The island community of Shishmaref, located in northwestern Alaska (USA) and inhabited by more than 90% indigenous, voted in a referendum to move to a continental location by the effects of climate change on the island.
Of about 560 inhabitants in the island less than 170went to the polls, of which 89 voted for and 79 against transfer, local media reported.
Shishmaref is located on an island almost 5 kilometers long and 400 meters wide, but the water level rise has already forced to relocate 13 homes.
In 2002, the village held another referendum with the same question and the same result, but the cost of moving to mainland has made unviable initiative.
The game that the Interior Department allocated in 2015 for all communities seeking to move from the effects of climate change was 8 million, while only about 200 Shishmaref need to do so.
In addition, according to the Huffington Post, a dozen Alaskan communities have also voted move for similar reasons and, according to the US Government, about 200 suffer the consequences in the form of erosion or flooding.
An example that may try to emulate is that of Jean Charles Island, in southern Louisiana, the first community in the country to be relocated by the effects of climate change.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development approved a few months ago a game of 48 million to relocate the 25 families, also Indians, who remain on an island whose territory has been reduced by 98% over the last 60 years.
