Thank you, secretary kerry. And, of course, our gracious hosts today and over the next couple of days. I wish to acknowledge your contribution this morning. Thank you very much for that very inspiring statement. Excellencies, friends of the ocean, ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by greeting you, bringing the greetings from the people of my country young, old and on whose behalf im very honored to be here to address this conference. In my country we usually begin by conferring blessings on each other, so let me do so to each and every one of you this morning. [speaking in native tongue] it is an honor, indeed, and a great pleasure for me to be a part of this summit. Let me begin at the outset by expressing my deep gratitude and appreciation and, of course, our congratulations to our host, secretary of state john kerry, and through you, to the government and the people of the United States, for this timely initiative and for the invitation to attend the summit. On an urgent issue focused on our oceans. The leadership and the commitment in saving our ocean and, indeed, our planet is one that we from the Pacific Region associate with very closely and welcome this initiative, indeed. I commend our host countrys strong commitment for action against Climate Change, action against the blind pursuit of Development Without full responsibility for its impact on our environment. This summit, i believe, is the beginning of more positive developments in this area. With strong leadership and more development partners. The theme of our summit, our ocean, is, indeed, very significant. It serves to remind us of our shared and mutual ownership of the ocean and with which comes with it the shared responsibility and our [inaudible] to insure the health of our ocean for our children and their children and for future generations. As secretary just said, our planet earth is our shared hope. And unfortunately, the only one we have. Ladies and gentlemen, for far too long human activityies and our single mighty pursuit for shortterm gains and profits have had severe impacts on the health of our environment. These include harmful fishing practices, illegal fishing, dumping of waste in the ocean, industrial activity which have caused excessive Carbon Dioxide emissions and, of course, the list goes on. In combination, these activities have greatly affected the health of our oceans and our planet and, of course, the ecosystems. These have resulted in what we see now, depletion of fishery stocks, increasing ocean acidification, color bleaching, Sea Level Rise, increased Ocean Temperatures and a change to our climate system. Never in Human History has the health of our oceans and our planet earth been so challenged. My country has often been referred to as a small islanddeveloping state. But in reality were a very large natural ocean state, and my people have been custodians over centuries of the surrounding ocean of around 3. 5 million square kilometers, more than twice the size of the largest u. S. State of alaska. When i say the ocean is very much a part of our lives, our culture and our heritage, i do, of course, include not only my fellow Pacific Island nations, but also the United States of america. We share maritime boundaries with our waters strategically located as the u. S. Pivot of the pacific. Furthermore, our ocean territory hosts part of the largest remaining tuna fish species with true commercial supply chains which are linked to United States businesses and consumers. In essence, through the oceans and the pacific as not only direct economic linkages for the United States, but its also intricately linked with u. S. National security. Ladies and gentlemen, the same case would apply to my colleagues [inaudible] this very same ocean has now raised a new major survival challenge. Our people are now facing major challenges never faced before from the rise in sea levels. Over the recent past, at the beginning of this year in particular, we experienced the increasing severity of inundation and the ocean of our shorelines erosion of our shorelines caused by unusually high tides. In some parts of the country, villages have had to be relocated due to severe erosion. Food crops have been destroyed and waters contaminated by the rising sea levels. This are alarming new experiences for us and are not part of [inaudible] my friend from the Marshall Islands during that period declared a state of emergency. Science and our experience on the ground have given us ample proof that if we to not change direction can, it will be to our detriment. More so for our children and their childrens children. Very sadly, the pace of Global Action in response to this nature calamity nowhere measures the degree of severity of the existential and survival challenges that Sea Level Rise poses for our peoples and countries. Climate change, as ive said time and time again, poses the greatest moral challenge of our time. It isnt about the survival of people, the survival of women, the survival of children, whole commitments, cities and nation communities, cities and nations. It isnt about economics. Not anymore. It is not a political football. It is not about the course of who is responsible anymore. It is now about what we must do together as responsible global citizens. No one country can do anything on its own to affect the kind of changes required to deal or to address the challenge. It is our shared ocean and and our planet, and we need to Work Together to address these enormous challenges. As [inaudible] we are the Early Warning system to the calamities emanating from Sea Level Rise and the change of climate now facing the Global Community. We will fall, but when we fall, others will follow to be on the front line. And they, too and im advised that more than 70 of the cities and human settlements around the world are on coastal areas. They will be the next on the front line. Ladies and gentlemen, one of our major hopes of responding to Climate Change lie also at the very ocean which is threatening us from Sea Level Rise. We are, we host vast fishery resources within our exclusive Economic Zones in the various countries in the pacific. Within our waters alone, our fish resources are valued at around 500 million a year. But this is of no value to us, because at the moment were only receiving around 8 of this amount. But given the amount of the value of the Resources Available to us, if we could harvest to a larger extent the value of those resources, it would provide us with the opportunity and the capacity to become more climate resilient and to be able to adapt in the way that we need to adapt in order to address the challenge. I believe that there should be more equity and justice in the Business Partnership within the fishing industry. Custodians of such resources should be allowed greater meaningful participation in the industry. We believe that it will only be through realizing the true value of this resource to us that we can provide the muchneeded Financial Resources for adaptation to the change in climate. Ladies and gentlemen, we recognize the critical importance of our ocean and the resources within for the future of our people. And accordingly, with the assistance of our partners, Conservation International and new england aquarium, we established in 2008 one of the largest marineprotected areas in our part of the world. The Phoenix Islands protected area or pip as we call it. People [inaudible] World Heritage site in 2010, and its not only the largest Living Laboratory where scientists can study the natural environment, ecosystem