21-9-2007 The Carteret Islanders are among the world's first climate refugees.

Greens MLC Greg Barber yesterday held a forum at Parliament house with two guest speakers from the Carteret Islands: Ms Ursula Rakova from the NGO Tulele Peisa, and Mr Bernard Tunim, an elder of Piul Island.

The Carteret Islands are small atolls 86 kilometres north-east of Bougainville in the Pacific Ocean. About 2500 people live there. Till recently, the Carteret Islanders have survived by fishing and cultivating food gardens, and drawing fresh water from their islands' wells.

Now climate change has brought rising sea levels, making many of their food gardens and wells too salty to use. The people have lost their food security, and are increasingly reliant on food aid.

For more than twenty years, they have been fighting increased storm surges and high tides by planting mangroves and sea walls. However, it's a losing battle, and the islands are expected to be uninhabitable as early as 2015. An evacuation to Bougainville is now underway, 10 families at a time, but is scheduled for completion in 2020.

The Carteret Islanders aim to raise $250,000 to buy a plantation in Bougainville, as a first step towards relocating as a group without losing their cultural identity. They also ask that we in rich countries be more considerate in our energy use, and thus rob others of their homes and livelihoods.

Donations to help the Carteret Islanders can be made to Friends of the Earth (Australia Fund), Fitzroy and Carlton Community Credit Co-Op LTd, BSB 803 226 Account number 6661. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

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