Blog by Ms. Brianna Fruean, SPREP Youth Ambassador attending the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France from 30 November to 11 December, 2015
“Today amidst the craziness of COP21 I was able to find comfort in familiar faces, warm hugs, bright seis (flowers) and the sight of a tradition ava ceremony. At the opening of the Pacific Islands Indigenous Peoples Day I was reminded again why I am here 16,355 kilometers away from home.
I watched videos of the horrific effect of climate change on the homes of my Pacific island brothers and sisters, and I couldn’t help but get emotional because it hits so close to home. I thought to myself ‘this is why you’re here, to stand in solidarity with your Pacific island brothers and sisters to send the world a message that we are not drowning, we are fighting”.
I missed my high school graduation to be here and today as I sat in the indigenous peoples pavilion I knew it was worth it. I may not always get to do the normal teenager things but the presentations from the Pacific I watched today reminded me I wasn’t missing out on anything for no reason. Personally I’d rather be sitting on the floor with my fellow climate activists talking about real world problems and threats our generation faces, than sitting under the tamaligi tree in Apia gossiping about people who I don’t even know. If that means I get my normal 17 year old girl membership revoked I would gladly give it up.
I’m proud to be a part of the new different type of teenagers and I know all the other youth here at COP21 feel the exact same way. I’m so grateful I got to experience the Pacific Islands Indigenous people’s day today, it reminded me of my purpose