As a Solomon Islander I am so grateful for your documentary. Thank you for letting the world know that climate change is real and happening everywhere.
Im a Pacific islander too from Micronesia. We too are facing the same exact situation for low lying islands just a few feet above sea level. Just imagine standing on ur shore looking out onto the ocean & see it level with the land & ur in the middle of the mighty Pacific ocean. Much love to the world! Think of us too❤️😭
Same thing is happening in the Maldives which is in the Indian Ocean. They are sinking just as fast. Like you tavioka6243, sending much love back to all your islanders. 🥰😊
I'm from the U.S Washington D.C and I wept for those people as they struggle to survive. We all have to understand that we are all God's children and I mean everyone. We have to find better ways to network and do more to help all of mankind to survive this man made devastation, that has caused climate change around the world. Lets keep spreading the education and lets all do our part everywhere and remember those who need our help, they too are our brothers and sisters.
Am an islander as well from the solomons. I live on an island that bears the characteristics of such climate change-related issues like this one. Good on you for travelling right around the world to report and document on this issue of climate change. You're right to say we, the people of developing countries are bearing the brunt of what has been the wealth-making of developed countries. It's a reality. Resilient as we maybe, the future of coastal and island inhabitants like this is at stake if governments and their international partners do not act decisively as a matter of urgency. I guess such reporting and documentaries on pressing issues like climate change and sea level rise should be done to bring awareness and perhaps gets the government of the day to be reminded of its responsibilities to its citizens. A genuine and well presented documentary. Good on you.
This is a visually beautiful documentary and a compelling story about individual lives, a community, and climate change. Hearing Guus’s experience traveling there and witnessing all of this for himself is one thing, but the connections he formed with the community, displaying their resourcefulness, admiration for the land and desire to adapt, was incredibly impactful and informative. I hope the community and government are able to come together and save the land and life that make this place, and world, so beautiful. Thank you Guus for telling this story.
Thank you for been showing the world about our Islands of facing climate change that continuing on happening on our island..appreciate your work..🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Being there, collecting over 40 days of aerial footage, and experiencing life on the island alongside Guus - those are the defining moments for my personal growth and understanding of the climate change and global warming. This is beautiful documentary, thank you for energy to spark this project Guus!
I'm so grateful to have shared this experience with you, Iggy! You're one of the most inspiring people I know and your perspective on this story has influenced me greatly. I'm very glad you liked the end result :)
I would never let this place be a part of history. Although heart felt experience but this is part of history why not existed today because of the head of my family. I will so whatever it takes to make it possible
The filmmaker, Gustavo, again proves that he has the emotional intelligence plus filmmaking expertise to shine a bright light on an important issue. Not only is this a gorgeous documentary, but shares the real costs of our behaviors in the Western, Carbon-Fueled world. Well done!
Exceptional documentary with a great on-site immersion and footage. Thanks for showing the world how climate change is affecting our planet today. People tend to think that the consequences will not be seen in our lifetime, and what better way of showing it than a high-quality documentary. I am a big fan of your work!
Beautiful and heartbreaking documentary ! Beside the great direction and amazing footage, we are at the heart of the problem, side by side with the inhabitants who see their island disappearing before their eyes. Thank you for showing the world what many people still consider an abstract problem.
There are many documentaries about climate change, but few from such a humanistic and personal perspective. It's difficult to make an audience relate when your subject is so remote in space and time. This is how you do it. Uve!
Am from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, immediately east of OJ. Thank you for your presentation. It tells the story of all our peoples. 40,000 years ago, our home was different. The melting ice caps changed the landscape, THEN came industrialization and modernity. It's eating our home islands extremely fast; frighteningly, as we sleep too. We have our own peoples who are suffering the impact as well; the Cateret Islanders and soon it will be the rest of our atoll islanders too. The permanent secretary of Solomons is right. Relocation does not solve all of the problem. Our rich marine economy is at stake too. SAVE OUR HOME, SAVE US. We can't lose our homes. It's our life. It's our everything.
Beautiful documentary showing unnerving facts for, probably, the last generation to live in such piece of paradise. I connected with this film given it humanizes a major event we are all living. Brings understanding of a web of interlinked alarming events, such as climate change refugees, migration issues and civil rights. Well done! Congratulations to the entire team behind it!
Beautiful to have such an insight look into their lives on these remote islands. At the same time sad to see how much climate change is already affecting these people. Beautiful documentary!
Very very very touching documentary, indeed. I feel their pains. Thanks for sharing your great work with us, sir. Greetings from Johannesburg in South Africa 🇿🇦. 💖💖💖🙏🙏🤝
My father was a local priest in Lua Niua during the 90s, grow up there from age 5 to 10. very sad to see this wonderful place is sinking. Thank you so much for this great documentry
Gorgeous piece of filmmaking -- not just in the vastness of its vistas, but mostly in the intimacy of its personal character! Well done Guus, I hope this will attract a large audience and further the cause of fighting climate change on each level - personal, political, societal, overall.
