Sinking Island

[Magdalen Jhonston]

Thetitle's genesis came from Olivier Fontenay, who suggested that Benot Sokal make police games.[3] Sokal wrote a ten-page draft in 2005.[4] He decided to have a male playable character to offer a change from his Syberia series.[5] The team created a new interface for the game, entitled PPA (Personal Police Assistant).[6] The game was supported by the Centre National de la Cinmatographie.[7] A sequel was originally going to be released, offering a second Jack Norm adventure set in New York.[8]

The plot is centered on the investigation of the death of a millionaire named Walter Jones. The main acting character in the game is Jack Norm, a police officer entrusted with the task of solving the mystery. The events take place on a fictional island owned by the late Walter Jones in an Art Deco-style tower. The plot takes place over three days and follows a classic murder mystery scheme where a detective needs to uncover the identity of the murderer.

Jean-Marc Oliveres of Clubic wrote that the game would engross players into its story and history.[11] 4Players reviewer Bodo Naser thought that while the game promised a murder mystery akin to those of Agatha Christie, the title did not deliver.[12][13][14][15] Adventure-Treff's Jan Schneider negatively compared the game's world to Paradise and Syberia.[16] IGN offered a negative review, describing the game as having "weary, stranded-island sleuthing at its soggiest".[17] GameSpot thought the game would appeal to adventure fans.[18] Gamekult derided the game's difficult puzzles, sleep-inducing dialogue, and lack of plot momentum.[19]

Nestled in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu, a collection of nine coral atolls and islands, emerges as a tranquil haven of natural beauty. This small island nation houses just over 11,000 people. Blessed with pristine landscapes and surrounded by azure waters, Tuvalu has long been celebrated for its unique charm. However, beneath this idyllic exterior lies a pressing and immediate challenge: the subtle yet relentless embrace of rising sea levels.

The sinking of Tuvalu holds profound implications for the global community and serves as a harbinger of what may unfold if urgent action to mitigate climate change is not taken. The loss of Tuvalu would not only displace its population but also eradicate a unique cultural heritage and history. The global community must recognize the interconnectedness of climate change, sea level rise, and the displacement of entire communities.

As one of the smallest and most vulnerable nations, Tuvalu also signals broader threats faced by other low-lying and island nations worldwide. The delicate ecosystems of these island nations are currently under threat, endangering unique flora and fauna as rising sea levels submerge habitats, disrupting their delicate balance. Moreover, water scarcity becomes a critical issue as rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns affect islands dependent on limited freshwater resources, endangering both human populations and agriculture.

Additionally, coral bleaching, extreme weather events, and sea level rise will have an impact on food security, affecting agriculture and aquaculture, leading to financial instability. Lastly, the changing climate patterns brings heightened health risks creating environments conducive to the spread of vector-borne diseases, further jeopardizing the health of island populations.

According to a 2021 World Bank report, projected sea level rise could cost the Marshall Islands, a country in the North Pacific, halfway between Hawaii and Australia, its status as a nation. It has a population of 42,050 and a land mass of 180 square kilometers (70 square miles), consisting of 1,156 individual islands, and it is currently one of the countries most at risk of disappearing due to sea level rise.

Standing in a suit and tie at a lectern setup in the sea, the Minister urged the global community to take immediate and decisive action to address climate change. The suit, typically associated with formal diplomacy and official addresses, juxtaposed against the watery backdrop served as a stark reminder that climate change is not a distant, abstract concern, but a reality affecting everyone.

His historic address declared the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that the impact of climate change is not confined to a distant future but is unfolding now. The minister implored world leaders to set aside differences and work collaboratively to reduce carbon emissions, transition to sustainable energy sources, and support vulnerable nations in addressing the inevitable changes.

The sinking of Tuvalu has spurred renewed attention to the urgency of climate action. However, the international response has been mixed, with some countries taking bold steps to reduce emissions, while others lag behind. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, was a positive step forward, committing countries to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels. Nevertheless, achieving these goals remains a monumental change and, considering that 2023 was the warmest year on record, it is just a matter of time before Tuvalu and other small island nations succumb to the effects of climate change, unless immediate action is taken.

