 |
| World leaders are meeting in New York City for a United Nation Summit to discuss climate change and because of this, thousands of people are coming together to show that our communities are powerful, united and resilient. |
The Peoples Climate
March is led by 350.org and more than one hundred other civil societies with young
people around New York City in order to show that we care about our climate,
our communities and our futures. As a young Pacific Islander, I represent the
Pacific in all its diversity, I march on behalf of young people across the 15
Pacific Island Countries in which 350 Pacific works in. I march to stand up for
our cultures, our identities, and our island homes, OUR BEAUTIFUL PACIFIC!
The People’s Climate March is a major demonstration taking place on September 21, two days before the United Nation Climate Summit, and is billed as the largest climate march in history. This is a family-friendly event, with art, music, and other events.
In fact, marching is so
important and has many reasons to show the commitments
and solidarity in Action towards climate
change and say NO to talk negotiations
and this is what we want
and deserve as islanders. It is about people coming
together to demand BOLD
POLITICAL action to address the climate crisis!
I am getting involved
because the Pacific is at the forefront of climate change, we
are the least
contributors to climate change, but yet we are the most affected by it.
I am marching because it
is NOW time for climate justice, it is NOW time
for world leaders to commit
to the type of future as Pacific Islanders deserve and
world leaders must do what they have to do to
address the climate crisis! The People's Climate
March will help 350 Pacific because it will show young
people working in the
climate movement across our region, that as long as we act together, WE CAN
change the future! The power needs to be taken back by the people!
We are demanding a
safe future and an economy that works for the people, for the Pacific and for
the planet! We need world leaders to move away from heavy reliance on the
fossil fuel industry and towards clean energy!.
I know that this
mobilization is not happening just in New York but it has strength around the
world with solidarity campaigns, Photo’s and In the Pacific Islands, from Tonga
to Tuvalu to Tokelau, people are rallying calling for action, not words to
protect the Pacific Islands. All across the Pacific, as they are marching they
are also preparing to send 30 Pacific Climate Warriors with their canoes to
block the world’s largest coal port in Australia in October.
In Kiribati, the People’s
Climate March event will bring together fishermen and garden owners to talk
about how climate change affects food security and what they must do to adapt
to this. Following that, it will bring together more than 15 community groups -
women groups, youth groups, church groups and faith based groups - in their
call for Action. Not Words to protect the future of their islands.
In Tuvalu, their People’s
Climate March solidarity event will be held on the 12th of September. The
reason for this is so the Government Delegation to the Ban Ki Moon Summit can
leave Tuvalu knowing exactly the position of young people when it comes to
climate change.
In Fiji volunteers proudly marched through the streets of the capital- Suva City, as a show of solidarity for the thousands of people that will be marching in New York City come the weekend of the 21st.
They held banners that read, “Action to protect our Islands, Not Words- Peoples Climate Mobilization” and “We are the Pacific Climate Warriors #StandUpForThePacific.”
While young Fijians
were marching in solidarity in the streets of Suva, across the Pacific, the 350
Vanuatu and 350 Tokelau team, were also carrying out their own solidarity
actions.
This took the form of
traditional canoe blessings that were also large community events.
In Tokelau, they organized an entire village to
bless the paopao (canoe) in the form of a traditional ceremony that allowed the
marrying of 350 Stand Up For the Pacific Campaign and the Peoples Climate
Mobilization in New York.
The blessing of the canoe
included a traditional canoe blessing ceremony along with the entire village
community marching back to the village for a communal tree planting ceremony.
In Vanuatu, warriors
are preparing and organizing with government and civil societies to march in
the streets of Port Vila to show solidarity to the climate march in New York.
They are also organizing the largest National youth Symposium on climate change
and disaster risk reduction with 300 hundred youths coming from all islands in
Vanuatu and this is to empower youths in the remote communities on the resilience
of their homes and environment.
