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Our greatest moral struggle

“I am wanting leaders who will not be bought or sold; leaders who in their inmost soul are true and honest; leaders who do not fear to call a mistake by its right name ... leaders who will stand up for the right though the heavens fall.”
Pelenise Alofa (PCP delegate, from Kiribati)

In the face of massive disappointment in Copenhagen – at the world in general and Australia in particular – the Pacific Calling Partnership has resolved to “continue undaunted” in its advocacy for Pacific Island neighbours who continue to suffer climate change injustice.

PCP delegation leader Good Samaritan Sister Geraldine Kearney, of Sydney (pictured below, right, with Maria Tiimon from Kiribati at an NGO justice rally in Copenhagen, December 2009)  said that although the outcomes were not promising, the trip was fruitful.

 “We were on a mission,” Sr Geraldine said.  “The fire in the hearts of our valiant representatives kept this mission alive.

“And it was fruitful because our participation in side events, our involvement with multi-media and press conferences, and our solidarity with the Kiribati and Tuvalu Governments, other small island states and NGOS, continued to ignite the passion in each of us that we must fight even more fearlessly for climate justice.”

For the two weeks of the Copenhagen 2009 UN Climate Change Conference late last year, the Pacific Calling Partnership’s delegation put the human face of climate change on to the international stage in the hope that the overwhelming international attention there would contribute to building up a groundswell of concern for the effects climate change is having on low lying Pacific Islands.

Sr Geraldine said, “Being present at COP 15 was a great experience to witness, and be part of, so many dedicated grass-roots people and organisations working to make a difference in their corner of the world… There was a profound sense of solidarity crying out for an end to climate injustice.

“The array of various people of many nationalities distinctive by their traditional cultural costumes made visible the fact that we are all citizens of the global village – would that our leaders are accountable to each one’s human rights.”

Sr Geraldine said that as the snow continued to fall in the second week, in the midst of the summit disarray, delegation members continued to meet each morning to pray and plan strategically.

“Like thousands of other NGOS we, too, were locked out of the Bella Centre, but amidst riots, demonstrations and mounting despair we held out in firm hope, never giving up on an opportunity to speak, listen, and act.”

She said that at the final dinner she was moved to tears at the deflation and disappointment of the President of Kiribati, Mr Anote Tong.

“I personally felt the pain that occurs when neighbour does not reach out to neighbour in times of dire need. Australia had truly let down her neighbours.

“If we do not take up our responsibility to our Pacific neighbours, and then who will?  We are, I believe, only at the beginning of the greatest moral struggle of our time.”

 

for further details of the delegation and other links, please visit
We hold each other’s future     
pathways, Catholic Religious Australia