On 10/10/10 something extraordinary happened – people in every Pacific Island nation got to work on the solutions to climate change, joining what has been dubbed ‘the most widespread day of action the world has ever seen”. Coordinated by the organisation, 350.org, the Global Work Party on 10/10/10 saw more than 7300 actions in 188 countries, all getting to work on the solutions to climate change. The work parties, which ranged from solar installations to tree plantings, were designed to make a clear statement: citizens are getting to work on climate solutions and so should their politicians.
The Pacific led the way with some incredibly inspiring actions – here's some of the photos from Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Niue. More to come! FijiBoth Navaga Village & Nasau Village on Koro Island, Fiji, put the whole village to work on 10/10/10 to strengthen their community resilience to climate change. Locals – young and old – got to work on cleaning up their villages, planting trees & mangroves, setting up recycling facilities, children’s activities, an environmental film screening and finally a whole of village ‘lovo’ feast. Elsewhere in Fiji, members of the Pacific Youth Climate Change Network got to work planting mangroves with school students, in Navua. The Nesian350 team also got to work on planting trees to protect locals from the impacts of climate change. Papua New Guinea
Bicycles are few and far between in Papua New Guinea, but locals in the nation’s capital, Port Moresby, cycled their way down the main streets to show that cycling is a healthy and climate friendly way of getting about the city. Organised by the environment group, CELCOR there was a great turn out for the ‘Bike Riding for Solutions’ event.
Tonga
On the island of Tongatapu, The Tongan National Youth Congress mobilised an ambitious plan of coastal planting to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change. On every Saturday in the lead up to, and on Oct 10th they did coastal planting, and at the same time cleaning up the beach and inspiring communities around them to get involved. THere was also an e-waste collection day, and a 'no-car day'. Meanwhile, on the island of Ha'apai, locals got to work on rebuilding the local nursery – they'll soon be supplying themselves fresh and healthy fruit and vegetables, and keeping their local ecosystems healthy. Niue
As the world’s least populous nation, local artists in Niue got to work on making a sculpture park ("Hikulagi Sculpture Park") dedicated to showing Niue’s vulnerability to climate change and their connection with planet Earth. The sculptures, which upcycle unwanted materials and rubbish, are hoped to stimulate discussion with locals and tourist about climate change and the impacts of a consumerism.
