A message from the Pacific Calling Partnership Co-ordinator (Jill Finnane) Dear Friends, The National Day of Climate Action on 17 November sent a strong message to the Prime Minister and the Government not only about climate change but also about the vulnerable frontline islands. A small PCP group in Sydney held the PCP supports the Majuro Declaration banner high despite the inclement weather. At the Canberra rally, Maria Tiimon Chi-Fang was a highly acclaimed and most moving speaker with subsequent speakers quoting from what she had said. In Brisbane, as part of a campaign on the promised seawall funding for the Torres Strait, a group dressed in Torres Strait Islander colours and held up signs in support for real climate action in the Torres Strait. We have heard from individuals who attended rallies in other states. It all helps to build up the sense that we are all in this together. There has been much media discussion about climate change and about climate justice in the wake of recent extreme weather events in Australia, the tragic cyclone in the Philippines, the UN climate conference, more confirmation from scientists about the urgent need for action and Australias dismantling of structures to address climate change here and its dismal attitude to the global negotiations. Hence this email contains many links for you to follow up, read and talk about with your friends and workmates and hopefully these conversations will help develop a will and an energy to encourage the global community to start taking strong and realistic action. Thank you Jill PCPs Education partnership with Kiribati CDAD workshop PCPs Submission to Senate Inquiry on repeal of carbon price submission Health impacts of climate change for children in the Pacific, Dr Shanti Raman; youtube video of PCPs recent workshop Why Pacific island countries are angry about Australian sabotage of global climate negotiations you tube video Kiribati Fights Back Against the Rising Sea article A disappearing state, statement by Kiribati Environment MInister Asian Development Bank urges better access to climate funding for Pacific report Decline of Australias influence in the Pacific article Climate Change - no denying it LCWR newsletter USA Climate Justice: Taking Responsibility new publication from the Edmund Rice Centre Pacific Women in Climate Change - Meet Ms. Olai Uludong who hails from Palau, article Campaign Launched for Promised Funds for Torres Strait Asylum Seekers and Refugees Education Resource: Activities for Students A Resource for Educators PCPs Education partnership with Kiribati CDAD workshop In response to a request for partnership support from the curriculum development office in Kiribati that was included in the PCP email some months ago a small group of educators came together around climate change education. Through email conversations, meetings, learning about a similar Samoan project in other curriculum areas, and a day with school Principals from Kiribati and Tonga they have explored what would be most useful and effective and also what they can reasonably contribute in their spare time. Kateia in Sydney, and Teeta in Tarawa, have also been liaising to work out what might be the most useful contribution the team can make. Following on from all that preparatory work I was able to have a productive face to face meeting with Teeta when I was in Kiribati recently and we worked out a simple framework plan. The team will have a workshop on 12 Dec when people will bring along some possible activities/poster ideas and work on improving them. If you have been teaching about climate change in the primary sector and have any instructions for simple, no-cost activities that you think might be able to be adapted for use in Kiribati then please contact Kateia Kaikai PCPs Submission to Senate Inquiry on repeal of carbon price submission SUBMISSION TO SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATION LEGISLATION COMMITTEE REGARDING ‘Clean Energy Legislation(Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013’ and the following ten related Bills erc.org.au/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=68&MMN_position=72:67 The PCP Kiribati-Tuvalu-Australia Exchange Fund (KATEP) request for donations The strength and effectiveness of the Pacific Calling Partnership in gaining international attention to the voice of low-lying Pacific Islands has a lot to do with the relationships we have created and nurtured since we began Pacific Calling Partnership in 2006. Relationships have been built with church and community leaders in Kiribati and Tuvalu and with other Pacific Islands. This has helped us to identify needs and to campaign and advocate for these communities. In particular exchange visits between PCP and climate change advocates from low lying pacific nations has been a most effective way to build relationships, improve knowledge and develop strategic thinking. In order to continue these exchanges we have set up the The PCP Kiribati-Tuvalu-Australia Exchange Fund. This fund will be used specifically for travel costs for Kiribati and Tuvalu climate change advocates, including young leaders, to visit Australia. We will be organizing speaking tours and seeking opportunities for involvement in Australian Climate Change conferences. It is expected that young leaders will be given opportunities to hone their skills and develop experience and confidence while in Australia. In 2014 we are seeking financial support to bring four climate change advocates (2 each from Tuvalu and Kiribati) to Australia. The PCP is reaching to target $4,000 per person to cover fares, travel, accommodation and associated costs for a two week visit. Any donation and contribution will be much appreciated. Please consider sending a donation to find out how to donate go to erc.org.au/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=74&MMN_position=78:78 then please send an email to [email protected] letting us know that you have sent it so we can make sure it goes into the correct account. Health impacts of climate change for children in the Pacific, Dr Shanti Raman; youtube video of PCPs recent workshop Dr Shanti Raman spoke to PCPs workshop about the vulnerabilities children already face in terms of their health outcomes in developing countries, and the likely impact that climate change will have on these children. Dr Raman is a community Paediatrician for Child Protection at the Department of Community Paediatrics, Sydney & South Western Sydney Local Health Districts. She is also a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney. Watch and listen at: https://youtube/watch?v=ooqRL3SmkWg Why Pacific island countries are angry about Australian sabotage of global climate negotiations you tube video If you want to know why Pacific island countries are angry about Australian sabotage of global climate negotiations and abandonment of climate funding pledges, spare 15 seconds to look at this video of the airstrip on Majuro, capital of the Marshall Islands. Read more at: player.vimeo/video/69153088?