President Mohamed Nasheed, Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed and 11 cabinet ministers donned scuba gear and submerged 4 meters below the surface of sea to hold the world's first underwater cabinet meeting, in a bid to push for a stronger climate change agreement in the upcoming climate summit in Copenhagen.
"We are trying to send our message to let the world know what is happening and what will happen to the Maldives if climate change isn't checked" said President Nasheed, speaking to the press as soon as he resurfaced from underwater.
"What we are trying to make people realize is that the Maldives is a frontline state. This is not merely an issue for the Maldives but for the world. If we can't save the Maldives today, you can't save the rest of the world tomorrow", said President Nasheed further.
During the 30-minute meeting held in the turquoise lagoon off Girifushi Island, with a backdrop of corals, the President, the Vice President and eleven other Cabinet ministers signed a resolution calling for global cuts in carbon emissions.
President Nasheed and the ministers used a water proof pencils to sign the declaration, 'SOS from the frontline', printed on a white plastic slate, to be presented before the landmark UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December.
Press release comes with action photo!
And I should point out that they're not just asking the rest of the world to do the job for them—the plan is for the Maldives to be carbon neutral by 2020.
This was part of a coordinated effort by 350.org to raise awareness of global warming ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit, culminating in an international day of climate action one week from now on October 24th. You should definitely click on over there and look for an action near you.
I will do that, thanks.
Posted by: KDelphi | Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 10:15 PM
ps--I hope it gets more press than our health insurance industry action
Posted by: KDelphi | Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 10:16 PM