The emotions that come with remembering the painful experiences of natural disasters and climate change are not easy for our people to bear.
This is the story of Elina Vaa from the village of Magiagi.
Her family was among those who suffered greatly in 2012 when Samoa was hit by Cyclone Evan.
She explained to the Pacific writers’ group last week that their home, previously located on this part of their land, was completely destroyed by strong floodwaters during that time, as it was near the river.
Nothing was left — not even the trees or crops. Everything was washed away, erasing the years of hard work invested in developing the land and sustaining the family.
“Neighbours came running to help evacuate our parents during those unforgettable days,” she recalled.
Not only that, but the village leaders decided to move the community to the town for safety. They had to leave their land to find a safer place because of the turbulent winds and the force of the water.
She said they could no longer feel the spirit of Christmas or welcome the new year in their family home, as they were sheltering in the compound of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with many other families from their village.
Elina emphasised that she never wants to witness such devastation again, especially thinking of the children.
She said it’s time to stop viewing climate change as just a topic of discussion and start turning it into action.
She firmly believes that even small efforts, if everyone commits to them, can help reduce the impacts of climate change, such as by reducing reliance on harmful gases, planting trees, stopping waste burning, and other measures. These actions will reduce the risk for Samoa and the world.
Currently, Elina and her family have built a new home on a different part of their land.
She said that every time she looks at the original site of their house, it brings back the sad memories of Cyclone Evan.
“O suiga o le tau e le’o se tala fatu,” Elina Vaa
E le faigofie lagona o le manatua pea o o’oo’oga tuga o faalavelave faalenatura ma suiga ole tau i le soifuaga nai o tatou tagata.
O le tina lenei ia Elina Vaa mai le afioga o Magiagi.
O lona aiga se tasi o aiga na matuai pagatia i le tausaga 2012 ina ua aafia Samoa i le afa o Eveni.
Na ia faamatala i le vasega o Tusi Tala a le pasefika i le vaiaso ua mavae, o lo latou maota lea na iai muamua i le vaega lenei o lo latou fanua, na tafia uma e le malosi o tafega i le na vaitau, talu ai e lata i le auala o le vaitafe.
E leai se meatotino na totoe, e oo i laau toto ma faatoaga, na faaleaoga uma lava e lologa le tautiga i le tele o tausaga e galueaina le fanua ma atinae le aiga.
“Na tamomo’e mai aiga tuaoi ma fesoasoani mai e aveesea ai atu nai o matou matua i le na aso e le galo ia te au.
Ua le gata i le na, ae ua sau foi le avea’i a le nuu i tai ile aai, ua tatau ona matou tuua le matou fanua ae agai atu mo le sailia o se vaega e mapu iai ona e fai o le louloua ma le malolosi o savili, ae o le ma’ema’ea foi o faiga a le vai.”
Na ia taua na oo ai lava ina le maua lagona o le Kirisimasi ma le faafeiloaiina o le tausaga fou i totonu o se aiga, ina ua o latou tolauapi i le lotoa o le Ekalesia a Iesu Keriso o le Aupaia o Aso e Gata Ai faatasi ma le toatele o aiga o si o latou afioaga.
O lana faamamafa, e le toe fia vaai tino i na aafiaga i se taimi o i luma, aemaise i le vaai alofa atu i nai fanau.
Na saunoa Elina, ua oo i le taimi ua le tatau ona toe avea suiga o le tau ua nao se mataupu, ae ua tatau ona avea ma faatinoga.
E iai lava lona talitonuga e tusa lava pe itiiti se galuega ae a loto iai tagata uma ia taofia loa faatinoga e pei o le faalagolago i kasa oona, tatuuina o laau, susunuina o otaota ma isi, o le a tuuitiitia le avanoa e pagatia ai Samoa ma le lalolagi i nei aafiaga.
O le taimi nei ua toe fausia le isi maota fou o le nei tina ma lona aiga i le vaega i isi itu o le latou fanua.
Na ia saunoa o taimi uma lava e vaai ai ile tulagafale lenei, e faamanatu mai ai pea ia te ia lagona faanoanoa o le afa o Eveni.
