More than one hundred events took place over the past two weeks as part of the #PrayForOurPacific campaign.

The Pacific Climate Warriors, a network of young Pacific Island people who are rising peacefully to protect their nations from climate change, called on faith communities to join #PrayForOurPacific on their day of religious observance between the 3rd and 11th of September.

Events were organised in American Samoa, Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Germany, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,the United States and Vanuatu.

In the Solomon Islands, over thirty church youth groups organised a combined youth service, with a national broadcast of the event. "We want the whole nation to listen to this sermon because it's important for all of us to remember our roles as stewards of this planet," stated Stalin Konainao, 350 Solomon Islands Coordinator.

In Samoa, the Catholic and Presbyterian communities organised activities, the Methodist community engaged their youth networks, and the Baha'i faith organised a gathering for young people to discuss the power of prayer and climate change in the Pacific.

Beyond the Pacific Islands, Friends of the Earth, Rize for West Papua, Fossil Free UQ, Brisbane Solidarity Group, 350 Australia, and members of the Brisbane community formed a prayer circle at the Picnic Island Green in South Bank, Australia.

In the United States, the Tongan Community of San Mateo, California, held a week-long vigil which culminated with them praying together at their Sunday service.

Source

• blueandgreentomorrow.com
• twitter.com

Koreti Tiumalu told the 'In the Eye of the Storm' climate change conference that she had seen many strange things in her life as an environmental activist.

In her speech, she described spending time praying in the Vatican - before the Paris conference in November - on mats depicting stories from Pacific communities affected by climate change.

Tiumalu had wanted to "get right spiritually" before the conference. The Climate Warriors also hosted the "first ever kava ceremony in the Vatican" with supportive Pacific island priests.

A mother and former public servant, Tiumalu abandoned a life of financial stability to pursue a career as an activist when the Climate Warriors offered her a part-time position.

Minimal hours and pay forced her to make sacrifices such as selling her house and car.

The group comprises activists from 15 countries who had taken action regionally and across the world to combat climate change.

In the coming weeks, Tiumalu said the group would determine "what the Pacific Climate Warriors are going to look like over the next three years".

She often worries about the future: "I'm nervous, it's scary. You've seen the pictures of what they do to activists. But it's not something we can afford not to do."

She hoped that more young activists and public figures, like the Australian former rugby league star and American football running back Jarryd Hayne, would take interest in the Climate Warriors.

"That's the other thing we need to do - empower our young people to be leaders."

Source

• scoop.co.nz
• Image: pmc.aut.ac.nz