<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail-dcr-1fnjjtg" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant-ligatures:common-ligatures;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:medium;line-height:inherit;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(18,18,18)"><div class="gmail-dcr-14emo0l" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;max-width:620px"><div class="gmail-dcr-cohhs3" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 36px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><h1 class="gmail-dcr-uc7bn6" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:4px 0px 0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:500;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:2.125rem;line-height:1.15;font-family:"GH Guardian Headline","Guardian Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(139,0,0)">Marshall Islands picks up the pieces after fire destroys its ‘heart of democracy’</h1></div></div></div><div class="gmail-dcr-1fnjjtg" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant-ligatures:common-ligatures;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:medium;line-height:inherit;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(18,18,18)"><div class="gmail-dcr-cj4vxp" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 14px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.15;font-family:"GH Guardian Headline","Guardian Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;max-width:540px;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">The slow process to rebuild parliament, the Nitijela, begins as the Pacific nation confronts the loss of a vital cultural landmark</p></div></div><div class="gmail-dcr-14emo0l" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;max-width:620px"><div class="gmail-dcr-ich95x" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"></div></div><div class="gmail-dcr-bjqdol" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;height:4532.41px;max-width:620px"><div class="gmail-dcr-1v9sla6" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><div class="gmail-dcr-5oiine" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:2px 0px 0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><div class="gmail-dcr-1kpcv08" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:flex"><div style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><address aria-label="Contributor info" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><div class="gmail-dcr-16bbvim" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 8px;border:0px;font-style:italic;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.15;font-family:"GH Guardian Headline","Guardian Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(199,0,0)"><a rel="author" href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jon-letman" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:normal;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:700;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(199,0,0);text-decoration-line:none">Jon Letman</a></div></address><span class="gmail-dcr-u0h1qy" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">Mon 1 Sep 2025 20.50 EDT</span></div></div><div class="gmail-dcr-9dgpdq" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 6px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:flex"><div class="gmail-dcr-1csot3r" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:1px 0px 0px;border-top-style:solid;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:initial;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:initial;border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:flex"><div class="gmail-dcr-14baf59" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:flex"><br><div style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail-dcr-st9szl" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant-ligatures:common-ligatures;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:medium;line-height:inherit;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(18,18,18)"><div class="gmail-dcr-1a4fred" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;width:620px"><div id="gmail-maincontent" class="gmail-dcr-1uvtuj9" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0.75rem 0px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><div class="gmail-article-body-commercial-selector gmail-article-body-viewer-selector gmail-dcr-11jq3zt" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word"><span class="gmail-dcr-15rw6c2" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 4px 0px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:7rem;line-height:5.75rem;font-family:"GH Guardian Headline","Guardian Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:text-top;float:left;text-transform:uppercase;color:rgb(139,0,0)">I</span>n Majuro, a day after fire ravaged the national parliament, the full devastation became clear. The building <a href="https://rmiparliament.org/cms/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">known as Nitijela</a> had been reduced to a blackened shell, littered with debris.<strong style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:bold;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> </strong>Among the objects lost to the fire were archive documents, original journal transcripts of daily sessions going back decades, and artworks that once adorned the walls.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Flames had engulfed the building by the time the only functioning fire engine in the Marshall Islands arrived to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/26/marshall-islands-parliament-fire-burns-down" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">fight the blaze on 26 August</a>. Firefighters were joined by residents and government officials, furiously trying to extinguish the flames and salvage any hard drives storing digital documents, including a copy of the <a href="https://www.un.int/marshallislands/marshallislands/country-facts" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">country’s constitution</a>.</p><div id="gmail-sign-in-gate" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><span name="SignInGateSelector" style="box-sizing:border-box"></span></div><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Yet despite their efforts, the building could not be saved. Now the people of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/marshall-islands" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">Marshall Islands</a> are confronting a loss of a landmark that holds deep cultural significance.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">“It was the heart of our democracy – a place where the Marshallese voice was heard, our sovereignty upheld, our future shaped,” says the minister of foreign affairs and trade, Kalani Kaneko.