downshifting for Earth: Moving Planet in Utupua, Solomon Islands

As part of the 350.org campaign to build global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis by moving the planet beyond fossil fuels, Infinity Expeditions organized week of activities in Utupua Island, Solomon Islands, starting on Sept 20^th, 2011.

People from the Utupua Village of Nembao, aware of the safe level of CO2 in the atmosfere

Last June, in Sigatoka, Fiji, 5 Infinity crew members, joined the climate leadership workshop where 50 people were representing 13 Pacific countries — Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, the Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Vanuatu, American Samoa, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand. We came out from this workshop more prepared to act against the climate crisis and committed to build up the Moving Planet on Sept, 24th on board Infinity.

Watch the video produced by Infinity Expeditions and dfE:

Moving Planet in Utupua

The event in Utupua mobilized approximately 500 people in four communities, Nembao, Aondo, Asumboa and Aveta with educational and cultural activities.

We promoted seminars on climate change awareness for 300 students at Patteson High School, disposal of plastic and batteries waste at Nembao Primary School e an overview about volunteer's home countries. Actions included plastic and batteries waste collecting, coral reef checks, solar panel repair and the manufacture of over 40 sails for traditional sailing canoes, supporting this fantastic and sustainable culture. Sailing canoe is the main way for transportation in Utupua. This is an inspiration for all of us since this modal is zero carbon emission.

Sept. 24th - Zero carbon emissions day

On Sept. 24th we had cold breakfast and lunch on board, paddled and walked to move. We had dinner at Nembao village and concluded our day listening to guitar and angelical local young voices.

Pacific climate crisis

The effects of climate change on remote islands such as Utupua, bring us the urgency of lifting the rights of people and nature over the rights of polluters. It is unfair that these people, who have a very sustainable lifestyle — use sailing canoes and hike to travel, develop organic gardening, collect rain water and use solar energy only — are facing a series of adversities not caused by themselves.

Sea levels rising, more accelerated over the past five years, brings very real threats to life on the islands. Systematically, the reservoirs of fresh water and crops have became salty, coastal trees which are a natural protection against cyclones are being felled. Their houses have been washed out by high tides, what provokes the islanders to relocate. The increasingly frequent and potent cyclones destroy everything in their way.

The higher seas and oceans temperature and the significant increase of plastic particles in plankton parts are degrading coral reefs and marine life - entire food chain - leading to their death.

These facts described above impacts in a very basic need of island people; their water supply, food chain and housing.

Our time in Utupua was very fruitful and led us to call up individuals, societies and governments to do their share and get the atmosphere's CO₂ level back below 350 ppm.

Notes:

1. 350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. Online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries.

2. The number 350 means climate safety. To preserve our planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 39o+ parts per million to below 350 ppm. But 350 is more than a number—it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.