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April 24, 2023NITThe former President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, has been visiting communities in the Torres Strait between in solidarity with Uncle Paul Kabai on Saibai island and Uncle Pabai Pabai on Boigu island in their landmark climate case against the Australian government demanding emissions reduction in line with the science.President Tong has been visiting the Islands from 17 April to 24 April as part of the Pacific Elders Voice, a group of former Prime Ministers, Presidents and high level officials in the Pacific.On Monday these communities issued the Mura Kalmel Sipa (all together we stand) statement of solidarity between Saibai, Boigu and Pacific Elders.\"At the invitation of the Saibai and Boigu Island Elders, the Chairman of the Pacific Elders\' Voice and former President of Kiribati, HE Anote Tong, visited the Islands in April 2023 and noted that climate-related threats faced by the communities there are similar to those faced by other Pacific Island countries like Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, as well as other Pacific communities on the frontline of climate change impacts,\" it said.\"The Pacific Elders\' Voice, together with Saibai and Boigu Elders, stand in solidarity with each other\'s homelands and peoples, and our shared experience in the face of the climate crisis.\"We stand together in calling for governments to move away from subsidising fossil fuel projects and take urgent and decisive climate action that will ensure global warming remains below 1.5C.\"We stand together in friendship and solidarity in the pursuit of climate justice. We stand together in asking Australia and those responsible for perpetuating the climate crisis, including the fossil fuel industry, to hear our voices and act immediately to ensure the survival of our homelands, peoples, cultures and way of life.\"During President Tong\'s tour of Boigu and Saibai the community members taking part in workshops and training about the causes, impacts and solutions to climate change run by the Edmund Rice Centre\'s Pacific Calling Partnership.Elders have been taking President Tong on tours of their islands to examine the damage caused by climate change and discuss the impacts on community, culture, food security and fears of displacement due to sea level rise.Organisers of the tour noted that Pacific nations residents are facing similar climate change impacts as people living in the Torres Strait, such as erosion from rising seas, salt water inundation of fresh water areas, salt water pollution of soil preventing families from growing fruit and vegetables, changes to fishing patterns, and impacts on cultural sites including the flooding of cemeteries.Uncle Pabai and Uncle Paul\'s landmark climate case will argue that by failing to prevent climate change the Australian government has unlawfully breached its duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders, because of the \"severe and lasting harm\" that climate change would cause to their communities.They are seeking an order from the court requiring the government to prevent this harm to their communities by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with the best available science. The first hearing will be held by the Federal Court on-country in Boigu, Saibai and Badu, followed by Cairns in June.The Mura Kalmel Sipa statement was signed by Herbert Warusam Saibai Mura Buway PBC chair and Dhoeybaw Clan Chair and community member; Conwell Tabuai Saibai Councillor, TSRIC Director and Ait Koedal Clan and community member; Uncle Ialatie Gilbert Akiba, Saibai Migi Buwai Clan Elder and community member; Uncle Elvis Terrigton Warusam Koey Buwai Clan Elder and community member; Aunty Vera Toby, Custodian of Boigu Island; Uncle Dick Gibuma, Boigu Samu Clan Elder and community member; Uncle Percy Maitie, Boigu Koedal Clan Elder and community member; Brian Peter, Boigu Karbay/Baidham Clan and community member; Pastor Namia Marama, Boigu Spiritual Leader and community member; Tanaio Anau Boigu Dhoeybaw Clan/Environmental health worker with TSIRC; and HE Anote Tong, former President of the Republic of Kiribati and Pacific Elders\' Voice chair.

