The Fallen Palm: Climate Change and Culture Change in the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands, an archipelago of low-lying coral atolls in Micronesia, have never been an easy place to survive. The future will bring new difficulties: sea level rise and other effects of global climate change may render the entire country uninhabitable within the lifetimes of its inhabitants. This book examines local interpretations of this doomsday prophecy, weaving into this story related topics such as Marshallese notions of the good life, narratives of cultural change, attitudes towards Americans and foreign scientists, and perceptions of lingering radiation from nuclear testing. It includes a transcript of the author's interview with the President of the Marshall Islands regarding climate change, as well as an appendix offering practical advice to activists who wish to promote awareness and adaptation in communities vulnerable to climate change. The study is based upon ethnographic fieldwork in 2007 including interviews in the Marshallese language, as well as the author's experience as a volunteer teacher in a rural Marshallese community from 2003 to 2004.