The Cultural Impacts of Climate Change: Sense of Place And
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THE CULTURAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: SENSE OF PLACE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN TUVALU, A COUNTRY THREATENED BY SEA LEVEL RISE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PSYCHOLOGY MAY 2012 By Laura K. Corlew Dissertation Committee: Clifford O’Donnell, Chairperson Charlene Baker Ashley Maynard Yiyuan Xu Bruce Houghton Keywords: Tuvalu, climate change, culture, sense of place, sense of community, Activity Settings theory ii For Uncle Ed and Father Tom Rest in Peace. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This research was funded in part by the University of Hawaiʻi Arts and Sciences Student Research Award, the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) Community Mini-Grant, and the University of Hawaiʻi Psychology Department Gartley Research Award. This research was conducted with the support of the Tuvalu Office of Community Affairs, especially with the aid and guidance of the director, Lanieta Faleasiu, whom I thank dearly. I also extend my thanks and my love to Sir Tomu M. Sione and his family for welcoming me into their home. I would like to thank each of the interview participants, as well as every person I met in Tuvalu. In these past few years I have received a great deal of support from members of government agencies and NGOs, religious leaders, and private individuals. Thank you all for speaking with me and sharing with me your time, your knowledge, and your care. I would also like to thank my dissertation committee and especially my adviser, Dr. Clifford O’Donnell, for guiding me through this process. Finally, I would like to thank my husband and research assistant, Michael R. Corlew. Thank you for coming with me on this journey. iv ABSTRACT: The Psychology of Climate Change is an emerging field that focuses on human causes and impacts. The APA (2009) report noted a developed-nations bias in the current body of research. I add that there is also a continental bias. The current study explores the cultural impacts of climate change in Tuvalu, a developing island nation in the South Pacific projected to become uninhabitable in the next 50 to 100 years due to sea level rise. This study explores the Psychological Sense of Community and Sense of Place in Tuvalu’s cultures, and applies Activity Settings theory to Tuvaluan cultural contexts and change. This study utilizes semi-structured qualitative interviews, ethnography, photographic images, and archival research. This research was conducted in collaboration with the Tuvalu Office of Community Affairs. Thematic analysis revealed that climate change is considered within the context of other cultural changes that Tuvaluans are facing. Tuvalu has a strong guest and gift culture, including a responsibility of community members to share resources and give of themselves by participating in community-supporting events. Tuvaluan identity is strongly related to home island identity. Funafuti is the urban center of Tuvalu and is undergoing a heightened period of development and cultural change. The outer islands are spaces in which traditional cultural activities, language, and values are most strongly practiced, although the outer islands are also experiencing modernization, development, and subsequent cultural changes. Tuvaluans are “renowned as being adaptable” and have a long history of successful adaptation to outside influences and changes in culture. Adaptability and other cultural strengths allow Tuvaluans to maintain their traditional lifestyle while simultaneously embracing cultural changes. Climate change is currently affecting the land, weather, and sea in Tuvalu, and consequently the lives of people who live there. Individual and community adaptations are being actively engaged. The 2011 drought and other events showcase cultural strengths that Tuvaluans naturally activate in response to disasters and slow-stressor changes. Tuvaluans also rely on their faith in God. Tuvaluans are adamant that they must implement every possible measure to protect their country from climate change, and will not consider migration at this time. v Table of Contents List of Images .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Methods .................................................................................................................. 19 Results Section I ............................................................................................................... 52 Creating the Context: Tuvaluan Cultures and Ways of Life ........................................ 52 Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................... 54 Guest Culture / Gift Culture ......................................................................................... 54 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................... 86 3.1 The Outer Islands as a Group ................................................................................. 86 3.2 Funafuti ................................................................................................................ 105 Chapter 4 ......................................................................................................................... 135 4.1 Cultural Changes to Daily Life ............................................................................ 135 4.2 Systemic Changes................................................................................................. 161 Chapter 5 ......................................................................................................................... 197 5.1 Christianity ........................................................................................................... 197 5.2 Political and Economic Changes .......................................................................... 220 Results Section II ............................................................................................................ 235 Climate Change in Context ........................................................................................ 235 Chapter 6 ......................................................................................................................... 238 6.1 Changes to the Natural Environment ................................................................... 238 6.2 Changes to People’s Lives ................................................................................... 266 Chapter 7 ......................................................................................................................... 292 7.1 Faith and the Church of Tuvalu ............................................................................ 292 7.2 Tuvalu’s Future .................................................................................................... 308 Chapter 8 ......................................................................................................................... 334 8.1 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 336 8.2 Activity Settings Theory ...................................................................................... 353 8.3 International Discourse on Climate Change in Tuvalu ........................................ 362 8.4 Limitations, Implications, and Conclusion........................................................... 381 Appendix A: Reflexivity ................................................................................................. 396 Appendix B: The Outer Islands ...................................................................................... 406 References ....................................................................................................................... 425 vi List of Images Image 1. Vaitupu island community maneapa on Funafuti (Corlew, 2010). ................ 12 Image 2. Mangroves planted on Funafala islet in Funafuti by Tuvalu Overview (Corlew, 2010). ............................................................................................... 21 Image 3. The Funafuti airstrip is a recreational gathering place (Corlew, 2010). ......... 23 Image 4. Ministers dinner in Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia’s fale lau (Corlew, 2010). ......................................................................................................................... 25 Image 5. Woven mat for sleeping, decorated. Gift from the Sione family (Corlew, 2010). .............................................................................................................. 64 Image 6. Preschool built by the Talafai, Funafuti (Corlew, 2011). ............................... 77 Image 7. Local-style house with hanging woven mats, Funafuti. (Major, 2011). ......... 90 Image 8. Modern Western-style house in Funafuti (background, right) with traditional- style outdoor kitchen (foreground, left) with thatched roofing (Corlew, 2011). ........................................................................................................................