ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
ful dierence in the fight against climate change in the Pacific Islands. The time to act is now. The very survival of Pacific Islander communities and cultures is at stake. We must come together in a spirit of partnership, justice, and care for our com- mon future. We must center the voices and self-determination of the individuals most aected by the climate crisis. And we must dedicate ourselves wholly to the work of building safe, healthy, and thriving com- munities in Hawaii and the USAPI for gen- erations to come. We have a shared respon- sibility and moral imperative in the face of the defining challenge of our time. By drawing on their deep cultural wisdom, resilience, and connection to land and sea, Pacific Island communities have the power to be leaders in the global eort to protect and sustain precious ecosystems for generations to come. Like the women in the legend who
wove their hair into a net of strength, it will require everyone working together, sharing knowledge, and taking courageous action to overcome the urgent challenges posed by cli- mate change in the region today. Acknowledgments: This article was funded through CDC OT18–1802 Cooperative Agreement 6NU38OT000300. The findings and conclusions are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily repre- sent the ocial views of CDC and NEHA. Photos courtesy of Gina Bare, NEHA. We recognize Leilani L. Navarro, John Kol- man, and John M. Tagabuel for providing their insights into the climate change impacts on Hawaii and the USAPI. We also gratefully acknowledge Justin Snair from SGNL Solu- tions for his guidance and input on this project. We express our deep gratitude to Dr. Nancy Bo Flood for sharing her retell-
ing of the Micronesian legend, How the Women Saved Guam . Dr. Flood’s books have received national and international awards. She lived and taught in Saipan, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, for more than 10 years. For her services developing resources and programs for students, educators, and traditional artists, she was honored with certificates of recognition by Northern Marianas Col- lege, Saipan’s Arts Council, and the Island of Guam Legislature. Learn more at www. nancyboflood.com. Corresponding Author: Gina Bare, RN, Direc- tor, Program and Partnership Development, National Environmental Health Association, 1400 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite 325, Denver, CO 80222–8999. Email: gbare@neha.org
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Volume 87 • Number 9
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