Thank you for posting this. Young people like Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner continue give me hope for the future, against terrible odds. Googling around, I found that Alice Walker is an admirer of Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner's work.
"... And as I stand before you now, I am hopeful in my rage ..." (Ferron)
The Marsallese have been kicked around for centuries. It's a very poor society. They suffer from illnesses relating to the H-Bomb tests done there in the 50's. Many come here to Hawaii for medical and other services. Our mean Republican ex-governor tried to cut their benefits but was not successful. I don't know whether bees and other pollinators are actually native to the M.I. They are not native here, but they are essential to grow crops that evolved with them; ie most of what's grown here. I haven't looked it up, but I suspect the Marshallese import most of their food, which Hawaii also does. The biggest danger, of course, to the islands' survival is storms and flooding.
Sad, but true. I'm taking you with me, the new mantra of the planet.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem. Also, very pleased that the Hay Festival is getting on board with climate change.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Thank you for posting this. Young people like Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner continue give me hope for the future, against terrible odds. Googling around, I found that Alice Walker is an admirer of Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner's work.
ReplyDelete"... And as I stand before you now, I am hopeful in my rage ..." (Ferron)
The Marsallese have been kicked around for centuries. It's a very poor society. They suffer from illnesses relating to the H-Bomb tests done there in the 50's. Many come here to Hawaii for medical and other services. Our mean Republican ex-governor tried to cut their benefits but was not successful.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether bees and other pollinators are actually native to the M.I. They are not native here, but they are essential to grow crops that evolved with them; ie most of what's grown here.
I haven't looked it up, but I suspect the Marshallese import most of their food, which Hawaii also does.
The biggest danger, of course, to the islands' survival is storms and flooding.