Climate change has been an issue in the Pacific for decades now. Since then, members of the Pacific, young and old have lent their voices to preserving the Pacific. Despite being only a small part of the larger issue, the Pacific Islands stands to lose everything if the disaster isn’t addressed. But climate change advocacy is a daunting task for anyone.

In order to shed light on this, we’ve invited Ma’atautogia Okalani Mariner. She has been an advocate for global warming action since high school. With her insights, we hope to better illustrate the importance, and the cost, of what it means to take up the mantle of activism.

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Climate Change and the Pacific

In the middle of the largest ocean in the world, battered by hurricanes and ancient waves, lies the island of Samoa. This little nation, nearly a hundred years old, has survived many a disaster through its long history, both in the modern day and stretching back to the days when the first of our songs were sung under starry skies. But as the shadow of a deteriorating climate looms large, it seems possible that this is a monster this country and many of its sister nations will not survive.

It is difficult to show the absolute magnitude of the danger ahead and the sheer effort needed to course correct from disaster. But that’s not what this is about, nor is it going to belabour you with the dangers, causes and consequences of climate change. Anyone who has lived in the Pacific or in any developing country blessed with a coastline will be well aware of the coming danger. And anyone who knows about that, knows there’s hundreds of thousands of people fighting against it.

To say that’s an uphill battle is the understatement of the century. And yet people are still choosing to get up in the morning and keep up the fight. Because that’s what activism against climate change is. It’s a fight, but one that shockingly few really understand and some might not even care. This blog hopes to give some insight into climate activism.

Here to answer these questions is Okalani Mariner, one of Samoa’s leading champions for climate change advocacy. 

The Conversation

“You have been an activist for how long?”

“I would say that in terms of climate activism in Samoa, I would say a little over 6 years now. It started when I was 15, so this year would mark the seventh year since so yes, I’d say 6-7 years.”

“I understand that there’s a lot of different groups and organisations with a focus on tackling climate change. Are you part of any particular group or are you more independent?”

“Yes, I am currently the Pacific Climate Warrior coordinator for Samoa, so my responsibility is to engage youth in Samoa and feed that engagement into any overarching campaign we have. Pacific Climate Warriors is an organisation under 350 dot org. 350 dot org is an organisation that is a non-profit based in America and they have a presence all across the region so Africa, Europe, South America and the Pacific. The way it goes is head of 350 org, then the Pacific Region head then underneath the Pacific region are the coordinators. My specific role is to be the coordinator for Samoa.”

“There’s a certain stereotype associated with activists where most people picture something akin to a protester, standing in front of government buildings and holding up signs. I want to hear from you though, as a veteran of the movement what does advocacy really look like? Or at least, what does advocacy look like for you?”

“I think protests, active marches and campaigns like that are important. They’re also really useful in the context of specific countries. In Samoa, because it’s a small island nation, it’s difficult to protest in that way, like standing in front of a government building. That’s because in Samoa, everyone knows everyone and they’d be like ‘what are you arguing about?’

“We find peaceful protests, dialogues and workshops are more engaging in the Pacific and Samoa. We are actually pretty fortunate because despite being a small island nation, we have the privilege of having conversations with our government leaders. In other countries, marches and protests are necessary because they don’t have easy access to their politicians, their mayors, their prime ministers, or their presidents.

“It’s very different for us because our politicians and our prime ministers are quite approachable, especially for the youth, and they’re actually open. It’s also not the case for climate change to need protests because our government acknowledges that climate change is an issue that’s real whereas in other governments some of them deny that it’s happening, that oil is important, that the effects are irrelevant to us which is not the case in the Pacific.

“So yeah activism for me looks like storytelling, it looks like dialogue, it looks like talanoa with youth. It looks like making sure they are actively involved and educated. I think it’s hard to protest something if no one knows what it is. So for me, a lot of my work revolves around education and awareness but not just telling people but showing them ways to go forward that can help them. 

“In lieu of that, do you know of any way for other young people to become activists themselves? Websites or resources that would get them started? Do you have any advice for any of them starting out?”

“I believe the best way to get started is action and finding what exists in your immediate vicinity whether it’s Pacific Climate Warrior or another organisation. Whether it’s working with the ministries, working with your communities, working with any active social projects going on.

“My best advice is you won’t get to shine immediately. You’ll have to work hard on building yourself up before you see any progress. If you’re really passionate, it will show later on down the line but if you wanna be in activism, you have to be active.”

“Well for someone as active as you’ve been in this space for as long as you’ve been, you must’ve faced your fair share of challenges. What are some of the difficulties or obstacles you have faced?”

“I think the elephant in the room is funding. It can be challenging to secure funding for initiatives related to climate change or any kind of socioeconomic issue because when funders provide money, it’s conditional. One of the main conditions is ‘are you registered?’, ‘do you have an organisation’, ‘do you have a licence?’. With these challenges there’s also ‘do you have a bank account?’, ‘who’s managing your funds?’, ‘who’s reporting these finances?’.

