SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
We Are "Sinking Beneath the Waves," says Pacific Island Leader
Fiji's interim prime minister calls out most polluting nations for continued inaction on climate change
Jun 19, 2014
The interim prime minister of Fiji on Thursday condemned the international community for its continued failure to address the crisis of climate change, saying Pacific island nations like his have been left "to sink beneath the waves" as the planet warms and the oceans rise.
Speaking as host at the opening session of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), Fiji's interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama chastised world leadership across the world, saying "the collective will to adequately address the crisis is receding at a time when the very existence of some Pacific Island nations is threatened by rising sea levels."
Bainimarama said the very existence of numerous island nations - including Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands - are already experiencing the swamping of coastal areas, unprecedented storm surges, and other threats.
He also pointed a finger at major countries--including the U.S., Canada, China, and Australia--who contribute a disproportionate majority of the world's carbon pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, saying, "History will judge you harshly if you abandon us to our apparent fate of sinking below the waves because you don't want to make the necessary adjustment to your domestic policies."
The regional gathering, the second time the PIDF has officially convened, was also addressed by Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who said the forum's dual focus on sustainable economic development and addressing climate change was essential and that "a new economic paradigm which promotes economic progress without harming our natural riches and resources" is the key to future resilience for island nations.
___________________________________
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The interim prime minister of Fiji on Thursday condemned the international community for its continued failure to address the crisis of climate change, saying Pacific island nations like his have been left "to sink beneath the waves" as the planet warms and the oceans rise.
Speaking as host at the opening session of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), Fiji's interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama chastised world leadership across the world, saying "the collective will to adequately address the crisis is receding at a time when the very existence of some Pacific Island nations is threatened by rising sea levels."
Bainimarama said the very existence of numerous island nations - including Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands - are already experiencing the swamping of coastal areas, unprecedented storm surges, and other threats.
He also pointed a finger at major countries--including the U.S., Canada, China, and Australia--who contribute a disproportionate majority of the world's carbon pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, saying, "History will judge you harshly if you abandon us to our apparent fate of sinking below the waves because you don't want to make the necessary adjustment to your domestic policies."
The regional gathering, the second time the PIDF has officially convened, was also addressed by Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who said the forum's dual focus on sustainable economic development and addressing climate change was essential and that "a new economic paradigm which promotes economic progress without harming our natural riches and resources" is the key to future resilience for island nations.
___________________________________
The interim prime minister of Fiji on Thursday condemned the international community for its continued failure to address the crisis of climate change, saying Pacific island nations like his have been left "to sink beneath the waves" as the planet warms and the oceans rise.
Speaking as host at the opening session of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), Fiji's interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama chastised world leadership across the world, saying "the collective will to adequately address the crisis is receding at a time when the very existence of some Pacific Island nations is threatened by rising sea levels."
Bainimarama said the very existence of numerous island nations - including Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands - are already experiencing the swamping of coastal areas, unprecedented storm surges, and other threats.
He also pointed a finger at major countries--including the U.S., Canada, China, and Australia--who contribute a disproportionate majority of the world's carbon pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, saying, "History will judge you harshly if you abandon us to our apparent fate of sinking below the waves because you don't want to make the necessary adjustment to your domestic policies."
The regional gathering, the second time the PIDF has officially convened, was also addressed by Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who said the forum's dual focus on sustainable economic development and addressing climate change was essential and that "a new economic paradigm which promotes economic progress without harming our natural riches and resources" is the key to future resilience for island nations.
___________________________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy