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OSLO (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Small island states in the Pacific are opening a new front in the fight against rising seas, to secure rights to an ocean area bigger than the moon that is home to billion-dollar fish stocks.
States from Kiribati to Tuvalu are mapping their remote islands, scattered across the ocean, in a bid to claim permanent exclusive economic zones (EEZs), stretching 200 nautical miles (370 km) offshore, irrespective of future sea level rise.
As global warming pushes waters higher, Pacific nations fear their islands could be swamped, shrinking their EEZs and rights to fishing and mining within their boundaries - so they are trying to lock in existing zones now.
March 11, 2021 at 2:02 PM
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Sarah T. Hughes. (Photo via Archives Department/State Bar of Texas)
March is Women’s History Month. Despite the disheartening news that women and people of color continue to advance incrementally in the profession (and that’s politely putting lipstick on a pig), there have always been women lawyers and judges fighting challenging odds to make a difference. Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and then Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan, and most recently, Amy Coney Barrett. Four women out of nine presently sitting on the Court. Until 30 years ago there were none. And witness Vice President Kamala Harris, a woman lawyer and a BIPOC.
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By Alister Doyle (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Small island states in the Pacific are opening a new front in the fight against rising seas, to secure rights to an ocean area bigger than the moon that is home to billion-dollar fish stocks.
States from Kiribati to Tuvalu are mapping their remote islands, scattered across the ocean, in a bid to claim permanent exclusive economic zones (EEZs), stretching 200 nautical miles (370 km) offshore, irrespective of future sea level rise.
As global warming pushes waters higher, Pacific nations fear their islands could be swamped, shrinking their EEZs and rights to fishing and mining within their boundaries – so they are trying to lock in existing zones now.
FEATURE-Islands, rocks and tuna: Pacific nations draw new battle lines against rising seas reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pacific nations composed of far-flung islands are in a race against rising sea levels to thoroughly map their habitable territory. The hope is to lock in exclusive economic and fishing rights before islands are submerged.