“So a big challenge I experienced was ensuring our funds were managed correctly. There’s also a lot of red tape. For example, if someone says ‘Here’s 20,000 USD you can access’ but only if you have a business licence that has been updated within a certain period of time or similar. So the procedures that go into funding can be intimidating especially for younger people.”

“Institutional barriers?”

“Correct. Another issue is that you spend a lot of time and energy doing the work, but unless you’re working with the government, it won’t be acknowledged or they might not even know about it. So you could be making a big difference but no one in power will notice. For example, I founded an association for climate change and went on trips and went to these workshops but the government had no idea because they weren’t told or given info about it.

“It’s really why it’s encouraged that, if you want to be an activist for your country, work with your government. There’s a lot of systematic procedures and barriers put in place over the years that can make it frustrating but it’s hard for you to represent a country if they don’t have your back.”

“We’ve covered how someone can start on the path of activism. But I understand it must be a stressful road. Considering all the difficulties you’ve faced, were there days when you had doubts or were intimidated by the sheer scope of what you wanted to accomplish?”

“Oh absolutely. Fake it til you make it, I’m still faking it to this day,” she jests. 

“But jokes aside, it’s something a lot of people forget. When they watch or see a young activist or a young person and they’ll say oh they’re so well spoken and comfortable on stage. But they weren’t there in the two to three years where I was stuttering and shaking and I couldn’t speak in public and I hated the crowds.

“I feel like people enjoy the limelight and the end result while they forget the struggle and the journey . For me it’s, everyday I wake up and choose to actively work against the internal doubts and fears to make a difference. Fear can be something that blocks you but your anger and your desire to change needs to overcome it. If you don’t think you have what it takes, pretend you do until it sticks.”

“I assume you’re going to be an advocate as long as it is possible for you to do so, that or the issue of climate change is somehow solved. How do you see your activism evolving in future and do you have any plans for it?”

“I think activism is like a life path. It never stops, it just evolves like you mentioned, into a new form and it’s always about change and social impact and care. Because before there was us, before there was Gen Z, there was activism. It’s existed for centuries. The people who are fighting now are a part of a legacy because for the people before their whole life was activism. 

“It’s important to remember that you’re not the first and you will definitely not be the last. In saying that, also remember that you are not trying to find new solutions. You might be building on existing ones, watering a garden that has already been planted. You might not be the one who planted the seeds but you are reaping the harvest. That’s the beautiful thing about activism. When one generation comes in and plants the seeds, they know they won’t see the fruits but the next generation will.”

“Now I think you’d agree there is a negativity bias when it comes to climate change. We hear so much about how it’s a hard fight and of all the terrible things that are happening and will happen. I would like to ask you if you’ve observed any major positive changes during your time?”

“I think with climate change, it’s such a complex conversation because the generation before us who were fighting wanted immediate change. To this day we’re still fighting the same fight they did. In terms of change there is but it’s not enough. Something that carries me through when it’s very disheartening, because it can feel like you’re pushing a rock uphill, is that there is always an opportunity to learn something new and when it comes to hoping and seeing so much darkness, destruction and hate in the world, it’s never a lonely path. You choose to be alone. You need to look for a community. 

“My climate warrior community has helped me stay hopeful. But also to be around people who respect and value the same things you do. Because when you’re around people who are so disheartened, it will creep into you. The same people who are responsible for destroying our planet, profit off of our grief. The only way to fight against these people is to choose to hope. In rebellion I choose to hope. I also can’t afford to be disheartened. If I do, I’m sacrificing a voice that is fighting for other pacific voices to be here.

“Especially for us. Lots of people see climate change that’s in the future and they forget that for the Pacific, it’s actively happening. Sea levels are rising, it is 5 degrees hotter than when I was a child, I don’t see the same foods as when I was younger. This isn’t going to happen, it is. If we look at the trajectory of the planet warming, I might not have a home.

“It’s scary as well because for example, what if you have kids? Why do it if they’re born into a planet that’s horrible. Will they be displaced? Will I be one of the last to see my home before it sinks?

“It can be disheartening but just know that when you feel the hurt, when you feel the burnout, you need to recenter.”

What would, in your opinion, be a major help not just to you but to the fight against climate change.

“I think for me, funding is always an issue. It’s an issue for any space fighting for something. There’s no profit in it. I don’t get paid, never have in the past 6 years. When it comes to this, the main thing I truly desire is for more engagement and passion from the youth. We are a country of roughly 200,000 and of them, 58% are youth. Despite there being a hundred thousand young people, I see the same faces, the same  meetings at the same forums and I can count them on my hand.

