Meet Ulamila Kurai Wragg, Journalist and Climate Wise Woman

Ulamila Kurai Wragg is certainly on the frontline when it comes to reporting on climate change. The veteran journalist and mother of four dwells in Vaimaanga beach in Rarotonga (one of the Pacific's beautiful Cook Islands). The tropical paradise she calls home has seen its share of increasing sea surges, eroding shorelines, cyclones and dried river beds. Ula is on a mission to put it to an end.

For the past 20 years she's covered climate change in Fiji and the Cook Islands in addition to coordinating the non-profit Pacific WAVE (Women Advancing a Vision of Empowerment) Media Network and heading up its climate change team.

This month, she joins other Climate Wise Women making a wave in the fight against climate change in a 30 city, 18 country speaking tour. On the agenda? Getting politicians, government negotiators and media to wake up to the effect of global warming on women, children, families and communities around the world.

Planet Green: How did you get into this line of work?

Ulamila Kurai Wragg: I am a journalist by profession. Two years ago I co-founded Pacific WAVE Media Network, a regional network of Pacific women in media and communication. I am its current coordinator and also lead our Climate Change Team.

PG: What was your "a-ha" moment?

UKW: I have not had an "a-ha" moment. Growing up in the village that I did, I have always had respect for the environment. It was obvious that we had to live in harmony with the environment if we wanted a quality life--good food, good air, fresh fish, shades, houses, etc.

PG: Who is your green hero?

UKW: Edward Saul of Rarotonga (originally from the UK) who gave up a good paying job with New Zealand's government 20 years ago and moved to the Cook Islands to save a critically endangered bird from extinction. The bird is the Rarotongan Flycatcher, or known in the native language as Kakerori.

PG: What is your ultimate green goal?

UKW: To plant coastal tolerant trees in our low-lying islands of the Pacific, and find some funding to support our women in pursuing this dream. Trees will stop coastal erosion, provide them shade, food, and weaving materials for handicrafts that they can both use or sell for income.

PG: What is your motivation?

UKW: Definitely my children and my children's children.

PG: What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?

UKW: Living on an island I keep a wary eye on anything to do with sea level rise, water quality, food, fish, and coastal land loss.

PG: What is the most challenging part of your job?

UKW: Meeting sceptics.

PG: What is the most rewarding?

UKW: Speaking to young people in the developed world who are open minded about environmental issues.

PG: Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?

UKW: Mary Robinson. I admire her vision and energy for the human rights and environmental cause.

PG: What green thing do you do everyday?

UKW: Minimize the use of my car and compost our green waste.

PG: What do you wish you could do?

UKW: Develop 100 percent renewable energy for my island using wind and solar which we have in plenty.

PG: What is your biggest eco-sin?

UKW: I guess I could always do better but I am only human.

PG: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

UKW: That our friends in the developed world can truly understand their impact on the environmental quality of us all.

PG: What is your best green advice?

UKW: Think globally, act locally!

Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.