Sea Water

Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world. A group of small islands scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean between Fiji and New Zealand, it is perhaps man-kinds picture of paradise. The population is a little over 12,000 with a land mass area of only 10 square miles. The country sent their first ever Olympic competitors to Beijing in 2008 and have been gaining worldwide attention as climate change climbs the charts of concern to settle next to the economy, real estate, and banking. The country is on the verge of crisis and might become the first country in our lifetime to literally disappear. While national borders have shifted over time, most major nation states can point to some land as their pure "homeland." Tuvalu, with rising sea levels will likely be (if all the scientists and climatologists are correct) the first nation state in the world to be swallowed up by Poseidon.

Displacing some 12,000 climate refugees from the pacific paradise might not be too difficult for the neighboring countries such as New Zealand and Australia, however it could be a sign for what to come further down the road. As sea levels continue to rise after washing over Tuvalu, larger population around the world will be forced to adjust. This could lead to a major migration of climate refugees from around the world. These unfortunate souls would have a limited number of choices about where to settle since many of the world's major cities lie near or on the seashore.

Imagine a world in which geographical advantages go beyond natural resources but are found in those nations with highlands, mountains, and safety from the grabbing sea water. How would the powers shift? Perhaps it is beyond my level of comprehension to try and account for all the factors that might cause or lead to a shift but just imagine for a second. In this future world consumed by water (no not like 'Water World') which countries would be most effected? Imagine that most of the world's powers - such as United States, United Kingdom, China, India, and Russia - are severely crippled. Where would all these people go? Would we suddenly be sent running to the mountain of Colorado or the Black Mountains of Russia?

Perhaps for a brief period of 5 years in which major migration take place, many decide to move away from the shore. In this new world large population erupt in tiny mountain villages throughout the world. I wonder if this would really happen. How far would people be willing to go and how far could they afford to travel? Many will not possess the financial ability to move very far. All in all, increasing sea levels will pose a problem for many of us down the road. Grab that cheap land in the mountains while you can because someday, maybe in 100 years or so, it could be very valuable.