Date: 15 November 2021Media: The GuardianThe Kiribati government has announced it will open up one of the world’s largest marine protected areas to commercial fishing, citing economic benefits to its people.The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) spans 408,250 sq km (157,626 sq miles) – an area about the size of California – and was created in 2006 with the entire area declared a “no-take” zone in 2015, meaning that commercial fishing is forbidden.Kiribati, a collection of islands in the central Pacific and which has an EEZ larger than the size of India, catches 700,000 tonnes a year of tuna. More tuna is caught in Kiribati’s waters than in the waters of any other nation in the world.Fishing illustration for Plundering the PacificWhy the world’s most fertile fishing ground is facing a ‘unique and dire’ threatRead moreIn a press statement issued on Monday, the office of the president of the Kiribati government confirmed it was opening the protected zone citing the huge economic cost to Kiribati, a developing nation, of the ban.“Similar to any Government, our decisions, as we make them, put the livelihoods of our people at the fore and have been carefully considered and agreed to as a Government,” it said.“Our decision as a sovereign country and Government is people-centric and commensurate with holistic options for marine protection and management, economic diversification, sustainable tourism and fisheries, to promote the growth of Kiribati’s blue economy, and uplift the lives of all I-Kiribati.”Dr Richard Jeo, Conservation International’s Asia-Pacific field division senior vice president, said that it was their “understanding that this proposal has not yet been introduced to Kiribati’s parliament.”“It would need to be formally approved by parliament before going into effect, which would likely not be until next year at the earliest. There is significant geopolitics at play in the Pacific region, and as a sovereign nation, Kiribati has the authority to decide on the future of PIPA.”Jeo said they remained hopeful that Kiribati would maintain PIPA’s marine protected area designation and would choose “to continue as a global conservation leader, standing lockstep with a global community that is committed to protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030.”But the Kiribati government said that when it established PIPA it was assured it would be able to recoup the revenues lost from fishing licences, which make up more than 70% of Kiribati’s total annual revenue, but that this had not eventuated.The government said years after PIPA’s inception it was not sufficient to meet the present need of the people of Kiribati and the country’s future development needs.The statement also reiterated the Kiribati government’s commitment to conservation efforts by investing in marine and biodiversity protection and promoting climate resilience.The government said that since PIPA’s closure to commercial fishing, there had been an 8% decline in demand for fishing in Kiribati’s EEZ translating to a loss in revenue of up to USD$146m from 2015 to the present.Former president Anote Tong, who was responsible for overseeing the creation of PIPA, expressed his strong disappointment with the announcement, but said the proper process, which involves a parliamentary vote on opening up PIPA to fishing, still had to be observed.“I’m very, very disappointed,” he said. “I never expected that this would happen. And this was precisely the reason that we put it into legislation. Because it had to be something that would remain regardless of any political changes.”

Date: October 22, 2021Media: ABC NewsPacific Island climate action groups have demanded countries including Australia end support for the fossil fuel industry during the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow.The Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN), which includes environmental activist group Greenpeace, issued a list of demands to world leaders on Friday, saying they must provide \"a safe and habitable future for the Pacific Islands\". It called on wealthy countries to pump billions of dollars a year into developing nations to help them tackle the effects of climate change and cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.PICAN demanded wealthy nations provide developing states $US100 billion ($133.25 billion) annually until 2025 and increase that sum to $750 billion a year beyond 2025 so they can invest in technologies to help live with a changing climate.\"We do need finance and we\'re talking about billions … we need the technology,\" former Tuvalu prime minister Bikenibeu Paeniu said. Former Kiribati president Anote Tong told the virtual gathering of Pacific climate-action organisations the COP26 meeting would be the last chance to save Pacific Island nations from the worst effects of climate change.Anote Tong said for most people in the Pacific, their days were numbered.(ABC News: Sarah Hancock)\"I think what I\'ve always acknowledged — and I think we must also acknowledge — is for most of us in the Pacific, our days are already numbered because whatever happens, even if we cut emissions to zero tomorrow ... our future cannot be assured,\" he said.Pacific Island nations have become increasingly anxious about inaction on climate change and its looming consequences for their countries if the world does not reduce emissions.An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in August found the world had warmed by 1.1C  on pre-industrial levels.It found that on the current trajectory, the Earth was likely to hit 1.5C warming about 2030.Documents leaked to Greenpeace and obtained by the ABC, showed Australia sought to change a major international draft report on climate change to promote a future for coal-fired power.\'Rapid\' phase-out of coal neededBritish High Commissioner George Edgar, who also spoke at the meeting, called on countries that had not submitted ambitious climate targets to step up. \"A growing number of countries have committed to ending overseas investment in coal, but we need to see an end to domestic investment as well and plans for the rapid phase out of existing coal-fired plants,\" he said.Former secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Meg Taylor, said she understood reservations about the shift away from fossil fuels but insisted the change would benefit communities in the long term.\"I understand the sentiments about the transition of economies from fossil fuel to carbon neutral. My own country will face that challenge itself,\" she said.\"In the Paris Agreement, it\'s very clear that in terms of the transition … economic development is very much part of the climate transition and countries are going to have to make those tough decisions themselves.\"

