"I want people to know firsthand what it is like to live on an island that is slowly sinking."

These are the words of Miss Tuvalu Akaleta Marissa Pesega who is one of the 13 contestants vying for the Miss South Pacific Title.

The 23 year old who is a resident of the small island state said that many people need to realize that global warming not only affects the environment, but the day to day lives of the people of Tuvalu.