On November 9, 2023, Australia and Tuvalu forged an unprecedented cooperation agreement known as the Falepili Union. This landmark deal extends a lifeline to 280 Tuvaluans annually, granting them permanent residency in Australia. The agreement encompasses three crucial aspects: climate cooperation, mobility, and security. Notably, Australia commits to assisting Tuvalu in adapting to climate impacts, contributing AU$11 million (US$7.2 million) to the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project. The mobility component introduces a special pathway for Tuvaluans to live, study, and work in Australia permanently, while the security clauses include assistance following natural disasters.

The sinking of Tuvalu is emblematic of the existential threat faced by small island nations worldwide. It urges us to reevaluate our priorities, implement sustainable practices, and take collective responsibility for the well-being of our planet. The fight against climate change is not just a battle for Tuvalu; it is a battle for the very survival of numerous vulnerable nations and the presentation of our shared global home. If we fail to heed this call, the sinking of Tuvalu may serve as a tragic prelude to the impending fate of other small island nations, completely altering the future world map, creating new borders, affecting migration patterns and geopolitics, thus making it imperative for the global community to act decisively and collaboratively in the face of this unprecedented global challenge.

Dare to discover Forbidden Island! Join a team of fearless adventurers on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of this perilous paradise. Your team will have to work together and make some pulse-pounding maneuvers, as the island will sink beneath every step! Race to collect the treasures and make a triumphant escape before you are swallowed into the watery abyss!

This will result in rapid decline of fish stock amongst others. Moreover, climate change will also affect food security, water, health, livelihood and make these island nations uninhabitable, which then result in a huge body of climate refugees with no place to seek shelter. Kiribati and Tuvalu have already purchased land in Fiji to relocate their endangered population. In Fiji more than 40 low-lying communities are earmarked to be relocated to upper ground because of rapid sea level rise (McNamara and Des Combes, 2015) Although relocation is considered as an effective adaptation mechanism, experts argue this is not a long-term solution to the problem.

The Pacific region will continue to bear the brunt of extreme impact of climate change. As recent as 28 December 2019, Tropical Cyclone Sarai caused huge amount of human and material losses in Fiji despite the fact that it did not make full landfall in the island nation. Sarai claimed two human lives and made more than 2500 people homeless. It damaged houses, destroyed crops, cut trees and toppled electricity pylons (ABC, 2019). And there are more to come. According to the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre Area of Responsibility, there are expected to be five to eight Tropical Cyclones in the region during the 2019-20 season. The Centre which is the official source of Tropical Cyclones occurring in the South West Pacific Ocean, predicts that two to four Tropical Cyclones may reach severe Tropical Cyclone intensity (Category three status or above) during this season. (Fiji Meteorological Service, 2019).

ADB (2019). An Existential Threat: How Climate Change is Impacting the Atoll Countries, The Asian Development Bank, [online] Available at: -threat-how-climate-change-impacting-atoll-countries [Accessed 29 Dec. 2019].

Fennell, J. and Wibawa, T. (2019). Tropical Cyclone Sarai Lashes Fiji as warnings issued for flash flooding, gale force winds. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, [online] Available at: -12-26/tropical-cylone-sarai-lashes-fiji-as-people-evacuated/11827544 [Accessed 29 Dec. 2019].

Lyons, K. (2019). Australia Coal use is Existential threat to Pacific Islanders, The Guardian, [online] Available at: -coal-use-is-existential-threat-to-pacific-islands-says-fiji-pm [Accessed 30 Dec. 2019].

Wyeth, G. (2017). For Pacific Island States, Climate Change is an Existential Threat. The Diplomat, [online] Available at: -pacific-island-states-climate-change-is-an-existential-threat/ [Accessed 29 Dec. 2019].

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Conserving and managing forestland is critical for the health of our environment, the supply of forest products, and the overall quality of life. The Virginia Department of Forestry works to ensure that forests and the waters that flow from them are protected today and for future generations. By developing existing markets and identifying emerging opportunities, the agency supports forest industry and rural economies.

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