Actions and events are planned in every Pacific Island nation for the 350 International Day of Climate Action today, Oct. 24. In the last 24 hours, events from the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati have been registered with www.350.org, completing the entire list of Pacific countries.
Pacific communities, many of whom are already affected by climate change, are uniting to create actions that will raise awareness of climate change impacts in the Pacific. Each country's call for action on climate change will be broadcast through a global network, including on a huge screen in Times Square, New York.
In Kiribati, the 350 action involves over 2000 students and the President, Anote Tong, in a beach clean up. In FSM, 350 coconut trees are being planted after a celebration of the use of coconuts in traditional society.
Inhabitants of Cartaret Island will be some of the first people in the world to be displaced by climate change. The 350 action will be located at their proposed relocation site to highlight the massive implications of climate change on their future. Cartaret Islanders will be transported by boat in a flotilla to the relocation site where church gongs will ring 350 times and 350 mangrove seedlings will be planted. There will also be live contemporary and traditional song and dance performances.
Many of the Pacific events involve peoples aggregating in traditional dress, and performances of traditional song and dance. In Fiji, the Econesians are staging a giant procession in Suva with song, dance, poetry and entertainment. The Pacific Council of Churches is organising lalis (traditional wooden gongs) 350 times to show their support for a safe climate future.
In the Solomon Islands a public march will culminate with traditional Kastom dance and music in the 'Cultural Village'. Traditional song and dance will also be a major part of events in Papua New Guinea.
Oct. 24 will see the largest simultaneous global climate action ever staged. (SPC)
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