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Sinking stones of the protective seawall, Shishmaref, Alaska

In Shishmaref, Alaska, there is an ongoing battle with the rising sea. Seawalls made of various materials are being constructed as houses are undermined by severe erosion on the coastline. A wall made of sandbags was the first attempt to keep the water out. Local resident Heather ''Anunuk'' Sinnok shares her frustration as part of the "Portraits of Resilience"project: ''How are sandbags going to help us? We’re made out of sand!! We had such high hopes for the second wall made of cement blocks.'' The second wall also had little success, and is now sinking into the soft permafrost of the island.

Year: 2010

From album: Climate Change and Shishmaref, Alaska

Photographer: Lawrence Hislop

Tags: Alaska

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