Maldives call on G8: Don't let us drown
It's the last day of the G8 - and hopefully the last day of Bush's Major Emitters/ Economies meetings. Today, countries representing 80 percent of global emissions will be holding talks. They will not make progress - because the G8 refused to move forward yesterday. The developing countries like South Africa, China and India are willing to move. But they expect the developed world, which is mainly responsible for climate change, to do their fair share - which they spectacularly failed to do yesterday. - The people who will not be here today, though, are those most affected by climate change. That is outrageous. That is immoral. It is one of the main reasons why Bush's Major Economies Meeting, like Bush, needs to be history. - As the MEM gets underway, the Republic of Maldives therefore issued the following urgent plea. Powerful words, that remind us of what is at stake:
“As the G8 meets in Japan, we as small low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean are facing the real impacts of climate change today. We know there is no time to waste. We know the meaning of sea level rise. We know that when the news announce “more extreme weather events”, this too often means real tragedy – and loss of life and livelihoods – for us. As those most impacted by climate change, we know of the need to change course and to start an energy revolution based on renewable energy and energy efficiency. And we expect the G8 to take responsibility. Over 80% of the emissions in the atmosphere today have been emitted by the G8 countries. It is thus paramount, that the G8 acts, and acts decisively. The G8 must commit to keeping global temperatures as far below a 2 degree rise (compared to pre-industrial levels) as possible. The G8 must lead industrialized countries in cutting emissions by at least 30% by 2020. These are not mere numbers. For us, these commitments are a question of survival - life and death. The United Nations need to deliver an action plan to save the planet at Copenhagen in 2009. There is no time to be distracted from the urgent task to deliver a global climate rescue plan. The G8 must make a step forward in Toyako. The world is watching, and those who are daily experiencing the impacts of climate change today, are expecting decisive action – now.”
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The Republic of Maldives uses global warming and climate change as keywords to draw international attention and seek foreign funds. It also uses these words to boost the image of President Gayoom, a dictator who has run his country with an iron fist for 30 years, and to promote him as the father of global environment. However, when we look at the environment of Maldives, it is a sad story, as government negligence, improper planning and ineffective enforcement has lead to environmental degradation. To reap material short term gains the government is allowing 11 resorts to be developed by reclaiming coral reefs and lagoons. Dozens of virgin islands and their reefs are destroyed, as a dictatorial regime struggles to raise campaign finance for this year's election.
http://bluepeacemaldives.org/blog/
Posted by: Kaaku | July 12, 2008 10:38 AM
Don't let us drown...
Posted by: onur | July 13, 2008 8:07 PM
I sadly have to agree to the comments above to a certain extent...while so many issues like sand mining and beach erosion and bio diversity loss are big problems we face today while we have not even signed the CITES we need more done in LOCAL issues...i agree that climate change is a majour issue, but like they say without food no man wants clothes...we need international organizations like Greenpeace to survey and report to the international community how true our presidents words are and what a derogatory stage our status of the environment is!!!
Posted by: Fenfulhangi | July 14, 2008 7:17 AM