Preparation
for the Climate March
With hopes and excitement to have been
invited to participate on the historical moment for the climate march in September
21, New York City. I began my preparation on taking key and major view points
and voice of the struggles of Youths, men, women and old people in local communities
around the pacific islands and make sure all grassroots voice must be heard in
one powerful word “climate Justice” and the reasons for their struggles on
climate change.
A week before my departure to New York,
I was invited to the AGRIKLAEMAPTATION
Festival organize by Care International in the remote island of Futuna,
Vanuatu. The festival is purposely to present the results and achievements of
different traditional and agricultural livelihood activities that communities
have been undertaking as they adapt to climate change. This first ever event
have include display of handicrafts and other traditional activities as well as
agricultural, fisheries, livestock and food security activities that sustain
the livelihood of the people of Futuna.
This
has also seen a number of methodologies display by SPC-GIZ Climate Change
Program with the department of Agriculture and Rural Development on different
sectors of Crop production, Coastal, marine and ecological adaptation
strategies to minimize the effects of climate change especially the increase of
temperature and the effects of the changes of weather patterns and El Nino and
La Nina.
10.09.14
[Wednesday September 2014]
I have final confirmation to my
travelling and board my flight to New York after a historical moment of the AGRICLIMAPTATION Festival which has
seen local communities displaying some of their traditional ways of adapting to
minimize the impacts of climate change in their own traditional methods in
terms of Food security and disaster risk reduction.
This has also shown me strength and
capability to know that the people are concern and aware of climate change.
They know of the impacts and have been struggling to live with it more than 20
Years.
11.09.14
[Thursday September 2014]
Arrive in New York at 1:00pm and check in at the Row Hotel, West
45st.
12.09.14
[Friday September 2014]
Take a few walk along the streets of New
York City exploring the world of capitalism and took some pictures. Had a nice
lunch with Cheeseburger and Snapple juice and spend the rest of the day
preparing and practicing for all my speeches to press and panel discussions.
13.09.14
[Saturday September 2014]
Cindy Greenberge who coordinates and responsibility
of organizing our schedules and making travelling, perdium and logistics has
arrange to meet all global ambassadors for a brief introduction and welcome
ceremony for everyone to know each other.
I had the chance to meet with the other
global ambassadors after the introduction; Diana (Poland),Lorena (peru) FATIMA
(Senagal_West Africa), Efleta (Philippines), Goksen (Turkey), Martin (Argentina
and Latin America), Juan Petro (Peru and Latin America), Juan (peru_Latin
America), Vaishali Patil (India).
We were introduce to the head office in
which most meetings and preparation for the climate march is organized and meet
with a few organizers.
14.09.14
[Sunday September 2014]
We had our first orientation and all
ambassadors make few brief introductions to what they are doing in their home
country and why the march is important to them. We had a few briefings from
Cindy Greenberg about the logistics and hotel reservations and also with daily
briefings on programs and activities.
15.09.14
[Monday 15 September 2014]
We visited the mayday Arts space and I
was interviewed by the UN Foundation Journalism Fellows on the challenges,
adaptation strategies and most importantly is why the climate mobilization is
so important in supporting the pacific climate warriors and the options we take
to confront world leaders to action negotiation on the response on climate
change to the small island states.
I was also invited by BARNARD COLUMBIA
University_ one of New York high standard University whom a group of students
are divesting from Coal Mining and divest for climate justice..
My speech is about How Young people in
the Pacific islands is taking the lead as Pacific climate warriors in
auctioning and struggling to fight against the cause of climate change in building
traditional Canoes touring the pacific ocean to stop Coal mining in Australia.
My speech was to pull the intention of
University students to be part of the climate match and wy it is so important
to join the march.
16.09.14
[Tuesday 16 September 2014]
I was invited to speak at BARUCH
University after the Disruption film screening with Diana MaCiaGa of Poland on
the struggles and the fight of indigenous people on taking on fossil fuel
industry and promoting Clean Energy, sustainable and 100% renewable Energy.
Later in the afternoon, I was part of
the Panelist on Global and Local frontline communities and the climate crisis.
