“Climate change is indeed a serious problem. But we don't believe that Kiribati will sink like the Titanic ship.”
Maamau's defiant framing of his nation's future, rejecting fatalistic narratives of Kiribati's disappearance in favor of continued development and adaptation.
— Taneti Maamau, Kiribati
Source: Taneti Maamau, video presentation to the UN Climate Change Conference, Bonn, quoted in CBS News, "As climate change threatens islands, Kiribati's president plans development"
More Proverbs from Kiribati
Do not follow the first breeze.
A caution against acting on a first impulse; wait and think before reacting.
Our culture and knowledge are our identity.
A people's customs and accumulated knowledge are what define who they are.
Respecting the guiding hand brings spiritual protection.
Honouring the guidance of elders and those who lead safeguards wellbeing.
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.
The person is sacred.
Every individual carries an inherent dignity and worth that must be respected and protected.
Health, peace, and prosperity.
Kiribati's national motto, borne on the Coat of Arms, expressing the nation's guiding aspiration for its people.