Angelina Jolie's Opinion Concerning Relocation Of Refugees Because Of Climate Change

Climate change has the full potential to make global displacement beyond anything humanity has seen (Climate Migrants). Climate change is already displacing 24 million people each year. This process can conclude in permanent loss of home or restrict access to that area (Bose). Many are no longer able to maintain a stable livelihood and have to relocate from their homelands (Angelina Jolie). Despite the loss that climate change brings to many, it rises controversial topics about the overall care of the soon to be called migrants, due to the uncontrollable changes happening in their world. A vast majority of complicated questions then arise that people all seem to have their own opinion whether it’s just or unjust act.

Climate change is popular in arctic places due to the rising temperatures that cause decreases in sea ice extent, rising sea levels, changes in storm patterns, and melting permafrost. Communities in Northeast Alaska that call Kivalina and Shishmaref their home are suffering from this first hand. Citizens of Shishmaref are located on an isolated island that faces the threats of flooding and erosion. Individuals that live on Kivalina also face the challenge of erosion but receding sea ice has severely restricted the communities traditional hunting of whales in the area. These communities decided to relocate but are hoping other opportunities for themselves and loved ones will arise in the future (Climate Migrants).

Pacific and Indian Oceans face many climate change issues due to the increased erosion from storms and potential inundation as sea levels rise. The change is sea level is occurring due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, as well as thermal expansion of ocean waters as the planet is warming. Kiribati’s 102,00 citizens are facing an existential threat from climate-change-induced sea level rising. Tarawa, Kiribati’s capital, is less than 6 feet above sea level. For a solution for these refugees, the government is planning a two-phase migration. They have purchased thousands of acres of land in Fiji for the community as a potential resettlement location (Climate Migrants).

As well for Coastal Lowlands, Bangladesh and India are very affected by climate change. They face rising sea levels, frequent severe storms, as well as floods. The Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers form the world’s largest delta. More than 125 million people call this delta home. As great as the delta seems, it is prone to many floods and typhoons. Its elevation makes it the most vulnerable region in the world to sea-level rise. The government isn’t very involved with this movement, but some citizens have made the decision to relocate to the region’s capital, Dhaka (Climate Migrants).

People’s first instinct is to seek a potential local solution in their country, they will rarely try to go to a different country unless the conditions are unsustainable, but even then refugees will ten to stay in the same region. As much as we think any person that is put in threat due to climate change will have some support system yet, in reality, they don’t. Many times these people won’t actually qualify under the label of a “refugee”. So as we become more and more experienced to these climate change controversies, we often ask the question, “What can we do to fix this problem (Bose)?”

People seem to attempt to fix this problem quite often but tend to fail. People look at this problem as more of an environmental problem than a societal problem. Meaning we tend to blame the environment more than the part take society has enrolled itself. U.N attempts a resolution that takes action on a plan to take urgent steps to keep warming below 15 degrees celsius. They will do this by becoming more green and using energy-efficient equipment. As Angelina Jolie puts it, these people that live on a tiny island or in the drought-affected region of Africa, have the same value as you and me nevertheless this action is always said but never acted upon. She believes this is an act of discrimination that is so hardwired into our society that we are simply unaware of it. Angelina exclaims how our country has never experienced the imminent prospect of losing our entire homeland due to the sea devouring it. This makes our country have such a big voice in these devastating situations. The United States stands on the sidelines and watches these people suffer and is accounted as morally incorrect. This act will negatively affect the lives of millions of people. As Americans, we have rarely feared to try to become involved with the global questions affecting the peace and security of the world. So what makes climate change different (Angelina Jolie).

This topic is presenting a lack of Justice Inequality because we are continuing to treat these refugees with equality. In this case, these people should be getting handled with more care and provided more options when they are in this much need of help. It is very unjust of the United States not to be more involved because your country can provide so much support to these refugees. Us a country, will likely never experience the loss of our entire homeland, so who are we to judge what they need and don’t need? These people aren’t receiving equal chances to continue their life like we are, The government needs to step in and support these people as much as possible because, in certain scenarios, refugees are left with nothing.

To conclude, this topic is a continuous debate between individuals. We often argue whether this topic arises justice for the refugees or if what we are doing isn’t enough for the refugees to survive and support them in the long run. In the end, it comes down to what is just and unjust. As Angelina Jolie explains, these acts are incredibly unjust and need to be solved urgently. We don’t give enough effort into these people that suffer. Our country seems to focus on other problems when this problem could potentially wipe out our entire population. In my opinion, the best solution to this issue is to get every country to be open to the relocation of refugees into their countries giving them a sign of hope after losing everything they have ever lived by. Even if they are fortunate enough where their homeland wasn’t destroyed, then other countries can step in and help with financial aid and a source of strength until they can carry out their normal life.