The Alaskan town falling into the sea

By Harrison Christian

video

PledgeMe.Project

Journalism,



NZ $3,720 pledged


58 people pledged


Closed


NZ $3,500 minimum target


100 100% Complete

This campaign was successful and closed on 23/12/2016 at 5:00 PM.

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About

The Alaskan Town Falling Into The Sea

Project 2016-11-20 13:06:15 +1300

Help a Kiwi journalist head to Alaska to report on the devastating effects of climate change - warning signs for us here in Aotearoa.

Climate change is set to displace millions of people over the next few decades. We need to start a conversation about the damage this will inflict on countries and cultures, and the role of governments in assisting climate change refugees.

The town falling into the sea

Shishmaref is a town on a remote island off the coast of Alaska, where the effects of climate change are seen as the most dramatic in the world. More than 200 feet of shoreline has disappeared in the last 40 years, forcing some people to re-locate their homes dozens of times.

The island's 600 residents have voted to move to the mainland, but the decision is largely symbolic as the US government won't fund the estimated $180 million cost. How long before New Zealand communities end up in this situation?

US president-elect Donald Trump has already selected a prominent climate change denier to head the Environmental Protection Agency's transition plans, signalling his disregard for the policies brought in by Barack Obama. This means Shishmaref's situation is now even more dire.

Aotearoa to Alaska

I hope to travel to Shishmaref in the Alaskan spring (June '17), to produce a comprehensive piece of journalism about the islanders' battle with erosion, flooding and storm surges, and to have their plight recognized as a legitimate crisis. I’ll also work to document their unique Inupiaq Eskimo culture, which is facing extinction.

This is where you can help

Funding will help with travel costs and the production of comprehensive online coverage (photos, video and a written article). 

About me

I'm a journalist based in Auckland who writes for a variety of outlets - usually multi-platform agency Newshub. Other bylines include Metro Magazine, The Wireless and The Pantograph Punch. I'm interested in how climate change is affecting people's daily lives around the world.

To see some of my work, go to:

Harrisonchristian.co.nz

Twitter: @germalist

Instagram: hc_nz

 

 

Comments

Updates

Hey! Thanks for checking out this project.

We haven't made any updates yet, follow us if you want to be notified when we do.

Pledgers 58

Jeff Bell
21/12/2016 at 10:28pm
Haley Ashwell
19/12/2016 at 6:02pm

"Go Harry! Love the Ashwells"

Briar
11/12/2016 at 9:48am
Anonymous pledger
09/12/2016 at 7:16pm

"Mr G and I look back on the days of 'idiots Inc' as without question, among our finest to date at Kristin."

Kirsty Cooper
09/12/2016 at 1:42pm
Rion
09/12/2016 at 1:10pm

"Safe journeys mate "

Wise Boys Burgers
09/12/2016 at 11:35am

"Awesome stuff Harry, congrats on meeting the target! Luke"

Enny Benzonelli
09/12/2016 at 10:44am

"Good luck :)"

Tobias Buck
09/12/2016 at 9:42am
George Parker
08/12/2016 at 2:27pm
Josh
08/12/2016 at 12:09pm
andy stenton
08/12/2016 at 7:06am

"This is something we can all do - do it!"

Nicholas Kerslake
07/12/2016 at 10:37pm

"Good on ya man! "

Britt Reed
07/12/2016 at 3:25pm
Zane Wienk
07/12/2016 at 1:46pm

"Fuck the photo print, hit me up for a beer."

Alex Baird
07/12/2016 at 12:53pm

"Go get 'em tiger! You've got all my support for this :-)"

Anonymous pledger
07/12/2016 at 8:20am

"Good luck , from Nick"

Bruce Bisset
07/12/2016 at 12:10am

"sry, really broke atm, all i can spare. good luck!"

Joseph Williams
06/12/2016 at 3:51pm
Jeremy Poff
06/12/2016 at 9:52am

"I look forward to seeing your work mate!"

Jonathan James Young
05/12/2016 at 11:25pm
Oliver Powell
05/12/2016 at 10:25pm
sarah wakeford
05/12/2016 at 3:42pm

"A great worthwhile cause - sorry it can't be more"

Anonymous pledger
05/12/2016 at 2:46pm

"Here's to the halcyon days! All the very best Harrison and very much looking forward to your next story. Travel safely."

Min Jeong Kim
05/12/2016 at 1:54pm
Lucy Wilson
05/12/2016 at 12:14pm

"Best of luck Harrison. Looking forward to following your story. Cheers, Lucy Wilson (Kristin)"

Jono
05/12/2016 at 9:09am
Oscar Colato
04/12/2016 at 10:53am

"Keep up the good work man."