Facing the prospect of rising sea-levels swallowing their homes, many Pacific leaders and scholars are preparing for the worst, Eliorah Malifa writes for the Pacific Wayfinder series.With the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report, the world is beginning to grapple with the implications of climate change. But while much of the rest of the rest of the world is slowly beginning to act, Pacific island communities do not have the luxury of time.For many years, Pacific leaders have amplified the human impact of climate change, and they are now looking for strategies to address the loss of lives, land, and livelihoods that is beginning to unfold.To explore how Pacific countries are preparing for the future,Head of the World Bank in Kiribati, Akka Rimon,and former President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, featured on the latest episode of the Pacific Wayfinder podcast.President Tong emphasised that nations like Kiribati are on the frontline and feel isolated – hence the need to take action themselves.“Now I’ve come to the conclusion that we will never be able to get the resources from the international community or any country in order to build the resources that we will need… we will one day have to relocate perhaps our entire population…we need to plan for it. And now I’m trying to encourage Australia and New Zealand to be partners in that,” he said.Witnessing increasingly severe wildfires and changing weather patterns around the world has reinforced the need for people in the region to consider what actions need to be taken if they are to protect themselves from inundation. Unfortunately, the future looks grim.Both Rimon and Tong agree on the need for Pacific communities affected by climate change to be able to migrate with dignity, should people be forced out of their homes by rising sea levels. Through her PhD research, Rimon specifically intends to draw lessons from Australia’s Pacific Labour Scheme and New Zealand’s Pacific Access Category.Rimon noted that without international law, robust loss and damage mechanisms, and recognition for climate-displaced persons, there is a real lack of protection available. However, she said that existing labour mobility schemes in Australia and New Zealand may be able to provide a blueprint for a future resettlement strategy.“We don’t want to sensitise the issue and say give us jobs because we’re sinking, no… we’re going to migrate with the trade skills and whatever talents that you are short of, so it provides a win-win both for the host country and the second [recipient] country,” she said.Given the international community’s lack of recognition for climate change displacement, the discussion around strategies for displaced persons and the ways to make these strategies attractive to receiving countries is complex.However, there is resistance to displacement planning in the region, with many of those in the firing line focusing on slowing the process through stronger international actions on reducing emissions. This attitude was evident at a recent youth lead climate march in Wellington, where protestors chanted “we are not drowning, we are fighting.” President Tong said that this is an “emotional response”.While he has historically fought for global action to slow the effects of climate change, he now believes leaders need to be ready to provide solutions for when the worst takes place.There is also discomfort in the fact that the region is largely suffering the consequences of others’ actions. The Pacific contributes approximately 0.03 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet Pacific Islanders are some of the first to experience the severe impacts of climate change.Rimon is one of several Pacific scholars emphasising that at-risk communities are seeking out strategies that allow for ‘displacement with dignity’, rather than being conceptualised as climate refugees.This conversation has been initiated by Pacific leaders and continues in earnest throughout the region. Through research into viable alternatives for resettlement of climate-displaced communities, leaders and scholars are planning for futures that are not desirable, but are becoming a reality.President Tong believes policymakers may have to “rewrite the rules” to come up with solutions that will accommodate people, such as those from Kiribati.“It’s like being in the Titanic movie. For countries like Australia in the lifeboat – will they let us onboard or push us off? We need some firm commitments… People are talking about cutting emissions, but we are well past that – we are gone. So how do we change the rules, change the narrative?”This may seem bleak, but the impact of inaction could be devastating. Communities in Kiribati and throughout the region may hope for the best but, given the speed of change, should prepare for the worst.This article is from our Pacific Wayfinder series, bringing you voices from the Pacific Island region. It is produced in conjunction with the Pacific Wayfinder podcast, produced by the Australia Pacific Security College.

