Over 200 people gathered at a government office at 4:30 this morning to demand action to stop the severe erosion on the Maldive island of Maduvvaree. Four to eight coastal homes on the island have already been lost to beach erosion.

“We have promised the islanders that the project for long-term protection will start next year meaning as soon as possible in the new year,” said vice-president Dr Mohamed Waheed.

While Waheed and current president Mohamed Nasheed ran for office promising to address the issue, they now say the current budget leaves no money for action. However, Nasheed has begun saving cash to purchase a new homeland if the country does not survive rising sea levels.

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Challa Krishnamurthy started a 20-acre organic farm in Gowribidanur, India with the intention to make it a model for how others should treat the land. But despite his efforts to keep his property free of toxic chemicals, he discovered that a local distillery and sugarcane factory had been dumping untreated waste onto his property as well as others.

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There was very little new in Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford’s(D-AZ) wedding to Astronaut Mark Kelly. There was plenty of something old, borrowed and blue, however, as the couple were married in the small community of Amado, south of Tucson, AZ on Saturday.  Giffords, a staunch and outspoken proponent of solar power and everything environmental, made her statement well with a “low carbon footprint” wedding, complete with plates and forks made of sugar cane, a borrowed kiddish cup used in traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies, and homemade flower bouquets. Even her wedding dress was second hand, how’s that for a statement on sustainability?

Following the wedding on the Agua Linda Farm about 35 miles south of Tucson, the reception featured Mexican food with a person making tortillas on the spot, along with steak and potatoes.

Gifford’s husband, Astronaut Mark Kelly flew in a 14-day shuttle mission in 2006, his bride to be standing in the crowd watching liftoff. He’ll remain in Houston at the space center, while his congressional wife starts her quest for another two-year term in Congress. The democrat filled the seat vacated by Jim Kolbe in 2006.

Kelly will fly another shuttle mission in April, his third in 11 years and first as commander.  That puts their honeymoon on hold, since Kelly is grounded until the flight is finished, but they plan on seeing each other on weekends.

If you’d like to read more about this fairytale wedding in a rustic, southwestern setting, you’ll find it in the Arizona Daily Star.

There’s more on Betty in the companion article I wrote that features several links to her personal website and blog, and to other articles about her. This is one tough lady, who’s as gentle and caring as you might imagine a great-grandmother to be. But she won’t back down from a fight; she picks them. Listen to the interview, then check out the companion article.