Kiribati: a drowning paradise in the South Pacific | DW Documentary
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- čas přidán 7. 11. 2017
- Climate change and rising sea levels mean the island nation of Kiribati in the South Pacific is at risk of disappearing into the sea.
But the island’s inhabitants aren’t giving up. They are doing what they can to save their island from inundation. Can COP23 help make a difference?
UN estimates indicate that Kiribati could disappear in just 30 or 40 years. That’s because the average elevation is less than two meters above sea level. And some of the knock-on effects of climate change have made the situation more difficult. Kiribati can hardly be surpassed in terms of charm and natural beauty. There are 33 atolls and one reef island - spread out over an area of 3.5 million square kilometers. All have white, sandy beaches and blue lagoons. Kiribati is the world’s largest state that consists exclusively of atolls. A local resident named Kaboua points to the empty, barren land around him and says, "There used to be a large village here with 70 families." But these days, this land is only accessible at low tide. At high tide, it's all under water. Kaboua says that sea levels are rising all the time, and swallowing up the land. That’s why many people here build walls made of stone and driftwood, or sand or rubbish. But these barriers won't stand up to the increasing number of storm surges. Others are trying to protect against coastal erosion by planting mangrove shrubs or small trees. But another local resident, Vasiti Tebamare, remains optimistic. She works for KiriCAN, an environmental organization. Vasiti says: "The industrialized countries -- the United States, China, and Europe -- use fossil fuels for their own ends. But what about us?" Kiribati's government has even bought land on an island in Fiji, so it can evacuate its people in an emergency. But Vasiti and most of the other residents don't want to leave.
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I visited Kiribati in 2003. I was a kid but I still remember how clear the water was; I could see little fish swimming around me. The people were really welcoming and fun. It's so sad to see this happening to them.
I want to go there
I bet it's very beautiful. It looks like it and yes they seem like very peaceful people. It's very sad to watch them scared about losing their homes.
Are they a country?
Sounds like you enjoyed the water, you'd be glad to hear there's more of it then!
I also went there in 2003. Did you go there on the Norwegian Star out of Honlulu?
I am praying for safety and progress of Kiribati. I love how humble and simple the country is. Lots of love here from PH 🇵🇭
@@lepolol8061 are you from Kiribati?
They kinda look like Filipinos, imo.
@@lepolol8061 you mean the Kiribati itself or other island nation in Pacific?
@@ruijin3736 yes, Filipinos have Pacific Islander ancestors. We are mix race, Chinese, Malay, Indo, Pacific Islanders. Etc
@@lepolol8061 i7878
It’s not just climate that’s a problem for Kiribati. Those islands are atolls. The islands are extinct volcanoes. At one time millions of years ago Kiribati was probably much like the Hawaiian Islands are today. Over time the volcanoes become extinct, and then erosion takes over. Eventually the island ends up being reclaimed by the sea once again through erosion and subsidence. Atolls represent a volcanic island in the last stages of its life before sinking back into the sea.
So be it, and you may rest assured that new volcanoes will rise from the bottom of the ocean. As their erosion is bound to gift this world a new generation of tens of thousands of Atolls, we should be worried about the present, not the remote future.
The natural flow of life has now been regulated by the false flag of climate change. What a shame that it's the ONLY reason our planet is changing. How do the scientist explain the changes on earth over the last 4.5 billion years? Ridiculous.
This ^^^^
But that doesn’t fit the agenda. It’s just ‘climate change’ and ‘all western nations fault’ 😂😂
You're describing a process that takes place over millions of years. Climate change has made it an issue that worsens decade by decade.
I remember that, in the beginning of the first covid-lockdown, I read in my daily hamburg newsletter that several Kiribati men were locked in the hamburg harbour and couldn't return home. This was the first time I heard about Kiribati and, fascinated by all these little countries in the middle of the ocean, I spent half of my workday exploring Oceania on google maps 😄
"This is where our hearts belong"
Beautiful ❤
God bless these people, may their hard work to keep their ancestral home....🥺
Their hard work isn't enough "to keep their ancestral home". Scientists and experts know this. They know this. It's why the Kiribati gov't bought land in Fiji, to relocate their population when their land is destroyed by mostly American behaviors. The facts show this.
Behavior by so many "god fearing" Americans has changed our planet's atmospheric balance, which continues to cause now VISIBLE global warming (this causes both hot-spots and cold-spots due to vortex effects) and measurable sea-level rise. It's still preventable, IF people change.
@Daniel Piotrowicz doesn't matter who's fault it is, because we all have responsibility in this. @DreamgirlBlue 's wish is just an empty sentence, God has nothing to do with this, humans caused this, so humans have to fix it too, not God.
6:04 OK old tortoise everyone will now live in sheds and eat fish, you've cured the world, ITS A MIRACLE!
@@whoknew4722 Facts, you say? FUN FACT> The seas HAVE NOT RISEN SEVERAL FEET in only 20 years as specifically claimed in this huge propaganda video! LOL! They haven`t even risen several INCHES! My GOD the schools have failed so miserably......
@@ridgevalentine Humans caused what? This island is SINKING! The seas haven`t even risen a few INCHES in the 20 years that these changes on this island took place, but the claim is the seas have risen by SEVERAL FEET IN THAT TIME PERIOD! Did you LISTEN TO WHAT WAS SAID? USE YOUR BRAIN! TRY IT JUST ONE TIME!!!!!! My God....
Can't help but notice how the people of Kiribati look so much like us Filipinos, though they are darker generally. Yes, they are our Austronesian kin. Greetings from the Philippines.
And they are beautiful, truly 😊
I don't even know what an Austronesian is and I am a Filipino. I am brown-skinned so a Malay. No pretenses on that.
@@gloriaescribir6162 Just because a Filipino person doesnt know what Austronesian means doesnt mean he is not an Austronesian. Linguistically, Austronesians include Filipinos, Malays, Indonesians Hawaiians, Samoans and so on. Malay is a language separate and distinct from Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano and other languages in the Philippibes, which were not derived from Malay. You and I - Filipinos - are not Malays and never will be.
