Samoa

/Tag: Samoa

 

24 05, 2023

    The Pacific Climate Warriors; Youth Activists on Rising Seas, Hope, and Organizing

    2025-05-24T21:45:41-04:00Country: , , , |

    Young people across the Pacific Island nations are rising up to protect their lands, culture, and way of life. Despite contributing less than 0.03% of global greenhouse gas emissions, these nations face high vulnerability to climate change, particularly rising sea levels, climate-caused displacement, and compromised ocean economies. The Pacific Climate Warriors, a grassroots collective, uses youth-led activism to highlight Pacific climate impacts and resilience, proclaiming “we’re not drowning, we’re fighting.” Okalani Mariner, a 20-year-old Samoan activist, notes that “The ocean is our livelihood, so climate change feels magnified here.” Sera Saini, a 20-year-old from Fiji, highlights efforts like planting mangroves and improving infrastructure but acknowledges the lack of resources to tackle the challenges fully. For 22-year-old Jobod Silk from the Marshall Islands, activism is non-negotiable as his low-lying coral atoll homeland is extremely vulnerable. 24-year-old Brianna Fruean from Samoa emphasizes, “We’re not victims, we’re champions, and our leaders are some of the most outspoken climate leaders in the world. Indigenous knowledge is climate science.” Teen Vogue celebrates Pacific Islander cultures, achievements, and activism through their ‘Heart of the Pacific’ series.

    19 03, 2023

      Samoa PM Fiame Naomi Mata’afa urges world to save Pacific people from climate change obliteration

      2025-05-24T21:41:13-04:00Country: |

      Samoa’s first female prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, is a staunch climate advocate whose rallying cry to the world is to act now on climate change to save her nation and its people. The gravity of her plea was emphasized after the latest IPCC report which issued a "final warning" on the climate emergency. The report underscores the necessity for a rapid transition to a low-carbon economy to avoid disastrous consequences such as rising sea levels and extreme weather — the effects of which are already tangible for Pacific Island nations like Samoa. Mata'afa emphasizes the collective responsibility to adhere to emission reduction commitments and implement necessary policy decisions, highlighting that women's leadership must be central to fully tackling the climate crisis.

      17 08, 2017

        Siosinamele Lui: The Role Of Traditional Knowledge In Pacific Meterology

        2017-09-22T22:50:17-04:00Country: |

        Siosinamele Lui is the Climate Traditional Knowledge Officer based at Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.  She has spent a decade working for the Samoa Meteorological Service, in particular the Geoscience and Oceans observations before working at S.P.R.E.P. In this article she explains the role of traditional knowledge in Pacific meteorology, and how it aids a creating responses to climate change and natural disaster. Photo credit: S.P.R.E.P.

        4 07, 2017

          Remembering Koreti Mavaega Tiumalu: 350 Pacific Climate Warrior’s Journey To The Tar Sands

          2017-10-09T20:49:13-04:00Country: |

          One of the beloved core leaders of the 350 Pacific climate movement, Koreti Tiumalu, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. This 350 Pacific video pays tribute to the Samoan sister who coordinated the Pacific chapter of 350.org. As a staunch defender of Indigenous land rights, climate change and water sanctity, Tiumalu was instrumental in the recent #RAISEAPADDLE trip of a group of Pacific Islander activists to the Canadian Tar Sands. In this video, Tiumalu organised a flotilla of paddlers to protest President Trudeau’s support of the fossil fuel industry and stand in solidarity with the local Aboriginal populations. Photo credit: 350.org

          8 06, 2017

            Women Ocean Leaders Of Samoa: Anama Solofa

            2017-08-26T15:48:32-04:00Country: |

            Anama Solofa represents the growing number of Pacific Island women making waves in both our oceans and in policy spaces dedicated to championing the sustainable and equitable use of this precious natural resource under threat. A Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship program recipient, Anama is studying for her Master’s degree in Marine Policy. Having worked at Samoa’s Ministry of Fisheries in and at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P.), she is a fierce advocate for ocean conservation. Solofa also knows first-hand the difficulties in working in policy, a male-dominated field, in addition to the inter-generational issues that young women working in the field face. Photo credit: Samoa Observer

            6 06, 2017

              Women Ocean Leaders Of Samoa: Tuifuisa’a Amosa

              2017-08-26T15:51:57-04:00Country: |

              Dr. Tuifasa’a Aimosa is an oceanographer and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the National University of Samoa. Her academic research primarily explores ocean acidification and its impacts on marine life. She credits her interest in science to excellent teachers, even as she often found herself in her post-grad years as the only female student from the Pacific Islands studying marine science and oceanography. Dr. Tuifuisa’a is cognizant of the fact that hers is a male-dominated field, using her role as Dean to mentor young female students in the field, and hopes for more support networks for female scientists.Photo credit: Samoa Observer

              5 06, 2017

                Women Ocean Leaders: Captain Fealofani

                2017-08-26T15:54:48-04:00Country: |

                Fealofani Bruun is making history as captain of a Gaualofa, a traditional Samoan double-hull voyaging canoe. She trains crew members and steers the canoe, whose voyages have not been seen in Samoa for over 100 years. For Samoans, the traditional voyaging canoe holds a lot of knowledge about not only navigation, the ocean and the stars, but also traditional Samoan culture and values. For Fealofani, this cultural revival has opened her up to the ways in which equality and equity are embedded within the ‘canoe culture’, as well as how to use traditional Samoan knowledge to protect the oceans in the face of climate change. She calls for the recruitment of more young girls and women to the fight. Photo credit: Charles Netzler

                27 10, 2016

                  Brianna Fruean, Youngest Winner Of Commonwealth Youth Award

                  2017-10-27T14:55:29-04:00Country: |

                  Brianna, a young woman from Samoa, become a founding member of the grassroots climate change movement 350 at the age of 11. At the age of 14, she became pacific youth ambassador and attended the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil. At the age of 16, she became the youngest winner of Commonwealth Youth Award specifically in climate change. At 17, she became the Youth Ambassador of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme. She now speaks from her youth perspective in various environmental summits and conferences.

                  10 12, 2015

                    Samoan Poet Terisa Siagatonu Poem ‘Atlas’ For Fast For The Climate

                    2017-09-04T12:01:50-04:00Country: |

                    Samoan-American poet Terisa Tinei Siagatonu presented this brilliant poem about the intersectionality between climate justice, identity and colonialism from at the COP21 climate talks. She is part of Spoken Word for the World, an arts-based collective aimed at centering Indigenous female voices in the fight against climate change. Photo credit: Fast for Climate

                    8 12, 2015

                      Terisa Siagatonu Brings Poetry To Paris

                      2017-09-04T11:57:16-04:00Country: |

                      Samoan-American Terisa Siagatonu has brought her stunning poem “Layers” to Paris COP21 to communicate the connections between environmental racism, social justice and climate change. She is part of the Spoken Word for the World crew, an arts-based collective aimed at centering Indigenous female voices in the fight against climate change. Photo credit: New Internationalist

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