Johnsonville Uniting Church’s Pacific Island Ministry is about to make a splash across the globe, giving a voice to our local seasonal workers who support climate action.
Partnering with local climate activist and artist Catherine Van Wilgenburg and Community Connections East Gippsland, a project is evolving called Pacific Voices for Climate; Pacific Nations for COP31 in Antalya, Turkey in November this year.
Collective voices of community choirs and interviews of seasonal workers in East Gippsland will highlight the impact of climate change on their homes in Kiribati, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Samoa.
Through shared song, cultural storytelling and community workshops the project will amplify frontline Pacific experiences of the climate emergency.
Their collective stories in word and song are currently building toward a filmed choral performance and advocacy moment in November, calling for global action.
This is an opportunity for workers to voice the cultural losses of Pacific nations as their homelands are flooded through rising sea levels, storms and extreme heat.
Project lead Catherine has plans to liaise with Creative Climate/Creative Victoria towards presentations of videos to COP31 Australia and South Pacific delegates to ensure presentations at its forums and events.
There will be the creation of two-minute videos and/or a longer video for social media by the local Living Futures Krew, a group of 12 and 13-year-old video nerds mentored by adult digital creators and film makers.
As a small church with limited resources, a request for donations to support the Pacific Islands ministry would be greatly appreciated by Johnsonville Uniting Church members.
Peter Flahive, treasurer of the church, can be contacted on 0418 517900 or flarvy@yahoo.com.au