@@gloriaescribir6162 A Pinoy in Malaysia told me his experience of filling out a form where race was indicated. He wrote "Malay". When the immigration officer saw the entry, he shouted angrily - "YOU ARE NOT MALAY! WRITE FILIPINO!"
@@gloriaescribir6162 Austronesian as an ethnic concept includes Filipinos, Indonesians, Malays, Hawaiians, Samoans, etc. It is an ethno-linguistic concept. Filipinos and Malays, both Austronesians, ARE NOT THE SAME. We therefore cannot call ourselves Malay.
These little island paradises really fascinate me. There’s so many with their own distinct character and landscape. Wishing them the best life over there, even if it is pretty isolated. They have each other!
Jesus Christ is the love of your life.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 ✝🌅
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ✝🌅
@@joab124 blah?
I discovered this country by randomly browsing google maps. The islands are very beautiful and I find it quite interesting how resilient these people are to live in such isolation.
My prayer and love for these humble people of Kiribati👏🏽.
From East Timor 🇹🇱
BOM DIA .QUE O SUPREMO.PODER CRIADOR DO UNIVERSO QUE PROTEIJE ESTE POVO .
I was lucky to visit Kiribati (I'm from Italy) in June 2017, it was a life changing experience; incredible places and lovely people which unfortunately have to face with a cruel destiny... Good luck for your future i-Kiribati people, Mauri!
Simone Cutrupi how did you get into Kiribati
Ayeshaplaysgames c’è ancora la possibilità di andarci ? Cavolo mi piacerebbe andarci
Kiribati and Tuvalu are moving to higher islands they have bought in Fiji.
@@_amaya8 Don't believe everything you hear on the internet mate. You can get there by first, a plane to Fiji, then small sea plane or boat north to Tuvalu..
@@Gumshrud Typical...The US gets all the blame even though so many countries exploded fusion bombs during that time...AND at least the U.S tried to clean it up!
i love how they used interstellar background music
I'm so sad watching these people knowing that their lives are in risks but I admire their resiliency❤ Praying for them from Philippines❤
They are not in risk. I am from a similar country, Maldives. We are safe compare to larger countries
There's no risk, as the good news is that AGW climate change is a complete scam and their data is cooked. The "scientist" clowns behind AGW climate change theory have a 100% failure rate in predicting every catastrophic event to date. These morons were predicting that the Maldives would be underwater by the year 2000. They're just liars and theives looking to extract more money from people by way of fear and alarmism. This island will be just fine, so cheer up. It's the lying globalist politicians who are driving this undue fear that we need to do something about.
They need to start building in Fiji 🇫🇯 where the Government already bought land for them. It’s inevitable, so better to start sooner than later. That one family is basically living on a Sandbar !
Blame it on rising sea levels, but how much of it is "liquefaction" with that sand slowly subsiding beneath the waves.
I`v been to a fair few of Fijis islands and now 30 years later nothing has changed the water is no higher CC is a load of rubbish swallowed by the desperate
@@arkroyalrifemoonbasealpha6101 Gore the moron has been pushing this rubbish CC. THINK about Gore who can't spell POTATO 🤔 🤔🤔
@@arkroyalrifemoonbasealpha6101 I looked at a rock and said it was put there by god.
Agreed. This documentary doesn't reflect well upon them. They appear to be quite apathetic and lazy. Just do it. Move, clean this island, promote it as a yachting destination, generate revenues from it for their new 'fiji-island' This needs a creative, motivated response. Sitting and waiting won't help matters. Get moving now!
The island and people are beautiful. I pray that they can preserve their home.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I pray God will sustain them, much love to the people of Kiribati and thanks to Dw for this great documentary sending our love and prayers to you guys from Nigeria ❤
I didn't skip any ads just to support this channel. you guys of DW did a great job in showcasing a worth watching, and a very informative documentaries, sending my prayers and love to the people of Kiribati..
They dont get more money if you watch the ad lol
Yes ❤❤
Has to be terrifying at night, all that water
What do you mean by "all that water" in the middle of the ocean?
@@LegaliseIntellect Why is there always someone like you in the comments ?
@@albertawheat6832 😂😂😂😂😂
@@albertawheat6832 hahaha 😂🤣😂🤣😂fact !
Legaliseintellect.Bore off .
Kiribati is a place I really hope to see someday. This film makes me know more about it. It is a great place, I am especially moved by their people's loyalty and love to their land and culture. Hope I can do something to help, even a little. May the good luck be always with Kiribati people!
Get your scuba card.
May Kiribati rest in peace this is the last remaining flag of them🇰🇮:(
Hurry up its disappearing
If you want to help them stay home
One fun fact I've learned about Kiribati is that they are the first people or island nation to welcome the start of new year because of its location in the international date line.
If you have ever slept in a house with a leaking roof, then you know how messed up it is to live in such a location. Cold waters hits different when you are deep asleep, you literally go into a different dimension of consciousness where you are sleepy and cold, but can't quite sleep.
It seems like a Peaceful community. Praying that they are able to keep living there
Amen who would ever want to leave?
@@-SupraMari0- those who believe that God is only made to serve your wishes and make your waking flesh life better, will only exist in darkness when the spirit is out of the flesh. Open your mind. Your logic is blinding.
They are a beautiful people and trying so hard I will pray for them too.
I give 10 years or less. Climate change happens exponentially and speeds up with rachet. Glaciers are melting faster than expected in Antarctica and that affects everything else north.
@@keelyevans7692 Wtf, if my land will be under water in 10 years and very dangerous for my family, jesus christ...no, i will stay and get my kids some ocean in the house.
Very humble people. Keep planting mangroves. Our prayers are with you! Love from Papua New Guinea.🇵🇬
Love from PNG!
Free the western part, an island should not be cut in half with a straight line like that, especially with oldest and isolated inhabitants in the world.
Watching this 4 years after this video released, I wonder what the situation is now...