Taking a photo this past August 28 during the Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony, in the picture are the founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon (far left), laureate President Anote Tong (second to right), laureate Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta (third to right), Committee Chairman Dr. Il-Sik Hong (far right).Last August 28, the Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony was held at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Seoul, Korea. President of Kiribati, H.E. Anote Tong, and Indian fisheries scientist, Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta, were selected as the inaugural laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize which was established to promote world peace and human development.“I accept this prestigious award with the sincere hope that all who are here today and the world as a whole, have indeed taken heed of my people’s plight, my people’s fate. For their sake, let us do what is right for them.” - from the Acceptance Speech by President Anote Tong“This award gives me the added energy to pursue my life goals of contributing to a peaceful society through alleviation of hunger and poverty. I pay homage to Reverend Dr. Sun Myung Moon for the ideals he stood for and his vision of one global peaceful family. Let us all work together to bring his ideas to reality.” - from the Acceptance Speach of Dr. Modadugu V. GuptaOver 1,000 VIPs in attendanceTotal prize money 1 million US dollarsThe Sunhak Peace Prize was established to inherit the vision of Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and perpetuate their legacy by recognizing individuals who have willingly sacrificed themselves for peace and awards 1 million US dollars, the highest amount for a single prize in the world. The co-recipients received a cash prize of $500,000 each.Including the founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation Sun Jin Moon, and Korean National Assembly Speaker Ui Hwa Chung, approximately 1,000 delegates and VIPs, representatives of politics, academia, business, and religion came from across the world to attend the Ceremony.Committee Chairman Il-Sik Hong said, “The present generation has been given a historical calling for it to let go of its greed and selfishness, and transcend race, nation, ideals, and religion in order to create a peaceful civilization based on love for humanity,” and added, “Under the banner of ‘One Global Family, Making the World Better for Future Generations,’ The Sunhak Peace Prize will go beyond the limits of civilizations that humanity has constructed until now and create a new peaceful civilization based on love for humanity.”The audience was touched by the beautiful harmony of Soprano vocalist Su-mi Jo and the Little Angels chorus.After the ceremony, the laureates gave a special lecture during an international conference called “World Summit 2015.” It provided an opportunity for the attendees to address the issues of climate change and food insecurity.On June 8, the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee announced their first laureates at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., United States. The awardees are President of Kiribati H.E. Anote Tong, who raised the awareness of the international community on the serious impacts of climate change, and Indian fisheries scientist Dr. Modadugu Gupta who led relief efforts for the poor and the future food crises with a revolutionary method of aquaculture that produced enormous results.During the past year, 182 candidates from 66 countries were recommended to the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee by their nominators from around the world. Through complex evaluations and a scrupulous field researching process, President Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta were selected as the inaugural dual laureates. They were recognized for their sacrificial efforts to find solutions to climate change and the looming food crisis which are the agenda of the Sunhak Peace Prize.To find solutions to climate change and the looming food crisisThey devoted themselvesAnote Tong was elected as the fifth President of the Southern Pacific island country of Kiribati and is currently serving the final year of his third term. During his tenure, he has made efforts to raise awareness of crises facing low-lying Pacific small island states due to climate change and has been urging for international cooperation.In 2010, Pres. Tong hosted the Tarawa Climate Change Conference (TCCC) and enacted the Ambo Declaration. Representatives of the world powers including China and vulnerable states participated in the conference. The main concerns there were agreeing to the 18 points of the Declaration, and urging concrete actions to find solutions to climate change. Developed countries who attended the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Mexico, promised their strong support to climate-vulnerable countries like Kiribati.Pres. Tong has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his achievements and received the Peter Benchley Ocean Award and Hillary Award in 2012 for climate equity.The co-recipient Indian fisheries scientist Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta pioneered the Blue Revolution through developing innovative aquaculture techniques as an alternative solution to the future food crisis. Dr. Gupta known as the ‘Saint of the Poor’ taught aquaculture methods to the extremely poor in Southeast Asia and Africa. He improved their nutritional status and cultivated a miracle of self-sufficiency. He also drastically changed the social status and rights of women. The World Food Prize, known as the Nobel Prize for agriculture, congratulated his awarding on their official website.[Original Article]

President Anote Tong of Kiribati and Dr. Modadugu. V. Gupta of India were selected as winners of the Sunhak Peace Prize, which is given to individuals who have significantly contributed toward the peace and well-being of future generations.The Award ceremony was held today at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul.One of the winners, President Anote Tong was recognized for his work in raising awareness on the severity of climate change to the international community as President of Kiribati, an Oceania island nation vulnerable to the climate crisis.The joint Winner, Dr. Gupta. a fishery scientist of India was recognized for his work in developing aqua farming technology as an alternative for food crisis, and for widely disseminating the new technology in deprived areas.Each of The winners was awarded a prize of five hundred million won and a medal.

Noted Indian agriculture scientist Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, who has done pioneering work in aquaculture in India, Bangladesh, and several Southeast Asian countries, was on Friday awarded the first Sunhak Peace Prize which he shared with the President of Kiribati Islands. Gupta, 76, shared the USD 1 million prize with the President of Kiribati Islands Anote Tong at a glittering function in Seoul, which was attended by invitees from all over the world.  Tong, 63, the head of the Pacific Ocean island nation which is facing dire prospects of being engulfed by rising sea waters by 2050, was chosen for the award for his dogged fight to end carbon emissions which are spelling doom for small islands nations. Billed as an alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize, the awards were presented by South Korean religious leader Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of late Rev Sun Myung Moon, who instituted the awards to recognize and highlight the work of individuals making big efforts for the betterment of the people.[Original Article]http://www.indiatimes.com/news/world/noted-indian-scientist-honoured-with-first-sunhak-peace-prize-for-exemplary-work-in-aquaculture-244658.html

