Pacific

Kiribati islands are facing similar problems. The under ground fresh water used for drinking is affected by sea water giving a salty taste, hard to drink in other parts of the island. The saddest side we now experiencing fortnightly is the king tide which is level to the land height two meters in height above sea level.

Climate change and it impacts is a reality in Kiribati.

I was staying at a Government quarters in the vicinity of the coastline at the ocean side of Bikenibue Village in South Tarawa the Capital of Kiribati. During last spring tide in August 2009, I woke up one morning to see water covering all the ground area in front of my home. I knew that it was not raining that night so I wondered where that water came from.

We in the Pacific are victims of Climate change. The problem is like a jigsaw puzzle for us.

Who is ready to take responsibility for the continuous eroding away of our coastlines.

The future is here: new report on climate change in the Pacific highlights need for action now.

For further information go to: http://www.oxfam.org.au/media/article.php?id=599

Arnhem Land - Aboriginal fire ecologist, Dean Yibarbuk, explains how traditional fire management practices have kept the country healthy for thousands of years. Recently, his mob at Wardakken have been working with local scientists to adapt traditional fire management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This fire abatement scheme of Australia's Western Arnhemland is a carbon offset community programme, gaining a lot of international attention.

UNU's Indigenous Perspectives of Climate Change videobrief series
See the video at: http://www.vimeo.com/4166007

In December 2008, the low-lying Carterets Islands were badly damaged by king tides and violent storm surges. Nicholas Hakata, a local youth leader and community representative, explains that he and his family have been surviving on mainly fish and coconuts, and battling the swamp mosquitoes that have brought malaria.

With the local government's food aid ship coming once or twice a year, the relocation plans are equally as slow. Hungry and unwell, the islanders have set up a relocation team and have begun a series of urgent tasks to move families closer to security.

Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Change , Cape York, Australia

“When that whole ocean comes and rises up, where are we going to go?” ponders Inherkowinginambana, a Kunjen elder from Kowanyama, a coastal Aboriginal community in tropical Queensland, Australia.

“Every year it (the tide) comes in, it goes a bit further up….once it hits the swamps, that will kill all the plant life, and the waterways” adds an Aboriginal ranger who works with local elders to protect Aboriginal country and culture.

UNU's Indigenous Perspectives of Climate Change videobrief series

Located on the eastern shore of Australia’s tropical north, Shipton’s Flat is home to Marilyn, a Kuku Nyungkal Aboriginal woman, and her family.

She has been living here the ancestral way – far removed from the services and conveniences of modern life – as part of the sublime performance of nature.

Like her ancestors before her, Marilyn walks through the Nyungkal bubu, the Nyungkal’s country, acknowledging and conversing with the Spirit beings around her.

UNU's Indigenous Perspectives of Climate Change videobrief series
See video at: http://www.vimeo.com/2140189

Vulnerable Areas as result of Climate Change

For the Pacific Indigenous People:

Please let me take this opportunity to ask all the Pacific Islanders who can make it to the Bangladesh meeting to let us join forces with others like those at Tana Delta at Kenya to convince the irresponsible countries who are continuously ignoring their responsibilities to the Human Race or Human Right.