Seychelles president delivers speech pleading for ocean protection from deep underwater
An image taken from video issued by Nekton shows Seychelles President Danny Faure, left, speaking from inside a submersible from the vessel Ocean Zephyr, under the water off the coast of Desroches, in the outer islands of Seychelles Sunday April 14, 2019. DESROCHES ISLAND, Seychelles -- In a striking speech delivered from deep below the ocean's surface, the Seychelles president on Sunday made a global plea for stronger protection of the "beating blue heart of our planet.
"This issue is bigger than all of us, and we cannot wait for the next generation to solve it. We are running out of excuses to not take action, and running out of time," the president said from a manned submersible 400 feet below the waves, on the seabed off the outer islands of the African nation. Small island nations are among the most vulnerable to sea level rise caused by climate change, and some have found creative ways to express their concerns. Faure's speech came a decade after members of the Maldives' Cabinet donned scuba gear and used hand signals at an underwater meeting highlighting global warming's threat to the lowest-lying nation on earth.
Little is known about the watery world below depths of 30 metres, the limit to which a normal scuba diver can go. Operating down to 500 metres, the scientists were the first to explore areas of great diversity where sunlight weakens and the deep ocean begins. "From this depth, I can see the incredible wildlife that needs our protection, and the consequences of damaging this huge ecosystem that has existed for millennia," Faure said in his speech. "Over the years, we have created these problems. We can solve them."
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sudanese army steps in to protect protesters of President al-Bashir: witnessesFrequent protests have been staged in Sudan since December, building into the most sustained challenge yet to Bashir, a former army general who came to power in a military coup in 1989
Read more »
In Hawaii, a tiger shark pulled a floating body underwater before firefighters could recover itCrew from a rescue helicopter saw what appeared to be a large tiger shark circling the body in the waters northwest of Hanalua Gulch
Read more »
Japanese air force stealth fighter jet crashes in Pacific OceanA Japanese air force F-35 stealth fighter crashed into the Pacific Ocean during a night training flight and parts of the jet were recovered, the defence ministry said Wednesday.
Read more »
Japanese air force F-35 stealth fighter jet crashes into Pacific OceanA Japanese air force F-35 stealth fighter crashed into the Pacific Ocean during a night training flight and parts of the jet were recovered, the defence ministry said Wednesday.
Read more »
Feds plan to limit uses of ‘neonic’ pesticides to try and protect beesThe recommendations could be moot in less than a year, however, if the same agency upholds an existing decision to ban most uses of the same products to protect other types of insects
Read more »
Hussen vows to crack down on immigration consultants and protect ‘vulnerable’ newcomersImmigration Minister indicates changes are imminent after a Globe investigation showed how thousands of foreign workers are exploited
Read more »
Canadian Wrestler Bret Hart Tackled During WWE Hall Of Fame Speech'Everyone was cheering when one of the wrestlers punched [the assailant]'
Read more »
Wrestler Bret Hart tackled during WWE Hall of Fame speechBret 'The Hitman' Hart is OK after the famous Canadian wrestler was tackled by a spectator while he was giving a speech during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at Barclays Center.
Read more »