With last month’s climate talks in Copenhagen and a reinvigorated international interest in global warming issues, the time is right to expand southeastern engagement and education about global warming. Today, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is releasing new Spanish translated versions of our Treasured Places in Peril, Florida Everglades and Sea Level Rise in Florida educational videos about global warming impacts to our regions’ coastal places. Over the years since the videos were first created, thousands of English-speaking viewers have seen what we stand to lose if we do nothing to curb global warming pollution.
Today, in hopes of expanding outreach and education to Latino communities about coastal vulnerability to global warming, SACE offers two of our most compelling videos now subtitled in Spanish (view videos below).
“We recognize that there are so many useful resources out there about the threats of global warming that have not been made available to Spanish speaking audiences,” stated Ulla Reeves, SACE’s regional program director. “Our goal is to increase the amount of translated materials to communities that will be disproportionately impacted by global warming and enable a greater diversity of interested citizens to join the movement to address the climate crisis.”
Latinos Particularly Vulnerable to Climate Change
According to a new Oxfam America report that researched social vulnerability and climate change, Florida’s large Latino immigrant population is especially vulnerable. Geographically, 37% of the state of Florida is in FEMA’s 100-year flood zone, which is the second highest percentage in the region. Additionally, over the past 30 years, 80% of the state has been in the buffer zone of category 1 hurricanes. Latino populations tend to live in these at-risk coastal areas. For example, in counties vulnerable to sea level rise and stronger storms such as Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Sarasota and Charlotte, populations reach upwards of 60% Latino.
These statistics demonstrate the significant vulnerabilities that the state of Florida and its residents will face in a warmer world. The Oxfam report states that the Latino community often has “language and cultural barriers that hinder disaster preparedness.” It is more important than ever for citizens who will bear more of the brunt of climate change impacts to be aware of the risks and be part of the solution.
The Videos
Treasured Places in Peril: Everglades takes viewers on a journey through the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park, interviewing concerned citizens and scientists who are already seeing and feeling the effects of global warming. Watch the video here.
SACE’s Sea Level Rise Impacts to Florida video puts a very human face on global warming. This video uses striking images produced by Architecture2030 and Google Earth to depict how populous cities such as Miami and Tampa could be drastically altered by global warming impacts including sea level rise and storm surges if action is not taken now. Watch the video here.
Through educational products such as these videos, SACE hopes to raise the level of awareness within Spanish-speaking communities and empower those citizens to become part of the climate and energy debate at this critical junction in our nations’ history. All citizens are needed to raise their voices in calling for action at the local, state and federal levels, joining the millions at the forefront of the fight to stop global warming.
For more information:
Learn more about global warming impacts
Latino Environmental Education Network (scroll down the page) or contact Martha Avila at [email protected]