JOUR2822 ASSIGNMENT - RADIO NEWSCAST

A 5 minute documentary about the often ignored issue of climate change and rising sea levels, leaving countries in the South Pacific in dire straits.

This documentary focuses on the Solomon islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

SCRIPT
CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
One of the biggest threats - facing our planet today is climate change, and it is the most vulnerable of regions that are the most at risk, such as the tiny islands in the South Pacific.
Research conducted by the University of Queensland - has found the 1st scientific evidence of rising sea levels. Recently 5 reef islands in the Solomons Islands have been lost completely to sea level rise and coastal erosion, a further 6 islands have been severely eroded.

Dr. Simon Albert, senior research fellow at the school of civil engineering at The University of Queensland, and one of the authors of the research report explains the present conditions in the Solomon Islands.
[GRAB: Simon Albert, 20’]
The alarming statistic though is the quantity of rising sea levels directly related to human activity.
[GRAB: Simon Albert, 23’]
Another country highly affected by the rising sea level is Tuvalu, as the average height of the islands is less than 2 metres above sea level.
However, this issue is often forgotten in westernised countries, and some critics have even branded island leaders as opportunists, using the situation to seek foreign aid. These misconceptions are leaving many Pacific islanders frustrated, as explains Sailoto Liveti, a Tuvaluan climate change activist based in Brisbane.
[GRAB: Sailoto, 22’]
Mr. Liveti also added that the solution though is simple, the message of what is happening to our Pacific neighbours needs to be spread.
[GRAB: Sailoto, 6’]
The Pacific Community Climate Change Risk Reduction project, (also knows as the P CCC RR) is an example of one of the many projects put it place recently in countries such as Vanuatu to help reduce immediate threats due to climate change and rising sea levels in rural communities.
Some of the operations put in place by the organisation have included reforestation projects, water tank installations as crops and clean water supply have been compromised due to rising sea levels; 
Such as on the island of Tongoa in Vanuatu as explains the PCCCRR’s field project officer Barua Iauma.

[GRAB: Barua, 16’]
(Grab translation: Purao community in the north of Tongoa island has experienced the effects of climate change through water pollution, loss of coastal areas due to rising sea levels, , as well as inland river systems, which often overflow with heavy rain
The recent changes in the landscape have highly affected Vanuatu’s self-sufficient farmers who reside in coastal areas.
[GRAB: John, 22’]
(Grab translation: In the past, our crops were different to how they are now, the coastal areas where we have now planted erosion stopping grass were also different. Erosion has become a huge problem and now there are creeks being formed by heavy rain. With these impacts of climate change in our community, we have to continue finding ways to protect our environment.) 
The PCCCRR project will end this year, after running for a duration of 20 months. The Australian government has pledged to fund future projects similar to this to help Pacific Island communities deal with their changing climate and landscape.


Georgia Clelland reporting.

SOURCES:

Dr. Simon Albert: 0415111744 
s.albert@uq.edu.au
Sailoto Liveti : 0421980774
sailoto.liveti@uqconnect.edu.au
Barua Iauma : contacted via the ‘Vanuatu Christian Council’ : (+678)7757486, (+678)27300
John Sereana : contacted via the ‘Vanuatu Christian Council’ : (+678)7757486, (+678)27300
Job Dalili Emele from the PCCCRR (Project manager): contacted via the ‘Vanuatu Christian Council’ : (+678)7757486, (+678)27300

