When Fiji takes centre stage next week at the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference, it is going to be much more than having Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama co-presiding.

We will have input from the private sector as well as the civil society groups who will be at the conference in full force to raise their voices about the need to keep our oceans healthy.

The icing on the cake will be the performances by world class dancers and singers from the University of the South Pacific’s renowned Oceania Dance Theatre and Pasifika Voices.

Four members- two dancers: Katalina Fotofili and Ratulevu Tora, and two singers: Paulini Bautani and Elijah Balenaivalu will showcase the plight of their ocean through their art.

And, we have Justin Hunter from J Hunter Pearls Fiji attending the conference from the private sector where he will play a crucial role in bringing to the fore the need for good oceans for good business.

This has been the manner in which Fiji has conducted its affairs- including a wide cross section of the society to get their input on critical issues.

This was evident when the Pacific Islands Development Forum was founded.

The forum saw civil society groups as equals and their input was just as important as regional heads of states.

The co-presiding of UN Ocean Conference will be no different.

A number of civil society organisations from Fiji will be attending the conference in New York. Their input is vital as many already have projects around the Pacific working with communities to safeguard our ocean.

As Peter Thomson, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and current President of the General Assembly recently stated: “All human problems have human solutions and that’s what the Ocean Conference is about.”

These solutions should heed the voice and authority of large ocean states and their children. Ultimately it is children who will inherit the oceans, let us ensure they are part of charting the course – their future.

Closer to home, it is also encouraging to see the ‘mother of all festivals’ – Hibiscus embrace the theme of Climate Change and had their launch the Moana way.

While a lot can be achieved on the global front, everyone back home need to do their part and this is what the UN Ocean Conference will be for us.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj