A Rising Tide Sinks All Islands.MICRONESIA -- If you are one of the 7 million people who make their home in a Pacific Island nation, global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. is no longer a matter of debate. As the Earth grows hotter, the reefs, atolls and islands of American Samoa American Samoa, officially Territory of American Samoa, unincorporated territory of the United States (2000 pop. 57,291), comprising the eastern half of the Samoa island chain in the South Pacific. , Micronesia and Marshalls have started to vanish beneath the rising tides, flooding ancient landmarks, disrupting fisheries, and sweeping cemeteries into the sea. Much of the Marshall Islands' annual budget now goes to build seawalls to keep the ocean's waves at bay. Since the US is the major emitter of global warming gases, it is ironic that many of these threatened islands are known as "American Protectorates." US filmmaker Andrea Torrice toured the Pacific to film "Rising Waters," an important documentary on climate change that will be broadcast on PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, stations on Earth Day, April 22. [Available from Bullfrog bullfrog, common name of the largest North American frog, Rana catesbeiana. Native to the E United States, this species has been successfully introduced in the West and in other parts of the world. The body length is 4 to 8 in. Films.] |
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