Oxfam's Wave of Change Highlights Climate Change in the Pacific

The international climate negotiations in Copenhagen last year were a disappointment, but that doesn’t mean the problem has gone away, or that the movement to tackle it has dissipated. From October 10-17, millions of people around the world will be joining the Global Week of Action on Climate Change.

Here in New Zealand, Oxfam is launching Wave of Change to highlight climate impacts in our region and inspire decision makers to do more to protect the Pacific. The campaign brings together live events, videos, community engagement, a petition and letter writing to raise the voices of people on the front lines of climate change.

“For the Pacific, climate change is not just the spectre of islands disappearing from sea level rise at some point in the future. Right now people are struggling with salt poisoning their staple food crops and polluting their drinking water,” said Oxfam’s Climate Change Campaign Coordinator Anne-Marie Mujica. “Wave of Change is about showing our government that we need concrete action to help these communities adapt to a new climate reality.”

The next round of UN climate negotiations will take place in Cancun at the end of November. While a comprehensive global deal is unrealistic, progress must be made on setting up a Global Climate Fund to start channelling desperately needed resources to vulnerable people in developing countries. To date, rich countries, which have largely caused the climate crisis, haven’t lived up to their responsibilities. Even the fast start climate finance promised in the Copenhagen Accord is not getting through to those who need it most.

“There are all kinds of Wave of Change events happening this week. We’re encouraging people to get out and join an event, or to organise and film their own Mexican wave,” said Mujica. “We’ve already seen some amazing creativity, particularly from the Pasifika community, and are expecting much more this week.”

Oxfam has partnered with AUT Event Production students to put on a range of climate events around Auckland, including live music performances, an Amazing Race-style treasure hunt, a music video, sand sculptures, graffiti art, Samoan dancing, a BBQ, an op-shop and lots of Mexican waves, which are all being filmed and posted online.

“New Zealand may be a small country, but we’re a big player in the international climate talks. Our negotiators lead, or are members of, important working groups. It’s time to show the government that its citizens want them to do more to protect our Pacific,” said Mujica.

ENDS

Editor’s notes:

Details about the Wave of Change events happening around Auckland this week are available on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/waveofchange

More information about Wave of Change is available on the Oxfam website:

http://www.oxfam.org.nz/waveofchange

An inspiring music video set to the Dane Rumble song “What are we waiting for?” has been created by one of the groups of AUT Event Production students:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlhZ9ri19pM

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