I was part of the panel discussion with
10 other international and local climate activists debating the “On the rise”
frontline communities in the climate crisis.
My key message is about the resilience
of local communities in the Pacific islands and the strength of empowerment in
adapting and mitigating using traditional knowledge and exercising human rights
in fighting poverty and climate change.
17.09.14
[Wednesday September 2014]
Attended and part of the people’s
climate March documentaries to be release after the March in New York.
18.09.14
[Thursday September 2014]
Had an interview with local media here
on the highlights of the importance of this climate march and how it will help
the pacific islands on their struggle on the issue of climate change.
Then was invited to meet with 350.org
Core founder and scientist, Bill McKibben for a special request he made for us
on his formal acknowledgement of the work we’re doing in different regions and
sharing of the experiences and challenges we face in our own countries.
We attended the launching of Naomi Klein
Book which is called “THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING” launching and on that event we
witness this new highlight of some of the key climate tipping points of our
earth.
A few minutes on the middle of the
launching, I have to leave to make a presentation to New York University of
over 50 Students with Lorena Del Carpio Suarez from Peru, Goksen Sahin from
Turkey on key major points of WHY we are taking part of the climate march and
why it is so important to Participated on this largest climate march in
history.
19.09.14
[Friday September 2014]
Visit Vanuatu Commission to the United
Nation and meet with the Vanuatu Ambassador. A welcome to the office by
Ambassador ODO Tevi and we had a few remarks in which I make a brief statement
on the purpose of the climate march and how important it is to the pacific
islands and especially Vanuatu as I represented to voice a strong message to
world leaders.
Had a short lunch with the Ambassador
and short discussion on how the Vanuatu government is taking the lead on
prioritizing and mainstreaming climate change activities into policies and
practices of every government sectors.
We had a short brief Meeting with the
organizers on the march and also events on Saturday.
Most events I was present and speaking
on our experiences on the effects on climate change I Vanuatu
20.09.14
[Saturday September 2014]
A taxi pick me up for the global climate
change and frontline event which started at 09:00am and I met with Ora who see
help me out finding the way to the other event.
I speak to a number of Non government
and representatives during this event about maximizing risk and taking action
movements in the Pacific islands.
For just 10 minutes, I left for the
other event which is the youth convergence with 2000 Youths attending.
My speech to youths is about why it is
important for young people to take the lead in addressing the Issue of climate
change, Classic examples of movement in the Pacific islands. This is more than
just the environmental crisis, this is about our future and our children’s
future.
21.09.14
[Sunday September 2014]
The climate march started at 9:00am and
most of the people who came when for preparations at 6-7am to set up.
I made 6 interviews and lead the Pacific
Allies on the march with our Theme “We are not drowning, We are fighting”. All
islands participated includes Vanuatu, PNG, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Solomon’s
islands, Guam, Tonga and Fiji.
We had a farewell Party for Goksen, one
of the global ambassadors from Turkey and before she went back to turkey that
afternoon.
I went to visit Mikaela maiava at the
Indeginous introductory and meet him and later join the taem at the Bar.
22.09.14
[Monday September 2014]
I was pick up at the hotel 7am to the UN
women’s leading the Role on climate change preparation for afternoon session.
I meet with Marry Robinson Foundation
team and with other women around the world who are working on taking the
leading roles on climate change.
We finish at 10:30am and when to Global
depate and frontline on climate change.
Just attend and listening and get some information.
10 mintes later on I attend the other event on women empowerment and
deforestation/Biodiversity and was presented by Dr.Fatima who is one of the
global ambassadors’.
I went back to Hotel and later at
05:00pm I attend the actual Gender and climate change in which was lead by Marry
Robinson and a welcome speech by Ban Ki Moon (secretary General) for the United
Nation and delegations are mostly high
23.09.14
[Tuesday September 2014]
Farewell Breakfast Party and later check
out from the Hotel at 12pm. Departure at 5:30 from New York City to Los Angeles
and from LA to Nadi,Fiji.
