All Women Empowerment To Accelerate to join mission to save Antarctica

SHAH ALAM - The All Women Empowerment To Accelerate (Aweta) is set to embark on an expedition to the coastline of Antarctica to preserve the southernmost continent through the 2041 Global Warming mission.

Aweta chairman Dr Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir said the expedition initiated by the Climate Force 2041 (CF2041) Foundation, will be joined by a Malaysian graduate from March 17 to 29.

She said she was in luck when she met CF2041 founder Robert Swan in 2019 when she was invited to join the expedition.

According to Sharifah Mazlina, the expedition cruise will focus on leadership training programmes to shape leaders from various countries so that they would be bold enough to talk about global warming.

“Robert wants us speak out on the issue so that more people in the world would have the initiative to control the issue of global warming to slow down the melting of ice in Antarctica.

“Natural disasters happen everywhere, but if the melting of ice in Antarctica happens, no one would be able to help. Hence, he (Robert) wants to speak out about the conservation of Antarctica through this mission.

"Malaysians can also find out about the latest developments on the issue, especially with the melting of ice in Antarctica which is getting worse and will soon have an impact on the whole world, including Malaysia.

"In line with the participation, we are able to have an international network with various partnerships in promoting our country in the eyes of the world as an ambassador,” she told Sinar Harian on Wednesday.

She said the participants in the mission this time were able to become icons and activists of global warming at the national level and at the same time be a CF2041 Alumni at the international level.

She added that as a polar explorer, she had seen the effects of global warming in Antarctica since 2004.

"The latest I joined was in 2019, there were cracks in the middle that can be seen from the plane and it was terrifying.

"If the ice in Antarctica melts, the earth's crust would move, that is why now we see many mountains suddenly collapse, this is all a sign. When it happens, everything will be more inclined.

“If the ice in Antarctica starts melting fast, where does the water go? It will lead to high waves and overflow. If the ice melts, the waves and the sea level will rise high and much of the earth's soil will sink, " she added.