Keisha Castle-Hughes for Greenpeace

Keisha Castle-Hughes for Greenpeace

New Zealand star and youngest ever Best Actress Oscar nominee, for Whale Rider, Keisha Castle-Hughes has spoken for strong global climate treaty on the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza, as it visits Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

"I get really upset over situations that are morally unjust. Pacific Islanders have hardly contributed to climate change, and yet are bearing the brunt of the problem." said Ms Castle-Hughes.

Keisha Castle-Hughes is very interested in the Pacific and learnt a great deal about the region growing up. Ms Castle Hughes explained, "I grew up with a lot of Pacific Islanders. At one point I attended a Tongan language church and lots of students at my high school were from the Pacific."

Esperanza is drawing attention to the impact of climate change. Aitutaki is one of many small islands in the Pacific already bearing the brunt of climate change. Impacts include rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, changing weather patterns, and threats to food security due to ocean acidification and salination of soil.

Warmer temperatures are also bleaching Aitutaki's coral reefs, a prime tourist attraction. Castle-Hughes will meet with tourism officials in Aitutaki to discuss what needs to be done to ensure climate impacts don't destroy this crucial industry.

Keisha is keeping in touch with her fans while on board the ship through hourly tweets, and daily Facebook and blog updates, where she tells of her desire to make sure her daughter and future generations are left with a healthy planet.

"I get really upset over situations that are morally unjust," Castle-Hughes said. "Pacific Islanders have hardly contributed to climate change, and yet are bearing the brunt of the problem."

The New Zealand based actress, who rose to fame at the age of eleven as the lead character of Paikea in the film 'Whale Rider', said she has always been interested in the Pacific. Whilst growing up, Ms Castle-Hughes' mother was keen for her to learn about the region.

"I've always been interested in the region. I grew up with a lot of Pacific Islanders. I attended at one point a church in the Tongan language and lots of students at my high school were from the Pacific," said Castle-Hughes.

The Pacific Islands are facing some of the first and most dramatic effects of climate change, and their people are among the first climate refugees in the world.

The remote island paradise of Aitutaki, well known by Australians as a prime tourist spot and favourite honeymoon destination, is already being affected by climate change as warmer temperatures bleach the coral reefs, which are a major tourist attraction.

The threat climate change poses to the tourist industry, much like that in Queensland, will devastate the local economy.

Castle-Hughes is meeting with tourism officials in Aitutaki to discuss what needs to be done to prevent climate impacts from totally destroying this crucial industry.

Greenpeace is urging Australian and New Zealand Governments not to derail the AOSIS demands at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns, and to agree a fair, legally binding climate change treaty at the Copenhagen meeting in December.

http://greenpeacemedia.org

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Image (c)Greenpeace/Alcock