SEOUL - Kiribati President Anote Tong has become one of two winners of a major new international peace award conferred in Seoul on Friday for his efforts to highlight the impacts of sea-level rise on his atoll nation.President Tong, 63, was awarded the inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize along with Indian fisheries scientist Modagadu V Gupta. Mr Gupta is noted for his research, which resulted in significant increase in fish production and laid the foundation for the Blue Revolution, a possible solution said to address a potential food crisis.The event was attended by more than 1000 delegates from the around the world as well as Pacific dignitaries.The event was the highlight of the Third World Summit on Peace, Security and Human Development taking place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul.In his acceptance speech, laureate President Tong paid a special tribute to the late founder of the Sunhak Peace Organisation, Dr Sun Myung Moon, for his lifelong commitment working to achieve universal peace for all under the slogan \"one family under God\".\"I am honoured to receive this award and looking back the last 12 years to the challenges there were since being elected into power in 2003, my people had placed their hopes in me to guide them to a safe and secure future and to ensure that their voices were heard on issues they raised in the international arena,\" he said.For his part, fellow laureate Gupta urged global leaders to invest more heavily in aquaculture to address the rapidly growing challenge of hunger in developing countries.\"It has been estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that to meet the demand of increasing population by 2050, we need to increase food production by 60 percent globally, by 90 percent to 100 percent in developing countries,\" he told the audience, according to remarks prepared for delivery.[Original Article]http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=320040

Preparation NotesThe news Indian Scientist awarded the first Sunhak Peace Prize is important in International Affairs. The news is important for candidates appearing in competitive exams, the candidates should take note of the personality, event, and criteria for the award the works of Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, and President of Kiribati Islands in respective fields should also be taken note of by candidates.Noted Indian biologist Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, who has done pioneering work in aquaculture in India, Bangladesh, and several Southeast Asian countries, was awarded the first Sunhak Peace Prize which he shared with the President of Kiribati Islands in Seoul the capital of South Korea.Gupta, 76, shared the USD 1 million prize with the President of Kiribati Islands Anote Tong at a function which was attended by invitees from all over the world. Tong, 63, the head of the Pacific Ocean island nation which is facing dire prospects of being engulfed by rising sea waters by 2050, was chosen for the award for his dogged fight to end the carbon emissions which are spelling doom for small island nations.[Original Article]http://www.prepsure.com/news/first-sunhak-peace-prize-awarded-to-indian-scientist/

