Page 25 - IB AUG 2018

climate change

a more resilient country. Some of those solutions include using
He received immediate support from coconut leaf baskets to replace plastic bags
the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu, the largest or the preservation of young coconuts as
church in the country. a food source during drought.
EKT General Secretary, Reverend Taufue The church is also actively involved
Lusama warned that a distinction must in finding ways to plant pulaka (swamp
be made between an individual freewill taro) when planting areas have become
migration and mass relocation. inundated with salt water.
“(It is important) to discern what is right For its part the Tuvalu Government has
and good for our vulnerable countries in reclaimed close to half an acre on Funafuti
regards to life continuity,” Lusama said. to build nine cottages and a recreational
“And we need to look at how our identi- Climate Warriors ... Retired Kiribati President Anote Tong area at a cost of AUD6million (US$4.4m).
ties can be sustained by our cultural and (right) joins his Tuvaluan host Enele Sopoaga for a cul- And authorities have started to consider
traditional values. tural performance at the summit of Polynesian Leaders the expensive option of raising land levels
“Climate induced migration is a critical in Funafuti last June. by importing sand and soil.
issue which needs to be defined from our What has become obvious to Sopoaga
contextual perspective rather than from climate resilient crops and securing water is that the government cannot fight this
foreign viewpoints. sources. battle alone.
“Yet we have to dialogue within the Traditional knowledge of the climate, Last June, he enlisted the support of civil
international framework available to us to- agriculture, food preservation and building society – including the Tuvalu Association
day and to see our struggles and the risks methods will be important issues as the of Non-Government Organisations – and
associated with the issue of relocation and church prepares its people. the church to help his country in the fight
stand up for what is best for our people.’’ “Not everyone will be able to escape the for survival.
Lusama and the EKT have long advo- onslaught of climate change and the loss He then took the bold step of allowing
cated relocation as the final solution for of food, water and land,” Lusama said. the CSO community to meet Polynesian
Tuvalu – one which must be considered “Our duty as a church is to journey leaders during a summit on Funafuti.
but priority placed on mitigation and with those who choose to stay or have “This must be a joint effort, a national
resilience. no option. That means the EKT will work task for survival,” Sopoaga said.
That means that the church focus will with the community to find solutions “As Tuvaluans we are all in this canoe
be on reinforcing the coastline, planting which already exist within our traditional together and everyone has a role to
mangroves, reclaiming land, identifying knowledge.’’ play.

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Islands Business,August 2018 25