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Fijian girl sobbed as she urged UN chiefs to act on climate change to save her homeland. Leah Wickham addressed the world's media - and Copenhagen bosses Connie Hedegaard and Yvo de Boer - on the fringes of the summit on Monday afternoon.
"50 years from now, my children will be raising their own families," Miss Wickham said through her tears. "It is my hope that they will still be able to call our beautiful island home. " Some scientists say low-lying island nations like Fiji are vulnerable to rising sea levels and storms caused by climate change." Miss Wickham, who wore a traditional shell necklace, said she hoped future
Fijian generations would not be devastated by climate change. "It is my hope that our culture and our identity will never be compromised," she said. The world had spoken on the need for governments to act, "and the world will be watching Copenhagen over these next 2 weeks", she said. Miss Wickham said governments should stop talking and start acting.
After her impassioned speech, Ms Hedegaard, the president of the summit, embraced her. The
Fijian girl was speaking on behalf of youth action group Tck Tck Tck, which presented Ms Hedegaard and Mr de Boer with a petition containing 10 million signatures. The UN bosses were also presented with some Danish lego blocks to symbolise the building blocks of a climate deal at Copenhagen.
(AAP 12-08-09 per Cathy Alexander)A Job Well Done Miss Wickham. Can we get 10 million signatures and a Girl to CRY next year at the UN Summit to restore Democracy the Rule of Law and Human Rights in the Republic of the Fiji Islands?