Amazing documentary. A real eye opener that gives light to the scary fact that our modern world has so much impact on nature and life. I sincerely believe this movie could lead the viewers into a path that could stop this destructive economy.
Beautifully done!! Really capturing the human side of the sad reality climate change here. Wonderful cinematography, beautiful shots and an engaging journey.
It's sad and heartbreaking to say good bye to young family members leaving rural small communities for better job and sustenance opportunities. I know something about it. Left a small Danish island farming community to Copenhagen to study engineering at age 19. At age 24, I emigrated to Canada to start my career as an environmental engineer. All of these moves worked well for me - now retired at age 72 and reflecting on how well everything turned out for me by taking a few major risks in my life by leaving a small island community.
at 26min.. I love the fact that he shared these wonderful ideas. with the challenges that these islands are facing. I hope people can get involved and help them bring these solutions to realization
I am from Papua New Guinea and watching this video is quite sad.l was in the Solomon Islands in 2010 and have seen how the people live. Climate change is really affecting them.
Their community are strong! The people work together and kind. Their english lang is great too! Hope these island are far from climate change, how to think to make island keep safe from any disturbing.. this people must live to this paradise island for long time, even for forever. We can fight climate change together. I suggest dont give them internet, so much negatively/toxic behaviour and bad words could affect them. If it must, give them good lesson how to find good thing in internet. And this is great video documentary, i love it.
My big bro Glyn Kafo teaching the climate change subject. I support the call for special scholarship to be created mainly for Ontong Java students to pursue in the tertiary level.
My father used to go on missions for the Asian Development Bank to the Solomon Islands and the Pacific. He was always positive about the potential and he was smart
Really informative video! I first came to learn about climate change reading about how Venice was sinking due to rising sea levels, but this video puts into perspective how that same issue can be affecting so many other communities worldwide, its a really pressing issue..
The southern part of Bangladesh is facing similar catastrophic situation. Salty sea water is rising, nearby rice fields can not grow rice anymore, sweetwater fish is gone, forest is dead, no drinking water....a total ecological tragedy! Note: Agriculture Department recently has introduced new seeds for growing rice (whice is salt-resistance). Manila-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) perhaps can help these Islanders to introduce these salt-friendly seeds. Thanks
Commins is a very intelligent and culturally aware young man. Please help him help his people so they can remain for as long as they can on their island. Realistically, they will have to relocate one day, but for now they should remain where they are happy and continue to champion for the Pacific Islands. So happy that this documentary is made
Beautiful footage and an excellent story about the people and the tough decisions required of individuals in complex circumstances. I am pleased and hopeful that some leaders are actively organizing to create a common voice and identify options in a situation that is out of their control. Looking forward to seeing more!
Keep the worthwhile news coming; we are most intrrested to keep us abreast of the current happenings in the world we live!!? Our utmost thanks to everyone interested in helping! God Bless and God be with us!
Thank you for listening! I’m a Pilipino, 80 yr old; born n raise in the Isl. of Mindanao; left the country for 40+ yrs to see the world and find out that I came from one of the most beautiful place on earth! We heard about Climate Change and didn’t pay much attention of the real change it could have in my/our lives. Gingoog is a growing city, had its major change at the arrival of three Lumber Companies esp prior to WW2, when the seaside Gingoog idle n sleepy then! The town never had any experience about Flooding in the homes, nor heard about the SeaWater meeting with the Mountain water. Together! This was unheard of but now it is becoming a normal news when there are Typhons in the Country! I remember, my Uncle Mac accepted the position as Lumber Co. Manager of the biggest, pre-war time era, mainly to help correct the illegalpractices of cutting of forest trees by a Japanese Co! To our shame, there was no change and we pay the price! Yes, Climate Change is a reality and the world has to Adapt; God Help Us!
Went to Guadalcanal / Honiara, Malaita in 1982, very beautiful, friendly people, no talk of ocean rise then. So sad to see what's happening now! Consider myself very lucky & fortunate to have spent time there when I did.
Loved the footage and really enjoyed learning about the different perspectives of the locals on environmental change and relocation. Climate change is a big issue for the country as it exacerbates existing problems of environmental degradation.
Awesome movie. Very impressive. So important to keep this under the spotlight in this way. Sad to see how the future has become so uncertain for them due to external factors. And how they are left to their own devices.
Is the island name actually called Ontong Java? In Indonesia, there's an island called Untung Jawa. Untung means lucky/profit. Jawa is the name of one of main islands, also called Java in English. Is it coincidence??
Excelente información, me encanto este video por mostrarnos lo que está sucediendo en nuestro planeta y deberíamos hacer algo pronto. En la ciudades nos parece lejano lo del calentamiento global y creemos que no hay consecuencias por ahora… sin embargo veamos que está sucediendo.
Excellent job not only capturing the beauty, reality, and urgency of whats happening at Ontong Java.... but also what steps are being to taken toward solutions. So much more to work on with these communities but this and others are massive steps towards raising awareness and helping those who need it most to adapt and problem solve. Great work Guus and Iggy!!
