Climate Change Warriors and supporters gathered for a family fun and community building for the “Have Your Sei” campaign.

Hosted by 350 Samoa, with a kind contribution from Home Café in Malifa, the group held a free community awareness campaign of Climate Change Activism in the Pacific.  

At the event, the supporters painted the “Have Your Sei” banner for the Pacific Climate Warriors to take to the C.O.P 23 meeting in Germany next month. 

The supporters also signed the “Have Your Sei” declaration that will be presented at the C.O.P 23. 

Family members of founding member of 350 Samoa, Brianna Fruean, initiated the movement despite the young environmental advocate not present in Samoa.

According to the “Have Your Sei” petition website, and with Fiji as the President of COP 23, the Pacific region will show the world what true climate leadership is. 

“We will highlight to the world what climate change in the Pacific looks like and how inaction on climate change exacerbates that threat.

“As Pacific Climate Warriors from across the Pacific region representing various grassroots, frontline and indigenous communities, and with support from around the world, we are calling for world leaders to commit to building a better, more just world for ourselves and for generations to come.” 

According to the Pacific Climate Warrior Declaration on Climate Change, climate change poses a direct threat to our homes and our people. 

“The continuous burning of fossil fuels is leading to accelerated sea level rise, longer more intense heat waves, and exacerbated natural disasters. 

“At the rate that the developed world is digging up and burning fossil fuels, climate change will continue to have disastrous impacts on those who have done the least to cause these problems.

“For more than two decades, negotiations have failed to deliver the action required to protect our homes and livelihoods from dangerous climate change. 

“Communities everywhere are stepping up to ensure that their voices are heard and that the leadership vacuum left by world leaders is filled and they deliver the change we need at the pace we need to avoid catastrophic climate change. 

“We, the Pacific Climate Warriors, on behalf of the communities we are from, call for more ambitious action on climate change from our world leaders.”

The Climate Change Warriors call for immediate phase-out of existing fossil fuel projects, the banning of all new fossil fuel infrastructures, shutting down of existing ones and canceling planned expansions. 

“This should also coincide with commitments to rapidly transition towards 100 percent renewable energy by no later than 2050.

“Immediately deliver the finance and support needed for countries already facing irreversible loss and damage and as well as the immediate establishment of adaptation mechanisms to cope with ongoing climate impacts.

“The prohibition of the fossil fuel industry from participating in the U.N.F.C.C.C processes so that they can no longer delay, weaken and block action on climate change.” 

Furthermore, the information provided indicates everything the Paris Agreement called for, including international efforts to ensure global average temperatures do not exceed 1.5 degrees from pre-industrial levels.

“Climate change is real and impacting now, and it’s imperative that we stand up for the Pacific, and the global community, and act now to avoid further climate catastrophe. This C.O.P should be about the people, not the profits and the polluters.”