Radiant Barrier, PrePaid Meter, Water Heater Timer, and Tree OH MY!

First off, I'm keeping the awesome tree that provides such good shade from the afternoon heat. But some changes were in order... Last week I installed the radiant barrier I ordered from EcoFoil , and unfortunately (really bummed about it actually) I didn't have my energy savings hat on when I installed it, and missed the opportunity to measure temperature of the ceiling before and after, plus didn't get any photos. Really bummed about it, but I can tell that the house is a lot cooler, and that despite not taking measurements and pictures, I did spent a few days making sure I had the information and equipment needed to install properly. It was the first time ever installing the stuff, and the extra care seems to have paid off. Rounding out the energy-saving party is a new pre-paid meter from MEC and electric water heater timer from Ace Hardware. Each and every one (including the tree as it continues to grow!) of these features are going to reduce my monthly energy bill from above $100 to below, and oh reduce my carbon footprint too :)

a musical bridge

I'm encouraged and inspired by the heart and talent shown by the Marshall Islands High School Choir, in part because I'm a fan of Glee, and also because I've been working alongside MIHS administration, Science, and Social Studies departments on the Jaññõr Windward Forest Project, which aims to show how heritage, education, health and environmental sectors in the RMI can work together to achieve common goals.

Here is the choir the night they arrived into Honolulu. Choir leader and Brother Kiuna, speak!

"Aloha to all of our family and friends in Marshall Islands. We arrived on time but it took us some time to get through filling out the customs forms but the staff there was really helpful and friendly. They even allowed us to wait until the whole group was done. By the time we went to baggage claim, all of our luggage was ready to be picked up. It worked out quite well. We then met up with Dan, who was the only non-Micronesian in the waiting area. He was a BIG help. We immediately went to check in for our Maui flight but they didn't let us do so because they had to check in earlier flights first.

"We opted to go to McDonald's for breakfast--we actually walked from the airport to the McD's near Nimitz Hwy (naval base). It was quite the journey but it was good to get some fresh air. After we ate, we performed for the crew at McDonald's and they really really enjoyed it. We sang "KANAKA WAIWAI" a Hawaiian hymn--most of the "audience" knew the song and couldn't believe that Marshallese would know such a famous Hawaiian song. The kids had a good time. We walked back to the airport and checked in maybe 45 minutes ago. We're waiting to go into the security checkpoint then maybe I will be able to get some rest."

Upon their return, a slightly sobering truth awaited. Many choir members were enamored by the American lifestyle, or at least the impressions they formed during their 2 weeks trip, and wanted to go back without finishing their high school education. One actually did.

Bridges to the Land of Eb

Eb -- a mythical land of the afterlife -- a destination for us all.

I came upon The Land of Eb website last week. I've been thinking about the title, and how it provided an interesting and creative perspective on Marshallese migration. This is definitely one movie I want to see.

I am told by one of the producers that "at the moment we are still in the process of editing. Our next step is to finish the sound mix. Our hope is that we'll have the movie ready for film festivals by the end of the year."

Something to keep an eye out for...

NY Times' story on the RMI-BP oil spill link

This cool email showed up in my inbox yesterday, and I just had to post....




Iakwe folks, [Iakwe means hello]

In case anyone is wondering if there is a link between the RMI [Republic of the Marshall Islands] and the oil spill currently wreaking havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, there is! The oil rig which blew up, sank, and caused this environmental disaster was flying the flag of the RMI and was registered with the RMI ship registry.

I'm not sure why the RMI, which is in particular danger in regards to climate change and the otherwise unhealthy effects of the global addiction to fossil fuels, would register an oil rig.

Here's the NY Times' story on the RMI "flag of convenience" BP oil spill.

The RMI is mentioned at the end of the article (the second page).

Ilo kautiej, [that means with respect]

David K.




I can't wait to start teaching a socio-economic course on climate change in the Marshall Islands, joining alongside David at the College of the Marshall Islands. Perhaps as early as Spring 2010!

Micronesia Challenge

Have you seen the following video or heard of it? It's a pretty good, very succinct take on Micronesia Challenge's initiatives in the RMI.

Climate change in RMI video that was filmed by DeutscheWelle

Moving Pictures Are Worth 1 Billion Words

Click here to find cinematic productions out of the Marshall Islands. If you choose to make additions to your movie library, check out one scene in particular in the movie Na Noniep in which you are taken on a drive down the southern side of Majuro Atoll, giving you one of the best glimpses you can find of just how fragile these islands really are.

Benedict "Labilol" Yamamura FULL SPEECH

World Climate Change Day
“Climate Change – A Youth Challenge”
Saturday, 24 October 2009 – 10am
Former Weather Station, Delap, Majuro Atoll
Kommol MC.

Iakwe aolep!

Moktata ikōnan lelak ao nebar im kamolol Anij jemed ilañ kōn rujlak in juōn raan eo emman im aibojwōj.

Kein karuo, lewaj ao im AOLEP jodikdik ro ilo wōd in bwil in Majōl naan in kautej Ri-Kaki eo jemed im ebed ippãd rainin im ej jen Rita, UCC, Ri-Kaki Enja Enos , Mayor eo ad jen Capital city in an Marshall Islands, Honorable Mayor Titus Langrine, Director eo an OEPPC Ms. Yumiko Crisostomo, im kom aolep ro rar koba tok im kõmman bwe rainin en aibojwõj.

