NEWS 05
TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 27 JULY 2023
Climate change warriors return from Vanuatu
STORY BY JEN ENOSA & CARLI WILLIS. PICS THANKS TO GREENPEACE/ ISLAND ROOTS. Australian Climate Case plaintiffs Pabai Pabai and Paul Kabai have returned from their solidarity voyage on the famed Greenpeace sailing ship Rainbow Warrior after sharing climate change evidence with Vanuatu. It was the first time
the plaintiffs had been to the neighbouring Pacific nation, a 4,500 kilometre round trip from Cairns. Before formalities and conversations of climate change began, the Guda Maluyligal Traditional Owners from Boigu and Saibai Islands, were greeted with ceremonies and there was an exchange of gifts. Mr Pabai said they presented a bu (shell) and woven mat to the people of Vanuatu, items he said both nations used but with different
Prizes up for grabs in Ergon’s $ saving drive Ergon Energy Retail’s team will be sharing some power-savvy tips to help ease cost of living pressures for remote customers during community visits in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) and on Thursday Island over the next month or so. Customer Inclusion Manager Chris Samuelsson said educating and empowering communities to save energy and money through the rejuvenated Powersavvy program was an initiative close to her heart. “My daughter was born in the Torres Strait 25 years ago and as the legend goes, eat the fruit of the Wongai tree and you will return, which I’ve had the pleasure doing many times over the years,” she said. “I’m excited to be spending time in a number of remote communities to talk all things energy, including
tips for reducing electricity usage, information on support programs and the transition to renewables. “A lot has changed since the Powersavvy program was launched more than a decade ago, so we’re keen to hear your ideas on how it might look in your community and how we can support you, whether you’re running a home or business.” She said they were looking for locals to take part in household energy surveys, with $20 grocery vouchers on offer for 500 participants. “The more we understand our customers’ needs the better we can support them, so we’d love to see as many people as possible get involved,” she said. “We want to help households and businesses better understand what’s driving their electricity use, what it costs to run a
meanings and cultural protocols attached. “There’s a lot of meaning in the background of the bu shell and the mat,” he said. Mr Pabai said they then exchanged scientific evidence of climate impacts with Vanuatu’s President Nikenike Vurobaravu and the community. “They do have similar impacts because of climate,” he said. “They have been giving the evidence to us and we plan to negotiate with them.
“We’re trying to help them in any way that we can, trying to go through the process of fighting for the climate change, to try and stop that.” Mr Pabai said their evidence would assist their communities to put pressure on governments to help put an end to climate change, which was experienced across the globe. He said scientists in Melbourne were examining evidence from the Torres Strait that would be used in a forthcoming November hearing.
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Paul Kabai with Island Mat.
Paul Kabai with bu shell.
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Customer Inclusion Manager Chris Samuelsson. range of appliances and how they can improve their energy efficiency. “Air-conditioning is one example. “It uses a lot of electricity, but you can make it run more efficiently by setting the temperature to 25 degrees, cleaning the filters regularly, keeping doors and windows closed to trap the cool air in, and only cooling the rooms people are using. “If you have a big family, it’s worth showing the kids how they can be more power savvy as well.” The Ergon Retail team will be in NPA communities from 19-30 July and on Thursday Island from 31 July-9 August. For more information: https://www.ergon.com. au/retail/residential/ support-programs/ affordability
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