Page 14 - IB October 2021

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LISTEN TO THE WOMEN

THE UNHEARD VOICES AT EVERY COP MEETING

By Netani Rika On the availability of water, Khan said this was an important
life sustaining natural resource which must be used equitably.
Across the world, advocates press for the voices of women “(Islam) teaches its followers principles of social justice
to be heard at COP26 in Edinburgh, Scotland. and equity which extends into the practice of preserving the
For after decades of talks on climate change and despite earth’s natural resources, particularly water conservation,’’
the fact that the economies of many developing countries are she said.
borne by women, their voices remain unheard. “According to Islam, water is a community resource and
In the Pacific, as sea levels rise, communities relocate, salt must be the right of all humankind.’’
water intrudes into drinking sources and firewood becomes International studies show that women are responsible in
scarce, it is the women who stand on the frontline. many countries for gathering fuel, water and food and they
They must travel further to collect water and firewood, often suffer the most when shortages are caused or made
their food gathering and planting skills must change, and worse by the climate crisis.
when men react violently in anger or frustration, the women Gender-based violence, studies show, has led to the exacer-
are first to suffer. bation of violence against women, particularly during climate
The Pacific Conference of Churches has encouraged women disasters.
of faith – not only Christians – to speak and be heard ahead of In its call for action, the Global Women’s Assembly for Cli-
COP26, providing them with an opportunity to address climate mate Justice has demanded that world leaders at COP26 must
change from their perspective. end fossil fuel expansion and move to 100% renewable energy.
PCC Programmes Manager, Frances Namoumou, said climate Namoumou said the PCC supported a move towards renew-
change had no regard for gender, faith or ethnicity. able energy.
“Communities of women are suffering and people of faith in “We have started to move towards clean energy as an or-
the Pacific and the world must wake up to that fact,” Namou- ganisation and have plans for an off-the-grid power supply at
mou said. the PCC Eco-Farm in Tailevu, Fiji,” she said.
“National, regional and international leaders must act to “This is about action - no more talk. We intend to show the
address the concerns of all women. And we want faith leaders Pacific and the world that it’s possible to make significant
to pay attention to all women – even those who may not share change if there is political and personal will.
their ideology.’’ “We need systemic change, and that includes listening to
In its pre-COP26 activities, the PCC opened its website and women and involving them in climate change adaptation and
social media platforms to Hindu and Muslim women in Fiji and mitigation plans.
gave them the opportunity to speak about climate-related “The Pacific can’t go from COP to COP, from meeting to
issues. meeting without making significant changes. For our organ-
Vintika Kumar of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam said isation we can take practical actions with water and energy
people must look to the future. conservation and we can learn from the value systems of
“Nature has every right to be here, just as any one of us. other faiths.’’
We do not own the Planet Earth. Let’s learn to conserve and Another voice which the PCC has chosen to amplify is that
coexist with nature,’’ Kumar said. of Gayatri Prakash of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, a Hindu
“Do something today that your future self will thank you organisation.
for. As young leaders, we must take action to ensure that the Describing the world as insignificant before God’s greatness,
cycle of life in nature must continue, not only for us but for Prakash said Arya Samajis believed the world was undeveloped
the future generation. until God spoke and brought it out of chaos.
“With today’s daily development all around the world, we “My challenge is for all Arya Samaj people and other respec-
must preserve the environment. Our actions today will ensure tive faith communities to protect and care for creation.’’
the future of the planet.’’ And that is basically the call of all women of faith in the re-
Kumar said she – and other TISI Sangam members – believed gion to international leaders at COP26 – do your sacred duty;
that creation, its maintenance and dissolution were part of a protect and care for creation and do it now.
continuing cycle which stemmed from God.
Nasra Khan of the Ahmadiya Anjaman Ishat Islam said world editor@islandsbusiness.com
leaders, including those at COP26, had a duty to protect cre-
ation and ensure equity of resources. Netani Rika works as a Communications Specialist for the
“I challenge all leaders worldwide to take that first step in Pacific Conference of Churches
preserving natural resources. They are a gift from Allah to all
of his creation – human beings, animals, flora, fauna,” Khan
said.

14 Islands Business, October 2021