Ewõr jilu simple numba ko kwõj aikuj in jela im melele kake kōn global warming. 200 yiiõ ko rõmotlak, ewõr kar joñan in 275 parts per million kõn carbon dioxide (parts per million ej joñan carbon dioxide eo ilo kajojo million (per million) ilo molecules ko jet ilo mejatoto in lal in ad). Numba eo kein kajuon in. Level in CO2 eo elap an aourok – ne eban jonan CO2 eo, lal in eban kar emman ñan jikin jokwe, enkar enwõt space/planet. Jaikuj carbon ilo mejatoto eo ad; kajjitõk eo in, jete? Ilo kar 18th century eo, armej raar jinoe aer kattil coal/malle ko jen búlõn ļal, kiaaj, oil men kein wõj ñan kõmman jarom im menin jeramman ko (wa ko, equipment ko, etc). Joñan carbon eo ilo mejatoto eo ad emõj an wallõn lak, kar mokta ekar slow ak raan kein emoj an mõkaj lak. Ebújin kind activity ko im jej kõmmani, enwõt kappõl light ko, komat mõna im kõmãnen ak kamloik moko imõd rej, men kein rej bedbed ion jarõm eo ej itok jen coal im gas ko rej bwil ilo factory ko, ko im rej kadiwõjlak carbon dioxide im kiaaj ko jet rej drapij mãnen eo ilo mejatoto eo ad.

Numba eo kein karuo kwõj aikuj in bar kemejmej e ej 387. Rainin kio, joñan cabon dioxide eo ilo mejatoto eo ad emõj an bed ilo 387… numba in ej laplak 2 parts per million kajojo yiio. Scientists ro rej ba bwe numba in elap jen tõr jen joñan – 387 ppm emõj an tõbar juõn record eo me lal in ad ej kab tõn bed ie. Emõj ad jinoe loe jorrãn/impact ko ñan armej ro ibõlaak in lal in. Glacier ko, ak jikin ko me eobõrak ice ie me puki-million armej ro rej kõjerbali ñan idraak im kõmman mõña, emõj aer jino õõl (melt) lak. Naṃ ko, ko im emman ippãer lal manen, emoj aer jinoe orlak im ajãded ñan jikin ko eobōrak armej ie, im boklak malaria im dengue fever. Jabwe dren (ak drought), emōj an jino ekutkut an walok, ekōmman bwe en ban lak an lal ko kaddōk mōña. Australia ñan waanjoñan, ejjein wōt iumun 10 yiiō. Sea level (joñan eo ñan lojet eo) emōj an jino wallōntak, im scientist ro rōtijoṃlak rej kakkōl kōj bwe enaj wallōnlak kajojo mita (meter) ilo epãben in. Ne men in enaj walok, jikin ko rej bed turin lojet (i.e. New York, Bangladesh, Japan, Egypt im lal ko jet) renaj jorrãn , enaj barewinwōt laplak an kajorrãn lale jiddik ko ilo wod in bwil in Pacific in (enwot Majol, Kiribati, Palau, im lal jiddik ko jet) jorrããn in enaj kōmman bwelal jiddik kein ren nej bed iumum dren. Artic ak ijo ewōr ice ie ej letok message eo e clear tata bwe climate change/janij in mejatoto eo ej lukkin walok im emakujkuj lak jen an kar scientist ro kar lōmnak e. Ilo kar summer 2007 eo, ice ko ilo arctic rōkar driklak ak ōōl lak kōn 40%. Ebwijin scientist ro rōj tomak bwe Arctic enaj juōn jikin eo im enaj ejjelok ice ie, ikōtaan iio kein 2011 im 2015.

Ñan bukwot mejlan problem in, climate scientist ro emōj aer likit ke 350 parts per million ej level in CO2 eo im elap an safe ñan lal in ad im armej ro ie. 350 ej numba eo. Scientist eo moktata rōkar kakkōl rútōl ro kōn global warming kar 20 iiō ko rōmotlak kar etan in James Hansen, eo im ej jen Amerca’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Nan ad maron in le lal tak jonan in me jebed ie im ej “387”, enaj juon jerbal eo eban im abaltak ak eban impossible nan kommane. Ilo tu lap in, jej aikuj in kabojrak ad boki carbon ko jen lal im tuli. Emman lak kojerbal solar im wind energy im men ko jet me rej mottan renewable energy. The longer we remain in the danger zone – above 350 – the more likely that we will see disastrous and irreversible climate impacts!

Iio in, enaj komman bwe en wor ad juon opportunity eo im ebolen nan ad set e juon course kal nan 350 im lal lak. Kajojo iio jen kar 1992 eo, United Nation ej host e 2-week kwelok aetokin nan leader ro ilo belak in lalin nan aer kwelak im kennan kon jorran ko im rej itok wot jen climate change. December in, 2009, kwelok eo im enaj komman im bok jikin ilo Copenhagen ilo Denmark. Ijen, enaj wor delegate ro, NGOs ko, im business ko jimor jen aolep kajojo nan aer lemanlak juon kwon eo ekaal ikijeen global climate change nan replace e Kyoto Protocol.

Nan kojemlak naan kein ao, ij ba waj nan kom my fellow climate activist bwe kom en kemejmej bwe ejjab kojean wot in ilo Majol in ej wallontak kon climate change movement in. Buki lal ko im thousands action ko rej komman ibelak in lalin rainin ilo minute in second. Waween in jej komman nan kanol tok youth ro jen belak in Majuro enaj juon wonmanlak eo im enaj karon Ri- Tol ro ad ke Marshall islands ej iliju im joklaj eo ad.

Kommol tata.