A Cry For Help : Climate Change Impacts on the Peace and Security of Affected Polynesian Micro States
A Cry For Help : Climate Change Impacts on the Peace and Security of Affected Polynesian Micro States
Several Polynesian micro states are significantly affected by climate change. These include:
1. American Samoa
2. Samoa
3. Tokelau
4. Tonga
5. Tuvalu
6. Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna¹
These states have expressed deep concern at the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) draft report on the risks to small island developing States (SIDS) and territories, including marine ecosystem impacts, sea level rise, and extreme weather events¹. They have noted that these risks threaten the survival of island communities, particularly those living on coral atolls¹.
In addition, the community of about 350 residents on **Fakaofo**, one of Tokelau’s three atolls, has enclosed their entire islet in five-meter high concrete walls as a preemptive adaptation to climate change⁴.
The leaders of these states have issued the Amatuku Declaration on Climate Change and Oceans, addressing the impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, climate change displacement and security, climate change finance, climate change and the marine environment, and regional initiatives¹.
A SPECIAL POEM DEDICATED TO MY POLYNESIAN RELATIVES :
Tangi Lauʻaitu - Mea Kaumaha Loa : Climate Change, Peace & Security
In the heart of the vast, blue sea,
Lie islands of old, wild and free.
Polynesian micro states, they stand,
A paradise, nature’s own wonderland.
But a cry for help echoes loud,
From the heart of the crowd.
Climate change, the invisible beast,
On their peace and security, it feasts.
Rising tides and storms of rage,
Written is a sorrowful page.
Homes and lives washed away,
In the face of this, what can they say?
Their plea for help, a desperate song,
World, oh world, what have we done wrong?
Their existence, a ticking clock,
As they bear the brunt of the aftershock.
Stand up, world, hear their plea,
For the sake of humanity, let’s agree.
To fight this beast, hand in hand,
For the peace and security of our clan.
This is their cry, their desperate call,
Climate change affects us all.
Let’s stand together, let’s unite,
For our planet, it’s time to fight.
Specially dedicated to my Polynesian relatives, I hope this poem resonates with the urgency and gravity of the situation faced by the Polynesian micro states due to climate change. Let’s all do our part to help combat this global issue. The Tongan word tangi lauʻaitu means to cry from grief, to lament. Mea kaumaha loa is Hawaiian for tragic event, tragedy, to cause sadness or grief, sorrowful.
Sources and References as of 13 November 2023 :
(1) Polynesian Leaders Issue Declaration on Climate Change and Oceans
https://sdg.iisd.org/news/polynesian-leaders-issue-declaration-on-climate-change-and-oceans/
(2) See How Pacific Islanders Are Living With Climate Change https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/climate-change-pacific-islands
(3) Sink or swim: Can island states survive the climate crisis? https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1096642
(4) Micronesia — The Nature Conservancy
The abovestated article is specially dedicated to the Vulnerable Polynesian microstates communities who are our relatives in spirit and in body.
Copyright © Hakimi Abdul Jabar (A.J. Hakimi) LLB (Hons) [Wolverhampton], CLP (Hons) [LPQB], CMSA [CFI Vancouver], Certificate in Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster [HarvardX-edx], Certificate in Climate Change International Legal Regime [UNEP & UNITAR], Certificate in Climate Change, Peace and Security [Unitar] etc. and THE SOFTWARE SUITE™, Broadway, New York, USA, London, England & Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. November 13, 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Hakimi Abdul Jabar is the Founder-Owner, Managing Consultant, International Trade Negotiator, Lead Commodities Trader, Global Money Manager, International Business, Commercial and Trading Consultant, Chief Software Developer & Chief Technology Officer, International Intermediary Consultant, Global inHouse Legal Advisor etc. of THE SOFTWARE SUITE™. He is a totally true purely Citizens democrat SECULARIST Humanitarian and human rights observer ONLY observing the vulnerable Yazidi and Christian and Polynesian communities supporting Protection International, HHI etc.