Kiribati is located in the vicinity of the equator and the population is more than 105,000. It is considered very vulnerable to rising sea-levels because it consists of small islands with an average altitude above sea level of 2m. President of Kiribati Anote Tong has led the country since 2003. He has been speaking out the expected threat of his country people should leave their land by 2050 and sough for action by the international communities. President Anote Tong has been consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Last month, Indian biologist Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta and Pres. Tong have been selected the first dual laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize through recognition of their sacrifices for peace. I met President Anote Tong in Kiribati with the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee and heard his thoughts on climate change. The interview took place at President Tong’s private house 10 minutes away from the office of the President in the capital Tarawa.Interview with President of Kiribati Anote Tong- I heard that Kiribati stands at the forefront of global climate change. What kind of practical effects have surfaced?“Villages are disappearing due to coastal erosion and the seawater has contaminated the freshwater and destroyed the crops. Earlier this year in March, we had the cyclone Pam which hit Vanuatu. Kiribati has never been subject to cyclones. We are on the hurricane-free belt on the equator so we should not be seeing these events. So these things are happening more frequently and it’s an experience totally new to us.- Please explain the current efforts and future plans of the Kiribati government and its citizens in response to the climate change situation. “We are hoping that the international community will assist in building our resilience so that after what arises, we will be able to continue to survive on these islands. But at the same time, we’ve got to be realistic that it is very highly unlikely that the international community will come up with the level of resources that would be required to raise all the islands. So whilst we are committed to ensuring that our islands, in one way or another does not disappear, that we remain as a nation, a viable nation in the future in whatever form, we have to accept the reality that some of our people would also have to be prepared for migration. We cannot build our resilience on our own, because we do not have the resources. If the international community does not come forward, then we are talking about our entire population having to relocate.”- I think that is why you are preparing the ‘immigration with dignity.’ So please explain what ‘immigration with dignity’ is and what some of the challenges in preparing for it are.“What I don’t want is for our people to become climate refugees. I reject the notion of refugees. It’s degrading and undignified. It is not because we have mismanaged our economies, our politics. We would have lost our homes, but we do not want to lose our dignity as well. We would prepare our people to migrate as trained and skilled people, people who when they migrate to whatever community they do, will come in as citizens with skills, worthwhile citizens who will make a contribution to the community they are coming to. They will not be a burden to whichever society they decide to go to. They will go as dignified people. Not as second-class citizens in the countries they go to looking for special consideration.”- How have you been using the purchased land in Fiji up until now? And what are your future plans for this land?“The way I\'ve been explaining about the land is that it is an investment. It’s an investment in establishing some degree of food security in the future. I’m often asked by many journalists, “so you’re going to relocate your people to Fiji?” and my answer has always been no. Why I say that is because I am fully appreciative of the political sensitivities with this large number of people migrating to one area. Somebody else might make that decision in the future. The Fiji government has expressed their willingness to accommodate our people if and when it becomes necessary. And this is the kind of humanity that I’ve been challenging the international community to come up with. - Is there any technological solution such as the method to elevate the islands that will allow the people to continue to live on the islands of Kiribati despite the rising sea-levels?“I have no doubt that the solutions are there. In fact, I’ve asked the Korean government to assist on this and we’ve had technical people come to visit to do assessment. But we cannot do it on our own; we do not have the capacity to do it. We need supports from the international community. Kiribati needs a special approach because our problem is very urgent and serious. Otherwise, we have no other choice except to migrate.”- What is the future of Kiribati as a sovereign state? Please share your opinion.“I can assure you that we have made a commitment that we will continue to have a nation, in whatever form, in whatever scale. If it’s just a piece of land, it’s important that we have this. It may not be able to accommodate everybody. But it’s got to be able to provide somewhere to be pointed to and say “that is our country.” And we will do whatever it takes to maintain our sovereignty over the seas that are part of our Exclusive Economic Zone because there are huge resources there. So yes, we will continue to exist as a nation.”- Do you believe that the global community will emerge victorious in the war against climate change eventually?“The entire destruction of the planet is not an acceptable option. So we have to win this war, but the question is those people who have the ability to make the most significant impact, are they going to be willing to sacrifice their welfare and luxuries, in order for those of us on the frontline can survive?”- How would you evaluate the UN in the international community’s response to climate change thus far?Well up until now the rate of progress under the negotiations have been very disappointing. We don’t have to think of it from a national perspective. We have to regard ourselves as global citizens with a single planet, a single home. But if we continue to talk about our GDP, what will happen if we agree to do this. What will happen to our GDP? These are unfortunately what guide much of the discussions. No matter what level of greenhouse gases are agreed in Paris, no matter what Celsius degree we agree for the temperature rise, it will not make a difference to us. What I’ve been asking is that we need special progression for that. Don’t say that it is too late for you. No, that is not acceptable.- Out of the 196 nations in the climatic change convention, the Republic of Korea is a nation with the 7th highest output of carbon dioxide emissions. In the quantity of its green-house gas and the emissions per capita is greater than twice the global average. Is there anything you’d like to say or request to the Korean citizens?“Climate change is not entirely about its impact on the environment. We’ve gone past that. Now it’s about survival of nations like mine and other nations that are very vulnerable on the front-line. The issue here is the corporations are thinking in terms of their profit and loss statement and they are not thinking about people. But I understand we have very different circumstances. Korea is a country with extreme weather conditions. Very cold, you need energy in order to survive the winter and we don’t. We should be trying to do that rather than going ahead and doing things regardless of what its consequences are for the rest of humanity.”[source: http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/environment/701187.html]

