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People participating in planning their own forced migration To UNESCO/AMPRN/Development Studies/USP Workshop on Climate Change Related Migration, 14-15 May 2009 Presenter: Kathryn Paton, affinity@orcon.net.nz. Presentation Outline. Importance of planning Who should participate?

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  1. People participating in planning their own forced migrationTo UNESCO/AMPRN/Development Studies/USP Workshop on Climate Change Related Migration, 14-15 May 2009Presenter: Kathryn Paton, affinity@orcon.net.nz

  2. Presentation Outline • Importance of planning • Who should participate? • One solution fits all? • Through the peoples’ eyes: • Understanding context • Understanding impact • Understanding options • Understanding what’s important

  3. Case Study / Research Outline At Home or Abroad: Tuvaluans Shaping a Tuvaluan Future • Masters level; qualitative • a literature review + other available records • 20 key informant interviews • community interviews and workshops with a total of 100 community participants living in Tuvalu (80); Fiji, principally Kioa Island (6); and New Zealand, principally Auckland (14) • ‘participation’ infused the project design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination where possible

  4. In the Pacific, migration: “…is not just a contemporary phenomena as our chants, genealogies, stories, landscapes and names suggest centuries of interdependence and networking exchanges among our Pacific peoples. Today peoples of the Pacific have continued to ‘canoe’ around the world...It is in our bloods to do over-sea travels…to unite and re-unite, to group and re-group. From these travels we build our strengths and capabilities of living in the world, as well as reminding ourselves of our various linkages.” (Nabobo-Baba, 2004, p. 17) Forced migration in climate change planning • Climate change planning  focus on adapting in situ. • Migration referred to as available option if ‘adaptation fails’. • RISK: lack of precautionary planning may lead to reactionary policies that do not take into account the needs and world views of the migrating population.

  5. Who should plan? Who should participate? Individuals? Families? Communities? Individual nations? Regions? A more systemic, global solution? A global umbrella strategy, with more regionalised and localised solutions to fit the needs of the potential migrants and receiving nations?

  6. “All levels of society have a role to play. For example, the government has to deal with other governments, but each family or island has to do its own preparation. I think that as the government doesn't have much money, individuals should plan slowly. By doing that, they will be secure and confident in themselves (rather than relying on government).” (male participant) “If government makes people aware, people can do their part and those overseas can contribute.” (female participant) “Any decisions around migrating should come from the grassroots – not top-down.” (female participant)

  7. [The] Tuvaluan cultural system is community oriented, which is ideal for dealing with external stresses. Its vulnerability and resilience are -2 and +2 respectively,[1] a reflection of the importance of this system. Even with no management it is expected that the vulnerability would not change whereas with optimal management the resilience would increase to +3. (SPREP et al., 1996, p. 108) [1]Vulnerability is scored -3 to 0 and resilience is scored 0 to +3. The net impact is the difference between the two scores.

  8. Are potential forced migrants… Victims of a pending disaster? OR People with a range of resources that can help formulate a response to their own forced migration? BUILD ON STRENGTHS WHEN DEVELOP SOLUTIONS

  9. One solution to fit all?  slow-onset changes Drivers for forced migration Climate processes Tipping point  decision to migrate Vulnerability and adaptive capacity Non-climatic drivers Climatic drivers Climate events • social and financial implications of move •  economic, social and cultural capital at disposal  temporary or permanent  sudden dramatic hazards

  10. Through the peoples’ eyes • Understanding context • Understanding impact • Understanding options • Understanding what is important

  11. Net migration of Tuvaluan residents (1998―2007) Source: Author used data from the Tuvaluan Statistics Department (2008)

  12. Current or former family migration compared to desired participant migration = some relationship

  13. Previous participant migration compared with desired migration = no relationship

  14. Drivers for migration (identified by community participants in Tuvalu) Most common Least common Health (Olalei) Jobs (Galuega) Education – children (Akoakoga – tamariki) Family (Kaiga) Marriage (Avaga) Livelihood (Olaga) - better life, more choice, opportunity and access to technology Fun/New Experience (Fiafia/Meafou) Education (migrant) (Akoakoga – te tino ka fano) To get away from community obligations (Tele mai fakalavelave) Climate change (Mafulifuliga o tau o aso)

  15. Reasons for wanting to remain in Tuvalu (identified by participants) (1)

  16. Reasons for wanting to remain in Tuvalu (identified by participants) (2)

  17. Understanding impact: Forced migration Disempowerment

  18. Understanding Options: Individual/family-led migration v community-led migration (participant perspectives)

  19. Understanding what is important: Factors to be considered in planning for formed migration Economic: - Who will be responsible for meeting costs of migration - Long-term economic costs Social / Psychological: - Maintaining and strengthening connections between Tuvaluans at home and abroad - Preparing Tuvaluans for the mental impact of the move Timing: - When to migrate - When to plan Process: - Involving the people Factors to be considered (identified by participants) Knowledge: - Sharing knowledge of available climate change and migration options - Knowledge of life-style and culture in destination country - Knowledge, skills and education to thrive in new location • Legal / Environmental: • Agreements with other States allowing migration • Ownership of land/sea if they depart Tuvalu Cultural / Spiritual: - Preserving and maintaining culture, tradition and religion overseas

  20. Summary

  21. Life is changing Make the right decisions You are now part of a global village Go with confidence And don’t panic Never look back! (Tuvaluan Song, sung in the Funafuti Manaepa in Bayer & Salzman, 2005)

  22. Cited references Brown, O. (2008). Climate Change and Displacement - The numbers game. Forced Migration Review, October 2008 (31), pp. 8-9. Nabobo-Baba, U. (2004). Research and Pacific Indigenous Peoples: Silenced Pasts and Challenged Futures. In T. Baba, O. Mahina, N. Williams & U. Nabobo-Baba (Eds.), Researching the Pacific and Indigenous Peoples: Issues and Perspectives (pp. 17-32). Auckland: Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Auckland. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Government of Japan, & Japanese Environmental Cooperation Center (JECC). (1996). Coastal Vulnerability and Resilience in Tuvalu: Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. Japan.

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