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Paradise lost on Maldives' rubbish island.
The Guardian Online ^ | 3 January 2009 | Randeep Ramesh

Posted on 01/03/2009 9:49:23 AM PST by lowbuck

It may be known as a tropical paradise, an archipelago of 1,200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. But the traditional image of the Maldives hides a dirty secret: the world's biggest rubbish island.

snip . . .

Meanwhile, tourism has made the Maldives the richest country in South Asia in terms of GDP a head - which is around $4,500 (£3,100) - though that wealth is thinly spread.

snip . . .

Environment issues are a major political issue in the Maldives, not least because its 300,000 people face being the first to be submerged under rising sea levels caused by global warming.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: environment; glowbullwarming; maldives
I had the wonderful pleasure of visiting the Maldives over 20 years ago on one of "Uncle Sam's Love Boats".

Although I realize that The Guardian is a left paper, it seems that the author bends over backwards to stress all the negative. For example, they have become the richest nation by GDP, but, . .

Also, glow bull warming is sinking their island nation. Period, no questions, it's going to happen. Strange that if the papers have an article about a fellow who was found by the police standing over two dead bodies, holding a knife and covered in blood, he is "alleged" to be involved in something improper!

So, rant off, enjoy the article even with the lefty bias and if you ever get a chance to visit the Maldives do go.

1 posted on 01/03/2009 9:49:24 AM PST by lowbuck
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To: lowbuck

“Religion. Islam is the focus of the Maldivian life in every respect”

And it’s a garbage tip.

I’m shocked.


2 posted on 01/03/2009 9:52:13 AM PST by null and void (Petroglyphs. The original cliffs notes...)
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To: null and void

**..its 300,000 people face being the first to be submerged under rising sea levels caused by global warming.**

Who should be the ones to take in the 300,000 mohammedans?


3 posted on 01/03/2009 9:55:16 AM PST by Boiling Pots (The USA has become one huge pyramid scheme. Thanks George, John, Nancy and Harry.)
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To: Boiling Pots

They’ve been eyeing Sri Lanka and India, but I hope both of them refuse to take the Mohammedans.


4 posted on 01/03/2009 9:58:13 AM PST by MyTwoCopperCoins
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To: lowbuck
So much is being deposited that the island is growing at a square metre a day. ......

Environmentalists say that more than 330 tonnes of rubbish is brought to Thilafushi a day.

Huh? how is 330 metric tonnes of rubbish growing the island about 3 foot by 3 foot square each day? That roughly 3.5 tons (Imperial) per square foot.

5 posted on 01/03/2009 10:01:13 AM PST by Fzob (In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Jefferson)
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To: Boiling Pots

They can go to Somalia as far as I am concerned.


6 posted on 01/03/2009 10:03:58 AM PST by omega4179 (Bush Abandoned Ramos and Compean)
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To: Fzob

That’s a good question, but, if I were the author, I would have made a big deal out of the fact that these poor folks could, over time, use the trash to raise the height of their islands and thus avoid the coming disaster of glow bull warming. LOL, sorry.


7 posted on 01/03/2009 10:21:03 AM PST by lowbuck (The Blue Card (American passport): Don't leave home without it!!)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins
Bangladesh is Muslim, and they already have lots of trade with them.

What? So Bangladesh is poor? Tough. If religion is more important then go to Bangladesh.

Good luck on India importing more Haters of Hindus.

8 posted on 01/03/2009 10:24:17 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: Fzob
Huh? how is 330 metric tonnes of rubbish growing the island about 3 foot by 3 foot square each day? That roughly 3.5 tons (Imperial) per square foot.

Most of the rubbish is simply dumped onto pre-existent rubbish, causing the island to grow in height. Only a fraction of the garbage actually spreads out to increase the island's total acreage - and much of that will end up below sea-level.

At least, that's my guess.

Regards,

Full disclosure: Yes, as a teenager/twen, I actually did work as a garbage man every summer for nine years.

9 posted on 01/03/2009 10:24:33 AM PST by alexander_busek
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

I’m sure AL Gore will volunteer Western nations, along with generous benefit payments (and a Voter Reg. card)


10 posted on 01/03/2009 10:26:14 AM PST by Boiling Pots (The USA has become one huge pyramid scheme. Thanks George, John, Nancy and Harry.)
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To: alexander_busek

Global warming problem solved, they can live on top of the garbage.


11 posted on 01/03/2009 10:27:00 AM PST by Boiling Pots (The USA has become one huge pyramid scheme. Thanks George, John, Nancy and Harry.)
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To: lowbuck

The Gardian sees garbage all that I saw was opportunity to take that garbage and turn it into useful products.


12 posted on 01/03/2009 10:45:32 AM PST by jongaltsr (Hope to See ya in Galt's Gulch.)
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To: alexander_busek

There is an island off the coast of Crete...Chrissi Island. I went out there in the mid 1990s. Its supposed to be a tourist hang-out...lots of British babes, Dutch hotties, and Italian beauties. Its July...and as soon as the boat dumps everyone (none leaving for four hours)...I came to realize the real condition of the island. Its around 100 degrees. About a quarter of the island is trashed-up or porta-potties. If you were lucky and the wind wasn’t from the right direction...you wouldn’t notice anything...otherwise, it was pretty bad. After four hours, and the heat...I was begging to get back on that ferry and return to Crete.

This garbage business at every single island out there....is a major mess. They ought to be tagging a tax onto everything brought to the island to ensure it leaves. But no one wants that.


13 posted on 01/03/2009 10:54:16 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: Boiling Pots

Before the terrible sea level rise occurs (due to the climatic warming which has happened many times in the past) let use the melt water to flood the Qattara Depression. I think it will hold all the excess water and change the desert landscape into beach front property.


14 posted on 01/03/2009 11:06:05 AM PST by Citizen Tom Paine (Swift as the wind; Calmly majestic as a forest; Steady as the mountains.)
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