This is nuts...

Ok...this might seem like a joke but I assure you it's not. Because of sea reclamation projects in some major countries, islands in Indonesia are disappearing from the map. Here's a snippet from the article:

Sea reclamation projects in China, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore are driving a black market in Indonesia’s abundant supplies of soil, sand and gravel. In 2007 Indonesia banned the export of its sand and soil and threatened a shoot on sight policy against foreign sand pirates and gravel bandits. But, thanks to corrupt local officials who sign off on permits and turn a blind eye to where the material ends up, the smugglers are winning.

Since 2005 at least 24 small islands have disappeared as a result of erosion caused by sand mining. Even where they remain above the waves, the mining process clouds and muddies the sea, devastating fish populations and destroying livelihoods.

Shoot on sight policy!!! Read the full piece here.

In case you're wondering if this messes with the ocean ecosystem and local fishing economy...YES IT MESSES WITH THE ECOSYSTEM AND THE ECONOMY.