More Pacific Island countries are getting on board the “Mua: Guided by Nature” voyage to help convey the “One Pacific Voice” to the world.
A number of traditional voyaging canoes will be sailing together with traditional voyaging canoe “Uto-Ni-Yalo” for the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014.
Voyage Coordinator – Collin Phillip says voyaging societies from Cook Islands, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga have joined Fiji to help make the voyage to Sydney a success.
Particularly the voyaging canoe is the reason why we are all here in Fiji. Our ancestors were very experienced who travelled thousands and thousands of miles across open sea to discover these islands. It’s not something that is taught in schools and we should really respect how much skills and knowledge our ancestors have and use it for our future.
Phillip says many Pacific island leaders have pledged towards protecting marine areas while Pacific island communities drive local action to secure and sustain livelihoods.
He says conveying this “One Pacific Voice” to the IUCN is critical, as the congress is the landmark global forum on protected areas, held once every ten years.
The “Uto-Ni-Yalo” will leave for Sydney by mid September.