I love this narrator, he is also on world's most dangerous roads docos on Free Documentary channel
Its amazing to see people live so peacefully with out phones being a distraction.!🙏🙏
No big screen TV sets and computer games.
And yet there still have the knowledge to worry about "Global Climate Change". You can tell that atoll has been washing away for centuries.
This makes me cry happy tears. These people are happy with living simply and being able to eat is a wonderful luxury.
Thank You For Sharing Love From Odisha India 🇮🇳
Thanks for watching!
I have to admit, the mangrove planting was a pretty clever move to do.
I have kayaked through the man made mangrove banks on the southwest coast of Florida. It always bothered me seeing everything in perfect lines the way the trees were planted. Nothing lives there just many black crabs and a few huge gators. Like the starting of new bregna
The mangrove is like a gift from God...it’s a miracle plant...there are huge mangrove planting projects here in Khobar, KSA 🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦
I think the same hope it works
I watched another documentary in Guyana. It appears to slow it down but not stop it completely. Erosion is one thing, but rising sea levels is another. Once the sea rises or gets too strong, then what?
@@IamJesusWalks sea wall ?
It is the essence of Loving your own native land. Saving it from getting lost so people make ways to save it and supporting their local products and using them to make a product where they can used it to make their industry grow. Good job and keep it up.
I mean, I think it's like having a hometown and being sad when you're hometown expands too much and just becomes part of Los Angeles, and then you kind of just have to get over it because even if it still was the same size it wouldn't be the place you grew up I guess. can't take anyone there and have them experience what you experienced with it even if it was the same size.
and I think they amplify that feeling because they're on an island. so it feels like sad that they're losing this place in such a permanent way, but in the end the place doesn't matter and the dad even says it. he said your culture goes with you when you move or whatever and I kind of wonder what the translation was exactly because he might be saying we're going to bring Polynesian/micronesia culture to the places that we move to. but obviously he's aware that that culture already has been exported and everyone is kind of aware of it.
so I think he's saying what I also think which is that you are literally your culture so anywhere you are is a part of your culture. the exact place that you came from nobody's going to ever experience it the way that you did but they can experience spending time with you and that's how you move your culture around.
Im astounded by the beauty of their culture! Love from Philippines
31:44 I’m Proud of YOU BROTHER I’m so Thankful for giving this young brothers an opportunity in life where there’s no hope but from the land, the sad thing is that there’s no land left, evacuation is the only key bro if you can read this listen, but hey is your funeral I repeat!!!
It's been 2 years since this documentary, i wonder how they are doing
probably chilling with Ariel and Flonder
Or maybe trying to find Nemo
I live in Kiribati
Tom Tof make a video on it I’d love to see the progress
@@awblax1 thats awesome glad to hear that!
What a beautiful island...hearing about it for the first time.I hope they do not loose their culture if eventually they move.
God protect the island
from what I know they have a land bought in Australia I think, they are prepared for when the time comes to leave the island
Wasn’t Tarawa in the News during WWII?
No doubt about it..they the best navigators and the best fishermen in the whole world..they know the sea like no other. Love from Fiji
Beautiful place, beautiful people. I hope the islands survive and the people don't have to leave. I wouldn't want to leave that paradise either.
Planting mangroves sounds like a good idea to me.
There were mangroves everywhere around the island protecting the shores but some stupid politicians destroyed those mangrove forests to make space for sea cucumber aquaculture, farming.
It's the stupidity of ignorant politicians not global warming, see level rise.
@@upstreamer1661 it can be both stupid politicians AND climate change. Idk why dunbasses like to claim facts that literal scientist from all over the world are supposedly fake 🙄
@@bambi7563 Everything has been politicized. Even the science. The whole system is corrupt.
@@musical_info3931 what’s happening this month? How many families are being relocated? What happens to all the items in the house? Does it end up being pollution in the ocean?
@@upstreamer1661 okk
My first time watching and knowing these people in this beautiful country. I admire how they work so hard to find a solution in every problem. May the good Lord always bless and guide you in your everyday lives. 🙏
Sending prayer and love from the Philippines 🇵🇭
Such a wonderful documentry ❤️ love from india 🇮🇳
Love you kiribatis
Your friend from India .....
More power to you
This has happened in the past as well. There are ancient cities lost to the ocean
20:36 Imagine a women's rights activist concerned with teaching other woman how to cook and prepare meals in the US
"You're not just making a meal you're also making medicine" what a wonderfully enlightened view.
Hippocrates said food is medicine. Sounds like they just never forgot it, kudos to them and their simpler way of life.
A "women's rights activist" in the US wouldn't be teaching women it is solely their responsibility for preparing healthy meals for a family. They would be teaching the men, too.
A nutritious, varied diet is important to good health, and some plants do have medicinal properties (often only in trace amounts). However, folk remedies are a very poor substitute for modern medicine.
@@wilywascal2024 Are you sure they wouldn't also be protesting for the right to kill their unborn babies?
@@HappyHands. ~ Your caveman mentality is the antithesis of enlightened, Doc!
@@wilywascal2024 I don’t believe that the cave women aborted their babies. Perhaps your mentality is the one needing reconsideration?
There is a soft spot in my heart for Kiribati and I would love to visit. I assume you can get a flight from Hawaii?
Such a beautiful and yet heart touching documentary , thank you dw team for letting us know about kiribati 🇰🇮
These people are beautiful. They are working so hard with very little to try to save their homes. I pray they won't have to live in some other country, and be considered "refugees". Like people want to leave their homes and way of life.
Lydia Burns you realize there not going to be though? hello there Pacific Islanders aka a diffrent Tribe like Hawaiian Polynesian Samoan ect it’s all the same so basically they could move to any of those islands
yes they should neva be refugees even if they have to die there. the current climate about immigration wont suite them.
Listen closer, land has been purchased in Fiji for them to relocate to.
"These people" why you privileged white supremacist!!!
pogi09282805724 Shut up fool.. She was talking very nice and has some empathy for them. You are trying to get some BS, started, and make her look racist!! Why is that? How should she have said it? Racism is egged on by black's, and some other white people, even..Quit looking for crap to get mad about and make people feel guilty for stuff they didn't do..
