Marist community in Kiribati attempts to save their island home
As global warming continues to manifest itself in various ways across the world. Kiribati could be one of the first nations to face existential threats due to rising sea levels. Kiribati is an island country in the Central Pacific Ocean that is part of the Marist Province of Star of the Sea.
To face this crisis, an inspiring environmental grassroots movement is taking place on the island, spearheaded by the Marist community. Named “Clean Green Blue”, the initiative is firmly rooted in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, which implores citizens of the world to be more mindful of how we engage with ‘our common home,’ the Earth. The Marist venture encompasses environmental projects like building sea walls to arrest rising sea levels surrounding the island, planting mangroves and native trees, cleaning up plastic pollution, and empowering children and youth through school programs to become the next generation of eco-warriors.
Br Tainga Moanriba, one of the two Brothers in the Kiribati Community, who was born and raised in Kiribati, says that the impacts of climate change have become increasingly apparent and disruptive the last few years. “Last year and the beginning of this year, we experienced excessive rainfall and severe erosion along our coastlines.” he says.
To date, the Marist community in Kiribati has planted over 300 mangroves. However, some may not survive due to factors such as algae growth, and unsuitable sand conditions. Additionally, fishing boats sometimes inadvertently damage the plants during high tide.
The volunteers have also been building seawalls for many years. “The island’s coastline is extensively protected by seawalls, a significant portion of which have been constructed by local residents using rocks from coral reefs,” says Br Tainga. However, Br Tainga cautions, “We must recognise that seawalls are not a perfect solution. They can provide a false sense of security, and traditional ‘hard’ engineering approaches like concrete seawalls can have negative impacts on natural habitats.”
“We are fighting hard, but the challenge is immense, especially considering that most of our islands are less than two meters above sea level. Our traditional ways of adapting to environmental changes are being pushed to their limits, and we’re now forced to look for more modern, engineered solutions to protect our homes and our future, ” he says.
Plastic pollution has also been causing significant environmental damage in this small island nation, and the group has been trying to implement eco-friendly practices in schools.
In the Marist school, St Louis High, climate change and environmental topics have been incorporated into science and social studies curricula, and students are being taught environmental stewardship from a young age. “The students form groups and collectively undertake activities like planting trees and collecting plastic waste,” says Br Tainga. “They place the waste in a ‘Green Bag’ – a local initiative involving custom-made biodegradable garbage bags that authorities collect and dispose of safely.”
Kiribati Community and the project Clean Green Blue
Currently in Kiribati, there are two Brothers, Br Tainga Moanriba and Br Amberoti Nantei. Br Amberoti is working full-time as a teacher in the school, and Br. Tainga oversee the community projects and support groups they have established, such as the spirituality and ecology committee, which drives their green initiatives.
A core group of around 12 committed Marists has been instrumental in getting the initiative off the ground, led by former Marist sister Kateia Kaikai. The Marists have been practicing environmental stewardship for years but didn’t have a name for it until Kateia proposed to name their activities Clean Green Blue. The “Green” denotes the activity of planting trees and mangroves, while the “Blue” represents work done to keep the deep blue ocean that surrounds the island clean from plastic pollution.
See more at Star of the Sea Province