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https://www.fpcn-global.org/content/Act-Now-It-matter-life-and-death

 

Act Now- It is a matter of life and death 

Submitted by rains on Thu, 12/17/2009 - 13:32  

By: Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific at COP 15  

December 16, 2009 

To many the Pacific is known as “The Liquid Continent!” 

Most of the Pacific island states are Small Island Developing States (SIDS) characterized 
by their smallness, narrow coral- and reef-islands which have very low average elevation 
above mean sea level. Most of our island countries are especially vulnerable because of 
their geological formation, and the destructive forces of human induced climate change 
are already causing havoc in our lives and lands. 

The Pacific Indigenous Peoples have considered the developmental impact of not only 
climate change, but also the flawed solutions being employed to address it. The rush to 
bio-fuel production will barely dent the developed world's appetite for fossil fuels, but 
has already made the basic food more expensive in many developing states with 
contentious implications to food security for our peoples.  

“We call for real and genuine solutions to climate change, not false solutions like ocean 
fertilization, REDD, biofuels and monocultures for plantations that erode and violate the 
rights of Indigenous peoples and forest-dependant communities, and destroy 
biodiversity,” said Fiu Elisara, Samoa. 

Any definition of forests must strongly differentiate between plantations and natural 
forests to incorporate fundamental Indigenous understandings of forests and account for 
the vast differences in carbon storage capacity. 

"We demand that forests not be included in carbon trading schemes, and call on all 
governments to halt deforestation and keep fossil fuels in the ground; not trade  

“We demand that forests not be included in carbon trading schemes, and call on all 
governments to halt deforestation and keep fossil fuels in the ground; not trade one for 
the other. Forests need to be protected, but they must be protected by strengthening and 
enforcing forest legislation, not using market mechanisms.” Excerpt from the Nuku’alofa 
Declaration: Indigenous Peoples Of The Pacific 

“Developed countries, including those in the Pacific, namely New Zealand and Australia 
must do more than play the stock exchange with carbon credits, change begins at home to 
do otherwise is climate colonialism. In the context of New Zealand industries such as 

 

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dairy farming and forestry should be not be given a free pass to continuing polluting, this 
is irresponsible Government.” stated Teanau Tuiono, Ngapuhi, Aotearoa. 

“For us Pacific peoples, the discussion on climate change is not just a theoretical issue 
that we talk about when we come to these global meetings! It is there and we see the 
effects in our daily lives. For us it is a matter of life and death!” said Malia Nobrega, 
Kanaka Maoli, and Hawai’i. In many cases we have to decide whether to stay on our 
islands or leave our homes. As sovereign countries, our rights as countries are protected 
under the Charter of the United Nations. We plead accountability against those causing 
these violations of our rights to exist as peoples, as countries, and as sovereign nations. 
Someone must bear responsibility for our demise when we lose our cultures, when our 
traditional ways of lives are trashed, and we are denied our freedom to exist as peoples. 
This is an issue of climate justice that we are calling for here and will continue to do so 
beyond Copenhagen. 

We stand in solidarity with our indigenous brothers and sisters from all regions of the 
world in continuing to demand that any and all climate change decisions or frameworks 
must recognize the rights of indigenous peoples and must be in accordance with 
international human rights law and standards including the UNDRIP and ILO Convention 
169, among other human rights instruments. This includes our rights to resources, lands 
and territories, our right of free, prior and informed consent, and the recognition of our 
vision, indigenous knowledge and our contributions in solving the climate change crisis. 

We make this call for action not only as Pacific Islanders but in response to our collective 
responsibilities as stewards of creation. Our ‘aina (land) and moana (ocean) have always 
sustained us and will continue to refresh our souls and spirit as Indigenous Peoples of the 
Liquid Continent.  

Contacts: 

Malia Nobrega 

malianob@gmail.com

 +1.808.286.5461 

Fiu Elisara 

fiuelisara51@yahoo.com