www.ntv.co.ke To raise awareness on the risk the Maldives face from rising sea levels and climate change, President Mohamed Nasheed chaired a cabinet meeting underwater, yes, under the sea. Seated around a table and using hand signals and slates, the cabinet endorsed an “SOS” message from the Maldives to be presented at the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen. This was a first.

Speaking in between the two biggest CO2-emitting nations - China and the United States - Maldives president Mohammed Nasheed makes desperate plea to the United Nations to make sure that the upcoming climate summit in Copenhagen will not be a failure. “We can not make Copenhagen a pact for suicide,” he told world leaders.

101 East speaks to Asia’s longest serving leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and opposition candidate Mohamed Nasheed at the Maldives‘ first free elections. In this edition of 101 East, we look at this turning point of democracy in Maldivian history and ask both presidential candidates why Maldivians should vote for them.