“And like for so many youths, it can be really intimidating or it can be it’s not made for you. But your whole life is a story, depends on what you want to do with it. I really hope to see more youth. It sounds like a broken record because there’s so much youth activism but it’s not enough. It’s not to toot my own horn I’m just sick and tired of seeing the same people, I’d love for others to have this opportunity.

“It can feel like elitism, which is another challenge. Feeling like when you’re in the space for a long time, some people start gatekeeping because they think its theirs, and it’s their baby and they own the space but there’s enough seats for everyone. There’s enough room for everyone to have a voice because there’s a lot of new voices that get overlooked because the same voices are yelling over them.

“I think for a lot of youth as well, poverty is a major blocker.”

“Oh absolutely. That’s a good point because I truly believe climate change is intersectional. You can’t talk about it without first addressing healthcare, mental healthcare, food security, job security. Climate change is an overarching issue and underneath it, in order to address it, you have to address the others.”

“How can you expect a young Samoan, a regular Samoan person to be going to protests and forums and marches? Because, to them, it’s like: I have to feed my family, I have to pay fees, I have to drop out of school to sustain my family. These are all issues that need to be addressed so a young person can feel secure, comfortable and brave enough to participate in the space.

“It’s such a privilege to be an activist and it’s something people can forget. It’s like wow it’s such a great space but also I’ve been set up enough in order to set aside the time and the mindset to fight. I know some people can’t fight and it’s not that they don’t want to, it’s just physically impossible for them based on the situation they are in, the state of their lives. That is not judgement or pity, it’s fact. So what’s our government doing to support them? There are so many things holding back a person from using their voice. 

“It can be difficult for a lot of people because they’d have to learn public speaking and come out of their shells.”

“To have a passport, a visa, to convert money or transportation. I’m fully aware there are reasons some cannot participate. To a certain extent it’s a decision, but I’ll never judge someone for not being able to pay for transport somewhere because my money needs to go somewhere else.

“I can see there’s so much passion in youth. Because I’ve met so many who’ve willingly travelled so far to be in that space. There are people who travelled from the remotest parts of Samoa, from even our other islands and they showed just for a forum or a meeting or a workshop. You don’t have to be fully literate or well spoken but you need to have that desire, that hunger.”

“With all that said, would you do it all again? What would you tell fifteen year old you?”

“Yeah, probably earlier too. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I would’ve said to little me that it’s not that deep. When you first start out there’s this appetite to immediately do things and say yes to everything. I’d tell her to be very selective about what you’re going to do. However, sometimes I’m unsure I’d tell her that because, well because of the things I’ve experienced I’m in a space where I know how to say no. Some things you have to just experience the hard way to fully understand what the best path forward is.

“I only wish I centered myself more in my community, rather than feeling alone. I often felt like no one else was doing the work, that was by myself but I just wasn’t looking up and seeing the other people. I was looking down at the world and never seeing people asking if I needed help. Less tunnel vision, don’t be a know it all. That would be my only recommendation to my younger self. And to keep up the fight.”

Looking Ahead

In the year 2024 however, the world has drastically shifted, and while climate change is still a dire threat, victories have been mounting. The hole in the ozone layer has been slowly but surely healing (Newburger, 2023; United Nations Environment Programme, 2023). Coral reefs and animal populations are recovering (Hentz, 2023; Science Daily, 2024) and widespread global reforms have seen the world steadily shift from fossil fuels and other antiquated policies into renewability, sustainability and cooperation (Climate Council, 2022; Jaeger, 2023; Frost, 2021).

Such an effort happened because people like Miss Okalani Mariner used their voices to push for change. It happened because the leaders of the world listened, and exercised their power to ensure the future of their peoples. It happened because, like many great movements that changed the world for the better, enough people decided to care and, more importantly, to try. 

It all started, as Miss Mariner put it, centuries before. From Father John Brown to Malala Yousafzai. From the Gracchi Brothers of ancient Rome to Harriet Tubman. Activism is a lineage; a mantle more like, passed on from generation to generation and donned by those who choose to fight for their world. It is not as glamorous as a cavalry charge or as tangible as a sword fight, but the notion of sacrificing what you can for the betterment of the world and the others around you, is just as valorous and inspiring.

It can be difficult to do so in such a fast paced world and in one in which social media and media companies in general prioritise negativity and your sole attention for the sake of profit. But change can happen. It has happened many times before and it will continue to happen so long as people are willing to try.

For activism is not about brute force, it is about sacrifice and persistence, until enough drops in the water shatters the damn and change can be made. And change has been made. And change must continue to be made, for any society incapable of bettering itself for the future will falter. A society that is willing to put in the effort however will not only flourish, but will live to see its potential fulfilled. 

The difference between the two can so often be down to a handful of the right voices at the right right time. We hope you have the courage to lend yours.