Keisha Castle-Hughes, Greenpeace climate ambassador
Castle-Hughes is one of a range of high profile climate
ambassadors working with Greenpeace New Zealand on its Sign on
campaign (www.signon.org.nz). The campaign calls for the New
Zealand government to adopt a 40 per cent by 2020 emissions
reduction target.
"I get really upset over situations that are morally unjust.
Pacific Islanders have hardly contributed to climate change, and
yet are bearing the brunt of the problem," said Castle-Hughes.
"I've always been interested in the region. I grew up with a lot of
Pacific Islanders. I attended at one point a church in the Tongan
language and lots of students at my high school were from the
Pacific."
She will be documenting her experiences at
www.signon.org.nz/news.
Castle-Hughes will meet the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza, in
Rarotonga, where she'll spend two days in port. She will help host
public open boats, meet with local NGOs and discuss climate change
with the Cook Islands Prime Minister. She will then sail to the
island of Aitutaki, where she'll help document the stories of the
locals and how climate change is impacting their lives for
Greenpeace's Climate Voices project. (1)
In particular, Castle-Hughes will also be asking them what kind
of climate action they'd like to see from governments like New
Zealand. The Alliance of Small Island States, of which the Cook
Islands are part, is asking for developed countries as a group to
reduce their emissions by more than 40 per cent by 2020.
Aitutaki is one of many small islands in the Pacific already
bearing the brunt of climate change. Impacts include rising sea
levels, increasing temperatures, changing weather patterns, and
threats to food security due to ocean acidification and salination
of soil.
Warmer temperatures are also bleaching Aitutaki's coral reefs,
which are a prime tourist attraction. Castle-Hughes will meet with
tourism officials in Aitutaki to discuss what needs to be done to
ensure climate impacts don't destroy this crucial industry.
The Esperanza will then visit Samoa and Vanuatu before
proceeding to Cairns for the Pacific Island Forum in the first week
of August.
Other contacts: Kathy Cumming - Greenpeace Communications Advisor (in the Cook Islands) + 64 21 495 216
Phil Crawford – Greenpeace Communications Advisor (Auckland) +64 21 2299 594
Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer - + 64 21 905579
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Political Advisor: Seni Nabou +682 79781
Notes: (1) http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/impacts/climate_voices
High res images of Keisha Castle-Hughes (available free of charge):
http://www.greenpeace.gen.nz/media/main.php/v/press/sign-on/keisha.jpg.html
http://www.greenpeace.gen.nz/media/main.php/v/press/sign-on/signon163.jpg.html
http://www.greenpeace.gen.nz/media/main.php/v/press/sign-on/signon165.jpg.html
Exp. contact date: 2009-07-22 00:00:00