President Tong’s interview upon receiving the Sunhak Peace Prize12 June 2015Tong: It is exciting. Of course, I have been nominated also from Australia I believe for the Nobel Peace Prize and so this came to me as a complete surprise. I am excited. I think it would add a lot of momentum to the advocacy and the campaign. The timing is very good. It comes before the meeting in Paris at the end of this year and the campaign that I have been on for more than twenty years now has been something that…it’s had its disappointments, but I think more recently, there have been more people getting engaged and for me that is quite a change from what it was. And so this award I think, I’ve received other awards that recognized the same thing and undoubtedly they’ve added a boost to the campaign.MC: There is a $1 million US dollar prize attached to the award I understand. Now I presume that money will go straight back into the ongoing campaign.Tong: I know that the campaign will be ongoing. I finish my term in office at the end of this year, most probably the beginning of next year. But I see the campaign as not ending there. I know that my colleagues in the region are also very much engaged, so I think yes, we will continue the campaign. Whatever resources and whatever support we can get, I think it’s important we need to continue to shape international thinking on the issue because there are still people who don’t believe that climate change is an issue that merits urgent attention. So I’m hoping very much that this award will come a long way towards making that emphasis.MC: So what are your intentions when you come to the end of your period of office? Are you intending to become a full-time climate change campaigner?Tong: I’ve had 3 terms. That is of course the limit, 3 four-year terms. I will not be running for parliament. I don’t expect that I will do that, but after a good break, I can make a decision as to what to do next, but certainly, climate change has always been and I believe will continue to be very much on my agenda.MC: The positive news of course is that you have been recognized through the winning of this award, the Sunhak Peace Prize. But it comes at the same time as climate change talks have been taking place over there in Germany, in the city of Bahn. And the word we’ve been getting there is that they haven’t been entirely successful. What is your understanding, and are you satisfied with the outcome?Tong: We don’t want to repeat the mistake that we made in Copenhagen in 2009. We all went with very high hopes of a very positive outcome. But I think the world is a lot more complicated. There are a lot of interests at play here. But I think the very fact that it was at the top of the agenda is in itself a very strong indication that it is being taken seriously. I know that there is a focus of attention. It is going to be difficult to get absolute agreement on the final detail. There are countries particularly in Europe that are giving it a lot of attention. There will always be some differences as to the extent to which countries collectively will wish to go. So I don’t think I am too disappointed.  I try not to be too optimistic. I’ve learned my lesson.MC: You mentioned earlier being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Australia. Ironic, bearing in mind that perhaps Australia and Canada are seen as the arch-enemies at the moment in terms of the global battle against climate change.  Tong: It’s a question of priority. I know that perhaps Australia does not regard the threat of climate change as the top of the agenda. And I can understand that. You’ve got places to go with the sea-level rises. But I think the question is more of a moral one. Do we have the moral conscience to understand that what we do will impact those on the other side of the world, or even close by. And that’s always been the way I’ve shaped my advocacy on climate change, the greatest moral challenge that humanity has ever faced. And I think the future of humanity and this planet will be determined by what we do. We’ve got to understand this, and if not our very future, then the future of other people’s children. And so do we have the moral conscience or go ahead and disregard those costs. That is the question that will judge us as human beings.MC: The Paris Summit of course comes in December. It may very well be one of your last acts as president to be involved in those talks. So I assume you would want to go out on a high, and get a meaningful agreement.Tong: I’ve been working at it for most of my Presidency for the last 12 years. I’ve been working on this from the end of last year until the beginning of this year, I’ve been visiting a number of capitals in Europe trying to get some support. I am very encouraged by what is coming forward. At the end of last year, of course, we’ve had the support of the United States and China, which was something that has always been the missing part of the whole process. We needed these two to be part of this in order for it to be meaningful in many ways. And so that is an achievement. Of course, I have also visited other parts of the world following that meeting. I have had the opportunity to meet the prime minister here, and he has promised me a commitment. He is planning to meet with the leaders again in the few weeks ahead. And so I am seeing positive signs. That perhaps we will come away with a more forthcoming agreement. And of course, the host, the President of France, has also met Pacific Leaders and he has made an undertaking that he will do everything in his power to see that we have a positive outcome.[Source - http://bit.ly/1QxzaMy ]

President of Kiribati Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first dual laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize which has $1 million US dollars prize. The Sunhak Peace Prize is established by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. This award reflects her profound hope of continuing her husband’s legacy of peace and the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee (chairman Dr. Il-Sik Hong) annually selects the nominee. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.The Committee held a press conference in Washington D.C., and announced, “We have selected His Excellency Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, for his efforts at the forefront of the climate crisis and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta of India, for developing an alternative solution to the expected future food crisis.”President Anote Tong emphasized that his nation could be uninhabitable by the 2050s because of the rising sea levels caused by climate change, and urged the international communities to embark upon immediate and concrete action. He has been consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.The ‘Pioneer of Blue Revolution’ Dr. Modadugu Gupta developed innovative aquaculture methods, and miraculously gave the poor in Asia and Africa a way to earn their independence. [Source - http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/06/10/2015061000129.html 

President of Kiribati Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first dual laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize.The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee (former president of Korea and chairman of the committee Dr. Il-Sik Hong) held a press conference announcing its inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize laureates on June 8 (Monday) in Washington D.C. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of the future generations.As a dual laureate President Anote Tong dedicated himself to raising public awareness of the severe impacts of the climate crisis to the international community in order to address its impacts on his country of Kiribati, which is gradually being submerged due to rising sea-levels caused by climate change. The ‘Pioneer of Blue Revolution’ Dr. Modadugu Gupta developed innovative aquaculture methods, and miraculously gave the poor in Asia and Africa a way to earn their independence.The laureates will share $1 million US dollars prize. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[source - http://article.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=17990875&ctg= ]

