10. Poetry and Climate Activism with Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner

Climate change is the most important existential threat to the Pacific Islands, and Pacific Islanders have actively campaigned to address climate change issues, taking leadership at international forums such as the United Nations Conference of the Parties.

In this episode, we talk with Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner, one of the most well-known Pacific Islander climate activists. She uses poetry, film, and other media to create awareness about the impacts of climate change in her home, the Marshall Islands, and the Pacific Islands region. She currently serves as Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands Ministry of Environment and is an alumna of the CPIS MA program. You will hear two of her poems in this episode.

We close the episode with a group poem written by current CPIS students Carol Ann Carl and Taylor Bungelkelau Vitarelli.