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

Donna McIntosh
02/12/2016 at 10:41am

"Good luck Harry we hope you meet your pledge amount in time. We will follow your journey with much interest. Love Donna and Dean "

ted Berry
01/12/2016 at 8:39pm

"All the best, Harrison, for a terrific trip and for the scintillating reading to follow!! Best wishes from Ted Berry.4"

Deb Haworth
01/12/2016 at 8:37pm

"Good stuff Harrison. We look forward to reading your article. Deb, Richard, Samantha and Michelle Haworth"

Stephanie Thompson
01/12/2016 at 6:31pm

"On ya mate! Aarigaa ;)"

Samuel P Hurley
01/12/2016 at 5:59pm

"God speed, Mr Christian."

Helen King and Belinda Tran-Lawrence
01/12/2016 at 1:58pm

"To H Dawg, choice idea. From H Dawg 2. "

Alex Mckenzie
01/12/2016 at 11:32am
Lena Duffin
01/12/2016 at 10:09am
Anonymous pledger
30/11/2016 at 5:30pm
Sally Lowes
30/11/2016 at 9:12am
Lennie Galloway
29/11/2016 at 11:10pm

"Really looking forward to seeing this happen, and getting my letter from Shishmaref! Such an awesome project to get behind. "

Xavier Collins
28/11/2016 at 11:15pm

"Here's the social proof you asked me for. Good luck with the rest of the scam, hopefully these fools buy it. "

Anonymous pledger
28/11/2016 at 9:53pm
Anonymous pledger
28/11/2016 at 9:51pm

"Gaia thanks you."

Anonymous pledger
28/11/2016 at 9:46pm

"Thanks for caring - the planet is better for you "

Matt
28/11/2016 at 5:26pm
Brigid Feely
28/11/2016 at 7:29am

"Can't wait to read (a) "my" update and (b) the final article. Couldn't think of a better person for the job. "

Socrates Fernandes
27/11/2016 at 12:07am

"This project is an enormous step to show the people of New Zealand that climate change is effecting us not tomorrow, not next year, but now."

Susan de Alwis
26/11/2016 at 7:50am

"Wishing you all the best Harrison."

Mitchell Brunton
25/11/2016 at 11:34am
James Hunt
25/11/2016 at 2:25am
Rebecca Watson
25/11/2016 at 1:56am
Lennie Galloway
24/11/2016 at 8:16pm

"This money is from Jane. She says: "Thanks for working to make a difference, Harrison.""

Andy McMartin
24/11/2016 at 8:04pm
Craig Hoyle
24/11/2016 at 5:02pm

"Best of luck Harrison! Look forward to reading the finished piece."

Philippa Fee
24/11/2016 at 5:50am
Sam Stuch
23/11/2016 at 8:20pm

"Good luck fella "

Heather Lee
23/11/2016 at 10:38am

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.

Donna McIntosh
02/12/2016 at 10:41am

"Good luck Harry we hope you meet your pledge amount in time. We will follow your journey with much interest. Love Donna and Dean "

ted Berry
01/12/2016 at 8:39pm

"All the best, Harrison, for a terrific trip and for the scintillating reading to follow!! Best wishes from Ted Berry.4"

Deb Haworth
01/12/2016 at 8:37pm

"Good stuff Harrison. We look forward to reading your article. Deb, Richard, Samantha and Michelle Haworth"

Stephanie Thompson
01/12/2016 at 6:31pm

"On ya mate! Aarigaa ;)"

Samuel P Hurley
01/12/2016 at 5:59pm

"God speed, Mr Christian."

Helen King and Belinda Tran-Lawrence
01/12/2016 at 1:58pm

"To H Dawg, choice idea. From H Dawg 2. "

Alex Mckenzie
01/12/2016 at 11:32am
Lena Duffin
01/12/2016 at 10:09am
Anonymous pledger
30/11/2016 at 5:30pm
Sally Lowes
30/11/2016 at 9:12am
Lennie Galloway
29/11/2016 at 11:10pm

"Really looking forward to seeing this happen, and getting my letter from Shishmaref! Such an awesome project to get behind. "

Xavier Collins
28/11/2016 at 11:15pm

"Here's the social proof you asked me for. Good luck with the rest of the scam, hopefully these fools buy it. "

Anonymous pledger
28/11/2016 at 9:53pm
Anonymous pledger
28/11/2016 at 9:51pm

"Gaia thanks you."

Anonymous pledger
28/11/2016 at 9:46pm

"Thanks for caring - the planet is better for you "

Matt
28/11/2016 at 5:26pm
Brigid Feely
28/11/2016 at 7:29am

"Can't wait to read (a) "my" update and (b) the final article. Couldn't think of a better person for the job. "

Socrates Fernandes
27/11/2016 at 12:07am

"This project is an enormous step to show the people of New Zealand that climate change is effecting us not tomorrow, not next year, but now."

Susan de Alwis
26/11/2016 at 7:50am

"Wishing you all the best Harrison."

Mitchell Brunton
25/11/2016 at 11:34am
James Hunt
25/11/2016 at 2:25am
Rebecca Watson
25/11/2016 at 1:56am
Lennie Galloway
24/11/2016 at 8:16pm

"This money is from Jane. She says: "Thanks for working to make a difference, Harrison.""

Andy McMartin
24/11/2016 at 8:04pm
Craig Hoyle
24/11/2016 at 5:02pm

"Best of luck Harrison! Look forward to reading the finished piece."

Philippa Fee
24/11/2016 at 5:50am
Sam Stuch
23/11/2016 at 8:20pm

"Good luck fella "

Heather Lee
23/11/2016 at 10:38am
This campaign was successful and got its funding on 23/12/2016 at 5:00 PM.