Standing With Tupou Tertiary Institute — A Voice for the Moana
Standing With Tupou Tertiary Institute — A Voice for the Moana
This week, Tupou Tertiary Institute (TTI) stepped forward with clarity and courage. In a public declaration that has resonated across Tonga, the Institute said: “No to DSM. Protect our Moana for future generations.” The message was not whispered ,it was displayed boldly, with students and staff united behind a banner that spoke for every Tongan who treasures our ocean.
In taking this stand, TTI has shown what leadership looks like. They did not wait for others to speak first. They did not hide behind polite neutrality. They acted ,and in doing so, they upheld the role of education as more than the transfer of knowledge. Education shapes values, forms character, and inspires the courage to defend what is right.
The ocean is more than water and resources; it is our history, our livelihood, and our identity. Deep-sea mining threatens not only marine ecosystems but also the cultural and spiritual bond our people share with the moana. These risks are not theoretical ,they are real, irreversible, and will fall most heavily on the next generation.
TTI’s stand should be a rallying point. If one institution can lead with such conviction, why not others? Schools, churches, community groups, and professional bodies share the same moral responsibility to speak when the wellbeing of Tonga’s environment and people is at stake. Silence, in such moments, is not neutrality, it is consent.
To the Government of Tonga: the message is clear. Your people are informed. They are speaking. They are calling for protection, transparency, and respect for the ocean that sustains us. When an institution like TTI raises its voice, it speaks not only for its students but for the nation’s conscience. It is your duty to listen ,and to act.
History will remember the choices made now. TTI has chosen to defend the moana. The rest of us must decide whether to stand with them or stand aside.