in its pristine stages, but it is also a major spawning ground for tuna, so its closure will have a major contribution to the conservation and to the rejuvenation of fish stocks and global security. For us it is an investment in the future. It is also our contribution to humanity, to the conservation and the preservation of marine life not only for us, but for the Global Community and for the generations to come. More importantly, it indicates our strong conviction to the Global Community that addressing the challenges of Climate Change calls for very serious commitment and sacrifice. The establishment of pipa has not been done without sacrifices. And as a small economy, the projected initial loss in revenue weighs very significantly in our consideration. But at the final analysis, we made the decision to persist wefective, with effective, sustainable strategies. Im very happy today to announce at this conference that we have taken the decision to fully close all commercial fishing activities within the Phoenix Islandsprotected area wefect from the 1st of january, 2015. [applause] we have not stopped there. We have also recently taken an initial step to declare the 12mile nautical zone surrounding each of the islands in the south group closed off from, also from all commercial fishing activities to allow for the marine environments surrounding these islands to remain in their current pristine conditions. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, these efforts of conservation and Sustainable Management of our ocean and marine life is not only confined to my country. In 2010 leaders at the Pacific Islands forum unanimously adopted a framework for targeted actions needed for our region to safeguard the health of our oceans. As a region, we take our obligation as stewards of one of the greatest natural endowments in the world very seriously. Our obligation to insure that the Pacific Ocean sustains life on this planet not only for now, but for the days to come. Our continued commitment as a region will be reflected, is reflected in the theme of the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Meeting to be held in palau which is the ocean our life, our future. Following endorsement of the Pacific Ocean scape, other Pacific Island countries also declared designated marineprotected areas. The cook islands in 2012 declared 1. 4 million square kilometers. My friend from palau, the president , do declared all of palau exclusive Economic Zone closed. Other countries have done the same. And so this is the momentum that we want to carry on. Within the pacific we have a number of arrangements in place to insure that we do the job that needs to be done. The Pacific Region, therefore, has some of the more stringent and most elaborate conservation arrangements and missions more this including through the Pacific Islands forum, the Forum Fisheries agency, the pacific community, the south Pacific Regional environment program, the western and Central Pacific tuna fisheries commission, the u. S. Multilateral treaty as well as a subregional coastal Fisheries Resource a subregional grouping of coastal Fisheries Resource owners under the [inaudible] narrow agreement. Ladies and gentlemen, let me emphasize that conservation and Sustainable Management efforts at the national and regional levels will be futile if such efforts are not supported and complemented at the global level. Global inaction to regulate and insure the levels of restriction for our ocean and planet to insure that they are sustainable will be, will ultimately result in the loss of the entire ecosystem. Declaring closed areas for marineprotected areas and conservation will have no meaning if the closure of these mpas cannot be enforced. The technology to insure effective management and protection of the oceans is not something new, but it has yet to be put into effective use. Such technology will complement and enhance clap aretive collaborative agreements necessary to insure that our ocean covering some twothirds of the earths surface is effectively monitored and protected. Ladies and gentlemen, we urge the Global Community, our development parties, our fishing water partners, private businesses, individuals and those who can and who share the vision to also make similar sacrifices including making contributions to the supporting the marineprotected areas. It makes good Financial Sense to do so. Our presence here today is part of the necessary steps towards joint Global Action, joint global commitment and joint global obligations to preserve and save our home, our one and only home. Our presence here is an acknowledgment of our shared responsibility to insure the health of our ocean and our environment. Let us not allow this momentum let us not slow this momentum. Linking up at the summit with the upcoming Small Island Developing States Forum as well as the United Nations secretary generals Climate Change summit later this year. The preservation of our oceans and inaction against Climate Change, our global obligations towards future survival and security of our peoples. And i speak on behalf of my fellow [inaudible] in stressing that they should be given exclusive focus as we shape the post2015 development goal. We are one Global Community, and we have a collective responsibility to insure that planet earth, our home, our Childrens Home and their Childrens Home continues to sustain life as we know it today. We can no longer afford to remain idle, to stand on the sidelines. Let us pool our resources, our knowledge and our efforts to save this life source, this gift from mother nature. Inaction is no longer an option. Action is our obligation to our children and their childrens children. Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude by sharing with you our traditional blessings [speaking in native tongue] meaning may health, peace and prosperity be upon us all. Thank you. [applause] mr. President , secretary kerry, thank you very much for the inspirational remarks and for the amazing announcement that president tong has made. It shows very clearly the Critical Role our political leaders have in driving forward action to protect our ocean. Im now delighted to invite to the stage three leading Civil Society voices on Ocean Conservation, Philippe Cousteau of earth echo international, Margaret Leinen and enrique sala of National Geographic. They will each present their thoughts on the theme exploring, understanding and conserving our ocean. And while they take the stage, the images you will see around the room are from one of the best love known and most best known and most loved versions of science, thal vin submersible alvin submersible, which just turned 50 years old this year. [applause] in the year that i was born, lived a man who sailed to sea. And he told us of his life in the land of submarines. So we sailed on to the sun until we found a sea of green. And we live beneath the waves in our Yellow Submarine. We all live in a Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine. We all live in a Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine. And and our friends are all aboard, many more of them live next door. And the band begins to play we all live in a Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine. We all live in a Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine [inaudible] because we live a life every one of us has all we need. Sky of blue and sea of green in our Yellow Submarine. We all live in a Yellow Submarine, a Yellow Submarine, a Yellow Submarine. We all live in a Yellow Submarine, a