Thailand's rising tide of problems
By Fiona Walker Thailand’s coast is best known to many Scots for its beaches and backpackers. But just round the corner from the sunbathers is a world where the rising sea level has taken their homes. Not just once – some families have had to move 11 times to escape the encroaching water and the increasingly ferocious storms. Now they’ve run out of space and the original village is under the sea. A guide to what lies beneath the surface is a line of telegraph poles marching out to sea – they mark the route of the road now a few metres under water. This is what climate change can look like according to the researchers trying to work out what can be done to prevent further erosion and rising water. They’ve already lost 1km of land and scientists say the monsoon waves are now two to three times higher. It’s too late to save the village here so they want other countries – including Scotland – to learn from their experience. … When the sea started to threaten the Buddhist temple, the monks refused to move so they have built a walkway so villagers can come for prayer. The monks chant each morning as the water laps at the door then they get to work repairing the temple from the last storm’s destruction. “The temple is no longer on the official map,” said Abbot Somnuek Athipomyo. …
