CLIMATE CHANGE
Not only is a community at risk, but there are national interest reasons to worry about the future of the Cocos Islands, writes DAVID CORLETT
The Cocos Islands rise only marginally above the surface of the ocean. According Simms, the kampong or village on Home Island is just 1.3 meters above sea level. A twenty centimetre levy around the island gives it a bit more height. But with tides rising to 1.3 meters, the Home Island community is already precariously close to sea inundation. With climate change-induced rising sea levels, the delicate balance seems likely to be broken.
The Australian government has declined to resettle Pacific islanders who are threatened with forced migration due to climate change-related factors. It will have little choice with the Cocos Malays. They are, after all, Australian citizens. And there is some irony in the fact that they are also devout Muslims. Commentators from the Right who have been calling for an end to Muslim immigration to Australia will have to accept that the Cocos Malays have as much claim to be in this country as they themselves have, notwithstanding the islanders’ commitment to Islam.
To read the full article from Australian Policy Online, click on:
http://www.apo.org.au/webboard/comment_results.chtml?filename_num=178493
The Cocos Islands rise only marginally above the surface of the ocean. According Simms, the kampong or village on Home Island is just 1.3 meters above sea level. A twenty centimetre levy around the island gives it a bit more height. But with tides rising to 1.3 meters, the Home Island community is already precariously close to sea inundation. With climate change-induced rising sea levels, the delicate balance seems likely to be broken.
The Australian government has declined to resettle Pacific islanders who are threatened with forced migration due to climate change-related factors. It will have little choice with the Cocos Malays. They are, after all, Australian citizens. And there is some irony in the fact that they are also devout Muslims. Commentators from the Right who have been calling for an end to Muslim immigration to Australia will have to accept that the Cocos Malays have as much claim to be in this country as they themselves have, notwithstanding the islanders’ commitment to Islam.
To read the full article from Australian Policy Online, click on:
http://www.apo.org.au/webboard/comment_results.chtml?filename_num=178493
posted by Pax Christi @ Friday, October 26, 2007
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