AMAZING! Much love for Kiribati people. These people learn to survive everyday of their lives. We live so easy compare to them. We live in a world of a home, computers, a stove, A oven, a fridge, playstation etc and these people are living to survive everyday, gaining survival skills.
A wonderful community living in paradise- hope it will not become a paradise lost😢
The international community should take notice, and save this beautiful Island nation...
Both heartbreaking and beautifully heartwarming at the same time. It's is an extremely sad symptom of the modern world, the negative impact of the powerful always adversely affect the less powerful. But, there is power in community. I have great admiration for the efforts of these communities to keep their traditions and way of life alive. Such beautiful people, living in such a beautiful place. ❤️
I hope that all of the people of the world wake up to the fact that our excesses and our stupidity is messing up this beautiful land and it's amazing people. Sooner rather than later every coastline will be facing the same threat. Ocean front property in Arizona?! We really need to start finding solutions now before mess this beautiful Earth is too damaged to recover. Thoughts? Ideas? Let's try to find answers before our grandkids have to grow fins to cope. God bless to all!
Check out the ancient Forest they discovered a couple years ago under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico - it was once dry land thousands of years ago- so it seems the process is just continuing today, of course the climate always changes -
It’s not totally a man made problem. Pollution, deforestation, and the weakening of the land structures. But you have to remember Earth is a living breathing thing, it grows and changes for millions of years. We are just the fleas on it’s structure. It shifts, gets zits, eruptions and stretches. We an on for the ride.
Its not pointing fingers at everybody, just at some few. Its not humans that are causing climate change, its some few. And yes, the earth is a living thing, but we are changing it. And yes, we are just fleas on its surface. but when shit goes down, which fleas will suffer and die. I am sure you will suddenly see that you dont want to be a flea and that your including you in the "we" was just semantics. You for a starts dont have a German guy talking about your people as diligent workers ("better than the Phillipinos"), you dont have to become dependent on the goodwill of some Europeans who are comfortable becasue they wont be loosing their homes this fast. Sorry, but much in this documentary is just distorted and partly wrong... I wish power to Kiribati for continuing the fight and finding their way!
@I'm Curious but it killed the cat so...." Animation atoll formation " on the Net
elementary school staff
"Not just making a meal, your making medicine" -) love that
@The Truth about Africa hurts what exactly is primitive or stupid about that?
@Tonya Jones - “Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.”
@@MrWicked61671 Hippocrates said that! Very nice! 😊
Eye opener... and now I pray that somehow Ur beautiful island country and its people and culture survive this crisis. Where there is a will, there is a always a way!!!
This was so sad to watch. They could loose it all. Pray they stay safe
The people who suffer the most are those the least responsible for the mess.
Climate change is natural don't be a brainwashed moron..
I love how they played the song from interstellar 2:52. Meaning they need to find a new home and fast.
its so distracting lol
This is what the Climate group needs to be planning for instead of wasting time with "accords". It's too late to change or stop climate change (laughable that anyone would think humans could do that!). Time to Plan for Escape.
@@carolmiller5713 They received solar panels and training in sailing, relax they are doing fine. lol
@@carolmiller5713 Let's not get radical. We need to be rational & realistic. Global warming/climate change will not kill off all life, nor all humans. But it WILL disrupt many, will cost much money, and will kill some (up to max 10% of) people. Just as the Kiribaas have planned to relocate to Fiji (their gov't already bought land for that), many forward-thinking people are working in many ways/areas, to protect vulnerable populations. And in 30 years we'll need again more strict measures - and again another 30 years after that even more strict limits... until we eliminate most of our carbon-polluting. The core problem is, the poorest (and the most foolish) will suffer, even die. *And it's fully unfair to punish the poorest/most innocent people/nations.* We in the west need to change, and take responsibility. This requires accords -- and newer accords -- every 10 years, which each adjust targets/goals.
Any "Plan for Escape" is untenable! Where will we escape to? All other planetary bodies have more severe problems than our Terrestrial global warming. Also, let's focus, and never attack our own/thinking people who are on the "correct side" (solutions-oriented side) of this global problem. We must also educate (vigorously) the deniers!!! *Things are NOT "too late".* Climate science documented many recent instances of the Earth "healing" itself, although slowly -- and yes many ppl will still suffer. But as long as we fix our Carbon-polluting behaviors within the next ~100 years, it will not go into an irreparable/catastrophic cycle. Scientists have seen that every time we've corrected our carbon-polluting behaviors (during the last 30 years), the Earth repaired parts of its atmosphere within 5-10 years (but not entirely repaired - full self-repair will require longer times). Extremist/alarmist views is the same as infighting (attacking ourselves) - which effectively attacks scientists. Top experienced climate scientists do believe we have at least 3+ decades of time, though we must do more ASAP.
I once visited Kiribati and it was a wonderful experience.
life can both be good and sad at the same time,my love going to kiribati people
They forget to mention that the island in sinking faster than the sea level is rising. This is common for sand islands.
exactly , i live in Port Stephens Australia for over 40 years only about 2 meters above high tide. sea level is the same it was all those years ego.
Wrong. Firstly, they are atolls, made of corals not sand. Secondly, coral atolls do not 'sink'. So do your homework before spilling wrong information. Thank you
@@Kermadec2001 You had better do some more research. Atolls sink all of the time. As the earthquakes move the the tectonic plates, it causes the islands to sink due to old and dead coral
. Don't think you can get away with false info. Just because you think it doesn't make it so. Science is much smarter than both of us.
@@isawondfl1 'as the earthquakes move the tectonic plates' ... Lol
Nice one 😂
@@Kermadec2001 Your ignorance is amazing. You do know about tectonic plates don't you. Do you know anything about the earth and why we have earthquakes and what they do to the earth? Get on here and do some research. You may just learn something. Do you know anything about all of the fault lines or where they are located?
They need to get the tourists involved in the mangroves
planting.Good luck to you all x
It's not any tourist there.
