Climate Wise Women

Thilmeeza Hussain

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:04:07 +0000

Meet the newest Climate Wise Woman, Thilmeeza Hussain. As Deputy Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of Maldives to the UN, Thil brings the voice of a new generation of women in the developing world who see climate change as the fundamental challenge for their future as well as a key platform for leadership.

Thilmeeza Hussain was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of Republic of Maldives to United Nations in November 2009. Before assuming her present charge Thil served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs – North Province and was among the team of young enthusiastic members of the first democratically elected government in the country. She worked extensively with the decentralization process and was also in charge of the establishment North Province Office. One of her prominent task also included managing the administration of the island of Duvaafaru, a previously uninhabited island that was settled by Maldives after the tsunami of 2004. Thil envisions a democratic and decentralised country catering to all the basic needs of her community. She is also the co-founder of a non-profit organization in her home country “Voice of Women”.

Ulamila Kurai Wragg

admin — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:31:47 +0000

“This Change Makin’ mom, journalist and activist has an agenda to save her island home from climate change.”

Read the full story here.

Ulamila Kurai Wragg is the Executive Coordinator for the Pacific
Gender CC Coalition.

Ursula Rakova

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:02:45 +0000

“My name is Ursula Rakova. I come from Papua New Guinea, but I was born on the Carteret Islands in the Southwestern Pacific. My elders and my community have given me a huge task, to tell the world what is happening on my island and what climate change is doing to destroy our lives. My work involves organizing our people and moving them from the island to the mainland where we need to re-locate to safe and secure ground. We are being forced from our ancient island homeland to the mainland of Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea where we must start new lives and find sustainable means to produce our food and survive.

I want to make sure that my people have a future life for generations to come. I would say to people who believe that climate change is not happening, if you have the heart to feel that you are flesh and blood, start to think about us on the island. What is a choice of lifestyle for you is a choice of life or death for us. I do not think you need to question whether this is climate change or not. You should be able to put yourself in our shoes, and maybe travel to our islands; we invite you to come and see for yourselves.”

Ursula Rakova is the Executive Director of Tulele Peisa — “sailing the waves on our own” — a local community organization in Papua New Guinea that is trying to relocate the entire island community of the Carterets to nearby Bougainville because of the impacts of climate change. www.tulelepeisa.org

Constance Okollet

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:00:52 +0000

“ It is imperative that climate change must be reversed, otherwise my community in rural Africa may not see the next generation.”

Read the full story here.

Constance Okollet is the Chairperson of the Osukuru United Women’s Network in Eastern Uganda.

Sharon Hanshaw

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:14:34 +0000

“Left homeless after Hurricane Katrina, former beautician Sharon Hanshaw fights for the communities that will suffer most from climate impacts.”

Read the full story here.

Sharon Hanshaw is the Executive Director of Coastal Women for Change In Biloxi, Mississippi. www.cwcbiloxi.org