Maldives President To Rest Of World On Climate: "Please, Don't Be Stupid"

[hatrack]

He may not get his wish, I'm afraid.

"Please, don't be stupid," Mohamed Nasheed told the world regarding the need to act decisively against climate change. To underlie his message, Nasheed announced that his country will become carbon neutral in ten years.

"If the Maldives a small relatively poor country can achieve a big reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions, there can be no excuse from richer nations who claim that going green is too complex, too expensive, or too much bother," he said.

As the world's lowest-lying country, the Maldives may also be the world's most threatened nation from climate change. Made up of twenty-six atolls, it is estimated that a one meter rise in the world's sea levels could swamp the country, forcing the exodus of over 300,000 people.

“If the world can’t save places such as the Maldives today, we won’t be able to save places such as London, New York, and Hong Kong tomorrow. What we need to do together is nothing short of de-carbonizing the entire world economy," Nasheed said.

EDIT

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0901-hance_maldives.html

[phantom power]

1. I guess it can't hurt to ask, but.... c'mon.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Sorry, friend, but it's time to start packing.

The Maldives have had it.

In 20 years they will be nothing but shallow sea and a memory.

[NNadir]

3. The rest of the world couldn't care less about the Maldives.

However, everyone is passionately concerned about the status of putative farmers in Nevada in the 25th century who may experience the outbreak of a rain forest nearby, raising cancer risks for said farmer from 1 in 100,000 to 2 in 200,000 over a 75 year life time.

[maxsolomon]

4. too late

add greedy to stupid and you'll get close to the kernel of human nature.