectmaldives.com.mv to raise funds for coral reef protection in the Maldives.
Source-Medindia
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