Tourism Impact Sharm el Sheikh

Man Made Islands?

What's next for this world if sea levels continue to rise and beach front upon beach front continues to disappear? The concept of land reclamation could aid in this particular issue. Take for example the man made Palm Islands. The Palm Islands are located off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf and will add 520 kilometres of beaches to the city of Dubai. They were created by Dutch land reclamation specialists Jan De Nul and Van Oord. The Dutch are considered to be ingenious when it comes to preventative measures concerning the impacts of rising sea levels. The Netherlands have been battling their natural enemy, water, for years and have become experts in this area over time. Because of their constant quest for dry feet, this has allowed them to remain at the forefront of water preventative initiatives and technology. These initiatives have enabled the Dutch the ability to transfer their expertise and to provide a framework to regions in need. Some examples include: Dubai's Palm Island, New Orleans' upgraded dykes and Australia's water recycling plants. Currently, Dutch companies are focusing efforts on projects on delta areas in five countries: Mozambique, Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam. This accumulated knowledge, technology and expertise of the Dutch in the next century are going to be increasingly valuable. Since the world is already changing at such an accelerated pace, I wonder if the future of development is going to be aimed at reconciling the loss of land and communities in the form of creating entirely new land? Is the aim going to be at constructing new land so that those communities removed from flooded regions will have a place to live instead of relocating them to a different region? If relocation is the goal then the initiatives to come are going to increase crowding among non-crowded regions and slowly these areas will become more and more concentrated until the carrying capacity is far beyond its limit. In this case, the region will be unable to provide sufficient resources to the people within it and will be unable to ensure the survival of anyone.  At this point, the creation of new islands seems to be more effective in ensuring the survival of human kind and the rate in which our population is growing than the tactic of relocation.

What does Global Warming Mean?

Global warming means VOLATILE WEATHER. This means that inconsistencies grow stronger and the extremes will be more common. For example, some areas will experience harsh droughts and other areas floods or heavy snowstorms. This last year, Western Canada opposed to Eastern Canada was a bit inconsistent in regards to the quality of weather in these regions. The West was a fair amount warmer than the Eastern regions. Also, the Southern part of North America experienced more snow and colder weather than usual. There is strong evidence to show that these changes are a response to the rapid increase in the earths temperature over the last 50 years. Consequences of this increase are: the arctic ice cap is melting, the glaciers are disappearing, the sea level is rising, the oceans are becoming more acidic, and plants and animals are altering their behavior in response to shifting temperatures. It's interesting that humans and our activities are causing a ripple effect to this world. Because we disregard our consideration to the environment, we are effecting so many aspects of this world and some of which are already irreversible. Change has been steady and fairly obvious, so what now? Natures behavior is changing, and it is clear that humans do not hold the tools to react to these changes. Essentially, we are self-destructing. It's interesting to note that sea-level rising before the 20th century was around zero consistently. Since then, sea-levels have rose 20 cm, to 30 cm, to a predicted meter or more within the 21st century. Based on this data the statistics of droughts and floods have increased as well. One thing that is clear in this world is that you can't argue with evidence, so why are we STILL arguing. There was a video I watched not to long ago that broke the concept of global warming into a fairly simplified matrix. Society has two options: to do something about global warming or not to do something about global warming. Withing the matrix there are two factors: Global warming predictions are wrong and nothing happens or Global warming predictions are right and everything anticipated occurs. Now the question society must ask themselves is: Which world would you rather live in?

These are the outcomes in the most simple and extreme of forms. So, given that there are 2 alternative choices to do something (Plan A or Plan B) - each choice has its' consequences: you choose plan A and we do something - society has a 50% chance of enduring a global depression because nothing happened and we spent so much money trying to avoid the uncertainty and anticipation of global warming, and a 50% chance we spent the money and global warming was true so it was money well spent - it's a new world but we are able to adapt. OR we choose Plan B and do nothing - society has a 50% chance of experiencing a wide variety of catastrophes that challenge the fate and well-being of this world (essentially the end of the world), and a 50% chance we were right nothing happened and we spent nothing and nothing changed. Now given the outcomes of the 2 potential choices we could make - society must ask themselves again WHAT WORLD WOULD YOU RATHER LIVE IN AND WHAT RISKS ARE YOU WILLING TO ENDURE BASED ON THE DECISION WE MAKE? Global depression or end of the world????

Are We Past The Point Of No Return?????

Are we past the point of no return?

