During the extended visit of Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior III in the Marshall Islands, the organization featured many Marshall Islands-related stories and photos on its website, greenpeace.org/.
It also posted brief items on “Six Marshallese women activists who are changing the world.” The feature was written by Zabeena Buksh, the digital campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
She provides brief biographical information on “some women from the Marshall Islands who have led, inspired, and are never giving up.”
Darlene Keju: She who could not remain silent.
For years, Darlene used her voice touring, speaking, educating, and using music, dance and song to express the outrage about her people’s resettlements and evacuations due to radioactive fallout, false promises by the US, and ongoing health problems suffered by the Marshall Islands people. As one of the first prominent activists in the Marshall Islands, her work gained international attention, supporting other nuclear survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and delivered powerful speeches, such as at the World Council of Churches gathering in Vancouver, Canada in 1983.
Hilda Heine: From teacher to President.
As the first female President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands from 2016-2020, and again from 2024, President Heine is a strong crusader in gender equality, women empowerment, climate justice and human rights. “Sea levels have risen, and we are too late to prevent them from eating away at our shores,” she said. “But we must also be clear: we will not be wiped off the map, nor will we go silently to our watery graves.”
Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner: Poetry as politics.
Kathy, the daughter of President Heine, has created her own path by linking political messages with the power of poetry. In 2014, her poem at the Opening Ceremony of the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit drew the audience to tears and rapturous applause. Apart from poetry and performance, Kathy is also a political negotiator on climate change and activist on intergenerational issues linked to the Marshall Islands’ nuclear legacy; and co-founded the environmental non-profit Jo-Jikum, to empower Marshallese youth to seek solutions surrounding climate change and other environmental impacts.
Ariana Tibon Kilma: Carrier of the torch.
Ariana never got to meet her maternal grandfather – her great grandfather. But when she found out who he was, she knew she had to carry his legacy forward. Nelson Anjain, from Rongelap – one of the islands most severely impacted by nuclear fallout from the US government’s Castle Bravo test – dedicated his life to building a peaceful world without nuclear weapons, and advocating for compensation and care for nuclear survivors. Generations later, Ariana is continuing his work and is currently the chairperson of the Republic of the Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission. As part of her role she ensures that the effects and impacts of the country’s nuclear legacy continues to be taught in schools, not just for the benefit of younger generations but also for better awareness and healthcare.
Abacca Anjain-Maddison: Campaigner for peace.
Former Senator and active campaigner against nuclear weapons and weapons testing, Abacca comes from a long line of people who have been directly impacted by nuclear fallout. Her uncle, John Anjain was the mayor of Rongelap during the time of Castle Bravo; and her father, Jeton Anjain, also a former Senator, helped change the course of history after he reached out to Greenpeace to help evacuate the Rongelap community when their atoll was no longer safe for habitation. Abacca has spoken at many international conferences to raise awareness on the dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing; and has led the efforts for the Marshall Islands to receive compensation from the United States due to decades of environmental destruction and health problems due to the tests.
Selina Leem: Small island, big dreams.
During the closing remarks at COP21 (the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris), then Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Tony deBrum gave Selina the opportunity to give the final statement on behalf of her country. As the youngest delegate to speak, she held up strands of coconut leaf from her country to share with world leaders and urge them to increase their action on climate change. A climate change activist and spoken word artist, Selina’s confidence and intellect has seen her speak at high-profile events and deliver TED Talks. As she said during her COP21 speech: “Sometimes when you want to make a change then it is necessary to turn the world upside down, because it is not for the better, it is for the best.”