Small islands accuse rich countries of "eco-terrorists"
The small islands, threatened by rising sea levels, accused industrialized countries in Mauritius in 2005 of committing acts of "eco-terrorism" and called on them, along with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to act against climate change.
President Anote Tong, head of state of Kiribati, a Pacific atoll of 90.000 inhabitants just a few meters above sea level, denounced greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for global warming, during an international UN meeting in Port-Louis devoted to small island developing states.
"These deliberate acts on the part of some, intended to secure their profits to the detriment of others, can be compared to acts of terrorism, eco-terrorism," he added. “The international community must take immediate and comprehensive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Tong said.
“We need to be ready to take decisive action on climate change,” Annan confirmed at the same meeting.
“Who would dare say that what we are doing is enough? ", He asked, calling on the international community" to take decisive action in the face of climate change ".
With the Maldives, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Kiribati is one of the most threatened countries by the rising waters, linked to global warming. Maldives capital, Male, could disappear in 2100, according to a scenario of local authorities.
February 16, 2005 will mark the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, which requires 38 industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This text was rejected by the United States, China and India.
The Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean called on "all parties to ratify the Kyoto Protocol".
Without urgent measures, "the survival of our peoples in the small island developing states will be seriously compromised," warned the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Maatia Toafa.
High waves of 3 meters were fired in February 2004 on this tiny Pacific country, where the highest point is at 4 meters.
"Without global actions (...) to stop the rise in sea level, (...) my people will turn into environmental refugees," said the President of the Marshall Islands, Kessai Note.