Children of Palau: Leave only footprints that will wash away | TED Countdown

TL;DR

Introducing the Palau Pledge, a commitment made by visitors to preserve and protect Palau's beautiful island home and its fragile ecosystem.

Transcript

“Alii” from Palau, my beautiful island home in the western Pacific Ocean. We Palauans have been here for over 3,000 years, living in harmony with nature in our pristine paradise environment. Palau is home to just 20,000 people, but we are a large ocean state with more than 300 islands, covering an area the size of France. Some of our islands are co... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏝️ Palau is a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, home to just 20,000 people, but with over 300 islands covering the size of France.
• 🌊 Climate change is posing a significant threat to Palau, with rising sea levels, pollution, and impacts on fragile ecosystems.
• 🚫 Visitors to Palau often unknowingly harm the environment, such as stepping on coral reefs or taking protected species.
• 🔒 To address this, Palau introduced the Palau Pledge, which visitors must sign as an environmental promise to preserve and respect the country's home, culture, and heritage.
• 🌍 Palau hopes that visitors will practice the pledge's principles at home and in their own communities, spreading the idea of responsible tourism.
• 👵 Elders in Palau have passed down the belief that the land and waters are borrowed from future generations, emphasizing the importance of sustainability.
• 🚶 The Palau Pledge encourages visitors to tread lightly, act kindly, and explore mindfully while leaving minimal impact, with the only footprints being those that will wash away.
• 🌟 It is crucial for both locals and tourists to work together to protect Palau's pristine environment for future generations.

Questions & Answers

Q: How long have the Palauans been living in harmony with nature in Palau?

The Palauans have been living in harmony with nature in Palau for over 3,000 years.

Q: How many islands does Palau have?

Palau is home to more than 300 islands.

Q: What are the threats that Palau is currently facing?

Palau is currently threatened by climate change, which is causing sea levels to rise and bringing pollution to the shores. Plastic waste from thousands of miles away washes up on the beaches, posing a threat to marine life. Soil erosion due to increased rain and droughts in certain seasons also have a negative impact on the fragile ecosystems.

Q: What is the Palau Pledge?

The Palau Pledge is an environmental pledge that all visitors to Palau must sign. It is stamped into their passport as their visa. The pledge is a promise to the children of Palau to preserve and respect their home, culture, and heritage. It encourages visitors to tread lightly, act kindly, and explore mindfully, while refraining from harming nature and taking protected species. The only footprints they should leave are those that will eventually wash away.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Palau is a small ocean state with a population of 20,000 people, but it is home to over 300 islands and has a diverse ecosystem.

• Climate change is threatening Palau's environment, with rising sea levels, pollution, and erosion causing damage to the islands and marine life.

• Visitors to Palau are required to sign the Palau Pledge, promising to preserve and respect the environment and to share the message with others.