Oh, that would have to be the story in the Guardian about the inhabitants of the tiny island nation of the Maldives, who are saving their money so that they can purchase a non-coastal homeland, for when their islands start disappearing due to global warming. Here’s a clip:
…Mohamed Nasheed, who takes power officially tomorrow in the island’s capital, Male, said the chain of 1,200 island and coral atolls dotted 500 miles from the tip of India is likely to disappear under the waves if the current pace of climate change continues to raise…
He said Sri Lanka and India were targets because they had similar cultures, cuisines and climates. Australia was also being considered because of the amount of unoccupied land available.
“We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades,” he said.
Environmentalists say the issue raises the question of what rights citizens have if their homeland no longer exists. “It’s an unprecedented wake-up call,” said Tom Picken, head of international climate change at Friends of the Earth. “The Maldives is left to fend for itself. It is a victim of climate change caused by rich countries”…
Fortunately for the 300,000 inhabitants of the Maldives, they still have a relatively lucrative vacation industry that may make it possible for them to purchase land elsewhere. What happens to those less fortunate, though? Do the United States and China, as the largest producers of global warming causing pollution, owe them land? Might we have to start handing over red states? And, if so, can I have the reality television rights?
[This post was brought to you by the very cool side effect of our recent election – the global Obama effect.]
10 Comments
Well, it’s obvious that environmentalists are just trying to destroy the economy of the the Maldives by making up fantasies of human induced climate change.
Perhaps if they just all became Libertarians and young earth creationists, everything would be fine.
Agreed.
I have two words for the people of Maldives.
WATER
STREET
Seriously. Think about it.
The floodplain claim should be comparably laughable.
I’m still surprised that Florida hasn’t gotten into this debate. They are seriously FUCKED.
Floridians have Jesus looking out for them. They don’t have anything to worry about.
They can climb on top of the Big Thundermountain Railroad ride, surviving on hardened gum and divider ropes, then gradually drop off as the Big Rock Candy Mountain soundtrack plays incessantly day and night for the rest of their lives.
“An Ypsilanti woman accused her neighbor of casting spells on her. Police advised the neighbor stop making contact with Oster and left without making and charges or arrests.”
http://www.ypsilanticourier.com/stories/111308/loc_20081113004.shtml
So many unanswered questions…
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/science/space/14shuttle.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Peter La Fleur: [after Patches hits Justin in the face with a wrench] Yeah, uh, Patches… are you sure that this is completely necessary?
Patches O’Houlihan: Necessary? Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine?
Peter La Fleur: Probably not.
Patches O’Houlihan: No, but I do it anyway because it’s sterile and I like the taste.