The Marshall Islands, off the coast of the North Pacific, has seen increasingly hotter weather in recent years, forcing people to move out. Most are migrating to the town of Springdale, Arkansas.
Highest Point in Marshall Islands is 33 Feet Above Sea Level
The rising seas are not the only reason why people are deciding to move out. Most Marshallese people move out for better jobs and better healthcare. But this doesn’t come without drawbacks. While Marshallese people have their own newspaper, their own authorities and even their own political candidates, they can’t automatically become US citizens once they cross to Arkansas, nor are they eligible for welfare. This puts them at the same hardship that many immigrants face in America.
While many aspire to go back, the rising tide is a significant obstacle. Graveyards near the edges of the island have been swept with salt water and washed off gravestones and soil, exposing resting corpses, so it’s only natural people want to move.
Marshall Islands: Rising Tides Are Caused By Human Greed
On the question on why the sea levels are rising, the locals say it’s because ‘somebody else in this world wants to get rich’. The oceans have risen about 7.5% since 1900, and these aren’t the only changes the people of the Marshall Islands have noticed. There’s been significant damage to coral reefs with this years’ El Nino.
The locals say that the Earth has to save the Marshall Islands, slowly sinking much like Venice, Italy, in order to save itself. This steady rise in ocean levels will claim smaller areas first, but if something isn’t done now, it’s possible that the oceans take all of the land as well.
