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Our largest and fastest ship is moving full steam across the Pacific Ocean towards Cairns for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting being held next week.
After nearly two months in the Pacific, working with Pacific Islanders on the frontline of climate change, the Greenpeace crew have an urgent message for the Australian government and the other regional leaders attending the meeting.
Urgent message from the frontline
While in the Cook Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu for the ‘Pacific Voices’ ship tour, Greenpeace met with government officials, environmental NGOs, community leaders, schools and church groups to talk about climate change and the devastating impacts it is having on people’s lives in the Pacific.Greenpeace talked to mothers, fathers, chiefs, children, teachers, activists, scientists, doctors and heads of state. They spoke of rising sea levels, soil erosion, extreme weather events, changing weather patterns, and warming sea temperatures affecting fish stocks and coral reefs.
One such Pacific Islander is Mrs Tuakan Neiao. She is a mother of 10 and leader of the Women’s Federation on the remote island of Nassau, in the Cook Islands.
After the cyclones of 2005, no buildings were left standing on her island. The aid funds never came. Today she is noticing lots of changes in the weather – the winds are stronger and the waves more dangerous. She is scared of another cyclone but would never leave her island. She wants her children to be able to have the childhood she had on her beloved island of Nassau.
Watch a video featuring Tuakan below.
Leaders need to act at PIF
Pacific Islanders are fighting for their survival. Their livelihoods, their homes and their children’s future are all at stake in the face of climate change.Next week, Pacific leaders will meet in Cairns for the 40th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Already a voice of reason on the issue, Pacific leaders are calling for a strong global climate treaty at Copenhagen in December.
Both Australia and New Zealand need to listen to Pacific nations. They need to stop undermining attempts to forge a strong global treaty and begin to support their Pacific neighbours.
Related videos
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Climate change impacts on Pukapuka Island
Introducing the Pacific Voices tour
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