The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) held a special Pacific Plenary on Friday. At the plenary the WCC member church representatives voiced their concern over the devastating effect that pollution has had on the natural environment. In addition concern was expressed over the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the issue of nuclear testing. They appealed for ecumenical solidarity for these issues.
In the wake of the enormous tsunami in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day which claimed so many lives, scientists have warned of the abnormal global climate change caused by pollution. The significance of climate change has been said to be threatening the way of life of the island-nations in the Pacific region, according to Kiribati representative Selai Cati.
The Pacific region was described as "the liquid continent", consisting of widely distributed small islands sitting in millions of square kilometres of ocean.
"For us it is a matter of life and death," Cati declared. She called "on our sisters and brothers in Christ throughout the world to act in solidarity with us to reduce the causes of human-induced climate change". In particular, she asked the highly industrialised nations to take responsibility and pay "for the costs of adaptation to the impacts that can be anticipated". She urged the United States and Australia to sign on to the Kyoto Protocol.
A representative from Australia responded that Australian member churches have decided to continue in solidarity with those affected. Rev. Gregor Henderson, from the Uniting Church in Australia, said he "felt humbled" by the fact that his country is one of the industrialised nations contributing to this tragedy.
Concerning nuclear testing, John Doom of the Maňhi Protestant Church reported that in total there were 322 such tests carried out in the region between 1946 and 1996. He urged the WCC to continue to make the test victims' voices heard and to help them obtain compensation.
The hope of increasing awareness and "to humanise HIV/AIDS and give it a face" was also shared by Emosi Ratini of Fiji. Ratini was appointed as an intern to work on the HIV/AIDS issues for the WCC Pacific office.
Pacific Conference of Churches general secretary Valamotu Palu closed the session, "We have taken you to the Pacific and presented you with the hopes and dreams of our people. We need action, and, more importantly, we need solidarity from our Christian brothers and sisters."