Islands in the stream, I mean, islands underwater, help, we're underwater
Weekender #6 | Global threats
You’re reading The Husk's Friday edition, our Weekender, a countdown/roundup of miscellanea from Micronesia, Guam, and Earth.
…things from other parts of the world
Sad news: Kfin Karuo, a Chuukese man, was shot and killed by police in Vancouver.
California’s governor issued an executive order aimed at addressing the supply chain issue at ports in the state, which account for 40% of all containers entering the country. Store shelves here on GUam look different than they did a year ago and prices have increased. There are complicated supply chain issues at every level, impacting every region.
In the ongoing US/China struggle: The CIA has a new China Mission Center. CIA Director William Burns said the mission center will “further strengthen our collective work on the most important geopolitical threat we face in the 21st century, an increasingly adversarial Chinese government.” He said, MOST IMPORTANT GEOPOLITICAL THREAT. 1
…things from Micronesia
Yap Gov. Henry Falan remains governor. Pacific Island Times reported the attempt to impeach him failed.
Son of Micronesia, Lt. Elijah Iruul Funes Solang is a new Apache helicopter pilot having graduated from flight school, per the Guam Daily Post. 2
…thing from Guam
The Boonie Flight Project is having a virtual auction on Facebook.
KOLONIA, Federated States of Micronesia — Island nations across the Pacific face environmental threats from outside and social problems at home as they try to meet the future without losing their identity.
To the eye, not much has changed in recent decades. Tourists come to escape the rat race. The diving, swimming and sailing are as good as ever in still pristine waters. The landscape is lush, the pace slow and idyllic.
But island leaders, working to overcome the traditional “no worry” attitude, tell people paradise may be gone tomorrow unless they act today.
Animosity toward the outside is growing because of problems the islands had little or no part in creating: nuclear testing, chemical weapons, the greenhouse effect and toxic-waste dumping.
This comes from an article titled, “Islands’ Dilemma: Develop but Retain Lifestyle : Micronesia: Environmental threats from outside, social problems at home raise major questions”3
Seems timely, considering the UN this year said the IPCC report is code red for humanity and the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is scheduled for the end of this month.
This article was published 30 years ago. I was barely even alive when the Associated Press was reporting about how the islands are in danger of disappearing.
Paul Alexander went on to write, “Many scientists predict that higher temperatures caused by industrial emissions into the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide, will melt the polar icecaps and raise ocean levels.
That would mean extinction for low-lying Pacific islands such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and some of the Marshalls. Even if they weren’t completely swamped, rising levels of ocean saltwater would pollute fresh ground water, leaving residents with nothing to drink.”
HE SAID: “NOTHING TO DRINK.” I’m thirsty just thinking about this!
Most scientists(99.9% !) now 30 years later are like: Yeah bro humans are definitely the cause of climate change.
FSM’s president told RNZ in a piece published this week that, “Climate change represents the single most significant security threat for the world to include the Federated States of Micronesia.”
President Panuelo also talked about how climate change impacts taro patches and tuna, which could mean NOTHING TO EAT. Ma’am, if the islands are underwater or there’s nothing to eat or there’s nothing to drink, then what are we doing?
In related news, be on the lookout for the TED Talk by this Marshallese climate activist.
Have a great weekend eating and drinking. It might be our very last days of this??????4
This is ok. It’s not like island nations who were colonized/friendly with powerful nations have ever been roped into their conflict. That’s, like, unfathomable.
Bonus link ⚾️
A bit verbose if you ask me but you get it.
Is this too dark? lol. sorry.
This hits different today as I learned that low-lying islands throughout the FSM were hit with unprecedented king tides that have flooded countless roads and homes. Sea level has risen at an astounding rate, all as a result of climate change. My heart cries for our beloved islands. There's so much we can do to combat climate change. It's just a matter of actually doing them.