For most Americans the repercussions from climate change are abstract, with the day of reckoning in some far distant future. Americans have a vague idea of what the face of climate change will look like when the day of reckoning inevitability arrives. By the peoples of 36 low lying nations spread across the vast Pacific Ocean already know the face of climate change all too well, as their island homes are slowly sinking below the waves. The artists and performers from these Pacific nations are taking their plea to make changes to reduce Climate Change to the people most responsible for the Pacific Islanders' predicament. The People who's use of energy is the most inefficient on earth, and the most profligate wasters of resources on the planet. The American People.
Performing to Save Island Nations
GELLERMAN: Part of the problem is that the nations are so remote. So to raise awareness about their plight, artists from 36 Pacific island countries have come to the United States to perform in 13 cities a show that they call: “Water is Rising.” Living On Earth's Ingrid Lobet was at opening night.
LOBET: For the islanders, climate change is here. They live on narrow strips of curved sand - ocean on one side, lagoon on the other. Saltwater is already intruding on their gardens and during storms, washing over the street. On Tokelau, Teina Tuta Laura Tumua says residents are working daily to build a seawall.
LOBET: The vulnerability in these performances is searing. Paddling a canoe becomes a dance, and the paddlers pray, in song, that their islands rise from the waters. Smiling as they hold grass weavings, dancer sing of pride in the materials God gave to them to use forever. What's the purpose of this culture, they sing, if it's going to disappear beneath the water?
[SONG TRANSLATION:
Dear God, Answer our prayers for help.
Let our islands rise up from the waters.
ACT 2 “Te Kamei (Climate Change)”
Come along, come along!
Let us celebrate this day.
Kiribati is here to share our story.
To the developed countries,
We ask for your help.
Let us work together to reduce consumption
And save our precious islands.
Thank you “Water Is Rising”
For giving us the opportunity
To share our story with you.
~~~~~~~
My culture and language,
My values and my beauty,
They might be gone forever,
Because of your unloving ways.
My brothers and sisters,
Please listen to us.
Love us for who we are.
Now, please. Now, now, now.
What is the purpose of our culture
If we sink?]
A previous story looked at The Sinking Nation of Kiribati where the government is looking at building floating artificial islands to replace their home islands that are now being inundated. No this isn't something some Hollywood writers dreamed up, its today's reality across the Pacific.
Tour Dates
Public Performances
Oct. 15: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 18: UC Riverside Presents, Riverside, CA
Oct. 21: UA Presents, Tucson, AZ
Oct. 23: Soka Performing Arts Center, Aliso Viejo, CA
Nov. 4: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Nov. 6: NYU Skirball Center, New York, NY
Nov. 8: Penn State, University Park, PA
Nov. 10: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Nov. 12: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Nov. 15: Massachusets College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA
Nov. 18: The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT
Nov. 19: World Music/CRASHarts, Cambridge, MA
Educational Activities
Oct. 14: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 17: Mc Callum Theater, Palm Desert, CA
Oct. 20, 21: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Oct. 24: Soka University, Aliso Viejo, CA
Nov. 2, 3: Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
Nov. 7: Penn State, University Park, PA
Nov. 9: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Nov. 14: Massachusets College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA
Nov. 18: The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT
Nov. 20: Museum of Science, Boston, MA
Click on Tour Dates for all of the links to each of the events.