Thats a good one. Let tourists help lend a hand by planting a tree as a way of funding and charity. Another way of donation for a good goal.
Kiribati is one of the least visited countries by touriat thoo
It would be cool to help them
Small sand banks have come and gone throughout Earth's history. To think one random sand island would remain unchanged forever regardless of human activity seems unlikely. And didn't those ancestors move from island to island in a semi nomadic manner? I do feel for them but it's not reasonable to think some tiny sand bank can be saved.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this film about the struggle of the people in low lying nations of the Pacific to survive against our changing climate. I am humbled that the people with so little materialistic things can still smile and be happy with what they do have, compared to people in more prosperous parts of the world. I have been fortunate to have visited Hawaii and the Cook Islands, and know where I like to be right now! Maybe if we spent less money on fighting wars, and more on slowing climate change, the world would be a better place for future generations.
You can't "slow" climate change, it's driven by the planet and it's relationship to the sun. Climate change, while real, is NOT being caused by people or countries. Climate is driven by planetary cycles of orbit and axial tilt/precession. We know for a fact that the Earth has been a frozen snow ball most of it's existence and will continue to be. The Earth has a very unique orbit that takes it (borderline) out of the "goldilocks" zone for about 100,000yrs. In between these orbital periods the Earth's orbit lowers and becomes more direct with the sun's rays causing interglacial periods, like the one we live in. In fact had it not been for the Younger Dryas event roughly 12,000yrs ago the Earth would already be approx 3 degrees warmer on avg. These periods last for about 100,000yrs and are a gradual warming that increases at a higher rate the further the Earth goes into the cycle. The warming then slows the oceans currents that circulate warm/cool water and air. This along with the elongation and rise of Earths orbit cause the Earth to freeze almost within hours where it then remains frozen for roughly 100k yrs. This is a cycle that has existed longer than Humans and will continue to exist in perpetuity unless something destroys or alters our solar system or galaxy. The reason climate change being a human factor is being driven down your throat is simple.....redistribution of money/power.
I’m just watching this now and it’s making me feel emotional for the people in Kiribati. Don’t ever give up on your island ❤️❤️❤️
Don’t ever give up on your island! - love it! 💖
They must give up their islands, or die. The sooner they leave and start somewhere else, the better. They are only postponing the inevitable. It's heartbreaking, but it will happen :(
What a gorgeous place. So sad for the people there. Almost 80 years ago, the islands were destroyed by the Battle of Tarawa, where my Dad fought the Japanese as a US Marine. Now they see there small piece of paradise washed out from under them. Heartbreaking. Nothing can be done in time to save the atol.
The islands are actually growing, not shrinking. This is a propaganda film.
Journalists and activists frequently point to short-term or local trends as proof that humans are causing harmful changes in the earth’s climate, but long-term, inclusive data often shows that these changes are well within the bounds of natural variation. Beyond coral reef islands, they have done this with diverse subjects like hurricanes, temperature changes, famines, rainfall, and ice conditions.
@@jesse_- Yeah but not their island or home, that’s others, changing variations affect low sea level islands most. There are island that disappeared already, others will.
My stepfather was with the Marines in that battle too.
@@lindaterrell5535 my father to. He was a combat engineer, flamethrower, demolition guy. He was in combat at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian.
How many atolls used to be significant islands long ago?
They need to plant more mangroves along the ocean, support coral reefs, plant more trees, especially around the coastline.
Thank you for a beautiful channel for Kiribati.
I really enjoyed this documentary. I have lived in Southern Louisiana most of my live and during heavy storms and hurricanes my home always flooded. And in 2005 my home was taken by the Stormsurge that was with the hurricane. The marsh of the Gulf Coast has all but been decimated but the repeatative stormsurges. The marsh was what protected our southern coast and limited the damage to towns/homes. Grand Isle, Louisiana was just about wiped into the GuIf this year by the combination of damaging high winds, high tide, high rain total, and a storm surge that almost covered the entire island.. all this was in one hurricane. I really feel empathy for Kiribati. I love the culture and the love of community they show. Their ability to work together and involve the youth to become active in the fight for survival of land and culture; these actions will be what makes them successful.
I pray that they have more success with planting the Musgrove trees, job trainings and trade, and I pray that they are able to find assistance with building stronger, better and higher sea walls; and have success with reclaiming their home from the sea.
Homes raised up on stilts to protect families from water is a great idea. It works well for our low lying towns and for those homes that are now outside of any seawall (such as our marsh) But the downside is that Kiribati trees are needed for protection and sugar production. It would be very harmful to cut a bunch of trees at once to rebuild. Supply would have to be brought in or reuse the wood by rebuilding the same house (deconstruct then reconstruct on higher platform) only replacing damaged pieces or adding what is needed, such as the stilts.
An out of the box idea is instead of cutting trees to provide stilts, why not move the houses into the trees. By doing that, where possible, the trees are still alive, strong and providing stability and protection.
The new land in Fiji should start being prepared with solar panels,, clean water sources and sanitation facilities. So that it's ready for the influx of people when the time happens. I pray for everyone effected. It was hard for me and my family to be evacuated to the other side of the country and start over. Kiribati has a long fight ahead but they also have determination across generations to be successful. Good Luck and God Bless. Don't give up the fight. You will have a family here that has you in our prayers.🙏🤗🇺🇲
Are you from Plaquemines Parish
Yeah I lived out side of BatonRouge a town called Denham springs I lived there for 34yr’s and BatonRouge 1yr. Back in 2005 I was working for Shaw cleaning the plants along the cost building up the pipe racks that just about everything else out there I seen 1,000 of snakes and gators I caught a little gator with my hands this electrician wanted it so I said here you go .. so many people lost their lives down there they had a big ❌ on there door if they were deceased . They had houses in the roads big shrimp boats in the plants sitting on top of the pipe racks big boats in the road . They had a dead horse , it was about 8 foot up in the tree .. it was sad .
I live in St. Charles Parish.
