“Sea level rise is turning our freshwater resources salty, rendering the land unable to grow staple crops such as coconut and taro, and eating away our shoreline.”
A description of the direct, visible effects of rising seas on daily life and food security in Kiribati.
— Anote Tong, Kiribati
Source: Anote Tong, quoted in The Guardian, 10 October 2018
More Proverbs from Kiribati
Do not follow the first breeze.
A caution against acting on a first impulse; wait and think before reacting.
Traditional Kiribati Wisdom
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Our culture and knowledge are our identity.
A people's customs and accumulated knowledge are what define who they are.
Traditional Kiribati Wisdom
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Respecting the guiding hand brings spiritual protection.
Honouring the guidance of elders and those who lead safeguards wellbeing.
Traditional Kiribati Wisdom
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The maintenance of wellbeing comes from just and fair decision-making.
A community stays healthy and at peace when its leaders decide matters justly and fairly.
Traditional Kiribati Wisdom
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The person is sacred.
Every individual carries an inherent dignity and worth that must be respected and protected.
Traditional Kiribati Wisdom
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Health, peace, and prosperity.
Kiribati's national motto, borne on the Coat of Arms, expressing the nation's guiding aspiration for its people.
Traditional Kiribati Wisdom
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