Tuvalu Citizens Now Grow Crops In Cans Thanks To Salt Water Intrusion

[hatrack]

EDIT

I would say the situation is very scary now," Toafa told Reuters in Tokyo, prior to a two-day leaders' summit of Japan and 14 Pacific island nations that starts on Friday. "Even recently, one of the islands by (our) main island capital just disappeared," he added.

"It will be very sad if Tuvalu actually disappears. So we only hope that everybody makes an effort to reverse global warming -- that is our only hope." Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Many scientists say rapidly increasing levels of these gases is warming the planet, causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt and sea levels to rise.

The issue is set to top the agenda at the meeting on Japan's southern island of Okinawa.

EDIT

Most of Tuvalu is only 2 metres (6 feet) above sea level and the highest elevation is 5 metres. So-called king tides have become stronger in recent years, swamping large areas and flooding crops and homes. Last February, high tides and strong winds sent waves across the main road in the capital Funafuti. The increasing salinity of groundwater has forced many islanders to grow crops in tins.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36546/story.htm

[Boomer]

1. Too too late for Tuvalu

Even if we dropped to ZERO carbon dioxide emissions today, the reversal would not be felt for decades. The time lag involved in mitigating global climate change is a killer. Literally.

And that assumes we're not already past the tipping point, which is entirely possible. Reversal may not be an option.