The rhythms and balance of nature are weaved into the daily lives and identities of the people of Oceania. Consequently, environmental degradation caused by climate change, severe weather events or exploitative practises by companies negatively affect the balance of nature and, more significantly, thousands of families and communities living and working in the Pacific Islands.
Through the Tagi Project, the Archdiocese of Suva through Caritas Fiji is answering Pope Francis’ call for an ‘ecological conversion’ to respond to the challenges faced by the people of Oceania. In this 3-year project, Tagi will collect and share stories which are unknown to the world by empowering the victims of social and ecological injustices to amplify their voices and show the world the reality of existence in the Pacific. In the final year, Tagi will produce a stage production based on the shared stories exploring and communicating themes of living in harmony with Creation.
Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’, uses words such as connection, interrelation, unity, relationship and harmony in promoting the idea of an “integral ecology” that brings together an “ecology of nature” with an “ecology of man.” Additionally, Pope Francis underlines that every single person on earth is connected by the very fact that we all inhabit the earth, which is our Common Home. In Fiji, the communities involved in the Tagi Project are Namosi in the province of Namosi, Votua village in Ba and Delakado village in Tailevu. These three villages have been selected to represent the voices of the many in Fiji who have silently suffered from the detriments of development activities.
Seabed mining, sand and gravel extraction have caused short and long term threats to food and water supplies in Fiji. Photo by Archdiocese of Suva Fiji
According to the analysis and findings of Caritas Fiji in the three communities of Namosi, Votua and Delakado, food sources and food security have been detrimentally destroyed due to environmental degradation. In addition, communities’ lawful attempts to stop the destruction has failed and caused hopelessness and voicelessness among the people. The adverse effects of unscrupulous mining, gravel extractions and exploration on the environment has subsequently caused frictions and fragmentations that binds the socially treasured kinship ties and relationship.
Inspired by Laudato Si’ and Caritas’ Together We campaign, Tagi aims to be a movement of people and organisations empowered to share their experiences and be agents of change and transformation for the good of our Common Home. Through expressive art forms, people will be encouraged to use their talents as tools for connection with their heritage and traditions, while also being a vehicle to amplify the message to act justly for the good of creation and the common good.