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    13 February, 2007
Environmental Campaigner Lewis Gordon Pugh to swim 160 km in the Maldives’
 

 Endurance swimmer and environmental campaigner, Lewis Gordon Pugh will be embarking on a 160 km swim in the Maldives seas on Saturday, in an effort to raise awareness of climate change.

The mammoth swim of 160 km across the breadth of the Maldives is designed to draw the world’s attention to the plight of the Island nation – the first country to sign the Kyoto Protocol and the most likely to be the first nation to feel the devastating impact of rising sea levels and warming seas – all a direct result of man-made climate change.

The swim, which is being supported by the Government of the Republic of Maldives, and sponsored by Investec Asset Management, is designed to highlight the very real challenge facing the islands as a result of climate change. With 80 % of the Maldives’ 1192 islands being no more than a metre above sea level, it has been predicted to take no more than 100 years for many of the islands to become uninhabitable.

At a press conference held today at the High Commission to launch the swim, Lewis Pugh explained his reasons for choosing the Maldives’ seas for the swim, stating that being the lowest lying islands in the world, it will be the first to be affected. Lewis Pugh further stated that the location of Maldives being around the equator would highlight the full breadth of the effects of climate change, having swum before in both the Arctic and the Antarctic.

High Commissioner of Maldives to UK Hassan Sobir expressed the Government’s gratitude for Lewis Pugh’s initiative, and stated that he hoped this would bring enough publicity for politicians and world leaders to take action.

Answering to questions posed by members of the press, Lewis Pugh explained that the biggest challenge for him would be the high temperatures of the Maldives’ seas, which stands around 33 degrees celsius, and having to deal with a calorie-intake requirement of around 7000 calories a day, whereas he was used to swimming in much colder conditions, having swum before in the Antarctica (0 degrees celsius) and the English Channel (18 degrees celsius).

The swim is expected to take around 10 days to complete and is the latest in a series of physical endeavours by Lewis Pugh to raise awareness of climate change. An Ambassador for the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), Lewis has broken a number of world records such as the first person to swim the entire length of River Thames, an incredible 325 km; first person to have completed a long distance swim in the frozen waters of the Arctic and Antarctic; first swimmer in history to complete a long distance swim in all 5 oceans of the world (to date, he is the only person to have accomplished this feat); and holds 19 world records for pioneering more swims around famous landmarks than any other swimmer in history.

The press conference was also attended by WWF Camoaigns Manager Colin Butfield and Deputy High Commissioner Adam Hassan. The press conference was well attended by members of the UK media and press.
 
 
23 May, 2013
 
President Sends a Message of Sympathy to the US President
  
President Dr Mohamed Waheed has sent a message of sympathy to President of the United State of America Barack Obama, following the loss of life and widespread devastation caused by the destructive tornado that hit the Oklahoma City.
  
20 May, 2013
 
Adopting new perspective is the way forward for the education system: President Waheed
  
President Waheed has today said that adopting new perspective is the way forward for the education system of the country.
  
14 May, 2013
 
President Waheed inquires on relief efforts being taken against extreme weather
  
President Dr Mohamed Waheed has today met with officials from the Maldives Police Service, the Maldives National Defence Force, and the National Disaster Management Centre, regarding the damages being caused in the Southern regions of the Maldives, due to the extreme weather the country has been...
  


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