On 23 September 2014, 26 year old poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, from the Marshall Islands, addressed the Opening Ceremony of the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit. Kathy was selected from among over 500 civil society candidates in an open, global nomination process conducted by the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service.

Kathy performed a new poem entitled “Dear Matafele Peinem”, written to her daughter. The poem received a standing ovation. Kathy is also a teacher, journalist and founder of the environmental NGO, Jo-jikum.

Credits:

“Dear Matafele Peinem”
Poem and performance by Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner

Creative-Innovation Agency: The Global Brain
Director / Producer: Natalia Vega-Berry
Executive Producer: Michael Tracy
Director Visual: Natalia Vega-Berry
Co-Directors: Jenna Pool / David Joshua Ford
Project Coordinator: Isha Ohja
Storyboard: Annabelle Tracy
Post Production: Cutters Studios
Executive Producer: Elizabeth Krajewski
Editor: Steve Bell
Assistant Editors: Austin Rauterkus, Cameron Yergler, Casey Swoyer
Sound Engineer: Eric Thompson
Flame / finish: Moises Tavera
Music: Yessian
Music: Andrew Knox Music Productions, Inc.
Music Title: “Imparting the Atmosphere”
Composer: Derek Whitacre
Publisher: Alibi Music

A special thank you to the many organizations and individuals around the world who contributed visuals for this project, including:

350.org
#Action4Climate filmmakers and Connect4Climate.org
Adrian Arbib
Anglican Alliance
Australian Medical Students Association
Avaaz
Canadian Youth Climate Coalition
CGIAR CCAFS
Climate Ride
Friends of the Earth Europe
Get Up! Action for Australia
India Echo Channel

Jack Niedenthal
Kevin Buckland
Molly Mazilu
Mothers Out Front
The Nature Conservancy
Press TV UK
Project Survival Media
Source Project
Sven Eberlein
The World Bank

A special thank you to the following, who went out of their way to provide invaluable services, support and assistance for this project:

Young & Rubicam
Cutters Studios