October 15, 2014 @ 3:43 pm
Episode 203, “Marshallese Poet Speaks To World Leaders at U.N. Climate Summit”
hosted by Dr. Vivian Dames with production assistance of Alan Grossman was recorded 10/7/14 (via Skype) and aired 10/10/14.
Program guest is poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner (jkijiner@gmail.com) who was selected from 544 nominees submitted from 115 countries to speak on behalf of civil society at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Climate Summit in New York City on September 23, 2014. Kathy, age 26, is a writer, journalist, educator, environmental activist, and spoken word artist born in the Marshall Islands and raised in Hawaii. While in New York City, she also joined over 300,000 for the historic People’s Climate March which was remarkable in its scale, diversity and leadership.
In the first half of this episode we re-broadcast my first interview with Jetnil-Kijiner earlier this year, Ep. 177 “Nuclear Remembrance Day- Remember, Recommit, Resist” which aired 2/28/14. This commemoration of Nuclear Remembrance Day includes her performance of two poems The History Project and Tell Them, as well as commentary on her essay “Reflections on Nuclear Survivors Day”. [For these and other works, see Iep Jeltok, a basket of poetry and writing from Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner [http://jkijiner.wordpress.com]
The second half is introduced through the narration by Morgan Freeman of the U.N Climate Summit opening film of inspiration and hope entitled, What is Possible. In the 10/7/14 interview conducted via Skype with Kathy in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, she provides the backstory to her selection and her decision to speak as a mother, the preparations, the performance, and audience response. She also comments on the People’s Climate March and the efficacy of the U.N. Climate Summit and shares her hopes for regional and global action. This interview includes her presentation and performance of her poem, Dear Matafele Peinem (the name of her baby daughter). Kathy also comments on a video posted on YouTube by the Republic of the Marshall Islands President, Christopher Loeak, making a plea to world leaders ahead of the UN Climate Summit, which we also include. President Loeak was reportedly the first among world leaders to confirm his attendance at this Summit.