The Peoples Climate
March is led by 350.org and more than one hundred other civil societies with young
people around New York City in order to show that we care about our climate,
our communities and our futures. As a young Pacific Islander, I represent the
Pacific in all its diversity, I march on behalf of young people across the 15
Pacific Island Countries in which 350 Pacific works in. I march to stand up for
our cultures, our identities, and our island homes, OUR BEAUTIFUL PACIFIC!
|
The People’s Climate March is a major
demonstration taking place on September 21, two days before the United Nation
Climate Summit, and is billed as the largest climate march in history. This is
a family-friendly event, with art, music, and other events.
In fact, marching is so
important and has many reasons to show the commitments
and solidarity in Action towards climate
change and say NO to talk negotiations
and this is what we want
and deserve as islanders. It is about people coming
together to demand BOLD
POLITICAL action to address the climate crisis!
I am getting involved
because the Pacific is at the forefront of climate change, we
are the least
contributors to climate change, but yet we are the most affected by it.
I am marching because it
is NOW time for climate justice, it is NOW time
for world leaders to commit
to the type of future as Pacific Islanders deserve and
world leaders must do what they have to do to
address the climate crisis!
The People's Climate
March will help 350 Pacific because it will show young
people working in the
climate movement across our region, that as long as we act together, WE CAN
change the future! The power needs to be taken back by the people!
We are demanding a
safe future and an economy that works for the people, for the Pacific and for
the planet! We need world leaders to move away from heavy reliance on the
fossil fuel industry and towards clean energy!.
I know that this
mobilization is not happening just in New York but it has strength around the
world with solidarity campaigns, Photo’s and In the Pacific Islands, from Tonga
to Tuvalu to Tokelau, people are rallying calling for action, not words to
protect the Pacific Islands. All across the Pacific, as they are marching they
are also preparing to send 30 Pacific Climate Warriors with their canoes to
block the world’s largest coal port in Australia in October.
In Kiribati, the People’s
Climate March event will bring together fishermen and garden owners to talk
about how climate change affects food security and what they must do to adapt
to this. Following that, it will bring together more than 15 community groups -
women groups, youth groups, church groups and faith based groups - in their
call for Action. Not Words to protect the future of their islands.
In Tuvalu, their People’s
Climate March solidarity event will be held on the 12th of September. The
reason for this is so the Government Delegation to the Ban Ki Moon Summit can
leave Tuvalu knowing exactly the position of young people when it comes to
climate change.
In Fiji volunteers proudly marched through the streets of the capital- Suva City, as a show of solidarity for the thousands of people that will be marching in New York City come the weekend of the 21st.
They held banners that read, “Action to protect our Islands, Not Words- Peoples Climate Mobilization” and “We are the Pacific Climate Warriors #StandUpForThePacific.”
While young Fijians
were marching in solidarity in the streets of Suva, across the Pacific, the 350
Vanuatu and 350 Tokelau team, were also carrying out their own solidarity
actions.
This took the form of
traditional canoe blessings that were also large community events.
In Tokelau, they organized an entire village to
bless the paopao (canoe) in the form of a traditional ceremony that allowed the
marrying of 350 Stand Up For the Pacific Campaign and the Peoples Climate
Mobilization in New York.
The blessing of the canoe
included a traditional canoe blessing ceremony along with the entire village
community marching back to the village for a communal tree planting ceremony.
In Vanuatu, warriors
are preparing and organizing with government and civil societies to march in
the streets of Port Vila to show solidarity to the climate march in New York.
They are also organizing the largest National youth Symposium on climate change
and disaster risk reduction with 300 hundred youths coming from all islands in
Vanuatu and this is to empower youths in the remote communities on the resilience
of their homes and environment.
