Dear Editor,
Having been warned several times what could be our fearsome future due to climate change a deafening silence and a rush of inactivity would be a reasonable description of the state of affairs.
With a positively confirmed threat of inundation by rising ocean waters and an altered pattern of weather in a predicted change in the world climate, evidence of which is already being experienced, the only helpful contribution one can make is to provide useful proposals for maintaining our standards and community life in the changing conditions.
In the absence of governmental or official city action, citizens themselves can organize and put into effect simple devices to help preserve the lives of our people if not their existing built environments.
A pre-condition to the following suggested activities is the location and selection of sites for new community buildings and provision of raised earthen planted platforms for farm animals and one for wild and semi-wild creatures with access to trees and water. Areas should have their levels determined by instruments if located well above projected flood level.
While much time has already been wasted we may yet be able to effect some preparatory devices to help save property and so lives. As in most efforts of this nature, while individuals may achieve good results, organized groupings of people in co-operative effort will achieve much more in a shorter period of time.
(a) An earlier suggestion was made for those people who did not want to move but wanted to build near where they lived.
The suggestion was to construct their homes in timber making prefabricated elements of modular parts that are bolted together and can be unbolted, panels stacked on trucks and the home moved and re-erected on higher land. Only the concrete foundations would be lost.
(b) Some means of providing food and water in special areas for both animal and human populations. Water will have to be collected off roofs and stored in vats as was done years ago.
(c) Apart from migration to higher, safer terrain, mobility will have to be achieved by boat where necessary. In some cases a punt may be the best solution as they can accommodate a household and all facilities, be equipped with mast and sail and be used to travel to other territories and better conditions.
(d) In the initial stages of development pit latrines will have to suffice, but far removed from any stream or river.
(e) It is advisable to create an administrative centre to start all operations and to organize materials and food supplies and distribution.
(f) Equipment for such services as solar electricity for stoves and small refrigerators as well as night-time illumination, radios and television sets.
These are some of the essential aspects of community site re-location that hopefully can still be attended to before we are overcome by the destructive effects of Global Warming and Climatic Change.
Yours faithfully,
R. O. Westmaas