Pacific response to climate change Oct 24

Pacific response to climate change to resonate this Saturday, October 24th

Media Advisory: Update
20 October 2009

Actions are being planned in almost every Pacific Island nation for the 350 International Day of Climate Action on October 24th! Pacific communities, many of whom are already affected by climate change, are uniting to create actions that will both empower and raise awareness of climate change impacts in the Pacific.

Inhabitants of Cartaret Island will be some of the first climate change refugees in the world. Their action will be located at their proposed relocation site to highlight the massive implications of climate change on their future. Cartaret Islanders will be transported to the relocation site where church gongs will ring 350 times and 350 mangrove seedlings will be planted. There will also be live contempory and traditional song and dance performances. Fiji is leading the way in the Pacific! The sound of bells will resonate across Fiji's islands on October 24th, as the Pacific Conference of Churches holds a ‘Tolling and Gonging’ session. Member churches will beat their lali's (traditional wooden gongs) 350 times. This will be followed by community education on climate change. Fiji will also send a "coconut telegraph to the world" with 350 Fijians in traditional dress from four different villages coming together to spell out 350. Niue will be holding a full-day event titled "Treemendous Niue" on October 24th. This will involve a dawn blessing, followed by some aerobics to warm up for the main event: tree planting. Members of parliament will also be attending. In the afternoon schools will be performing and demonstrating their 350-related school work.

In Papua New Guinea, The Centre for Law and Environmental Rights is hosting ‘Peg a metre, clean a metre’ on Ela beach. Ruth Pune, organiser of the event says, “We are bringing a message to world leaders that we want them to reduce the current level of carbon in the atmosphere from 390ppm to the target of 350. We are serious about this number.” Business sponsors are being charged 350 kina (approx US $130) for participation in the day. In Tuvalu, the 350 Climate Action Festival includes the re-introduction of solar energy and the introduction of wind energy in Funafuti on October 24th. Climate change is a critical issue for Pacific Island states. Sean Weaver, a New Zealand climate scientist working in the Pacific, says that the biggest challenge from a climate change perspective is water security and consequent food security associated with drought. He said that projections for the western Pacific are for increased drought. “Sea level rise also threatens lots of low-lying areas, not to mention the likely increase in the intensity of storms and associated flood events,” Weaver said last week. This week Niue ran a 'Grab that Jandal' clean-up of Togo Chasm as part of 350 events, featuring Miss South Pacific, Vanessa Marsh.
ENDS

Highlights of Pacific actions planned for October 24th: Check back before October 24th for all currently listed events for the Pacific and the rest of the world at www.350.org Cook Islands – A day of live music and climate awareness at Cafe Salsa
Fiji – Tolling and Gonging – Pacific Conference of Churches. Fiji Islands Suva, Nausori, Ovalau, Nadi, Sigatoka, Lakeba.
Coconut telegraph to the world. Gathering of 350 villagers from four villages Nabasovi, Tavua, Navaga & Waisali at Nabasovi District School
Fiji Nightingales Action for Climate Change – Nurses for 350, Fiji School of Nursing, Tamavua Campus, Suva. Dilkusha 350 Movement, Dilkusha High School, Nausori Town, Suva.
Papua New Guinea – ’Peg a metre, clean a metre’, Ela Beach

Bougainville Climate Action: Unified for a Global Climate Treaty – Tinputz Community, Marau, Bougainville, PNG
Guam – Forest 350: Guam residents to plant 350 seedlings in the Cetti Bay area. Niue – Treemendous Niue, 24th October
Western Samoa – Fa’a Samoa – A morning workshop for primary school students, open to the public, 350 Climate Action Festival Tuvalu – 350 Climate Action Festival including tree planting, the re-introduction of solar energy and the introduction of wind energy, Funafuti Do it yourself reuse website
Vanuatu – An exhibition of climate-change-related works by pikininis and a short toktok, seafront, Port Vila, October 23rd

Hawaii – 350 Island style with 350 Road Signs.

French Polynesia – Save our Fenua: Meeting to plan for the future ... or there may not be any tomorrows for any of us or our beloved islands – Uturoa, Raiatea.
Les pieds dans l’eau/feet in the water – Pointe Venus, Mahina.

New Caledonia - Ensemble pour l’objectif 350 – Noumea.

American Samoa – 350 Climate Foundation Event, Pago Pago.

Tonga – Young Generation Climate Change Awareness & Action Week, New City building Area, Taufaahau, Nukualofa, Tongatapu.

Solomon Islands - Iumi waka tugeda fo stopem climate change, Multi-Purpose Building, Honiara.

ENDS

www.350.org.nz www.350.org

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