The story of Kiribati mirrors the modern life in many developing Pacific countries.
Last September and October, I have been photographing the disappearing islands of Kiribati. Due to global warming and rising sea levels, Kiribati is slowly being engulfed by the Pacific ocean.
Kiribati aroused my curiosity after I’d read an interview with Anote Tong, the president of the small island nation, who warned about his country becoming uninhabitable due to rising sea levels and increasing salination. As Mr. Tong put it: “Kiribati might already have reached the point of no return. To plan for the day when you no longer have a country is indeed painful, but I think we have to do that.”
I then travelled to Kiribati to witness the small island country’s problems. Through encounters with citizens, activists and their President, I intended to address the environmental issues and offer a testament to the population’s spirit. The main objective of this project is to invite people, everywhere, to actively consider what is going on in Kiribati.
Ciril Jazbec
Ciril Jazbec was born in Slovenia, which is where he first took up photography and visual storytelling. His desire to expand his horizons led him to London where he studied MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at the London College of Communication. He is drawn towards stories that reach out and touch you, making you stop, think and take action in the midst of our ever-changing world.
Ciril is currently based in London, UK.
