Climate change and migration

Dear Matafele Peinem is a poem by the Marshallese poet and climate activist, Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner. Written in 2014, the poem is a moving and urgent plea for action on climate change, framed as a letter to Jetñil-Kijiner's daughter.

The poem is set against the backdrop of the Marshall Islands, a small island nation in the Pacific that is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events. Jetñil-Kijiner addresses her daughter, Matafele Peinem, and describes the ways in which climate change is already affecting their lives and their future.

The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, as Jetñil-Kijiner describes the beauty and fragility of the islands, the destructive impact of human activities, and the urgent need for action. She speaks of rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and the loss of biodiversity, and calls on the world to take responsibility for the damage that has been done and to take action to prevent further harm.

At the same time, the poem is also a celebration of resilience and hope. Jetñil-Kijiner describes the strength and beauty of her community, their connection to the land and the sea, and their determination to fight for a better future.