馬爾代夫總統近日在首都北部一處20英尺（約合6米）深的海域舉行了世界上首個水下內閣會議，希望以此引起世界各國對全球變暖問題的關注。這次水下內閣會議進行了30分鐘，出席會議的內閣成員們都穿著專業潛水衣圍坐在一個馬蹄形的桌子旁邊通過白板和手勢互相交流。據稱，此次會議結束后，內閣成員們親筆簽名的潛水衣將通過專門網站拍賣，所得錢款將用于珊瑚礁的保護。印度洋島國馬爾代夫是一個旅游勝地，其地理位置僅高于海平面3英尺。科學家警告說，因為全球變暖，海平面上升，這個國家可能在不到100年的時間里將不復存在。

The government of the Maldives has held its first underwater cabinet meeting to attract international attention to the dangers of global warming.

The government of the Maldives has held its first underwater cabinet meeting to attract international attention to the dangers of global warming.

President Mohamed Nasheed, dressed in full scuba gear, conducted the 30-minute meeting at a depth of 20 feet off the coast just north of the capital Male.

Most of the island nation, a tourist paradise featuring coral reefs and white sand beaches, lies less just over three feet above sea level and scientists have warned it could be uninhabitable in less than 100 years.

Aminath Shauna, the event's co-ordinator, said the ministers had signed their wetsuits, which would be auctioned on the protectthemaldives.com website to raise money for coral reef protection in the atoll-chain.

The government arranged a horseshoe-shaped table on the seabed for the ministers, who communicated using white boards and hand signals.

The Divers Association of Maldives said the ministers, who had trained over the past two months, felt confident about the unprecedented meeting.

Of the 14-member cabinet, three ministers did not take part in the dive, as two have a medical condition while the third is currently in Europe.

The Maldives, located southwest of Sri Lanka, has become a vocal campaigner in the battle to halt rising sea levels.

In 2007, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that a rise in sea levels of seven to 24 inches by 2100 would be enough to make the country virtually uninhabitable.

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(Agencies)

（英語點津 Helen 編輯）