You may not have heard of Tuvalu, a country made up of a
cluster of small islands and atolls in the South Pacific, but this is an
important country. Tuvalu is the embodiment of the effects of climate change.
This geography of this nation of small islands rises only 4.5 metres above sea
level, uses only rain for water, and is dependent on foreign aid. This country
has little in way of development or industry, but Tuvalu has people. That is my focus.
What matters if an island nation is engulfed by the sea?
Islands have appeared and disappeared throughout history. The problem is that nearly
12,000 people live on the islands that make up Tuvalu, and they are faced with
rising sea levels caused by climate change. There is little to do to stop
rising sea levels, even if we cut all CO2 emissions today, the
problem will still continue. Nevertheless, we cannot leave 12,000 people
without a hope.
What I would like to do is a multimedia piece on the people
of Tuvalu and their struggles with rising sea levels and the policies of other
nations on environmental refugees. Will there be a mass exodus? What is their
long term policy? Where will they go? I want the people to tell their stories.
I would like to explore different solutions to rising sea levels and the mass migration
of environmental refugees. I would also like to ask the question: “Why should
other countries help?”
In the weeks leading up to my departure, I would establish
contact with key people in the country including Editor at the nation’s
newspaper, Tuvalu Echoes, Prime Minister Willy Telavi’s office, and connect to
the University of the South Pacific.
If something is not documented soon, there may not be a
country or a culture to record later. Although people have done research about
the country and their struggles, I have had a hard time finding up-to-date
information.
In this multimedia piece, I would like to have a short
documentary, photo essay and a written piece to be combined on the web, and
separated for different publications. From researching, I have found that
Tuvalu’s internet may not be easily connectable. However, I have made the
effort to start a blog for my travels: oliviarutt.blogspot.ca I love sharing
photographs so I think the blog would be consistently a photo blog.
With my Canon 60D and external audio equipment, I think that
I could successfully accomplish a documentary and a photo essay. Due to my
three years at Wilfrid Laurier University for Journalism in Brantford, ON and
one year for Videography at Conestoga College in Kitchener, ON, I feel I have
the necessary skills to fulfill this assignment.
It is hard to say I have the experience of travelling when I
have never travelled outside of North America and it is cliché to say that I
have the passion and drive for a worldly trip. I truly believe that this issue,
one that I have recently latched onto, is a matter of importance. My passion
for journalism, talking with people, and environment studies has found myself
longing to go on this assignment. Since it became a possibility I have been
planning how to spend the short six weeks, who to talk to, and what kind of
stories I will get. I have a veracious appetite for adventure, and the Gordon
Sinclair Roving Reporter Bursary will satisfy it.
The economic hardships of 2008 caused climate change to take
a back seat in the public’s perception. Mixed with issue fatigue, climate
change has become tiresome to most. However, this does not mean that the issue
has vanished. Nor does it mean that real people are not affected by this. What
will happen to Tuvalu will be an indicator to what may happen to all nations
some day. Tuvalu and its people are still struggling and it will get much worse;
it is time to find out what to do about it.
Places of interest:
Tuvalu Echoes – media
Government Offices
Funafuti town council
University of South Pacific
