thought it would be of interest to this group.
pankaj

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: TourismScan-ECOT Words are not enough - a call for climate
justiceaction
Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:31:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: TourismScan <TourismScan@...>
Reply-To: tourismscan+owner@googlegroups.com
To: TourismScan <tourismscan@googlegroups.com>


Last month, the President of Kiribati (Pacific) and a chief from
Tuvalu went to New Zealand calling to take the climate refugees of
these islands. The Open Letter below by Friends of the Earth (FoE)
Australia will support the victims and will be sent to the New Zealand
and Australian Governments. Incredible but true: The crisis point is
reached that governors must ask other nations to take on their people!
This is the result of the lack of action from all around the world.

What does that mean for the tourism industry? Despite it's huge
contribution to green house gas emissions which cause global warming
and the rise of the sea level, it will most likely continue to offer
packaged holiday trips to the Pacific islands. Will the income gained
from tourism help the islanders at all in their fear to loose their
home lands?

Share you comments with ECOT, write to us: tourismscan@...

ECOT

Letter of FoE Australia, sent Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:58:53 -0400 (EDT).
Subject: [CJN!] sign-on letter to Australian and New Zealand
governments: climate refugees


Dear friends,

Friends of the Earth Australia has drafted an open letter to the
Australia and New Zealand Prime Ministers (below) calling on these two
nations of the global north to commit to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and taking responsibility for the resettlement of climate
refugees in the Pacific Islanders. The letter will be published the
week prior to the Pacific Island Forum 19-21 August. Please consider
signing onto this letter, even if you are not based in the Pacific,
Australia or New Zealand.

Whilst for many calling for recognition of climate refugees may seem
like defeat and surrendering of sovereignty, for many in Pacific
displacement is already happening, and it is extremely likely that
many more communities, if not entire nations will become climate
refugees. The Australia and New Zealand government have not formally
taken any responsibility for the human rights of these peoples and we
must demand that they do so.

For any sign-ons or inquiries to the letter please contact Damien
Lawson at Friends of the Earth Australia damien.lawson@....
Please reply by 10 August.

Many thanks.
Steph (for FoE Australia)

--

An Open letter to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and New Zealand-
Aotearoa Prime Minister Helen Clark


*Your action needed on climate change in the Pacific*


Dear Prime Ministers

We represent a range of communities and non-government organisations
in the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand-Aotearoa,

Hundreds of thousands of people will be displaced by climate change in
the coming decades. Pacific Islanders are already affected with their
islands very vulnerable to sea level rises.

The Pacific Islands Forum next week is an opportunity to define a more
concrete program of action to assist Pacific Islanders.

We welcome past acknowledgment of the problem the Pacific faces and
expressions of a willingness to help, but now is the time for action.

Therefore we call on the Australian and New Zealand government to
recognise the urgency of action on climate change and the particular
threat it poses to people of the Pacific.

The Australia and New Zealand governments must begin a real process of
partnership with Pacific Island countries in finding ways to prepare
and assist with the displacement of Pacific Island people.

In particular the follow actions must be taken:

* substantial and urgent mitigation efforts by Australia and New
Zealand and strong advocacy internationally for urgent action by
developed countries to reduce greenhouse polution and de-carbonise
their economies;

* a commitment of substantial resources, in addition to existing
aid
programs, to fund evacuation and resettlement within and between
Pacific Island countries;

* a substantial increase in permanent migration from Pacific
Island
countries to Australia and New Zealand to help build relationships
with Australia and New Zealand and to build resilience and
independent resources in Pacific Island countries;


* the establishment of a special humanitarian stream within the
immigration program for climate affected people;


* strong advocacy internationally for an international legal
framework for assisting people displaced by climate change.

Words are not enough and waiting for the catastrophic sea level rises
is not acceptable. Australia and New Zealand have the responsibility
and capacity to act now. They should begin to do so.

Anything less will be seen as a betrayal of the people most affected
by climate change but least responsible for it.

Friends of the Earth Australia
www.foe.org.au/

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