Santo, Monday 8 November 2021 — Kacific Broadband Satellites is proud to support the Santo Sunset Environment Network (SSEN) in Vanuatu and its Chairman, Allan Taman, who today delivered a moving address, over Zoom, to delegates to the Resilience Hub at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26.

SSEN is part of the Pacific Island Climate Action Network (PICAN). In a special COP 26 session, “Pacific Islands Traditional Knowledge Solutions to the Climate Emergency”, Mr Taman spoke of the impact last year Category 5 Cyclone Harold and the way that traditional knowledge and practices helped mitigate some of its impact.

This is the first time that a voice from Western Santo, Vanuatu has been heard at an international COP session, as distance and a lack of suitable communications infrastructure has previously made direct participation impossible. Now, thanks to a newly installed Community WiFi service, powered by the Kacific1 satellite and delivered by local partner, 3 Link Communications, the issues facing the people of Santo have been presented live to the global forum.

This virtual event is centred around the climate crisis in the Pacific islands and showcases traditional knowledge solutions that local PICAN communities are leading to address the issue through mitigation and adaptation measures.

Mr Taman, who was first to speak in the session, was followed by speakers from Pacific Island Climate Action Network from, Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Solomon Islands. All shared their work and their demands, together with the challenges and opportunities to advance climate justice in the Pacific.

“We have no roads, no wharfs, no electricity grid, no piped water supply, and mobile phone network coverage doesn’t reach our people.  However I am now speaking to you from the village of Wunpuko, at the only secondary school in the area, thanks to a new satellite internet connection.”

“As Chairman of the Santo Sunset Environment Network, it is my job to help my people live sustainably so that we do not damage our resources, and so that we have everything we need for food, water, shelter and safe communities.

“But now our dreams are becoming impossible.  Climate change is something Vanuatu did not cause.  Climate Change is destroying our environment and killing my people.”

Mr Taman’s speech is attached, together with a copy of the programme from the event

### ENDS ###

About SSEN

The Santo Sunset Environment Network (SSEN) is an indigenous-led network of community environmental champions, working for the protection of biodiversity, sustainable development, customary governance, gender justice and climate/disaster resilience within the Santo Mountain Chain Key Biodiversity Area of the Island of Espiritu Santo in the Republic of Vanuatu.

Its mission is to serve as a catalyst to support and empower individuals, villages and communities in the West Coast and North West Santo region in improving environmental protection and conservation; and to influence the design and implementation of effective, inclusive, resilient and sustainable development strategies in keeping with traditional livelihoods.

For more information visit http://www.SantoSunset.org/

About 3 Link Communications

3 Link Communication’s mission is to bridge the digital divide in Vanuatu with the use of next-generation technology.

3 Link is committed to serving our customers located in rural areas, and the two municipalities in Vanuatu. We strive to provide fast and reliable maintenance services, and high-speed internet to our customers.

For more information, visit https://www.3linkcommunications.com

About Kacific

Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) is a next-generation broadband satellite operator that provides affordable, high-speed broadband access to Asia Pacific. Kacific uses the latest multi-beam space communications and ground technology to provide a quality service to businesses, governments and communities.

Kacific’s high-throughput Ka-band satellite, Kacific1, delivers to the Pacific and Southeast Asia, with a focus on underserved rural and suburban areas. Kacific services foster greater internet usage, fuelling economic growth and improvements in service delivery across covered regions.

Kacific’s awards include Best Digital Inclusion (Pacific ICT Awards, 2019), Satellite Executive of the Year: Christian Patouraux (APSCC, 2019) and Better World Satellite Award (SSPI, 2018). Kacific’s headquarters are in Singapore with main operations out of Vanuatu.

For more information, visit www.kacific.com  or follow on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

Media Contact
Allan Botica
Botica Butler Raudon Partners
+64 21 400 500