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An Inconvenient Truth screening
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Posted on Apr 23 2008
In celebration of Earth Day and the National Park Week and of course, the Year of the Reef, CNMI Organization for Conservation Outreach [CoCo] is hosting a FREE movie showing this week. If you have not yet seen An Inconvenient Truth take advantage now.
An Inconvenient Truth will be shown on Saturday, April 26, 10am, 1pm and 3pm.
Climate change is caused by the ever increasing presence of climate changing gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide. These gases are released from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil in the transport and energy sectors. Climate changing gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing impacts like sea level rise and changing weather patterns.
While Pacific islands, together, contribute less than 1 percent of global climate change causing gases, we are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The Mariana Islands, like most Pacific islands, the people, agricultural land, tourist resorts and infrastructure (including roads and airports) are concentrated in the coastal zones, and are thus especially vulnerable to any rise in sea level.
Climate change will shift rainfall patterns causing prolonged droughts in some regions. Computer models predict that global warming will shift rainfall patterns, resulting in extended drought conditions in some areas, and excessive rainfall in others.
Each El Niño event has resulted in water shortages and drought in Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Fiji. More frequent El Niño events also bring an increased risk of tropical cyclones, particularly for Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and French Polynesia.
Just because the Marianas Islands is not included on the list above does not mean we are not vulnerable to changes in typhoon seasons, water shortages and drought.
Please, find an hour or two this week to visit American Memorial Park and watch An Inconvenient Truth. You may also walk away with some giveaways from the coral program! [B][I](DEQ)[/I][/B]
