Fiji’s young climate activist and champion, AnnMary Raduva, is making waves in the West.

The 18-year-old and her siblings organised a beach clean-up at Nadi’s Wailoaloa beach on Saturday ahead of World Environment Day yesterday.

This marks 50 years since the Stockholm Conference which led to the designation of June 5 for the international event.

“The theme for this year is ‘Only One Earth’ and it means so much for me and my generation because we need to highlight the need to live sustainably with nature by choosing a greener, litter free and sustainable lifestyle,” the Swami Vivekananda College student said.

“This is our only home and we as guardians of this planet need to be very serious about safeguarding the resources we have.”

Everyday observation

However, She says every day should be made Environment Day and we should be ambitious with our long-term climate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.

“I am grateful for the support of my extended family here in Nadi and classmates from school and having the school head prefects here at Wailoaloa Beach is a reflection of teenagers my age showing their commitment in raising our voice in the space of environment issues and conservation,” she added.

“I look forward to collaborating with youth and young children here in the Western side for further events around environment conservation, climate change and climate justice.

“We need to keep talking about littering because people are still very comfortable with littering and it is sad to come to a public place like Wailoaloa and find household litter thrown into the bushes and on the beach.

“Last year, I called on Government to declare April 22 (International Earth Day) a ‘plastic free day’ in Fiji at one of my speaking engagements and I am still calling on the Government to declare days June 5 a day to raise awareness on plastic littering and how to protect our environment.

“I think it starts from home – if we want change, it has to start from home.”

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