Climate Change in Kiribati

Sam Sundermann Start Date: Nov 7, 2016 - End Date: Jan 5, 2017
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Kiribati

My Travel Story

by: Sam Sundermann Start Date: Nov 7, 2016 - End Date: Jan 5, 2017
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
Hi Friends, Family and Generous Strangers!

I'm currently in New Zealand on The South Island volunteering in a Bed & Breakfast.  You all know how I love to come up with random plans and venture to crazy places.  Well, this time around I need a bit of help to get to my next crazy location AND since Christmas is coming I thought you may all feel extra giving ;)

A few years ago, I heard about Kiribati and have felt the need to visit this location ever since.  Kiribati is in the Pacific and has 33 Atolls and Reef Islands, and due to Global Warming, they are sinking.  In the next 30 - 40 years (In OUR lifetime) some of these islands will disappear.  It is estimated that all 33 will be gone in the next century.  Currently, they are only 3m above sea level.  The locals spend their days' building sea walls to protect their properties, while the government reaches out to nearby nations to find a place for them to resettle to.  It is a very hard time as they are cast adrift they are losing their homeland and their culture.  An example of a country causing the least damage to the environment being made to suffer the most because of it.

I want to go to Kiribati to bring awareness to climate change and to see how the locals live knowing that they will have to relocate in the near future.  I will work with many blogs and podcasts to share this experience.  Being in New Zealand, I am the closest I have ever been to Kiribati but it is still an extremely expensive journey.  I will be traveling to Tarawa which is the Capital of Kiribati.  More than half the countries population now resides in Tarawa as they have had to move from the outer islands.   

I am looking for some help to fund this trip.  Even $20 will go a long way.  My goal is to raise $3000 to cover the flight and have some extra money to give back to the locals while I am there.  Any extra money I will hold onto until I find a proper way to help.  This may mean donating to building new homes for when they relocate or working with other companies to bring safe drinking water to the outer islands.  

I hate asking for money but I really feel like now is the right time for me to go and as you all know I travel on a very tight budget.  So please if you can follow the link and donate any amount you can, to help me help this country.  And if you are feeling extra generous please pass this onto your friends and family. :)

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." Lorax - Dr. Suess

I love you all! Thank you for your support in this and all my other adventures.  See you in the new year!
  • Kiribati

Updates

4
  • Flights Booked

    More offline donations came in and I have now reached half of my goal! Flights are booked and I will fly to Kiribati on December 8th. Wish me luck and feel free to continue to share and donate :)
  • Update 3

    Thanks to some offline donations I have now hit 36%! Please continue to share. Thanks friends!