Imagine Life In Paradise!
A gorgeous string of idyllic islands in the Indian ocean…but where do you go for groceries? No problem!
Talk about using all available space! Welcome to Male, the capital of the Maldive islands…and as you can see, they have used up all the space they have on this particular island for business…
Going Underwater!
Unfortunately, this country is quickly disappearing and there doesn’t seem to be any action to save it! Instead of one of the world’s most beautiful destinations:
The Maldives are slowly being taken back by the sea…as you can see here, as the sea levels rise, the islands will simply disappear…
Saving The Maldives – And Saving The Planet!
Regardless of your political beliefs, you can’t argue that the ocean sea levels are rising – and that is a death knell to low lying countries like The Maldive Islands. There is a terrific – and tragic – documentary that looks at the problem.
“The Island President!”
This documentary is much more powerful than I imagined, and even more powerful now – after recent political events in the Maldives.
First, check out the trailer:
Political Activist Mohamed Nasheed became President of the Maldive Islands in 2008, and the documentary takes a very in-depth look at his rise to power.
As you can see, the Maldive Islands are the lowest-lying country in the world. Nasheed immediately took on the issue of global warming, in an effort to keep his homeland from disappearing under the sea.
President Nasheed did some amazing stunts to bring attention to global warming, including holding a cabinet meeting underwater!
He also regularly spoke to the press about the problem…even if he was still in his scuba gear!
The Story’s Double Tragedy!
This documentary is amazing for two reason. First, the movie documents Nasheed’s effort as President to bring attention to global warming’s disastrous effect on his country. The filmmakers have extraordinary access to him at all times.
In the movie, he speaks constantly about the need to stay at 350 parts per million of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere….the only way The Maldives can survive…
Well, here is the latest bad news, just released:
Average global levels of carbon dioxide stayed above 400 parts per million through all of March 2015 — the first time that has happened for an entire month since record keeping first began!
So amazing Maldive Islands adventures like this may not last forever. There is also this horrible political news:
Former President Nasheed Has Been Inprisoned!
This news is breaking now, and it’s especially awful after seeing all that he was trying to do for his people – in a country rife with corruption!
According to published news reports, the former president’s alleged offence – the detention of a judge – dates back to shortly before he was ousted in what supporters say was a coup in 2012.
Yes, Nasheed was overthrown after the documentary was released!
In February of 2012, Nasheed resigned as president under disputed circumstances, with Nasheed stating that he had been forced to resign “at gunpoint” by police and army officers in a coup d’état.
Now, three years later, he is being imprisoned under very shady circumstances.
“The prosecution’s evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nasheed ordered the chief judge’s arrest or forceful abduction and detention,” the judge, Abdulla Didi, said in the court in the capital, Malé.
Nasheed smiled when the verdict was read out and shook hands with three family members when he was escorted from the courtroom.
In a statement released by his office, the 47-year-old called on the people of the Maldives to “to confront the dictatorial power of this regime” and “to take all of your lives in your hands and to go out on to the streets”.
“Do not consider either the security of your personal lives or the transitory happiness of your wives, husbands, children, parents and relatives; for the security of all of your children and their children is in jeopardy,” he said.
The three-judge bench’s verdict was unanimous and the office of the president, Abdulla Yameen, who has denied that the prosecution of his chief rival for power was political, confirmed the 13-year sentence.
When you see “The Island President”, you will see a visionary leader who is trying to make positive changes for his country, but clearly that is not possible now.
I hope that his country doesn’t end up underwater, because then the world would lose beauty like this:
I have also told you about another Writer who also captured the devastating impact of climate change in this terrific book:
Writer J. Maartan Troost has written 4 terrific travel books, all with a funny and focused point of view…beginning with this one:
“The Sex Lives Of Cannibals” documents life in the northern pacific islands…and his latest book is a trip back there to see what has happened since he left:
Read all about his travels here, including what has happened to the paradise he spent years in:
And here’s to justice for former Maldives President Mohamad Nasheed!
Categories: Books / Media, Cult Movies, documentary films, Exotic Travel, Great Films, Independent Cinema, Memoirs, Movies, Obscure Movies, Politics, Talent/Celebrities, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir, Uncategorized
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