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Mardi Lumsden  The people of the Pacific Islands are well known for having vibrant cultures rich with tradition and respect for the land they have inherited. The only problem is, some Pacific Island nations are quite literally disappearing under rising seas.
So, how is it possible to maintain a sense of place in an environment that may not exist for future generations to enjoy? Rev Leva Pat is the Queensland Uniting Church’s multicultural and cross-cultural ministry officer. A native of Papua New Guinea, Leva has lived and worked in Fiji for many years and has seen the effects of rising sea levels on some island communities. He says the concept that these places may disappear is not at the forefront of the minds of the islands’ residents. “They have always had that sense of place and they have not thought that place will disappear from them. That thinking is not there yet,” he says. “Even with the news of sea levels rising, you will see them as easygoing people on the land. “They can tell us that the salt water has claimed much of their land, but they are still there.” In an address to the United Nations at the Special Session of the Security Council on Energy, Climate and Security in April 2007, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Tuvalu, Afelee F Pita, said climate change and rising sea levels were the biggest threats to his nation. “Slowly our coral reefs are dying through coral bleaching, we are witnessing changes to fish stocks, and we face the increasing threat of more severe cyclones. “With the highest point of four metres above sea level, the threat of severe cyclones is extremely disturbing, and severe water shortages will further threaten the livelihoods of people in many islands. “Our livelihood is already threatened by sea level rise, and the implications for our long-term security are very disturbing. “Many have spoken about the possibility of migrating from our homeland. If this becomes a reality, then we are faced with an unprecedented threat to our nationhood. This would be an infringement on our fundamental rights to nationality and statehood as constituted under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international conventions.” But he said Tuvalu was not alone in facing the threats of climate change. “Many millions of people will suffer the effects,” he said. There is a great aural tradition in the Pacific that is deeply engrained in the people’s pride in their land and place in the world. So how will future generations deal with maintaining this heritage, with the possibility they may not be able to stay living in places such as Tuvalu? Leva Pat said land is more than just a place to live for Pacific Islanders, it is part of who they are. “This place is like part of their life. It is not just a land out there,” he said. “Some say that a place or land is more than a physical environment; it also is part of the ocean too. That is the way it has been looked at so they always find a sense of place where they are. “One day it will come that they will leave, but when that day will be no-one knows. “Of course there are talks about where they will migrate to, but at the moment they are not thinking like that. The people that I have spoken to seem to be comfortable where they are.” He also said Island residents adapt to their changing environment and continue with their work. “If the sea claims they keep on moving back. It doesn’t seem to bother them but of course one day it will come. “They take life right here and now and that is what is important. “That gives them a lot of hope and confidence in where they are. “In a way that is good because it gives them a lot of hope and together with being Christian that even adds more to that hope.” Leva said creating a sense of heritage in a new place is assisted by having a community focused culture. “It would be easy for them to recreate a sense of place in another place because they come in with a communal spirit. They don’t come in as individuals. “It is easy for them to congregate together and start building that sense of belonging and community. Their identity is very important to them. “When they congregate together their culture and spirit of place becomes alive again within the new context.”
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