November 10
Sharm el-Sheikh - Today, the Pacific Climate Warriors launched the Frontline Truths: Stories of Climate Mobility platform at COP27 in Egypt. With stories of forced relocation, community displacement, as well as resilience and
resistance to movement, Pacific youth are demanding that any decisions about their mobility be informed by the realities
of frontline communities.
Following the launch of the platform, Pacific youth representatives met with Pacific leaders including: Secretary
General of the Pacific Islands Forum Henry Puna, Palau Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment Hon Steven
Victor, Niue Minister for Natural Resources, Hon. Mona Ainu’u, and Marshall IslandsMinister for Natural Resources and
Commerce Hon. John Silk. In this discussion, the young Pacific activists and negotiators presented the Frontline Truths
storytelling platform as an opportunity to utilize technology to insert youth voices into decision-making spaces.
Brianna Fruean, Samoan Pacific Climate Warrior says: “It was important to bring the stories into COP27 to ensure that the voices of people who couldn’t make it to Egypt are
heard, especially the stories of those most affected by the decisions made in these negotiation rooms. There are so many
more young Pacific people whose stories will be vital to change.”
Itinterunga Rae Bainteiti, Kiribati Pacific Climate Warrior says, “When my people settled on Rabi 77 years ago, they were promised homes. When they arrived, they lived in tents. They
were given two weeks worth of rations and after that, had to scour this new and foreign land for food. We lost elders
and children to illness because there were no hospitals, no treated water and no sanitation.
We are a generation that is so angry because the process of our migration did not work for our people. But we do not
dwell on what has happened in the past, we want to move forward, using these lessons learnt so that it can help other
migrants that will have to cross borders to survive. We want to ensure that they are guaranteed basic human rights. The
right to life, the right to access their homeland and the right to be their authentic selves wherever they want to call
home.”
Jobod Silk, Jo-Jikum Youth Coordinator says,
Today, the threat of climate change puts the people of the Marshall Islands on the verge of displacement once again. But
this time we are putting our foot on the door. Never again do we want to be put in that position. We are adapting, we
are mitigating, we are staying, “even if it means we are swimming in our own homes”.