Waihangā | TransformGo to parent page
Moana Water of Life 2
Moana – Water of Life 2
A Talanoa | Conference
Suva, 8-11 August 2024
Livestreams for Moana Water of Life 2 Talanoa ‘From Lamentation to Hope: Building Resilience’
A Kurahautū Hikoi Project
Attendees focused on the theme of climate resilience, with a particular emphasis on identifying practical ways that science and the church can work together to build resilient communities and ecosystems. The conference was an opportunity to acknowledge and privilege the Moana Voice, the ancestral wisdom, the lived experience, and the flourishing faith of the peoples of the Pacific region.
Session one – Thursday
→ 08.28 (26 min) Archbishop Sione Ulu’ilakepa opening call on shifting ‘From Lamentation to Hope’
→ 51.30 (30 min) Rev Dr Hirini Kaa on mātauranga – on the value of centering Indigenous knowledge in climate resilience planning and disaster response
Session two
→ 07.30 (33 min) Professor Elisabeth Holland on the powerful collaboration of climate science and faith advocacy on emmissions reduction and just transition to a fossil fuel free future
→ 55.40 (53 min) Bishop of Grantham Rt Rev Nicholas Chamberlain, Sarah Spencer and Kate Mitchell on Moana Water of Life 1, climate advocacy and practical action to protect and value Creation in the Diocese of Lincoln
Session three – Friday
→ 00.49 (48 min) Rev James Bhagwan shares stories on the urgency and power of ecumenial climate advocacy, ranging from mourning lost island homes to global movements to protect the earth and its most vulnerable communities
→ 51.40 (35 min) Rev Dr Cliff Bird introduces the Pacific Churches’ work in developing alternatives to economic globalisation that shift the measure of success from GDP growth to holistic, Pacific-centred measures of wellbeing, including the GDP replacement: REM
Session four
→ 00.30 (30 min) Rev. Dr. Tafue Lusama on how the mythical symbolic theologies of Indigenous peoples offer an alternative worldview to theologies of domination.
→ 34.20 (21 min) Mr. Taholo Kami speaks on the importance of oceanic mega ecosystems in the future of the earth, and the power of Pacific nations to turn attention to the future of the blue planet.
→ 100.20 (32 min) Mr. Paul Roughan discusses the geopolitical waves that have imposed small nation boundaries on the big ocean islands of the Pacific, and encourages a return to occupation by island-to-island movement.
→ 136.44 ( 1hr 15 min) Panel discussion with Rev. James Bhagwan, Rev. Dr. Tafue Lusama, Mr. Taholo Kami and Mr. Paul Roughan reflects on the issue arising from the day’s talanoa.
Session five
→ 07.20 (1hr 23 min) Community Integrated Resilience Assessment (CIRA) trainers Ms. Siva Sunia and Mr. Siope Koloamatanagi share the story of their youth-led parish based programme that maps families’ needs in case of emergency to enable swift and effective support to avert deaths across the four Tongatapu parishes.
Session six
→ 05.02 (1hr 59 min) Rev. Tamsyn Kereopa, Archbishop Julio Murray, Dr. Emily Colgan and Rev. Matia Dari share their reflections on the ideas shared at the Moana Water of Life Talanoa followed by questions and comments from the floor.
Closing Festival Eucharist
Festival Eucharist celebrating the gifts of God in Creation, lamenting and leading to hope for the moana and te earth, through Indigenous and Pasifika song, dance and liturgical expressions of the peoples of the Pacific Anglican Church.
Take action in Aotearoa
Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand have a unique chance to take immediate action on climate justice this week. Common Grace Aotearoa has prepared an online submissions form that makes it easy for individuals to make a submission on the New Zealand Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan, which is under review by the National-ACT-NZ First Government. Common Grace is encouraging churches to back their “Don’t subsidise pollution” campaign calling for an end to Government handouts for big polluters.