Preparation
for the Climate March
With hopes and excitement to have been
invited to participate on the historical moment for the climate march in September
21, New York City. I began my preparation on taking key and major view points
and voice of the struggles of Youths, men, women and old people in local communities
around the pacific islands and make sure all grassroots voice must be heard in
one powerful word “climate Justice” and the reasons for their struggles on
climate change.
A week before my departure to New York,
I was invited to the AGRIKLAEMAPTATION
Festival organize by Care International in the remote island of Futuna,
Vanuatu. The festival is purposely to present the results and achievements of
different traditional and agricultural livelihood activities that communities
have been undertaking as they adapt to climate change. This first ever event
have include display of handicrafts and other traditional activities as well as
agricultural, fisheries, livestock and food security activities that sustain
the livelihood of the people of Futuna.
This
has also seen a number of methodologies display by SPC-GIZ Climate Change
Program with the department of Agriculture and Rural Development on different
sectors of Crop production, Coastal, marine and ecological adaptation
strategies to minimize the effects of climate change especially the increase of
temperature and the effects of the changes of weather patterns and El Nino and
La Nina.
10.09.14
[Wednesday September 2014]
I have final confirmation to my
travelling and board my flight to New York after a historical moment of the AGRICLIMAPTATION Festival which has
seen local communities displaying some of their traditional ways of adapting to
minimize the impacts of climate change in their own traditional methods in
terms of Food security and disaster risk reduction.
This has also shown me strength and
capability to know that the people are concern and aware of climate change.
They know of the impacts and have been struggling to live with it more than 20
Years.
11.09.14
[Thursday September 2014]
Arrive in New York at 1:00pm and check in at the Row Hotel, West
45st.
12.09.14
[Friday September 2014]
Take a few walk along the streets of New
York City exploring the world of capitalism and took some pictures. Had a nice
lunch with Cheeseburger and Snapple juice and spend the rest of the day
preparing and practicing for all my speeches to press and panel discussions.
13.09.14
[Saturday September 2014]
Cindy Greenberge who coordinates and responsibility
of organizing our schedules and making travelling, perdium and logistics has
arrange to meet all global ambassadors for a brief introduction and welcome
ceremony for everyone to know each other.
I had the chance to meet with the other
global ambassadors after the introduction; Diana (Poland),Lorena (peru) FATIMA
(Senagal_West Africa), Efleta (Philippines), Goksen (Turkey), Martin (Argentina
and Latin America), Juan Petro (Peru and Latin America), Juan (peru_Latin
America), Vaishali Patil (India).
We were introduce to the head office in
which most meetings and preparation for the climate march is organized and meet
with a few organizers. 
14.09.14
[Sunday September 2014]
We had our first orientation and all
ambassadors make few brief introductions to what they are doing in their home
country and why the march is important to them. We had a few briefings from
Cindy Greenberg about the logistics and hotel reservations and also with daily
briefings on programs and activities.
15.09.14
[Monday 15 September 2014]
We visited the mayday Arts space and I
was interviewed by the UN Foundation Journalism Fellows on the challenges,
adaptation strategies and most importantly is why the climate mobilization is
so important in supporting the pacific climate warriors and the options we take
to confront world leaders to action negotiation on the response on climate
change to the small island states.
I was also invited by BARNARD COLUMBIA
University_ one of New York high standard University whom a group of students
are divesting from Coal Mining and divest for climate justice..
My speech is about How Young people in
the Pacific islands is taking the lead as Pacific climate warriors in
auctioning and struggling to fight against the cause of climate change in building
traditional Canoes touring the pacific ocean to stop Coal mining in Australia.
My speech was to pull the intention of
University students to be part of the climate match and wy it is so important
to join the march.
16.09.14
[Tuesday 16 September 2014]
I was invited to speak at BARUCH
University after the Disruption film screening with Diana MaCiaGa of Poland on
the struggles and the fight of indigenous people on taking on fossil fuel
industry and promoting Clean Energy, sustainable and 100% renewable Energy.
Later in the afternoon, I was part of
the Panelist on Global and Local frontline communities and the climate crisis.