🙌🏼 thank u. I live in fiji
She is so right plant more trees , the mangroves protect the sand from erosion ,
Forests in general protect land from floods and keep land together, but are not invincible to avalanches and tsunamis. The trees they've planted are still saplings. I wonder how they'll hold out in the next thirty years... I hope and pray it'll work! :(
I really hope this helps their most difficult situation. But I'm wondering if the mangrove trees can stand up to constant attacks by seawater? Can they deal with the salty water?
@@calysagora3615 Don't forget that _you_ are also a primate!
@@mariokartas6848 Indeed, but one that chooses NOT to stay ignorant in the age of information.
They haven't even done a basic google search of their home to realize that their island is a case study of the eons old problems of natural or man-made sinking sand atolls.
They are CONDITIONING each other to blame external invisible human forces and peoples, see the brainwashing of the kids in school in the video? Insane... Barbaric primal fear abuse. Exploiting children for political gains. This is why the world is rejecting the fascistic tendencies of leftism. It's well deserving of its moniker "eco-fascism". UN agenda 21 one world order garbage.
This is NOT sea level rise, it's NOT "global warming" (prove it without using fraudster Michael Mann's hockey-stick data that's now been debunked in court.) Remember ClimateGate. This is human habitath self-destruction. No sympathy warrented. I have empathy for the victimized children though.
@@robertterrell3065 they grow in salty water
I believe that Kiribas, previously the Gilbert islands, has one allied WW2 bomber pilot born there.
Kenneth Hugh Grenfell. I think he was born there while his Australian parents were there, doing missionary work.
He enlisted in Sydney, in 1941, was killed in action, attacked by a German ace, 3 am, 30 March, 1943, returning from a Berlin bombing mission. Just made it over the German/Dutch border.
All the Oz crew were buried in Holland. He was newly married to an English nurse. No children. All crew died. The 2 gunners fired back at the German, and brought him down. So all died.
It was witnessed by a Dutch farming family. They saw the bomber was on fire, saw 6 of the 7 crew evacuate the Lancaster, but none of the parachutes opened. I believe the plane was too low, when they bailed out. The 7th lad, the wireless operator, was found under the fuselage of the plane, when it was cleared away by the Germans, about 2 weeks after the burials.
Ken was identified by his watch.
Ken was surprisingly small for a pilot, but had escaped one very dicey situation and was seen as a very good pilot.
I hope the best for everyone that lives there. I know this documentary is about four years old now so hopefully they're all ok or if moved are safe.
The only thing that got me was the older lady and her granddaughter. The blaming of other countries for the island sinking. From what I've read this country was like this for quite some time. Long before most of us were probably born. I feel for the native people losing their home, but we didn't cause it.
we are one reason for it, but not the only one.
@@phanpin2199 No, just overpopulation, deforestation, and erosion. A whole lot of vasectomies would solve their problems within a few years.
It's the fault of US, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain.
Absolutely this is a play too be supported by the developed countries IE the USA they know it and so do the Marines who were there 80 yrs ago
27:30 she speaks facts about feeling like a second class citizen when you’re in a country that doesn’t belong to you. It’s sad to see the island washing away. You can clearly see how happy they are.
Well if it makes people feel better they should know no land belongs to anyone being born in a certain place doesn't mean you belong there either noone belongs anywhere
Great to watch something that involves other Pacific island nation. This is the first time for me to learn about Kiribati.
Ya BUT it is Bull shit! The Island is sinking Not the sea is rising ! Coming from the Hawaiian islands and studying Geology in the Pacific , I have seen what looks like the rise of the seas changing. The truth is we are on one of the largest Crustal Plate, called the "Pacific Plate", while most islands And continents are on Tectonic Plates, Hawaii is in the middle of a crustal plate which sits on a hot spot. The continental drift is moving this plate, which are below the ocean surface. If you look at Hawaii as a whole, we have a total of eight major islands, then many small islands , atolls, and reefs spanning over a thousand miles. Over time our islands have moved. Our islands formed and changed over time. I have experienced the shift of each island. Big Island is still growing and active, producing another island next to it because the island is on a hot spot on the Pacific plate. The landscape is long and slopey. Little to none beaches, with lava landscape. On the other major island to the left, which is Kauai the mountains have eroded and have a lot of white sandy beaches. The next island Oahu where I am born and raised , is the same. We have maps and photos of what our islands looked like before. I remember seeing beaches , but they are now under water. We have many sandbars , while other sandbars I used to see as a kid are not visible . Volcanic activity produce Earth quakes which help move the plate, with that it has moved our islands to left of the pacific, slightly up. All the smaller islands , atolls and reefs were much bigger before but sank over time as it moved deeper and farther from the hot spot. You will see this pattern happen for all the other islands in the Pacific, such as Kiribati which is below Hawaii and is also part of this Pacific crustal plate. Hope this all makes sense now. It is sad that it is happening, but those who are from the islands have to either adapt or find other larger islands to live on. Aloha
@@sakesama1 Thanks! I learned something from this post.
Bifröst Beberast climate change is to make the rich people richer, but unfortunately there’s people in these governments that don’t ask actual scientists or geologist. If I assume correctly from what was just shared, even if that island was rebuilt it would continue to sink due to the plates moving. So sorry for their dilemma, they do need to be moved.
All my empathy to those people on those South Sea Atolls. I am glad for them their authorities buy some land for them on better situated islands. B.t.w. i cant see any relevans between climate change and rising sea waters. Extra rain downpour cant rise sea levels because its a recycle process.
This was always bound to happen. It happens to most islands, and not just because of climate change. It's been happening for millions of years.
but now is happening in life time not millions of years
@@nathangeco it's happened to many island's in the span of a lifetime. Some go quickly and others don't. It's been this way since the beginning. Just like extinctions, some are fast, others sputter as they go.
@@jaspersmom9595 are you a scientist?
@@zoluhwa3508 you mean like all the doctors and scientists who can't make up their minds about tons of stuff? I don't see what that would have to do with anything. "Eat an egg,.... Don't eat them, wait yes eat them". "Do this, oops we meant don't". 🙄 The earth has been in constant movement. It has been though constant heat waves and ice ages.