You an amazing human being❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤who cares for humanitys besutiful villages but nature can take its tolls snd bring destuctions the ocean 💙 ❤️ ♥️ 😉 💖 😄 💙 is so amazing thanks for the 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹 📹.
Love this documentary, it reminds me of my late Dad who is from Pelau. It's great to see some of my relatives, even my first cousin brother James. You guys did an awesome job for telling the world that these small atolls need their help to survive. Heads off to you all!
Great doco....beautiful country, beautiful islands. Sorry to say this, but no one is going to save you. Climate Change is now an inevitable journey towards the complete erosion of your islands. You’ll be a headline today and tomorrow another headline will replace you. It’s a ‘slow emergency ‘.....but accelerating.
What an inspiring documentary you have made. Very nice how you made it and very clearly what problem you want to make known. I hope you will reach many people with this documentary
Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work love the food and the culture 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
It's happening everywhere in the south Pacific especially and elsewhere in the world, wantoks, you're not alone there. We feel for you and we understand your anxieties, it's happening in Tonga,Tuvalu, Samoa,Fiji and elsewhere..other than that be brave and take hard decisions and maybe take the heartwrenching decision to relocate elsewhere.
This is my home🥺thank you for sharing my beautiful islands, climate change have taken some islands which disappear as time have gone.HOPE THERE IS A CHANGE AND HOPE FOR MY BEAUTIFUL ONTONG JAVA.
Very relevant mini doc. In the near future this will be literally paradise lost. It's also the story of a culture and community that are literally drowning. Most painful of it all: it can be avoided.
to save an island style community, build a 1,000 foot by 2,000 foot stone block monolith that is 20 foot high. Stone can be harvested from Australia, NZ, or Indonesia, Philippines. The center of the monolith could be crushed rock with pouring cement and adding sum rebar at each 1 foot or 2 foot level. An area in the center could be reserved for adding 3 feet of soil for growing crops, also there could be strip of soil added longitudinally for planting the local trees. Obviously a lower boat staging area at a 5 foot level would be needed for boat docking and access. A sea level beach with a gently sloping upward boat area to ease access to fishing boats. How to pay for this? Ask the Western countries. Also something never discussed with populations with a very limited land area is family planning, like having a 2 child policy to limit future overcrowding due to unlimited population growth. Vasectomies and tubal ligations provided free by the government and teaching kids the common communal spirit of protecting the society so there is enough to go around for all is never discussed in these conversations.
So sad...but it's the harsh truth....I believe the documentary will help convince those industrialized developed countries to dramatically cut back on greenhouse emissions and Solomon islands government to seriously consider relocating these people to higher grounds. But generally speaking this documentary was beautifully made...all credits to you in spreading the truth about a looming apocalypse 👍❤️
It 2023 now ... Any updates on what's the Government is doing on this matter? It's really breaks my heart to see such a tragic thing affecting their way of life... In North Solomons(Bougainville) our Carteret atols are also been affected by the exactly same thing and an impact is the same as this wonderful people facing. But the Catholic church have already secured a land for them on the mainland Bougainville island and now first lots they're staying their.
❤ Maybe they enjoyed their livehood on the beautiful island.i do hope and pray that if it come to worse there are options for our people.God never leave Them desperate ❤
Ontong Java its sound very similar to Oentoeng Java or in now called Untung Jawa island in north java sea part of jakarta region.. interesting to track their relative in ancient day as a sailor going to east
I hope something can be done to save this beautiful island. It will break my heart if people will have to relocate in the future because the island is no longer safe to live in.
Thankyou Hindsight channel bringing to us our friends on the Solomon Island with their current lifestyle. Especially their greater concern on sea rise due to climate change seriously affecting their future with little hope. The only best option is trusting God Who created these islands and the people for HI s Supernatural intervention to save the island and the people. I can identify with them their greatest concern for the future especially the younger generation. I pray Lord Jesus that you come to their add sooner than latter please. My intercession prayers from the highland mountain ⛰ of Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 Asaro Mudman Tribe.
Coral islands have been growing with sea level rise for the last 12,000 years. Annual coral growth is over twice the rate of sea level rise. People making concrete from the sand is a major problem.
Im curious as to why it is called Ontong Java. Im Javanese-Indonesian. In javanese language Ontong means banana blossom, and Java means the island--or the people-of Java. Seeing two words of your relatively unknown language used as a name of a place that has no connection with your people/language is weirdly interesting.
That's really fascinating! I have heard that the islands were named by Abel Tasman and that they reminded him of Java in Indonesia. I remember reading that "Ontong" meant something as "Bountiful", but I've haven't been able to trace down where I read this so I'm not 100% about that last part. It could very well be that he took the words from the Indonesian language. He did sail a lot in Indonesia after all. Thank you for sharing!!
Im from Solomon islands too but knew nothing about the situation affecting these people untill I watch your video. Thanks so much for revealing the needs of these people. The government must now plan ahead to relocate them in the future. Allocate some fundings to help and do more research on agriculture. There should be more planning and research that the government needs to do and now is the time.
