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Small or large, populated or deserted, islands come in all shapes and sizes.
They are also at the forefront of many environmental, social and political changes
that are taking place in our world today.
Rising sea levels
A number of the low-lying island nations in the Pacific Ocean are bracing themselves
for the real threat of rising sea levels in the face of global climate change.
Global warming has the potential to wipe some of these islands off the world
map. Kiribati, whose tiny islands cover a large area in the South Pacific (see
page 180 of the Heinemann Atlas 3rd edn) is a well-known example. Action
is needed now to save these islands and their populations.
Downturn in tourism
Islands make ideal destinations for tourists, especially those with tropical
climates, warm, clear equatorial waters and associated wildlife. Unfortunately,
many island communities (especially those throughout Asia) have been feeling
the effects of a downturn in people’s willingness to travel overseas, either
because of economic problems or for security reasons.
Internal / international disputes
Other islands have been the focus of bitter disputes over sovereignty or independence.
The island of Timor and the stuggle of the East Timorese people for independence
from Indonesian rule is one example of this. Domestic troubles have arisen on
many other islands in recent times, including a number within the Pacific Ocean,
including Bougainville (PNG), Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
The world’s islands make for an interesting study, as your work in this Heinemann
Atlas Update will show.
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