Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

In 2022, we’ve been very pleased to work again with officers from the Fiji Civil Service. Our focus has been on clear professional writing, and one of our most popular workshops has been Writing influential speeches, which has been a long-time favourite for us.

During this workshop, participants write a two-minute presentation on a topic they’re passionate about.

One participant volunteered to read his to the group. And we’re happy to bring it to a wider audience.

Today I pose to you a bible verse that rings true to me, ‘…where the river flows everything will live’ – Ezekiel 47:9.

It reminds us that no matter where on Earth we live, we are all connected to the ocean, our planet’s life support.

Every second breath we take is from the ocean, as it gives us half the oxygen we breathe. The ocean is life, nourishment, energy and jobs. Most traded goods are carried by the waves. It has even carried our ancestors to the land we now call home. The ocean is a part of who I am, who we are, and it is our responsibility to protect it, to give the voiceless a voice, and to standup to its degradation.

The ocean has been suffering in silence for many years from our misdeeds.

The dumping, the poisoning, the overfishing, and the increasing temperature.

More than ever we must commit to ensuring the preservation of the ocean. Not for us, nor for our children, but for the survival of mankind, and the future of our only home, Earth.

I implore you, act now!

Thanks to Mr Laurie O’Neal Singh, a professional working with Fiji’s Ministry of Economy, for allowing us to reproduce his beautiful presentation.