MaximsNewsNetwork: PACIFIC ISLANDS, RISING SEA, CLIMATE CHANGE (UNTV)

MaximsNewsNetwork: 08 May 2010 - UNTV: Tuvalu & Kiribati - Two of the smallest countries in the world, Tuvalu and Kiribati could become the first victims of global warming as these low-lying nations with ever increasing high tides are causing villagers to abandon their homes. With total land area of 26 sq km and a population of 12,000, this is one of the smallest countries in the world and its average elevation of two meters makes Tuvalu extremely vulnerable to storms and sea- level rise. SOUNDBITE (English) Afele Pita, Permanent Representative of Tuvalu, United Nations: The issue is a matter of life or death. But for us here in Tuvalu whatever development how fast development may take place that can be wiped overnight if sea level rises. SOUNDBITE (English) Teakini Penaia, former Tuvalu pharmacist: I used to live with my brothers and sisters back in Auckland. A couple of years back I moved down to the south. Theres a big population of Tuvaluans living in West Auckland. I think the majority of the people back in Auckland still carry on with their traditional way of life. Living in New Zealand is totally different. It takes years to adapt to the culture, the people that live in New Zealand. SOUNDBITE (English) Anote Tong, President, Kiribati: It would be a very sad day when there will no longer be a country, a nation, a people called Kiribati. Were talking about people here. Were not talking about polar bears. I think the polar bears are precious. I would not like to see them disappear but nor would I wish to see our people disappear. We are preparing our people; equipping them to be able to relocate if and when necessary with dignity as skilled people, not as second class citizens. We would not wish to see our people as climate change refugees. In time there will be this build-up of community, overseas Kiribati communities in different parts of different countries there is that core group of people from Kiribati who would make it easier for the rest to come for them to assimilate into the new environment. If you were to ask me; and if you were to ask the elderly in Kiribati, the answer is no. They would wish to stay on, even die here. The best we can hope to have is to maintain the integrity of our culture. Whether we will be able to have our people settle all in one place I doubt it. What Id like to see happen personally for us to maintain a nation of Kiribati somehow. We have to do that so that the new generation or generations of i-Kiribati people in different parts of the world will have somewhere to go to, to say that this is, this is what once was our nation. ..... ( UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION: UNTV ) ..... MaximsNewsNetwork: News Network for the United Nations and the International Community. See: http://www.MaximsNews.com. "GIVING POWER & RESONANCE TO THE VOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" ......................