Alex McManus
03/12/2016 at 10:56pm
Chris Schwarten
02/12/2016 at 1:09pm

Followers 8

The Alaskan Town Falling Into The Sea

Project 2016-11-20 13:06:15 +1300

Help a Kiwi journalist head to Alaska to report on the devastating effects of climate change - warning signs for us here in Aotearoa.

Climate change is set to displace millions of people over the next few decades. We need to start a conversation about the damage this will inflict on countries and cultures, and the role of governments in assisting climate change refugees.

The town falling into the sea

Shishmaref is a town on a remote island off the coast of Alaska, where the effects of climate change are seen as the most dramatic in the world. More than 200 feet of shoreline has disappeared in the last 40 years, forcing some people to re-locate their homes dozens of times.

The island's 600 residents have voted to move to the mainland, but the decision is largely symbolic as the US government won't fund the estimated $180 million cost. How long before New Zealand communities end up in this situation?

US president-elect Donald Trump has already selected a prominent climate change denier to head the Environmental Protection Agency's transition plans, signalling his disregard for the policies brought in by Barack Obama. This means Shishmaref's situation is now even more dire.

Aotearoa to Alaska

I hope to travel to Shishmaref in the Alaskan spring (June '17), to produce a comprehensive piece of journalism about the islanders' battle with erosion, flooding and storm surges, and to have their plight recognized as a legitimate crisis. I’ll also work to document their unique Inupiaq Eskimo culture, which is facing extinction.

This is where you can help

Funding will help with travel costs and the production of comprehensive online coverage (photos, video and a written article). 

About me

I'm a journalist based in Auckland who writes for a variety of outlets - usually multi-platform agency Newshub. Other bylines include Metro Magazine, The Wireless and The Pantograph Punch. I'm interested in how climate change is affecting people's daily lives around the world.

To see some of my work, go to:

Harrisonchristian.co.nz

Twitter: @germalist

Instagram: hc_nz

 

 

Comments

Hey! Thanks for checking out this project.

We haven't made any updates yet, follow us if you want to be notified when we do.

Jeff Bell
21/12/2016 at 10:28pm
Haley Ashwell
19/12/2016 at 6:02pm

"Go Harry! Love the Ashwells"

Briar
11/12/2016 at 9:48am
Anonymous pledger
09/12/2016 at 7:16pm

"Mr G and I look back on the days of 'idiots Inc' as without question, among our finest to date at Kristin."

Kirsty Cooper
09/12/2016 at 1:42pm
Rion
09/12/2016 at 1:10pm

"Safe journeys mate "

Wise Boys Burgers
09/12/2016 at 11:35am

"Awesome stuff Harry, congrats on meeting the target! Luke"

Enny Benzonelli
09/12/2016 at 10:44am

"Good luck :)"

Tobias Buck
09/12/2016 at 9:42am
George Parker
08/12/2016 at 2:27pm
Josh
08/12/2016 at 12:09pm
andy stenton
08/12/2016 at 7:06am

"This is something we can all do - do it!"

Nicholas Kerslake
07/12/2016 at 10:37pm

"Good on ya man! "

Britt Reed
07/12/2016 at 3:25pm
Zane Wienk
07/12/2016 at 1:46pm

"Fuck the photo print, hit me up for a beer."

Alex Baird
07/12/2016 at 12:53pm

"Go get 'em tiger! You've got all my support for this :-)"

Anonymous pledger
07/12/2016 at 8:20am

"Good luck , from Nick"

Bruce Bisset
07/12/2016 at 12:10am

"sry, really broke atm, all i can spare. good luck!"

Joseph Williams
06/12/2016 at 3:51pm
Jeremy Poff
06/12/2016 at 9:52am

"I look forward to seeing your work mate!"

Jonathan James Young
05/12/2016 at 11:25pm
Oliver Powell
05/12/2016 at 10:25pm
sarah wakeford
05/12/2016 at 3:42pm

"A great worthwhile cause - sorry it can't be more"

Anonymous pledger
05/12/2016 at 2:46pm

"Here's to the halcyon days! All the very best Harrison and very much looking forward to your next story. Travel safely."

Min Jeong Kim
05/12/2016 at 1:54pm
Lucy Wilson
05/12/2016 at 12:14pm

"Best of luck Harrison. Looking forward to following your story. Cheers, Lucy Wilson (Kristin)"

Jono
05/12/2016 at 9:09am
Oscar Colato
04/12/2016 at 10:53am

"Keep up the good work man."

Alex McManus
03/12/2016 at 10:56pm
Chris Schwarten
02/12/2016 at 1:09pm
This campaign was successful and got its funding on 23/12/2016 at 5:00 PM.