The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of future generations.President Anote Tong has been regarded for his great effort to bring about a consensus by the international community concerning climate peace and urge for cooperation for the rights of climate refugees.Pres. Tong has led the world’s largest marine protection and ocean management initiative even as his own country faces submergence within the next 30 years due to rising sea levels, and consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He created the ‘Phoenix Islands Protected Area’ the largest existing marine World Heritage Site and helped organize the Pacific Oceanscape.Dr. Modadugu Gupta has been widely recognized for developing innovative fish farming methods’ to address the food crisis of the poor, and known as the ‘Architect of the Blue Revolution’, and the ‘Saint of the Poor in Southeast Asia’. He successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production.In order to develop a regionally compatible method of aquaculture, he ignored threats to his life insisting on visiting war-torn conflict areas, and continues to devote himself to research, helping to spread his method of low-cost highly-efficient ‘IAA (Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture).’Dr. Il-Sik Hong, Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee said, “the Sunhak Peace Prize is a peace prize for the future generations.” and further added, “to address the climate and food crises, I am very pleased to award President Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta as dual laureates of the first Sunhak Peace Prize. These two laureates are even now strongly committed to defending the future peace of humanity.”The Sunhak Peace Prize annually awards $1 million US dollars, the largest of any prize money in Korea. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://sbscnbc.sbs.co.kr/read.jsp?pmArticleId=10000738833 ]

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee held a press conference announcing its inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize laureates on June 8 (Monday) 12pm at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. His Excellency Anote Tong, President of Kiribati (63), and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, Indian fisheries scientist (76) have been selected as the first dual laureates to receive the award. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and ‘Sunhak’ is the first letter of their names. This award reflects her profound hope of continuing her husband’s legacy of peace.As a dual laureate, Pres. Anote Tong has been regarded for his effort to protect marine ecosystems even as his own country faces submergence within the next 30 years due to rising sea levels, and consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He improved global awareness of the severity of climate change and sought action by the international community for its solution like the ‘Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA)’, the largest existing marine World Heritage Site. He also contributed greatly in building up awareness on the protection of human rights for climate refugees through the ‘migration with dignity’ program.Dr. Modadugu Gupta has been widely recognized for developing innovative fish farming methods’ to address the food crisis of the poor, and known as the ‘Architect of the Blue Revolution’, and the ‘Saint of the Poor in Southeast Asia’. He successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production. Dr. Gupta’s advisory services have been taken advantage of by a number of international organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).The laureates will share $1 million US dollars, the largest of any prize money awarded in Korea. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015060989451]

President of Kiribati (62, left), and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, Indian fisheries scientist (75, right) have been selected as the first dual laureates to receive the Sunhak Peace Prize.“We are honored to announce that the first Sunhak Peace Prize will be presented to these two deserving individuals,” said Dr. Il-Sik Hong, former president of Korea University and chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee. “President Tong and Dr. Gupta are worthy Laureates because they have made the world a better and more peaceful place. Hunger, poverty, and climate change lead to global conflict and human suffering, and both men have devoted their lives to furthering peace by finding sustainable solutions to these pressing problems.”President Anote Tong emphasized that his nation could be uninhabitable by the 2050s because of the rising sea levels caused by climate change, and urged the international communities to embark upon immediate and concrete action. The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee said, “Furthermore, Pres. Tong is devoting a significant amount of his energy to defending the rights of his citizens through the ‘migration with dignity’ program, which is a vocational training initiative for local residents who are forced to leave their homes due to climate change so that they will not be treated as ‘refugees’ but as valuable members of the work-force. The other laureate Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production.”‘Sunhak’ is the first letter of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of future generations, in order to inspire a new civilization of peace, annually awarding up to US$1 million. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201506092121025&code=100100]

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Yonhap) -- The president of the Central Pacific island nation of Kiribati and an Indian scientist were named the inaugural winners of a peace prize established by the wife of late Unification Church founder Moon Sun-Myung, organizers said Monday.Kiribati President Anote Tong was selected for his role in the fight against climate change, while Indian biologist Modadugu Vijay Gupta was recognized for his development and dissemination of low-cost techniques for freshwater fish farming, organizers of the Sunhak Peace Prize said.\"Dr. Gupta and President Tong are worthy laureates because they have made the world a better and more peaceful place,\" said Hong Il-sik, president of the prize committee, in a statement. \"Hunger, poverty, and climate change lead to global conflict and human suffering, and both men have devoted their lives to furthering peace by finding sustainable solutions to these pressing problems.\"The prize was founded in 2013 by Han Hak-ja, the widow of the late Moon, \"to recognize individuals, who have willingly sacrificed themselves for peace, and praise them for their works,\" the organizers said.The winners will be given US$1 million in prize money.The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Aug. 28 in Seoul.[Source - http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2015/06/09/0301000000AEN20150609000200315.html]