Page 28 - IB Nov 2017

Climate change Aviation Former Flying Fijian Sunia Aviation Plane makes rapid fall from
10,000 feet: P32
Koto tells of his pain over Sireli Temo: P30

From Page 27 The eroding ore (customary punishment), burying of
In 2006 Harvard Biologist Edward O. coastline umbilical cord, hundred-night death tabu,
Wilson renewed the urgent call to faith in parts of all speak of how the iTaukei are connected
communities: “We need your help. The Fiji shows with other human beings and nature.
Creation – living Nature – is in deep the reality A participant in my recent public lecture
of climate
trouble…. Prudence alone dictates that change. “Reweaving the Ecological Mat” at St Jo-
we act quickly to prevent the extinction heavenly Father is perfect.” The perfect seph’s Secondary School Hall said “I am
of species, and with it, the pauperissa- God is both Creator and Liberator. Catholic thrilled to see our iTaukei culture elevated
tion of Earth’s ecosystem – hence of the Social Teaching reminds us that to be per- to the front. European explorers came and
Creation.” fect like God is to serve both the common criticised our customs as backward. Chris-
good and Mother Earth’s good. tian missionaries regarded our customs
Fiji: A prophet for caring for Mother God through our faith tradition tells us as evil and pagan. Now our customs are
and Sister Earth that good governance serves the common promoted to the front. We have something
Fiji is in a privileged position to be a good and the earth’s good as well. Our the world needs.”
prophet to the world when our Prime Min- government policies and developments Hindu culture believes in a partnership
ister, Honourable Voreqe Bainimarama must have the development of peoples and stewardship ethic, which requires
leads COP23 in Bonn, Germany. Fiji brings and protection of the earth as the centre. holding the land in trust for God and the
a prophetic voice to COP23 through her Human beings and companies are not the general benefit of mankind. Nature is a
experience and her spiritual and cultural centre of the universe. Creation too has its gift and sacred. Islam believes that the
symbols. unique dignity and purposes rather than relationship with creation and the Cre-
to be taken as mere objects of human ator forms the ethical basis (respect and
Spiritual symbols domination and exploitation. responsibility) to sustain all life.
Fiji’s contribution to ‘Care for Mother
The Hebrew/Christian Faith tradition Cultural symbols Earth Fiji has the language, the experi-
teaches that God is Mercy: “I have heard Fiji and other indigenous peoples have ence, the map and the prescription for
the cries of my people and I will free them the language, the experience, the map and healing our Mother Earth.
This is the moment of grace! This is
from slavery and oppression.” (Exodus the prescription for healing our Mother the grace that God has given Fiji to help
3) Today’s reading from Mathew’s Gospel Earth. heal our crying mother earth and the
calls us to “Be perfect, therefore, as your The Vanua Cosmology, totemism and
crying poor.

“My conflict prevention work is linked to the communities where
I work. It is ensuring we have responsive community based mech-
anisms to support conflict prevention in community, in schools,
in church, in parliament because there’s conflict anywhere, every-
where even within the families, the workplace”- Vanessa Heleta,
Founder/Director of the Talitha Project (Tonga) and GPPAC Pacific
Regional Steering Group Chairperson

“Conflict prevention is linked to the way development pro-
grammes and services are delivered to communities. That
includes ensuring communities in rural and remote areas have ac-
cess to information, education, health and wellbeing- when these
things are not available people are frustrated, they feel anger.”
- James Laki, Executive Director, Peace Foundation Melanesia,
Papua New Guinea
“By using community media, the GPPAC Pacific network borought
Pacific voice and experience into the regional Conflight Prevention
and Human Security framework, the Pacific Regional Action Plan
on Women, Peace and Security and the Security Sector Gover-
nance Principles. But we also expect these commitments to be
transformed to a lived reality. Our governments need to be more
accountable to a human security approach by linking conflict pre-
vention particularly to the development process. We also still need,
and expect renewed collaboration with regional inter-governmental
“The work that we do everyday in Vois Blong Mere is empowering processes to bring Pacific Peacebuilders, including women, to the
women to raise their voices and to have access to economic, health table with government officials.”
education or environment information that will help them to make - Sharon Bhagwan Rolls,
informed choices in their own development. I would say that the femLINKpacific & Chairperson - GPPAC Board
work I do everyday is all about implementing 1325 and helping
women to access information. With the launch of the National Ac-
tion Plan for Women, Peace and Security we will continue with our
advocacy and awareness on the human security aspects of peace in
Solomon ISlands, because peace is not only when there is RAMIS or
when there is a police force in place, but when you are peaceful and The “Strengthening Non-State Actors Engagement in Regional Policy
secure everyday.” - Josephine Teakeni, Director, Voice Blong Mere Development and Implementation Programme” (the NSA Programme) is
Solomons funded through the European Union’s 10th European Development Fund
(EDF10) and implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
28 Islands Business, November 2017