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A recent visit to Canberra with young pasifikan leaders to lobby Australian politicians has made Sister Geraldine Kearney “more determined to be part of their ongoing struggle”.
Geraldine was part of the Pacific Calling Partnership delegation to Canberra late last month, which included a small group of young people from Kiribati, Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea.
Geraldine is very aware of the challenge of moving hearts and minds about the threat of climate change, having lobbied politicians and decision-makers at many national and international forums over the last decade.
Overall, she described the Canberra visit as a “wonderful experience” which included “a very good press conference” on the Senate lawns.
“We were pleased with that because it gave the delegates an opportunity to share some of their stories, their testimonials, as well as to show some of their culture through their singing and their dancing.”
Maina Talia, age 29, from Tuvalu said the group did not come to Australia to “put the blame on Australians”.
“We came to ask Australians as our neighbour and big brother to be a signpost to other industrialised countries”.
Maina urged Prime Minister Abbott to “rethink his Government’s climate change policies and take the lead on climate change action”.
Established in 2006, the Pacific Calling Partnership is a collective of organisations and individuals, including the Good Samaritan Sisters, concerned about the serious threat that climate change poses on low-lying island countries in the Torres Strait and the Pacific.
Sister, Geraldine Kearney is a Good Samaritan Sister
Source
- The Good Oil
- Image: The Good Oil
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