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Warming Seas Swallowing Alaskan Villages

By grrlscientist on March 5, 2007.

Anyone who doubts the existence of global warming should visit Shishmaref. Shishmaref is a tiny town located on a barrier island in Alaska. It is inhabited by approximately 600 people. Already, the glaciers melting are causing sea levels to rise; the frozen ground on which the village was built, also known as permafrost, is thawing, making the ground crumble like sand; and two homes have already tipped into the sea while many others are set to follow them to their watery demise.

Village elder Tony Weyiouanna estimates the tide moves an average of 10 feet (three metres) closer to the land every year.

And the environmental impact affects wildlife as well: shortly after we arrived local television was carrying reports about efforts to have polar bears listed as an endangered species. Apparently, the ice caps on which the bears live are melting, causing them to come further inland to look for food and thus making them easier prey for local hunters.

Later this month, a delegation from Shishmaref and other communities threatened by global warming (estimates suggest that more than 180 Alaskan villages are feeling the impact of flooding and erosion) will travel to Washington DC to provide evidence that climate change is destroying their way of life. They will also argue that US energy policies - and the Bush administration's position on greenhouse gases - are to blame for the problem, and constitute an infringement of their basic human rights. However, whatever effect their efforts may have some believe it is already too late.

Cited story.

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global warming

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Anyone who doubts the existence of global warming should visit Shishmaref.

Anyone who doubts {AG} Global Warming is going to have another pat explanation:)

Village elder Tony Weyiouanna estimates the tide moves an average of 10 feet (three metres) closer to the land every year.

Run, Tony, run!!!

Meanwhile, let's spend trillions of dollars so that these villagers can continue their age-old tradition of hunting polar bears with snowmobiles.

The village is being re-located.

The primary problem of global warming, is that agriculture will be forced to undergo crop changes, throughout most of the world. Where those crop changes are poorly planned, or infeasible, famine will ensue.