About Tuvalu
Tuvalu is an island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean. It sits about halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Its neighbours include Kiribati, to the north, and Fiji, to the south. It is made up of a chain of 9 small coral islands. The islands are low lying. Many have large lagoons and are surrounded by coral reefs.
Region
Population
11,790 (2022)
Area
25.6 square kilmetres
High Commissioner
No High Commissioner in UKK. Honorary Consul - H.E. Dr Sir Iftikhar Ayaz
Capital
Vaiaku (Government Offices), Fongafale islet, Funafuti atoll
Joined Commonwealth
1978
Episode guests
H.E. Dr Sir Iftikhar Ayaz
Honorary Consul
Dr. Ayaz received his early education in Qadian, India but moved to Tanzania at an early age where he received his Secondary education. He has worked with several United Nations organizations such as FAO, UNESCO, and UNDP. He also served as the National President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK from 1997 to 2001. He currently serves as the Consul General of Tuvalu in the U.K. As a field expert of the Commonwealth he initiated a very successful Education For Life programme for the Small Island States in the Pacific Region. In 2019, the government of Tuvalu appointed him as the Special Envoy to the UNHRC.
In 2020 he was awarded the Queen’s Medal for humanitarian services.
In the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List he was awarded an Honorary Knighthood for his services to Tuvalu, following his OBE in 1998.
Tuvalu, Tuvalu
Tuvalu, Tuvalu –
Our home and friend
Our birth place – And end
We love you
There comes a time when we need to call
When the world must come together one and all.
To save people dying
It’s time to lend a hand
And everyone should take a stand
We can’t go on pretending day by day
That all the problems will just go away
We are all a part of God’s creation
So we need the hand of love from every nation
We are the world and we are all one
So lets start doing what needs to be done
There’s a choice we need to make
To protect our beloved Tuvalu at stake
It’s true we’ll make the best choice
To help Tuvalu and listen to their Voice
Send them the resources so they know that you care
So their lives will be saved and free from despair
It is a Mayday call to COP26
Tuvalu cannot be ignored
And the climate devastation must be fixed
We must take heed before it is too late
And all our hearts will be filled with grief
If Tuvalu sinks to the bottom of the coral reef.
Tuvalu, Tuvalu –
Our home and friend
Our birth place – and end
We love you.
Translation of a Climate Change song
1. The phenomenon that we are facing today
is climate change and rising sea level
Drought is a major issue
Caused by human activities
My beloved Tuvalu, our heritage from God
2. It is a pity to see our culture and traditions fading
Tuvalu our home we long for
Wondering what will happen to our identity
What shall we do to sustain our heritage from God
Chorus
Where is human intellect, that change nature
But God will neveer turn away from us
Tuvalu for God, our greatest salvation
3. I do not want to flee afar from my Tuvalu
Tuvalu is where I can sleep peacefully
Knowing that it will give me hope in time of sorrow
What shall we do to save our Tuvalu
Lift up Tuvalu, our heritage from God.
4. How do you feel as a person who has fled Tuvalu for greener pastures?
Do not mock or make fun of your Tuvalu
But rather, remember Tuvalu in your prayers
Knowing climate change is a single greatest threat to low-lying atolls
My bloved Tuvalu, My heritage from God
Tuvalu Blues
8 metres now
the sky sits like a ladle
dipping into a bowl of fish
held to our lips
sweet salty life lived
5 metres now
the sky bends and creaks
against empty bowls
in empty houses
claimed by a tidal landlord
1 metre now
the sky sits heavy
on an incoming tide
the horizon curves
beyond the line of vision
except for that reflecting pool
staring back a sinking feeling
