DELEGATES and participants attending the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, got to experience the impact of sea-level rise on the artificial island of Walande in South Malaita through a virtual reality documentary at the Solwata Pavilion.
The 25-minute mixed-reality documentary explores sea-level rise, coastal displacement and planned relocation.
Directed by Felix Gaedtke and Gayatri Parameswaran, and co-produced by Human Rights Watch, Agog and NowHere Media, the documentary is narrated by Mark Ruffalo. The project premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
It shares stories from Walande and neighbouring communities, including Ngongosila and Kwai, in Malaita Province, which are on the front lines of climate change.
Francis Siaumari, a community leader from Walande, was accompanied by Solomon Islands filmmaker Regina Lepping to share the story of Walande with the international community in Antalya.
Siaumari said the presentation was part of an effort to raise awareness about climate change and encourage people who can assist communities affected by sea-level rise to listen, watch and experience the documentary.
He said many people attending COP31 were concerned about climate change.
“People from Africa, Latin America and the Pacific are here.
“It is interesting to learn about their experiences and the impacts of climate change through side events,” he said.
Siaumari called on major global emitters to take responsibility and address climate change, saying they were responsible for the emissions contributing to the crisis.
“Why do you watch us suffer from the consequences of what you have caused and benefited from?” he said.
Source : By EDDIE OSIFELO Antalya, Turkey
