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PRESS RELEASE
PACIFIC YOUTHS TO BE HEARD ON CLIMATE CHANGE AT GLOBAL FESTIVAL OF ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE ACTION
March 21, 2018. Suva Fiji Youths from the Pacific will for the first time be heard at the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Action through a ninety-minute COP23/GIZ Pacific Voices in Unison live event from the capital of Fiji, Suva, to Bonn Germany on March 22, 2018.
Following the inspirational stories of their resilience against the effects of climate change shared by the Pacific Voices in Unison at major events at COP23, the youths were invited to share their voices at the Festival.
People from around the world can tune into to experience, inspire and join in the power of resilience through webtv.un.org or at www.facebook.com/SDGaction from 10-11.30pm Fiji time .
To save emissions, the live event is being broadcast from Suva with voices from Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia represented by Ms Anne Dunn, Mr Kaboua John, Ms Samantha Kwan, Mr Eddy Maliliu, Ms Iulah Pitamama and Mr Broderick Menke.
Josephine Prasad will host the event and law student Broderick Mervyn will moderate the event.
“The engagement of young people has been at the heart of Fiji's Presidency of COP23 because it is the youth of today who will bear the brunt of the effects of climate change unless we take urgent climate action now, ” said Fiji’s Roving Ambassador to the Pacific, His Excellency, Ratu Tui Cauvilati who will be representing the COP 23 Presidency at the live event.
“Since taking on the Presidency of COP23 last year, Fijian youth have been encouraged to raise their voices by sharing stories, challenges and ideas about how they can make a difference in dealing with climate change. Innovative initiatives such as the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Action are one of the ways the COP23 Presidency is continuing to engage with youth and we are thankful for GIZ’s support.”
Programme Director for the Global Programme on Loss and Damage of GIZ, Dr Michael Siebert said the inclusion of the Pacific, especially youths is vital to see the efforts of climate action being redoubled and the Festival provides a great interactive space to do so.
The world class Oceania Dance Theatre and Pasifika Voices of the University of the South Pacific will showcase performances bringing to life the culture, traditions and the spirit of resilience.
For more information contact:
Josephine Prasad, +679 9922098, [email protected]
Patricia Mallam, +679 9962972, [email protected]
NOTE TO EDITORS
Documentaries on Pacific Voices using Pacific solutions to mitigate against the effects of climate change can be found here.
