SODELPA OPPOSITION SIGNAL ON IMPACT OF WILD WEATHER CONFUSING
RO TEIMUMU KEPA TALKS OF PRACTICAL SUPPORT FOR COP23 SEMESA KARAVAKI SAYS EMPHATICALLY THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX VILIAME GAVOKA SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL. THEN PERHAPS DONALD TRUMP KNOWS HIS BIBLE Who do you believe? What is the official position
SODELPA MPs yesterday were obviously not singing from the same songbook on climate change.
Leader of the Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa said Rewa would show practical support for Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s presidency of COP23.
But MP and lawyer Semesa Karavaki said climate change was a hoax using biblical texts to back his claim. He said climate change was in God’s power.
MP Viliame Gavoka said climate change “is real.” “It’s happening right before our eyes. But, perhaps President Donald Trump knows his Bible and knows that the effects of climate change are irreversible.” Ro Teimumu, who is also the Roko Tui Dreketi, paramount chief of Rewa, said her province would host a bilibili (bamboo) race in the Rewa River in November to highlight climate change.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Ro Teimumu said their endorsement and support of Mr Bainimarama’s presidency of COP23 would be shown practical support in an event which would be held at Syria Park, Nausori. Mr Karavaki attacked the policies of the FijiFirst Government branding them as a rebellion and unrighteousness against God. He said because of this, ordinary citizens would suffer, as we were on the road of no return. He said climate change was in God’s power, explaining that God controlled the elements. He sounded like President Trump who has pulled the United States from climate change negotiations.
Mr Karavaki said: “The world is destined to total destruction and Fiji’s only choice is to re-examine its position and to return to God, the creator. “When we talk about climate change we must remember that God is still in total control over nature. The land shall be utterly empty for the Lord has spoken. These words in Isaiah 24.3 “The world will not be redeemed by any conduct of men, the world is going down on a path destined by God where it should end as a result of men’s conduct of breaking the everlasting covenant of God “While the world is seeking answers to the rise in sea level, we are chosen to team up with the world in seeking for a solution that does not exist.
“Let me therefore state this for all, madam speaker Climate Change is a hoax, it is a hoax.’ King David enlightened the leaders to understand the issues of differing climate activities. This is all in God’s doing.”
Mr Gavoka said “it is clearly outlined in the book of the prophet Isaiah chapters 24 to 28, which is commonly known as “Isaiah’s Apocalypse” that climate change effects were irreversible. Like Mr Karavaki, he said climate change could only be reversed “if mankind does what is right in the eyes of the Lord. ” Blaming the Government, Mr Gavoka said: “Let’s have the type of leadership that we all know the Lord wants; those qualities and standards dictated by our faith which we all know change.”
Mr Gavoka and Mr Karavaki clearly disagreed with Ro Teimumu and demonstrated their lack of unity on issues. Ro Teimumu recognises climate change.
Mr Gavoka seemed to follow the same line but then contradicted himself by mentioning President Donald Trump. Mr Karavaki also agreed with President Trump. Both Mr Gavoka and Mr Karavaki seemed to believe that climate change was irreversible. Then they destroyed that argument by saying that things would only change if we did what God wanted. They selectively quoted Biblical passages but did not clearly explain what the changes were.
Mr Karavaki spoke on fairness and justice and Mr Gavoka tried to link it with the Constitution and indigenous issues including his call for the restoration of the Great Council of Chiefs. The Constitution upholds equality, that everyone is equal before the law, equal citizenry and common identity. It outlaws discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, culture, religion, social and economic status. These provisions are in harmony with God’s laws that are predicated on the fundamental truth that we are all God’s children irrespective of our different backgrounds.
On climate change, we cannot ignore it. We agree that carbon emission has contributed to global warming and sea level rise.
We can slow the process if we reduce carbon emissions through phasing out fossil fuel and replacing it with cleaner energy.