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People Samoa

climate victim. Continued from page 15
“Everybody that sits in the Pacific knows this, we have With a well-organised social media campaign targeting
constantly become like the human polar bears of the climate young voters and enticing of the Samoan diaspora, all that
crisis; you know, ‘their homes are being washed away, their was left was a nationwide roadshow proclaiming monetary
lives and their cultures are being washed away,’ and we’re windfalls and return of ‘traditional lands’ nobody knew had
painted as these helpless victims. And I vehemently detest been taken forcefully.
that notion,” he says. Upgrading of the current old age pension from $160 tālā
“I do not want to join something that gives currency to the (US$63) a month to $400 (US$157) a month and a promise
idea of a notion that people that are at the frontlines are im- of a $1million tālā (US$393,000) to each of the 51 electoral
mediately victims and only victims. constituencies if FAST takes over the reins of government,
“I always think about that, how actually a lot of the climate was enticement enough to turn voters against HRPP. FAST also
movement has been paved by Pacific Islanders, and a lot of had the backing of the biggest church denomination in Samoa
the changes that we’ve seen, from COP21, but even before EFKS, the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, which
that, have been as a direct result of Pacific Island communi- had been engaged in a battle with the Tuilaepa Government
ties working with other so-called small island states, to actu- over the taxing of earnings of church ministers.
ally leverage off of our collective power that we have, and This support was evidenced by FAST billboards erected on
really change the way in which climate diplomacy works, the church property on Savaii island, the daily barrage of news
way climate decisions are made.” stories and talk shows featuring FAST events and its leaders,
Gibson is also a member of the United Nations Secretary- with no coverage of government events on the church tv sta-
General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. He says tion.
in all his work, he tries to make it as clear as possible from An election year brings a windfall for media outlets espe-
the beginning that he is talking about his own experience, cially television and radio stations.
“but I cannot provide you with a representative position…for A review of earnings by the church station should reveal if
an entire region that’s so diverse, that literally is the largest FAST paid any advertising fees for their political broadcasts.
geographical space in the world. There’s no way that one indi- There were also reports of church ministers openly telling
vidual is able to do that. But I think the importance of having parishioners to support FAST or not to vote for the govern-
young Pacific Islanders in the spaces is that we’re able to flag ment of the day. In one instance, this reporter was at an EFKS
that and say, hang on, there is so much more to this picture church in Savaii when a minister announced from the pulpit
than having one person speak on a panel or having one person that they had been sent a notice from the ministry of Com-
make a decision on a prize council or having one person pro- merce industry and Labour about the need for all non-profit
vide advice on the climate strategy to the Secretary General, organizations to update their registrations with the ministry
there’s so much more to this picture. And the only way to do and the liability if they did not comply.
that is through genuine community engagement mechanisms It was a standard notice that the ministry sends out annu-
that are circular.” ally.
For Gibson, this is community engagement that not only The pastor said this was the type of overreach by the pres-
hears from individuals and communities, but also communi- ent government that was unacceptable.
cates back to them, and actively connects them to decisions “If they were returned, they may be picking our pastors
and actions that take place. and who to head our different organisation,” he told parish-
As a member of the UN Secretary-General’s advisory group ioners.
since last July alongside six other young people from around A total of 56 election petitions and counter petitions mostly
the world, Gibson says it is the relationships he has developed alleging treating and bribing have been filed.
with them that he is finding most valuable, “I have a great The first ones will be heard the week beginning May 24.
network of people that I can ring up and seek support from.” Caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa said it would be impracti-
However he says finding ways they can meaningfully engage cal and unstable for Samoa as a country to transition into a
and contribute to climate policy is still a work in progress. new government now and then change it almost daily as the
“For us, that’s been a little bit of a struggle, finding ways of election petitions are adjudicated.
making the engagement that we have with the Secretary- He said this would not allow the government to perform its
General as meaningful as possible.” functions and duties to the detriment of the people.
“We do engage with his Climate Action Team, as well as the The wise and sound thing to do he said was to let the
Office of the Special Envoy on youth…and they’ve been great government of the day continue, until all the cases have been
in finding us connections across some of the more technical ruled on.
agencies.”
editor@islandsbusiness.com
editor@islandsbusiness.com
Editor’s note: This is a fast-developing story. For up-to-date
coverage visit www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, May 2021 21