IS THIS OUR LAST CHANCE?
Anote's Ark
Online
May 24 – May 30, 2021
![Anotes Ark Still7 1 <i>Anote’s Ark</i> [Anote’nin Gemisi] (2018) filminden bir kare ©EyeSteelFilm <br />](/directus/media/thumbnails/anotes_ark_still7-1-jpg-780-5000-false.jpg)
Still image from Anote’s Ark (2018) ©EyeSteelFilm
Anote’s Ark (2018)
Director: Matthieu Rytz
77 minutes
English; Turkish subtitles
“I want to emphasize that climate change is not a political issue. It’s not entirely an economic issue. It’s an issue of survival. Maybe today only for countries like mine. But in the future, for the planet as a whole.” Anote Tong
The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati, a population of 100,000, is one of the most remote places on the planet, seemingly far-removed from the pressures of modern life. Yet it is one of the first countries to face imminent annihilation from sea-level rise. Since gaining independence from the U.K. in 1979, Kiribati has struggled to provide for its residents and remains one of the world’s least-developed nations, dependent on regular installments of international aid. As sea levels continue to creep up and intensifying tropical cyclones batter the islands, inhabitants respond by building sandbagged sea walls by hand, even as their homes and businesses are regularly swamped by seasonal storms.
While Kiribati’s President Anote Tong races to find a way to protect his nation’s people and maintain their dignity, many Kiribati are already seeking safe harbor overseas. Tong spent much of his three terms between 2003 and 2016 attempting to raise global awareness regarding the climate threats facing his nation, particularly in the absence of significant financial resources. Set against the backdrop of international climate and human rights negotiations, Anote’s struggle to save his nation is intertwined with the extraordinary fate of Tiemeri, a young mother of six, who fights to migrate her family to New Zealand. Anote’s Ark explores what is at stake: the survival of Tiemeri’s family, the Kiribati people, and 4,000 years of Kiribati culture.
SALT’s Is this our last chance? program is supported by its founder, Garanti BBVA. The films will only be accessible to online audiences in Turkey.
Director: Matthieu Rytz
77 minutes
English; Turkish subtitles
“I want to emphasize that climate change is not a political issue. It’s not entirely an economic issue. It’s an issue of survival. Maybe today only for countries like mine. But in the future, for the planet as a whole.” Anote Tong
The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati, a population of 100,000, is one of the most remote places on the planet, seemingly far-removed from the pressures of modern life. Yet it is one of the first countries to face imminent annihilation from sea-level rise. Since gaining independence from the U.K. in 1979, Kiribati has struggled to provide for its residents and remains one of the world’s least-developed nations, dependent on regular installments of international aid. As sea levels continue to creep up and intensifying tropical cyclones batter the islands, inhabitants respond by building sandbagged sea walls by hand, even as their homes and businesses are regularly swamped by seasonal storms.
While Kiribati’s President Anote Tong races to find a way to protect his nation’s people and maintain their dignity, many Kiribati are already seeking safe harbor overseas. Tong spent much of his three terms between 2003 and 2016 attempting to raise global awareness regarding the climate threats facing his nation, particularly in the absence of significant financial resources. Set against the backdrop of international climate and human rights negotiations, Anote’s struggle to save his nation is intertwined with the extraordinary fate of Tiemeri, a young mother of six, who fights to migrate her family to New Zealand. Anote’s Ark explores what is at stake: the survival of Tiemeri’s family, the Kiribati people, and 4,000 years of Kiribati culture.
SALT’s Is this our last chance? program is supported by its founder, Garanti BBVA. The films will only be accessible to online audiences in Turkey.
