Wendy Flannery, of Climate Frontlines, FoE Brisbane, writes that Ursula Rakova, the director of Tulele Peisa, a FoE Australia affiliate in Bougainville PNG will be in town to address the Womad Planet talks.
While here, she will also appear at an event at the Hawke Centre (details below)
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Presented by the Hawke Centre, in arrangement with WOMADelaide Festival’s Planet Talks Program, a free public lecture delivered by Tim Flannery (Australia) and Ursula Rakova (PNG), discussing the beauty and environmental challenges facing Papua New Guinea.
TIM FLANNERY
Tim Flannery is one of the world’s most prominent environmentalists. In 2007 he was named ‘Australian of the Year’, arguably Australia’s highest honour. He delivered the 2002 Australia Day Address to the nation. In 2013 he founded, and is now chief councilor, of the Australian Climate Council, Australia’s largest and most successful crowdfunded organisation. His latest book is ‘Sunlight and Seaweed.’ Text Publishing. 2017.
URSULA RAKOVA
Climate justice advocate Ursula Rakova of Papua New Guinea gives a human face to the challenges faced in the Pacific from environmental degradation. She is a pioneer in Papua New Guinea’s environmental movement and campaigner for the survival of her people.
Born on Papua New Guinea’s Carteret Islands in the Southwestern Pacific, an area which is threatened by rising sea levels. She and her community are among the world’s first climate change refugees. Frustrated by inaction on the part of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government, Rakova’s community took matters into their own hands and formed Tulele Peisa (“Sailing in the wind on our own”) – a community-based organisation helping to relocate the Carterets’ population to safer ground.
In 2008, Ursula received the Pride of PNG award for her contribution to the environment. She is well respected for her integrity, commitment and conviction to building a strong, transparent, accountable and ecologically conscious civil society movement.
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Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre in arrangement with WOMADelaide festival’s Planet Talks Program