When Modi visited the island nation of Seychelles, it reminded the world that islands are becoming very important in global politics. But islands have always mattered. They are not just useful places on a map—they are homes to unique people, animals and plants.
Recently, the Indigenous people of Taiwan’s Orchid Island sailed in a handmade boat to the Batanes Islands in the Philippines. They were following a sea route their ancestors used 4,000 years ago. This shows how islands have helped people travel, trade and build cultures for thousands of years.
Islands are also nature’s treasure houses. Even though they make up only about 5% of Earth’s land, they are home to about 20% of all bird, reptile and plant species. Because they are so sensitive to changes in the environment, they also help scientists understand the health of our planet.
Sadly, islands and the people who live on them have often been treated unfairly. In the 1980s, Taiwan dumped low-level nuclear waste on Orchid Island, where Indigenous people lived. The government has now admitted this was wrong. In the Pacific Ocean, the US tested nuclear bombs on Bikini Atoll, damaging the land, poisoning water and affecting local people’s health for years. The people of the Chagos Islands were even forced to leave their homes so Britain and the US could build a military base.
Today, many countries see islands mainly as places for military bases or strategic projects. Wars in the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea have made governments think even more about controlling islands. Some countries, like China, are even building artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Of course, countries have the right to develop islands to protect their interests. But they must also protect nature and respect the people who live there. For example, India wants to build important projects on Great Nicobar Island. These plans should not come at the cost of cutting down millions of trees in its untouched rainforest.
The best way forward is to involve island communities in decisions that affect them. When local people are heard, development can happen without destroying the islands’ unique nature and culture. India has a chance to show that security and environmental protection can go hand in hand.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
