"Warming could kill the nation"...Marshall Islands, Desperate Survival Message Shouting Football

"Warming could kill the nation"...Marshall Islands, Desperate Survival Message Shouting Football

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"Before we are submerged in the sea, we must speak out."

As sea levels rise rapidly due to global warming, the Marshall Islands, a small Pacific island nation, are facing an existential crisis. CNN reported on the 7th that "this country, which is living with the aftereffects of the U.S. nuclear test, has now taken out an unexpected weapon to fight against the desperate reality of 'the extinction of the country,' and that is soccer." CNN added, "The Marshall Islands, which are the only 193 U.N. member countries in the world that do not have an international 11-man soccer team, will play their first national team match in the U.S. in August."

The Marshall Islands consist of 29 atolls and 5 single islands. The total number of islands is around 1,200, most of which are uninhabited. With a land area of about 181 square kilometers, it is one-third the size of Seoul. Its average altitude is within 2 meters of sea level, making it one of the lowest countries in the world. According to NASA, sea levels in the Marshall Islands have risen by 10 cm over the past 30 years, and an additional 19 cm over the next 30 years. There have also been warnings that if no action is taken, flooding could occur for more than 100 days a year by the end of the century.

The Marshall Islands Football Association (MISF) has released a uniform titled "No-Home" to let the world know about survival in the midst of climate crisis. The number "1.5" is inscribed in a large size in the center of the uniform that contains the color of the national flag and the ecological image of the island. This is the limit for global temperature rise that was agreed upon by the Paris Climate Agreement. The uniform made a stronger impression on SNS. Every time a post was posted, the sleeves, waist, and neck disappeared. Just like an island, the uniform disappears little by little. "It's not just pretty clothes, it means we don't have much time left," the association said.

The Marshall Islands is a country on a coral reef with an average altitude of about 2 meters. On both sides, the national population of 39,000 people is concentrated on a narrow road where the sea and the lagoon meet. Traditionally, basketball and volleyball are popular sports, but soccer is unfamiliar to soccer. There is not enough space to play, and there is only one FIFA stadium and there is no goalpost. British volunteers Matt Webb and Lloyd Ours started the futsal league by using basketball courts for local children. By preparing equipment and coaches, they gradually gained trust from the community. "It is difficult for islanders to move around," Ours said. Some of the kids went out on a football trip for the first time. It was the best weekend of their lives."

In August, the Marshall Islands will participate in the Outrigger Cup, a four-nation friendly tournament in Springdale, Arkansas. The opponents are all FIFA members, including Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands. The Marshall Islands will lay the foundation for international A-match through this tournament and aim to join FIFA by 2030. Springdale, where the tournament will be held, is the city with the largest Marshall population outside the mainland. 토토사이트

The Marshall Islands suffered from 67 nuclear tests from the U.S. between 1946 and 1958. Radioactive contamination, migration and rising sea levels are driving communities apart. "I hope soccer can be a bond that brings back community," the Marshall Islands Football Association said. "Football is more than just a game. I hope the name of the Marshall Islands will survive until the end."