This is a little bit of a continuation of my last post. I was reading the Globe this morning and found an article about the “Water is Rising” project from the Pacific islands. The project weaves together the traditional song and dance from the cultures of three Pacific islands: Kiribati, Tokelau and Tuvalu. These groups created this production and brought it to the US with a clear purpose. They come on a diplomatic mission, pleading for a more active initiative in combating climate change. These islands are, at their highest point, only 3 meters above sea level, and, as sea levels rise around the world, these people’s lives and culture are threatened. The delegation of performers hopes to spread their message around America, especially to skeptics of climate change. It mentioned in the article how many of them were horrified that it was a subject of dispute at the recent republican debates. How could something they see every day with their own eyes be under discussion? They hope to serve as an inspiration to Americans before it is too late. One of the performers is quoted saying, “I’d like them to see that even though we are so small and we are vulnerable, we don’t give up. I’d like them to start realizing that and do something.” It’s not as though the islanders are expecting us to do all the work; they have converted to entirely renewable energy, and are in the process of building a sea wall, a bulwark against rising tides.
The “Water is Rising” dance group will be performing at the Saunders Theatre in Cambridge this Saturday at eight. If I wasn’t working I would be there! It sounds like a powerful experience.
Here’s a link to the project’s website:
http://www.waterisrising.com/
