FELIUAKI ‘A E KALAIMAITI
ORIGINAL DATE OF PUBLICATION: jULY 3, 2013Raising awareness of climate change in Tonga.
In the village of Havelu’loto, with the population of 3,476 people, is perched on the fringe of Nuku’alofa, next to the only fresh water lagoon in the mainland of Tonga.
There are many critical environmental issues facing Havelu’loto Village:
Lagoon pollution means residents are unable to use the water for household or recreation usage
Lagoon resources are not safe to eat as the ecosystem has been badly affected
Animal such as pigs, dogs and cattle are allowed to pollute the water
Waste management – waste water enters the lagoon
Rising sea level: low lying areas of lagoon are at risk due to the effects of climate change
We will create a documentary that looks at how these issues – and other wider environmental issues – can be resolved. This documentary is a collaborative project involving youth in Havelu’loto, who will create a 50 minute documentary shot in many different locations in Tonga. The film is aptly titled Feliuaki ‘a e Kalaimaiti – Climate Change. It is an insider’s story told through the eyes and experiences of Tongan youth dealing with climate change, and the profound impacts it is having on their communities. It is also about identifying and finding possible solutions, and working with a culture where young women are unrepresented.
This is a powerful way of raising awareness of climate change in Tonga. Feliuaki ‘a e Kalaimaiti – Climate Change is told as it is seen, from the voices of the South Pacific.
Incorporated with the documentary will be collaborative arts projects where the youth of Tonga will work alongside experienced traditional craftsmen and women creating a traditional Tongan ngatu (beaten mulberry paper beaten) and also a body of photography. This will be a collaborative effort of our Tongan youth who are our future generation. We hope to inspire and educate our communities, to gain a greater respect for our environment, yet learn the real importance of environmental sustainability for us all, as humans beings on this earth.
