On 23 September 2014, 26 year old poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, from the Marshall Islands, addressed the Opening Ceremony of the UN Secretary-General\’s Climate Summit. Kathy performed a new poem entitled \”Dear Matafele Peinem\”, written to her daughter. The poem received a standing ovation.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4fdxXo4tnY&w=560&h=315]
Link to the filmed poem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJuRjy9k7GA
After her recitation in front of 120 heads of state, her daughter and husband joined her on stage, to a standing ovation. An official U.N. Twitter account said many world leaders were moved to tears, evoking memories of a stirring speech from the Philippines representative Yeb Saño during the last major U.N. meeting on climate change, held just days after Typhoon Haiyan.
May this piece inspire you as well!