Loss and damage is life and death in the Pacific. Who can we look up to for salvation! Are we going to continue to suffer for something that we did not start?
Our homelands are sinking, our fishes are dying! Our crops are withering, our cultural identities slowly fading away.
How much longer should we endure the loss and damage from climate change?
My name is Selai Veiqaravi. I hail from the village of Nabavatu, Dreketi, Macuata. A Year 13 student of Dreketi Central College.
Ten months ago, me, my family and many others were relocated from our village after a major land slip rendered our village unsafe to inhabit anymore.
This was all because of climate change.
We became climate refugees in a new land, living in small congested and heated tents. Life turned from a bed of roses into a living nightmare.
A new land, new surroundings, a new environment, a tent became the closest thing to a home for me.
A major loss and damage to my physical environment!
A massive violation of my human rights!
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family.”
How much longer can this clause give me satisfaction about life?
Does a camp, a highly congested space justify this clause?
Does a noisy and dirty camp site guarantee me my right to adequate and healthy living?
Does this new environment promote holistic conducive education?
Does it justify my right to simple education?
The painful truth is “no” I have been living in the same situation for the past ten months, still struggling to make it out.
Many have died and many are newly born, bearing witness to the great devastation, loss and damage from climate change.
We have struggled every single day to make sure we don’t go to bed hungry.
We have struggled everyday knowing that’s it’s going to take time before it’s going to be OK again.
We will fight to the last breath even though our hope of salvation is too bleak. But one thing we have learnt is to never to give up the fight.
We plea to the great powers of the world to reconsider their actions.
Help us change the course of history. Take responsibility of your actions.
Your political will is required now to deliver support to the Pacific people who are already losing everything.
Alliance for Future Generations planned to campaign with young leaders from Fiji to support the amplification of the PICAN 7 Key Demands.
Alliance for Future Generations, in conjunction with PICAN hosted a competition whereby young people were encouraged to submit opinion editorials on COP26 and PICAN Key Demands.
This competition was in the form of activism for Non-Violent Direct Action and was led by Varisha Prasad (focal point officer- AFG) and co-led by Kauyaca Ilaisa (project officer – AFG).
The first prize for this competition was $F200 plus feature in The Fiji Times and the winner for this is Selai Veiqaravi. The 2nd prize was won by Emmanuel Marshall and the 3rd prize by Miriama Ryland.
