I can’t tell you how many times I have watched Ursula’s Story – one of the six Sisters on the Planet stories that Oxfam put out on DVD at the start of last year (video featured above), telling us about the impact of climate change on six women around the world – and what these inspiring women are doing about it – certainly not sitting back idly waiting for it to happen!
This Wednesday night I’m excited that I will get to meet the star of this story – Ursula Rakova from the Carteret Islands (a small Pacific Islands location), who faces the huge challenge of facing rising sea levels claiming their homelands, forcing them to relocate.
CEO of Tulele Peisa (an organisation set up to oversee this resettlement and relocation project), Ursula will be in Brisbane at the Qld Irish Club on Wednesday night from 7pm, speaking at a fundraiser organised by Friends of the Earth, Oxfam Australia and others to support their ongoing work.
Whenever I’ve screened the Sisters on the Planet stories (and it’s been many, many times in the last 18 months) at workshops, festivals, meetings, or right back at the initial Queensland launch in front of the Governor, the audience response has been so powerful. And rightly so – it’s a powerful story. For the people of the Carterets, climate change is only too real and its threats are about as dire as you can get – losing your land under water. For those of us who get to view it, it’s surely a call to action that we can all do something in our own way in our own community.
So a chance to meet and hear first-hand is a fantastic opportunity to not only learn more, but to boost our energies and conviction to make sure that individual climate action can and must make a difference. Our calls must be acted upon nationally by governments and internationally through bodies like the UN. This is especially relevant in the new political landscape evident in Australia.
So come join us Wednesday night – email your rsvp today to emma.brindal@foe.org.au and tell a friend to come with you.
Tulele Peisa Resettlement Fundraiser
6pm Wednesday 15th September
Tara Ballroom, Qld Irish Club
175 Elizabeth St, Brisbane, Australia
Cost: $20 (includes finger food; drinks available from the bar)
More info about this event can be found on A Climate for Change or Facebook.
If you can’t make it.. how about this Saturday at the Earth Charter Festival?
Ursula Rakova supports Make Poverty History and Stand Up as guest speaker at Brisbane’s Stand Up event.
Timed in the lead up to the next New York summit of world leaders looking at progress on the Millennium Development Goals, actions around the world will gather supporters to Stand Up and Make Some Noise for the MDGs.
Join us at the festival main stage at Musgrave Park, West End, from 12.30pm til 2pm for drumming, dance and percussion performances, as well as inspiring words from Ursula and others. More info on Facebook.