This island is so pretty 💕
I am from 2025, and I have to say that water is so pretty
It was , now it’s a waste land
and dirty
1 of the only 3 comments on this video not whining about politics.
yea.. but anyone not supposed to live there
Another amazing and interesting + watchworthy documentary from DW. Many thanks for sharing. Keep doing the great job 👍
Thanks for taking the time to comment. We really appreciate your feedback. Make sure to subsribe to our channel for more of our videos.
@@DWDocumentary yyğò
Kiribati's timezone is so much ahead of us
Prayers of safety for the people of Kiribati! Love from Chuuk! 🇫🇲 ❤️ I've never really decided what I want to do in life, but now I know. I want to seek out help and assure others for a better promised future. What she said is right, we should stop these kinds of actions affecting climate change! I hope we will discuss more on this topic. Thank you for uploading 💚💙❤️
AGW Climate change is a complete scam. The only people you are "helping" is rich globalist politicians and billionaires line their pockets with more money. Check out Tony Heller's youtube videos on debunking the AGW climate change narrative. He does an excellent job, showing old newspaper clippings and historical data to prove that the modern AGW agenda is based on fear-mongering and driven entirely by falsified predictions and cooked data. Best to have all sides of the story, to make 100% sure your help and attention is not going to liars and thieves, right?
We need to realize that we dont need too much to survive.
So what are YOU willing to give up NOW??
@The Company, I can’t wait to see electric car everywhere in our future.. not just for the environment but also because the technology in electric cars are awesome and electric cars in general are cool
Yeah you're right we need to go back to the time where people ride horses not cars.
@Don Menzo, na we just need electric cars
Ok, Im now looking for a Coconut plantation that lives in Bulgaria and near a Lake full of fish.
Are we just gonna ignore how impressive it is that guy just climbed up that tree like it was no problem? I miss when I used to climb trees as a kid :(
Anyone can do that
Well unless your like 50yrs old or you stay in your house all day starting fights in Twitter
@@blizzard1198 Haha you do know most 50 year olds could climb a tree - you gotta be like 13?
@@Jolenesmart1980 assuming my age cause I said 50yr olds can't clime trees
I was going ask, "Could planting mangroves help?" Looks like they're doing it already.
God bless the people of Kiribati 🇰🇮🙏🙌♥❤
Absolutely! I add my prayers for these beautiful people. They are happy people you can see the children are happy even with these huge challenges! They are amazing beautiful people
My husband and I visited Fanning Island, Republic of Kiribati a number of years ago while on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise round trip from Hawaii. Such a lovely island and charming folks. We got to visit the nearly open air elementary school which was at the time, partially supported by the cruise line. At that time, one employee of the cruise line lived on the island full-time. It was a happy very short visit to the island. Saw some residences and the central town area with that school. Very pretty and yes I would visit again. I wish the country well and am sorry to hear of the rising sea difficulties in places in Kiribati.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
My husband was just talking about Fanning island . Which brought me to this documentary. We went on Norwegian Wind (Now retried ship) back in 2004. We also did the excursion to Napali beach. Omg it was so gorgeous! I was impressed how primitive they lived ,using generators no electricity on the island. Very friendly and warm people. On our way to Napali beach ,I noticed one of the homes was right off the water. I asked permission to take their picture. Of course they said yes! I have met a gentleman on another cruise several years ago ,that was stationed there. He informed me of the country unfortunate situation. I wish them well ,hopefully they come through these difficult times.
The indomitable spirit of Kiribati's residents in the face of climate change is amazing. Their proactive steps, from building barriers to planting mangroves, exemplify resilience and the human will to adapt.
Thank *GOD* for international aid. Please everyone *pray* for their land & others to not be washed away by the oceans 🌊 🙏🏽🙏🏽
👇🏽
The solution is to *plant mangrove trees* and to build floating homes between the trees. The trees break the waves and protect the coast. The locals did cut down the tress. Their parents are responsible for the situation to some degree.
epSos.de that's literally what they show 7min. Into the video
yes, they should plant mangrove trees. And yes, they definitely should create floating platforms for the homes behind the trees.
I can't wait to see the result of this bright idea,,,lmfao😂
Not to build a giant sky scraper in the middle of the island to weather storm and two inches coastal walls per year plus the mangroves? wonder if they have harbors and ships?
This country is very small and not as many scientist live there. They probably live form the sea.
One day they will understand that they can up-cycle fish nets and the plastic trash for the creation of the floating platforms for the houses. Growing trees is like growing an anker that will protect the floating homes.
some people don’t understand, there is this kind of pride in the Pacific Islands not found anywhere else. We are tied to our land so much it is us. So when we lose our land, we lose who we are. And I would hate to see their culture fade away due to the fact they are somewhere they didn’t choose to be. And say what you want, but the Pacific will always be home.
Look how dutch people built dams to protect from the sea, also you can gather your waste to build dams sceleton, and tree rings arround it. God bless
Kiribati is made up of 33 islands/atolls and 12 are uninhabited. It happens. With or without modern technology, climate and sea levels have always been changing and have made many previously inhabited island uninhabitable. They will simply have to find somewhere else to live unless you're saying they're going to kill themselves or something. Ancient Polynesians left islands all the time to go to other ones. This is one atoll that will join the list of uninhabitable atolls. That's nature and it's no one else's fault. There will also be atolls/islands that crop up/become habitable again too. Same can be said for people who live in Venice, Miami, New Orleans, etc. Eventually there will be a day those places are uninhabitable. People used to live in Pompeii, too. You just move or die. That's life.
Never forget your roots, never allowed your roots to be dimised thats your home blood and sweats.
I hear what you are saying. At least as much as possible from an outsider's perspective, I understand how your sense of identity, your way of life, and your cultural pride connect you to your island home.
And although empathy for any among us is sufficient cause for change; for our transition into a species that lives harmoniously with its environment, an even deeper cause is that what affects a part of us ultimately affects the whole of us.
