THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ARE A SERIES OF CORAL ATOLLS ENCLOSING VAST CLEAR LAGOONS SOMETIMES MANY MILES ACROSS. THE ATOLLS ONCE ENCIRCLED VOLCANOES WHICH HAVE LONG SINCE SUNK BACK INTO THE SEA LEAVING THESE LONG, NARROW CURVING ISLANDS COVERED IN COCONUT PALMS. THERE IS USUALLY LESS THAN 50 METRES (55 YARDS) BETWEEN THE LAGOON AND THE PACIFIC. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF PACIFIC SMALL ISLAND STATES LIKE THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ARE SO VULNERABLE TO SEA LEVEL RISE, THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER IN THE ALLIANCE OF SMALL ISLAND STATES (AOSIS), A POLITICAL ALLIANCE WHICH HAS BEEN A POWERFUL FORCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.