Dear Kiribati

It’s been 20 years since we first met, since I first breathed in your hot salty air, waded in your warm turquoise blue waters, instantly you intoxicated me. All of me. My mind, heart and soul.

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But today.                      I fear for you.

 

I fear that the rest of the world will not know you. Blinded by climate change, they will not see your beauty, your kindness, your katei. Worthy of everything this world has to offer, and more.

 

The world hoped to solve this ecological genocide with laws, science, innovation and money, but money (or rather greed) is what brought us here and the technology will not develop fast enough to stop what has already happened.

 

I believe humanity is the only way to solve this. We are capable of transformational compassion. We see it all the time. It is compassion that drives change to contribute to a more globally just society, where greed, hate and anger are replaced by generosity, love, and joy.

 

Dear world,

I believe in you.  I believe in us.  I believe in humanity. Because if the climate can change, so can we.

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So must we.

 

***Kiribati Translation***

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NAKON KIRIBATI

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Ai uabwii ma teuana te ririki man te tai are ti moan kaitiboo iai, man au moan tai n ikerakea angim ae e kabuebue man taoro, n rinanon am aabue ni marawa are buruu man kiriin are e a bon kamangingai n niniai, rabwatau ni kabane. Au iango, buroou ao tamneiu.

 

Man te bong aio.       I a maaku ibukim

 

Maakun nanou bwa kaain te aonnaba a nang aki ataiko. Te aki nooraaba man ana waaki bitakin te aonnaba ma bwaina nako a nang aki noora tikiraoim, am ataatai aomata, ao kateim, Kakannatom n reke iroum ni kabane bwaai are e kona n anga te aonnaba ao are iaona riki.

 

Ana Kaantaninga ao nanon te Aonnaba bwa e kan kakaea tokin te waaki are tiringakiia bwaai nako ake iai maiuia ni kabonganaakin te Tua, te Rabakau ibukin te maiu ao te aonnaba ao ai te Mwane. Te mwane are boni boton te aki rauaki ni kaubwain te aonnaba ao tangiran riki are iaona ao te nano (greed) aio are e a bon uotiira nakon te tai aio. Bwaai n rabakau ake ana kaaitarai waaki aikai a bon rang iremwe rikirakeia ni kona ni katokii waaki ae a bon tia n riki.

 

I kakouaa bwa Te ataatai aomata bon tii te kawai ni kakaean te reke. Ti bane ni kona ni bitii nanora nakon te nanoanga. Ti bane ni  kona n nooria n taainako bwa te nanoanga boni ngaia are e bweeana te bitaki are e riki bwa te boutoka nakon te aonnaba are e kaetieti raoi. Are te nano n aki rauaki ni kaubwain te aonnaba , te kairiribai, ao te nano n uun a boni bane n oneaki mwiia n te nano n angaanga, te Tangira ao te Kukurei.

 

 

Nakon Te Aonnaba,

 

Bon iai au koaua iroum. Bon iai au koaua i bon iroura. Iai au koaua n te ataatai aomata. Ngkana e kona ni bitaki te Aonnaba ma bwaina nako (environment) ai ngaira naba ti boni kona.