Endgame Arrives For Island Nation Of Kiribati - Photo Essay From The Guardian

[hatrack]

Father Martin, parish priest on the island of Abaiang walks through the wasteland that used to be the village of Tebunginako garden. Rising sea water made the soils heavily saline and unable to support the Bananas and Taro vital to the villagers' survival


Due to the population pressures on South Tarawa, the lagoons and beaches are heavily polluted


Children play on the rusting hulk of a boat left on the shore along with cars and metal debris. Heavy metals from these rusting hulks leach into the shallow fresh water lens, contaminating the main source of fresh water on South Tarawa


In the mid-1990s, Toani Benson would buy petrol from a shop at this site. Now he stands in its submerged ruins


At high tide, some dwellings are now cut off from the island of South Tarawa

EDIT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2013/apr/16/kiribati-end-game-climate-change-in-pictures#/?picture=407216909&index=0

[msongs]

1. "population pressures"? wonder what that means, more waves? nt

[HooptieWagon]

4. Overpopulation.

So Pacific atolls can't support much population. Limited fertile soil, limited fresh water, limited sustainable seafood harvesting, not to mention limited economic opportunity.

[thucythucy]

2. But hey, Americans need their ATVs

and lawn care, you know, petroleum powered weed wackers, leaf blowers, riding mowers.

What do the lives of people we never even see mean when weighed against the American need for pristine lawns, SUVs, and overly heated MacMansions?

(I'm hoping I don't need a tag).

[Duer 157099]

3. Of course

this is horrible. Really horrible. Of course. (OF COURSE!!!)
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...but maybe.....