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ba0d16 Kiribati Fights Back Against the Rising Sea article Kiribati, Tuvalu and Marshall Islands battle climate change As the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw enters its second week, Kiribati and other low lying islands of the Pacific battling rising sea levels have once again been largely ignored. Kiribati has an incredibly rich and vibrant culture that needs to be preserved, says Jill Finnane, co-convenor of the Edmund Rice Centre (ERC)s Pacific Calling Partnership who has just returned from a visit to the Islands. While encouraged by the efforts being made by the Kiribati population to mitigate the encroaching sea, she admits she is disappointed with Prime Minister Tony Abbotts decision not to send a Minister of his newly elected Government to represent Australia at the annual Conference. Read more at: https://sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2013/20131118_1409.shtml A disappearing state, statement by Kiribati Environment MInister Kiribati made an impassioned plea at the UN Climate Talks in Warsaw, calling for urgent action against climate change now - time is running out for us. Climate change poses the most urgent security challenge for Kiribati. Now. We are in the front line of all this. Read more at: sprep.org/climate-change/a-disapearing-state-kiribati Asian Development Bank urges better access to climate funding for Pacific recent report A report by the Asian Development Bank on predicted economic losses related to climate change in the Pacific is calling for dramatically improved access to global and regional climate funds.Most of the losses will be related to climate change’s impact on agriculture, with the report noting that the region may require more than three quarters of a billion dollars a year to prepare for the worst warming scenario. 26 11 13 UTC Radio New Zealand International Decline of Australias influence in the Pacific article Australia’s performance on climate finance at CHOGM and in Warsaw this month will accelerate the decline of its influence in the Pacific. Nic Maclellan: Stopping the cheques, Inside Story, 22 November 2013 Leading the retreat at Warsaw is the Australian government. In December last year, the Coalition’s shadow climate minister, Greg Hunt, said that an Abbott government would not give a “blank cheque” to cover loss and damage. Now, as federal environment minister (“climate” having been removed from the title), Hunt has refused to attend the Warsaw negotiations and is making good on his pledge to stop the cheques. Read more at: inside.org.au/stopping-the-cheques/#sthash.36acEbqP.dpuf Climate Change - no denying it LCWR newsletter This is the title of the latest edition of the newsletter of the The Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the USA. https://lcwr.org/publications/climate-change-no-denying-it Climate Justice: Taking Responsibility publication from the Edmund Rice Centre The atolls of the Pacific need more support than currently being offered, to counter both the effects of climate change and to help propel their development. They need adaptation funding to protect their shorelines and water lens, as well as retaining aid levels for greater sanitation infrastructure and education, not sacrificing one for the other.That would be equitable, that would be climate justice. If you would like to be sent copies for distribution then please email [email protected] and let her know how many. Read more at: erc.org.au/index.php?module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=viewDocument&JAS_Document_id=362 Pacific Women in Climate Change - Meet Ms. Olai Uludong who hails from Palau, article You can take an island girl out of the islands but you cant take the islands out of this island girl! - Ms Uludong serves as the Chief Negotiator of the Alliance of Small Island States, on behalf of Nauru as AOSIS Chair... This has been a huge adjustment for Olai who used to represent one country at the conferences of the parties for UN multi-lateral environment agreements, her own. Now she negotiates on behalf of AOSIS and has filled this role for a year. Its very difficult, challenging and it takes a lot of my time, I now represent over 40 nations when I negotiate on their behalf! ...Its tough here as you deal with so many different nationalities, backgrounds and cultures. There are cultures that respond to women in a certain way and I have had to learn that, as a Chief Negotiator I am mindful of how important respect is and Ive had to make changes in my approach so all of this is taken into account. It has been a real learning experience for me as a Pacific woman. Read more at:sprep.org/climate-change/pacific-women-in-climate-change-meet-ms-olai-uludong Campaign Launched for Promised Funds An online campaign has been launched to mobilise national and international support for the delivery of seawall funding for the Torres Strait. The campaign calls on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to honour the funding commitment made by the former federal government towards the construction and repair of the seawalls in Boigu and Saibai Islands. People can show their support by signing the petition available at: change.org/en-AU/petitions/prime-minister-tony-abbott-deliver-promised-funding-for-seawalls-in-the-torres-strait Asylum Seekers and Refugees Education Resource: Activities for Students A Resource for Educators FOCUSING ON REAL PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES The Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education is involved in a range of human rights projects and initiatives which encourage greater awareness, understanding and action for positive change. For many years the Edmund Rice Centre has been working to raise awareness of, and advocate for the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. The Asylum Seekers and Refugees Education Resource is ERC’s latest publication, which converts years of our research and experience into curriculum support material that addresses the learning needs of students. The free 52 page Education Resource offers 35 cross-curricular activities which are practical, engaging and focused on increasing awareness about human rights and advocacy. The activities are adaptable to all year levels in secondary school and some can also be used with primary classes, students with special needs and could also be used in community group discussions. Students are encouraged to think about asylum seekers and refugees with compassion, to move their understanding from the head to the heart. We invite teachers to send images, presentations, exhibitions, speeches, art work etc of their students’ work to share on our website. For feedback and enquiries regarding this Education Resource contact [email protected] To download this Education Resource and the Flyer, go to erc.org.au/Resources_for_Schools/Asylum_Seekers_and_Refugees --
Posted on: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:45:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015