I was part of the panel discussion with
10 other international and local climate activists debating the “On the rise”
frontline communities in the climate crisis.
My key message is about the resilience
of local communities in the Pacific islands and the strength of empowerment in
adapting and mitigating using traditional knowledge and exercising human rights
in fighting poverty and climate change.
17.09.14
[Wednesday September 2014]
Attended and part of the people’s
climate March documentaries to be release after the March in New York.
18.09.14
[Thursday September 2014]
Had an interview with local media here
on the highlights of the importance of this climate march and how it will help
the pacific islands on their struggle on the issue of climate change.
Then was invited to meet with 350.org
Core founder and scientist, Bill McKibben for a special request he made for us
on his formal acknowledgement of the work we’re doing in different regions and
sharing of the experiences and challenges we face in our own countries.
We attended the launching of Naomi Klein
Book which is called “THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING” launching and on that event we
witness this new highlight of some of the key climate tipping points of our
earth.
A few minutes on the middle of the
launching, I have to leave to make a presentation to New York University of
over 50 Students with Lorena Del Carpio Suarez from Peru, Goksen Sahin from
Turkey on key major points of WHY we are taking part of the climate march and
why it is so important to Participated on this largest climate march in
history.
19.09.14
[Friday September 2014]
Visit Vanuatu Commission to the United
Nation and meet with the Vanuatu Ambassador. A welcome to the office by
Ambassador ODO Tevi and we had a few remarks in which I make a brief statement
on the purpose of the climate march and how important it is to the pacific
islands and especially Vanuatu as I represented to voice a strong message to
world leaders.
Had a short lunch with the Ambassador
and short discussion on how the Vanuatu government is taking the lead on
prioritizing and mainstreaming climate change activities into policies and
practices of every government sectors.
We had a short brief Meeting with the
organizers on the march and also events on Saturday.
Most events I was present and speaking
on our experiences on the effects on climate change I Vanuatu
20.09.14
[Saturday September 2014]
A taxi pick me up for the global climate
change and frontline event which started at 09:00am and I met with Ora who see
help me out finding the way to the other event.
I speak to a number of Non government
and representatives during this event about maximizing risk and taking action
movements in the Pacific islands.
For just 10 minutes, I left for the
other event which is the youth convergence with 2000 Youths attending.
My speech to youths is about why it is
important for young people to take the lead in addressing the Issue of climate
change, Classic examples of movement in the Pacific islands. This is more than
just the environmental crisis, this is about our future and our children’s
future.
21.09.14
[Sunday September 2014]
The climate march started at 9:00am and
most of the people who came when for preparations at 6-7am to set up.
I made 6 interviews and lead the Pacific
Allies on the march with our Theme “We are not drowning, We are fighting”. All
islands participated includes Vanuatu, PNG, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Solomon’s
islands, Guam, Tonga and Fiji.
We had a farewell Party for Goksen, one
of the global ambassadors from Turkey and before she went back to turkey that
afternoon.
I went to visit Mikaela maiava at the
Indeginous introductory and meet him and later join the taem at the Bar.
22.09.14
[Monday September 2014]
I was pick up at the hotel 7am to the UN
women’s leading the Role on climate change preparation for afternoon session.
I meet with Marry Robinson Foundation
team and with other women around the world who are working on taking the
leading roles on climate change.
We finish at 10:30am and when to Global
depate and frontline on climate change.
Just attend and listening and get some information.
10 mintes later on I attend the other event on women empowerment and
deforestation/Biodiversity and was presented by Dr.Fatima who is one of the
global ambassadors’.
I went back to Hotel and later at
05:00pm I attend the actual Gender and climate change in which was lead by Marry
Robinson and a welcome speech by Ban Ki Moon (secretary General) for the United
Nation and delegations are mostly high
23.09.14
[Tuesday September 2014]
Farewell Breakfast Party and later check
out from the Hotel at 12pm. Departure at 5:30 from New York City to Los Angeles
and from LA to Nadi,Fiji.