I wish to add however, that I believe you cannot possibly lose who you are by losing your land, or by losing any material thing, or by a change in your perceived sense of identity. You are greater than that by unfathomable orders of magnitude.
That is the greatness in you. That is the greatness in all of us. And that is the greatness of spirit that will triumph over shortsighted human fear, greed, and perceived isolation so that we can see who we really are.
We are harmony, peace, and contentment incarnate already. Only our temporal forms need time to realize it.
let's see what will happen next 20 years
The coral wall at the beginning reminds me of learning about coastal erosion in the uk and what they do to help protect coasts
I am fascinated by these multitude of little island/atoll countries and territories in the Pacific.
I've had the luck to visit Kiribati. It is paradise. The people are so nice and warm. I bought some of their handiwork, which I still have. So sad this is happening to these beautiful islands!
Hire the Dutch, they know how to combat the ocean! If they can build artificial islands for Dubai they can certainly reinforce some Kiribati islands. Dredge and spray back the eroded sand to the islands and plant more of those mangrove forests.
The problem is money. They're a poor community. It would require some large donations from wealthy, altruistic individuals.
Yea that would work if they had oil money
Forget IT because IF that happens the Climate Change controlled crowds will have even less targets to Point AT...for their make believe problems
open your mind
Or Maybe just get the f out of the water's way and go to Fiji.... people used to stay on the land bridge that existed between canada and russia... but when the area flooded they simply moved the f on... environmentalists all over the world going nuts over rising water level.. increasing temperature... well move to higher grounds... and colder countries...
Love from Srilanka 🇱🇰 ❤️.
A beautiful, really true way of life! Cruising over 20 years in the Bahamas, our lives were so similar!
Beautiful Island. Dint know it ever existed until this video. Love from Kenya 🇰🇪
Makes two of us.
Make three of us
You single Fatima? I'm from Kenya too
@@newshunt_ke i dont even know who you are 😳
Definitely not native
Heartbreaking that the islands eventually will be under the sea but inspiring that the people are fighting. Glad they're getting some support. But more support needed though.
Ok lets fight the nature to please these guys .Immigrate pure and simple countries vanishes that's life
....low laying small islands and atols are subject to a lot of changes and really are not suitable for pernament settlement. Not just to the pressure of the open ocean, but to tsunami and plate tectonics movement.
@@1969cmp Low laying is what makes the water seem more blue too, there are islands that already disappeared, places like Tahiti and Hawaii have mountains, these places are also manipulated with generic resort huts, which doesn’t help.
Climate change, while real, is NOT being caused by people or countries. Climate is driven by planetary cycles of orbit and axial tilt/precession. We know for a fact that the Earth has been a frozen snow ball most of it's existence and will continue to be. The Earth has a very unique orbit that takes it (borderline) out of the "goldilocks" zone for about 100,000yrs. In between these orbital periods the Earth's orbit lowers and becomes more direct with the sun's rays causing interglacial periods, like the one we live in. In fact had it not been for the Younger Dryas event roughly 12,000yrs ago the Earth would already be approx 3 degrees warmer on avg. These periods last for about 100,000yrs and are a gradual warming that increases at a higher rate the further the Earth goes into the cycle. The warming then slows the oceans currents that circulate warm/cool water and air. This along with the elongation and rise of Earths orbit cause the Earth to freeze almost within hours where it then remains frozen for roughly 100k yrs. This is a cycle that has existed longer than Humans and will continue to exist in perpetuity unless something destroys or alters our solar system or galaxy. The reason climate change being a human factor is being driven down your throat is simple.....redistribution of money/power.
Man.. I wonder if the Ancient Egyptian Island city of Heracleon was aware of the effects that cars and coal were having on their environment. Climate change was definitely responsible for the sinking of Heracleon, which was also built on silty sand. I wish that all of the "facts" would be discussed.
I wish them well in the future.
Didn't the New Zealand government explain this had nothing to do with global warming but due to a shift in the shelf after earthquakes? The Maldives is only 1 meter above sea level and according to this, it should be totally underwater.
Yes!!
Sheen Rivera yes, very very very small. Fear mongering scientists have been promoting global warming and climate change as long as I live. If their prediction was true, the whole coastlines all over the world would dump their housing prices. Instead beach front properties have been going through the roof and only the riches can afford them. Follow the money and you won't be fooled anymore. Obama retired at his $ 10 million mansio on the beach too whilst promoting climate change 🙄
It's both global warming and the earthquake. New Zealand clearly doesn't wants more refugees so they have to downloplay and deflect the damages as much as possible
@@Horologica What rubbish. So you saying global warming is only causing sea levels to rise around Kiribati?
Much love to you Kiribati 🇰🇮!reforestation the mangroves is a great way to do it!as an islander I witnessed this long time ago in my home island 🏝
Preach. The sea levels are not rising, over population and deforestation allowed the errosion to wipe away the land. Only way to fix it is reforestation.
@Neil Deep please do indicate where sea levels are rising.
All of the ones people normally use are due to erosion due to human factors.
@@MrManic52001 8 to 9 inches since 1880
@@mikehewitt2146 lol! Sure
@mikehewitt2146 The island is eroding due to deforestation, not climate change. Even the narrator says that is the case.
We had the opportunity to visit Fanning Island back in 2006 on a chartered NCL Hawaiian cruise. A two day sail from Hawaii and back. We were told to bring items for the children as the ship only stopped once a week. Every one of the 2000 women of Olivia cruises took part in this..because it’s what we do! What a beautiful place, where culture is still proud and not influenced by today’s gadgets. We proudly have several handmade items in our home today. I hope the efforts to prolong living on their atoll is successful. Global warming is directly affecting them..sadly most people aren’t aware of the place they call home. I will never forget Kiribati, the people, their culture and the hospitality. Best wishes to you all!
that means it is 18 years ago, for your information Fanning island is still there just as you viewed it in 2006, it only change shape, and change of life style.We still smile amd welcome to visiters.
@@TeewataAromata so glad to hear. Do the cruise ships still stop there? Thank you for your response.
Amazing place so clean the water