In this special report for Earth Day Tom talks to Amota Ateneka, Baniti Semilota and Ruth Cross from Kiribati about life in their country and what the future holds for the pacific island nation that is facing the challenges of climate change.
Kiribati is made up of 33 coral atolls in the Central Pacific Ocean. With an average island altitude of 1-2m above sea level, the 119,000 inhabitants of Kiribati are at risk of becoming the world’s first climate refugees if climate change causes the 45 to 76cm increase in sea levels that is scientifically predicted by the year 2100.
The coral atoll geography of Kiribati also mean that it's particularly vulnerable. These days rising sea levels are noticeably having an effect on daily life in Kiribati, retreating shorelines caused by erosion are causing people to move around the islands and the fresh water supply has been contaminated by infiltrating sea water.
Amota Ateneka is a university student from Kiribati who is currently studying at the University of Kentucky in the USA. While he plans on returning to Kiribati one day, it is his priority to set up a life for his children in the USA or Australia in order for them to have security in the case of Kiribati falling victim to the rising oceans. He has also started a Facebook page called I'm Proud To Be I-Kiribati on which he shares videos of the traditional dances, cultural heritages and achievements of Kiribati as a way to preserve his countries traditions.
Baniti Semilota is a climate activist and law student studying at the University of the South Pacific on the island of Tarawa in Kiribati. She is the founder the Tungaru Youth Action youth group and holds trainings to educate the future generations of Kiribati about the oncoming danger of climate change. In her eyes the future of Kiribati has to be fought for and the path to a safe future is through adaptation, innovation and raising awareness.
Ruth Cross holds similar views to Baniti but is concerned with developing the nation's resources and infrastructure to combat climate change. As the founder of the Tarawa Rotary club and a development worker with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Ruth works on various projects such as vaccine administration, improving food security and combatting salt water intrusion into the drinking water supply, one of the most urgent problems faced by Kiribati.
Our conversations with Amota, Baniti and Ruth have shown three people that have deep connections with their homeland that are determined to fight to protect the future of their country through preserving its traditions and preparing it for the oncoming future. Not just on Earth Day but every day it is important the people in the west realise that the actions taken here and now, though not immediately obvious, have direct consequences on life somewhere on the planet.
For more information about the projects our guests are involved in:
kiribati-data.sprep.org
www.facebook.com/tungaruyouthaction
www.facebook.com/proudKiribati