27 Pacific Climate Warriors across the region were accorded a traditional welcome to country by young artist Mariah Bellaluisa Alone and Mal Fruen, the Chair for the NSW Council for Pacific Communities in Sydney, as 350 Pacific kicked-off a week-long intensive Training for Trainers programme.
“It is an honor for me to be here today and I thank you for the sacrifices you make in doing the sacred work that you do,” said Mal Fruen.
“You need to use every available platform to share your narratives and keep telling your stories. These stories about our islands, our people and our cultures need to be told. When telling your stories, stand up and be proud because right beside you, are your tupuna (n. ancestor, grandparent in Maori).”
The Pacific Climate Warriors, with representation from 15 Pacific Island nations was established in 2014 sparked by 30 Warriors who toured parts of Australia to see the effects of the fossil fuel industry and shared their stories of their climate-affected islands.
The tour to Australia in 2014 was just a start of the legacy for the Pacific Climate Warriors, and the week-long intensive Training for Trainers is aimed at leveling up the movement for more ambitious climate action.
“The upskilling of our PCWs and collaborating with our partners are key to the success of movement building,” shared Fenton Lutunatabua, 350 Regional Managing Director.
“Humanity is in a critical situation where we must use all the tactics relevant to stop the fossil fuel industry from wreaking more havoc. Equipping the PCWs with skills to plan and launch campaigns, speak at public forums and share their opinions on critical issues are practical take-aways from the training this week, which will assist each of the PCWs to scale-up their efforts in the climate crisis.”