Located in the Indian Ocean， the Maldives are among the most beautiful islands in the world with sandy white beaches，clear water，and amazing coral reefs （珊瑚礁）．The country relies on tourism，fishing，and shipping．But the rising sea level and the carbon pollution causing warming oceans are threatening their existence．Heavy storms，more widespread and more frequent flooding sea water flowing into fresh water，beach erosion （侵蚀） and death of coral reefs， and the reduction of fisheries are changing the ways the Maldivians see their world．

The Maldives have asked for international help． They are a tiny country．The big polluters of the world ate responsible for climate change and the rising sea level． The World Bank， the United States， the European Union，and many other groups have offered money to develop safeguards against climate change．

To protect the islands the Maldives have built sea walls and increased the altitude of important buildings and services such as the two international airports，which lie just 165 feet from the coastline．

They're also building up islands such as the Huhumale．The new island is surrounded by nine﹣foot sea walls． More than 40，000 people live there． The plan is to house 240，000， providing new opportunities for jobs．The goal is an excellent planned community with sustainable housing and buildings sensitive to the environment and needs of the people．

The government will relocate people living on smaller，lower﹣lying islands to the new built﹣up islands It's reported that one in three of the 185 islands will have to be given up．The new islands offer free houses，new schools，health hospitals，fresh water，and waste treatment．Depending on tourism，the country hopes to build 50 more tourist islands．

"Climate change is happening，but we are not leaving the Maldives to the sea"，said Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim， The Maldives will protect their islands，people and tourism with new islands and ongoing island development against rising sea level．

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consists of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244,000 square kilometres.

The United Kingdom is made up of four parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland. But in everyday speech “Great Britain” is used to mean the United Kingdom. The capital of the UK is London.

The British Isles are separated from the continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

Shakespeare called Britain a “precious stone set in the silver sea” because of it natural beauty. It has different sorts of countryside where you can find mountains, plains, valleys and sandy beaches. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain, but it is only 1343 metres high.

There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream(墨西哥湾流) influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round.

The UK is a small country. Its population is over 58 million. About 80% of the population live in cities.