As climates continues to warm, entire islands are sinking below rising waters caused by melting glaciers. There are many island nations that are already doomed. Action must be taken now in order to try to reverse the visible and invisible impacts of Global Climate Change. This is especially so because  many invisible impacts are on their way to surfacing. Essentially, we may think we hold a grasp on the state of climate change and its’ impacts but we may not know how great and irreversible these impacts actually are. Right now, there are whole communities having to be relocated. These people are defined as Climate Refugees. Villages that have been living in their homes and off local resources for decades are no longer there and that area is now eroded. There are at least 18 islands submerged in water around the world. The following are islands that are sinking or at risk from rising sea levels: Tuvalu with 12,000 residents - they have no more fresh water and vegetable plots have washed away; Ghoramara near India where 2/3 are submerged as of 2006 with 7000 residents already relocated; the neighbouring island of Sagar with 250,000 residents also threatened; 50 other islands are jeopardized in the India-Bangladesh Sundarbans with a population of 2 million; Kutubdia in south-eastern Bangladesh lost over 200,000 residents with remaining 150,000 likely soon to leave; Maldives with 369,000 residents whose president wants to relocate the entire country; Marshal islands encompass 60,000 residents at risk; Kiribati hold 107,800 residents at risk; Tonga with 116,900 residents at risk; Vanuatu with 212,000 residents at risk, some of whom have already been evacuated and coastal villages relocated; Solomon islands including 566,800 residents at risk; Carteret islands in Papuaney Guinea holding 2,500 residents and whose land no longer supports agriculture; Shishmaref Alaska, USA with 600 residents and Kivalini Alaska, USA with 400 residents at risk; there are over 2000 other islands in Indonesia, Dubai with 1.2 million residents in the United Arab Emirates considered at risk; Cook islands with 19,500 residents at risk; Tokelau which is a multi-island territory of new Zealand with 1,400 residents at risk; Federated states of Micronesia with 108,000 residents at risk;  Manus having 50,000 residents at risk; and Takuu with 600 residents at risk. Are we at the point of no return? For many of these regions this is the case. The damage caused or yet to be caused is irreversible and these areas are or eventually will be submerged under water. If the rich, Western cultures refuse to kick their carbon habits there will be many more regions on the line and at risk. Unless action is taken the communities and cultures that westerners speak so highly of in regards to their travel experiences will be forever lost.

Sinking Cities

          

             It's very interesting and disappointing to see what the effects of Global Warming are especially in relation to rising sea levels and sinking cities. There are many aesthetically and visually stimulating regions that are at risk for losing the beautiful attributes and history that define a certain regions culture and physical capital. Travel is a luxury to society. For many, travel is a reason for being. It is a way in which individuals who are lost, lonely, confused, curious, adventurous, and inspired can enter into a realm in which they can fulfill something missing, connect and identify with people who may better reflect common interests, acquire self confidence and self awareness, change something or motivate others to change something and to connect with sublime nature. Regardless of the motivation to travel, it is undeniable that travel is important and significant to the reason for being for many people. Historically, travel was granted to those of the elite. Now, with growing awareness and capability to fulfill ones travel dreams, it is ever more important because it is more accessible to those of all classes. It is crucial to sustain the ability to travel to the destinations that society so highly values but takes for granted. Again, it is disappointing to see that areas such as Bangkok Thailand, New York City, Houston Texas, Shanghai China, New Orleans Louisiana, Venice Italy, the Maldives and Mexico City are at risk for the potential destruction of what was once or is now known as destinations encompassing alluring spectacles which provide liminal experiences. The idea that these destinations which provide, for many, rites of passage may not exist for society in the next century is overwhelming. The conception that as near as the next century in order to experience the monuments, stories and much of a regions culture one will have to rely on a picture, a book, or a website. These notorious regions of this world will be that of a story, a fairy tale and something of the past. There is no question, that if society continues to engage in the activities we are now, the generations to come will not be privileged with the indisputable blessing to experience firsthand the jewels of this world that were once deemed magnificent. 

For more information and videos regarding what is happening now and forecasts concerning the hypotheticals of the future, refer to this site. It is very interesting. 

http://www.metrolic.com/top-7-cities-in-danger-of-sinking-137061/

Sinking City of Venice

From the beginning of when Venice was initially founded, the Adriatic Sea level was six feet below what it is today.  Scientists believe that one of the main factors impacting the rising sea level is global warming and the burning of fossil fuels. In addition to the seriousness of global warming, Venice also suffers from sinking from natural settling of lagoon sediments and indiscriminate pumping of freshwater from deep aquifer beneath the city.

In the 1900's, the high tide only occurred seven times a year. In 1996, the high tide (higher than the initial level of the tide in the 1900's) occurred 99 times that year. As a result the infrastructure has been redeveloped to accommodate this rising problem, for example, elevated wooden walkways.

There is a solution in the workings. City officials and the Italian Government intend to "line the bottom of the Venetian lagoon's three entrances with a series of 79 hollow steel gates that would be raised to hold back the sea in times of acqua alta." (Keahey, 2002)