Women are ideally positioned to influence climate justice according
to Oxfam Ireland and the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice.
They are hosting international guests
speaking about the impact of climate change on women’s lives in the
global south and how women are acting to achieve climate justice.
“My elders and my community have given me a huge task, to tell the
world what is happening on my island and what climate change is doing to
destroy our lives. We are being forced from our ancient island
homeland,” said Ursula Rakova.
She is the Executive Director of Tulele Peisa — “sailing the
waves on our own” — a local community organisation in Papua New Guinea
that is trying to relocate the entire island community of the Carterets
to nearby Bougainville because of the impacts of climate change.
“I would say to people who believe that climate change is not
happening; if you have the heart to feel that you are flesh and blood,
start to think about us on the island. What is a choice of lifestyle
for you is a choice of life or death for us,” she said.
She is part of the Climate Wise Women organisation that has
toured the world presenting the stories of women leaders from regions
affected by climate change.
It all began with a program titled Global Women Take Action on Climate Change, originally presented by the TckTckTck campaign
in New York City on September 23 2009 to a group of journalists and VIP
guests, to coincide with the UN General Assembly High Level Event on
Climate Change and the Clinton Global Initiative.
“…the panel served as a rallying cry for grassroots work to mitigate
and adapt to climate change.” said Samantha Harvey, the Overbrook
Foundation.
Moved by the overwhelming success of the event, Copenhagen Mayor
Bjerregaard requested that a similar program be planned for the next
meeting on climate change at Copenhagen.
The Climate Wise Women project
has been touring ever since.
It is the turn of Dublin and
speakers included Mary Robinson (who needs no introduction) as well
as Ursula Rakova, Constance Okollet, and Jim Clarken.
Constance Okollet, is a peasant farmer from Tororo district in
Eastern Uganda, Africa and a mother of seven. She is a community
activist and chairperson of the Osukura United Women network, which
includes 40 regional groups in Uganda's Osukura sub-county.
In 2007, heavy rains destroyed the homes and food supply of
Constance's village displacing all of its residents. Starvation
followed. Once the situation stabilised, the community was dealt a
second blow: an unprecedented drought that dried up crops and wells,
reigniting the cycle of hunger and thirst.
“It is imperative that climate change must be reversed, otherwise my
community in rural Africa may not see the next generation,” she said.
The Climate Wise Women is a project of the Earth Island Institute.
See also www.tulelepeisa.org and www.climatewisewomen.org