The Proasis project is a private German climate change awareness initiative, born out of the GIZ Project “Transitioning to Low Carbon Sea Transport Program in the Marshall Island”. The highest point of the Marshall Islands is just 2 m (6 ft) above sea level. This puts the entire nation and its people in high risk of being inundated by rising sea level. The Proasis project is supporting the local NGO Waan Aelon in Majel (WAM) on a technical level to design and build a fleet of sustainable and emission free transport and fishing vessels to replace motor boats and cut down emissions. At the same time we use our yellow 9 m (27 ft) proa “Proasis”, a prototype of the fishing vessel design, for public awareness events and to create a closer tie between the German and Marshallese people.
Creating Awareness: Wa kuk Wa jimor
Wa kuk Wa jimor is Marshallese and means “Canoes bring people together”. This is meant literally as the canoe (any sailing craft) is used for travelling but is also an expression that big projects (like building and sailing a boat) can only be done in a community effort by people coming together. We want to use our one-of-a-kind canoe Proasis as a cultural connector to Oceania. Many people here in Europe have never seen or heard of the Marshall Islands, yet its our lifestyle and decisions which determine the fate of this island nation (and many others, too). The atolls in the Pacific Ocean are drowning and so does their people. Whoever thinks that’s not our business should better think again: we all share the same ocean and a sea level is, as the name implies, always leveled.
Our yellow canoe is so special here in northern Germany that many people stop by to have a chat. We use these talks to connect people with each other and transport the message that we have to work together to care for the big canoe we all share as humanity: Planet Earth. Wa kuk Wa jimor at it’s best.
We are very happy to give presentations/speeches or tell stories about our experience in the Pacific. You know a good event? Please get in touch with us!
Working on our Boat: Hands-on action
Besides telling stories, creating awareness and connecting people we use Proasis as test and research platform for sustainable technology. Current projects are:
- Assignments for the Marshall Islands Project about low carbon sea transport (GIZ implemented)
- Test of non-toxic antifouling for ships and yachts
- Performance measurment
- Sail system development
Despite the technical stuff we support the Marshall Islands as part of the GIZ implemented Low Carbon Sea Transport Project (LCST) on political level too. Main fields are new shipping legislation and international meetings such as the UN Climate Conferences.