Lotu and Felupe : reimagining a new and unifying approach to climate resilience in Tonga.
| dc.contributor.author | Liava‘a, Laiseni Fanon Charisma | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-10-22T22:08:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-10-22T22:08:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Pacific islands are on the frontline of the climate crisis, and Tonga is the second most vulnerable nation on the globe to be affected by natural disasters and effects of climate change. While churches play a fundamental role in Pacific cultures, very little is written on their role in relation to climate change. This research explores and analyses churches’ response to climate change, in the context of the notion of felupe, as a new and unifying approach towards climate resilience in Tonga. Research data were collected using qualitative methods. These included; interviews of 27 participants from 9 different church denominations in Nuku‘alofa, Tonga and 5 focus-group discussions with 29 Tongans from different suburbs in Auckland, New Zealand. Data were gathered and analysed using Mullet’s General Critical Discourse Analysis Framework (GCDAF) for Educational Research. The findings revealed the diversity of beliefs and values which have underpinned the churches’ approach to climate issues. They include stewardship and responsibility to God’s creation, power of prayers, end times, God’s providence and sovereignty and linking climate change to sin. The research also emphasises the sociotheological features of felupe and how felupe is an appropriate unifying approach for churches’ climate issues in Tonga. Some features of felupe include; grabbling, gathering and holding things together, fevahevahe‘aki, and a call for women to lead. The thesis argues that Felupe is relevant in the Tongan context, because it is communal, mutual and reciprocal. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10092/107439 | |
| dc.language | English | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.rights | All Rights Reserved | |
| dc.rights.uri | https://canterbury.libguides.com/rights/theses | |
| dc.title | Lotu and Felupe : reimagining a new and unifying approach to climate resilience in Tonga. | |
| dc.type | Theses / Dissertations | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Pacific Studies | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Canterbury | |
| thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | |
| uc.bibnumber | in1384708 | |
| uc.college | Faculty of Arts |