Fiji’s future, Nawaqakuta

Stories of STC Yasa

EVERY time I open The Fiji Times and see the stories of what’s happened to women and children through STC Yasa on Kia and in Bua, I just thank God and cry that they made it through alive.

I love that our nation is rallying to get food, clothing, and basic shelter provisions to these devastated and traumatised ones affected so horrendously. Thank you all volunteers.

I’m also thrilled that New Zealand and now Australia are sending in defence resources to help too.

Thank you to our military forces and police and health workers who also are at the frontlines pitching in through yet another storm.

It all leaves me wondering about several things for our future Fiji.

First, how can we move these folks to better living conditions permanently? If it is true that 50 per cent of us live in substandard housing, this must be owned and rectified by successive governments, with an ongoing commitment to change the extent of this blatant poverty. It’s a basic human necessity to have better housing in a Category 5 cyclone prone zone. It must change directly, or move folks off ancestral lands to safer zones to live in during this cyclone season.

Secondly, our response as a nation to ensure there is global environmental responsibility taken around every possible action contributing to these repeated severe cyclone systems coming regularly to our shores. We need overseas powers to make good on any promises to reduce CO2 gases and emissions from fossil fuel usage in their larger countries, which contribute directly to the global warming of our Pacific Ocean.

As the Blue planet, Sir David Attenborough has made it plain, we must act, or face catastrophic events in nature from our selfishness and greed. It’s not too late.

We are part of a bigger village, and we need this taken seriously for our chance to survive economically. All else is talk and mere hot air.

Thirdly, and commendably, is our very own gift of tenacity as Pacific peoples, to pull together in the worst of odds, to help each other out — this is what makes us world-renowned. Despite repeated traumatic events, and others not listening to our needs environmentally, we pick up our pieces, over and over again.

There is no place as tremendous for this community spirit, as our beloved Fiji. God bless and keep our people, even as Christmas dawns in a few days.

Let’s continue to take care of each other, every way we can.

Thanks Fiji.

JEAN HATCH

Nabua, Suva