#COP28 draft text reax “The Marshall Islands did not come here to sign our death warrant. "We came here to fight for 1.5C and for the only way to achieve that: a fossil fuel phase out. What we have seen today is unacceptable. John Silk, minister from Marshall Islands

We didn’t then. We shouldn’t now.

Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama says the country's intervention at the International Court of Justice on the Israel-Gaza issue betrays Fiji's legacy as peacekeepers. rnz.co.nz/international/…

Far more telling is what this statement doesn’t say: that Fiji’s coalition believes it knows better than international institutions and experts of law (and the legal teams of every other nation on Earth). This isn’t just an embarrassment, it’s a license for lawless violence.

This breaks my heart to read. Since the coalition took power, Fiji faces an exodus unseen since 1987, draining our best, honed by a decade of free education. Sad to see that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka simply hasn’t learned his lesson: When you divide people, it drives them away.

I’ve just heard the latest at the ICJ. Fiji’s coalition govt has dropped the insane claim that the occupation of Gaza is legal. While Fiji’s position remains shameful in many ways, I want to thank the NGOs and individuals who pushed this govt to drop such an absurd position.

No wonder the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching. Look at all that heat in the ocean. Incredible.

This is a terrifying start to the year for our oceans—these record-breaking sea temperatures threaten to decimate our reefs, drive off vital fish stocks, and fuel far stronger cyclones. Our leaders should be demanding that the world hold the line on this catastrophic rise.

I pray so. Fijians deserve leadership that understands the enormity of the crisis we’re up against.

On International Women’s Day, I’m grateful to the women in my own life, across Fiji and around the world for the leadership, love, and wisdom they provide. It is every our duty to ensure the equal opportunity that you each deserve and that the Constitution requires we deliver!

Mary & I wish you all a blessed Easter. We’re deeply touched by the support and prayers so many of you have offered us and our family these past several months. Let us continue to pray for those affected by the floods, the ill and unwell, and for our peacekeepers abroad.

Best wishes to every Fijian celebrating Eid-Ul-Fitr! Together, as a country, we welcomed Easter a week ago; Holi last week, and today Eid. Being able to do this with respect, tolerance, and understanding is what makes Fiji so unique in a world that is sadly so divided 🇫🇯💪🏽

From the The Guardian: World’s top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target Put another way: the world’s experts expect the erasure of low-lying island nations. theguardian.com/environment/ar…