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">“The Marshall Islands has overcome many trials. This tragedy will not define us. Our collective response and resilience in the face of it will demonstrate our strength.”</p><div id="gmail-img-2" class="gmail-dcr-1t8m8f2" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail-dcr-evn1e9" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block"><img alt="The entrance to the cabinet floor in the parliament building after the fire" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/170cf20375b09d6e978be23242baff98b36efdf0/0_0_6174_4116/master/6174.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none" width="445" height="296.66666666666663" class="gmail-dcr-evn1e9" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; height: 573.656px; width: 860px; object-fit: cover;"></span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/02/marshall-islands-picks-up-pieces-after-fire-destroys-parliament-nitijela#img-2" class="gmail-open-lightbox gmail-dcr-13fd1ms" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;width:860px;height:573.656px"><button type="button" class="gmail-open-lightbox gmail-dcr-4tmywn" aria-haspopup="dialog" style="margin:6px;border-radius:50%;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;background:rgba(18,18,18,0.8);opacity:0;height:44px;width:44px"><span class="gmail-dcr-194i6pr" style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;overflow:hidden;width:1px;height:1px">View image in fullscreen</span></button></a></div><span class="gmail-dcr-1inf02i" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 4px 0px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;width:1em"></span><span class="gmail-dcr-1qvd3m6" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">The entrance to the cabinet floor in the parliament building after the fire. </span>Photograph: Chewy C Lin/The Guardian<p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Clearing the parliament’s ruins is expected to begin almost immediately, according to local media, and the rebuild could take up to a year.<strong style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:bold;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"> </strong>President Hilda Heine said the “foundation of our democratic spirit and cultural strength remains firm and unshaken”.</p><span name="RichLinkComponent" style="box-sizing:border-box"><div class="gmail-dcr-1kyw41h" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;background-color:rgb(246,246,246)"><div class="gmail-dcr-x4f40b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:contents"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/05/ww2-hidden-bombs-clearing-disposal-pacific-marshall-islands-unexploded-ordnance-uxo" class="gmail-dcr-1m887w9" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(199,0,0);text-decoration-line:none"><div class="gmail-dcr-1lhuo3r" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:1px 0px 0px;border-top-style:solid;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:initial;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:rgb(199,0,0);border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:initial;border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"></div><div style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7002debd8afaa3bb0f10b12ba0f76a5644af5b45/110_510_2611_1567/master/2611.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f98f6b9fcaae31436a73e91ccfb50451" alt="A Golden West explosive ordnance disposal technician carrying a Japanese projectile for destruction on Taroa Island in September 2023" width="2611" height="1567" class="gmail-dcr-1e3yjba" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 220px; height: auto;"></div><div class="gmail-dcr-ut4tvs" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:2px 5px 5px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><div class="gmail-dcr-1h5b6rb" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 10px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><div class="gmail-dcr-1dgt1gs" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:1px 0px 5px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.15;font-family:"GH Guardian Headline","Guardian Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">How hidden WW2 bombs across the Pacific are found and destroyed, decades after war</div></div><div class="gmail-dcr-eurq8n" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:2px 0px 6px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:flex"><div class="gmail-dcr-fkf7vq" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 4px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.15;font-family:"GH Guardian Headline","Guardian Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">Read more</div></div></div></a></div></div></span><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Located in central Majuro, the parliament was connected by a corridor to the former capitol complex, which had been slated for rebuilding. The complex had been unoccupied for more than 10 years until its demolition last spring. Both buildings were 32 years old. Reconstruction of a new capitol complex will be delayed as the government works to first rebuild the parliament.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Less than a week after the fire, a <a href="https://www.piimajuro.com/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">local construction firm</a> brought heavy equipment for demolition to the site. Construction is expected to begin soon after clearing the ruins, and is aimed to be completed by August 2026. In the meantime, parliament will convene next door at the International Conference Centre.</p><div class="gmail-ad-slot-container" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:12px auto;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:flex;max-width:100vw;text-align:center;background-color:rgb(246,246,246)"></div><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Kaneko says the cost of reconstruction is expected to reach millions of dollars but that what was lost cannot be measured in money. He calls the Nitijela the symbol of Marshallese democracy and “the space where the voice of our people shaped our nation’s journey”.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">The Pacific archipelago lies between Hawaii and Australia and has a population of 42,000, with about half in Majuro. It had previously been colonised by Spain, Germany, Japan and the US.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">The name Nitijela means “the coming together of those who know” and is based on a proverb once used to describe forums held by <em style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">irooj</em> (chiefs).</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">“The building gave a platform for the people of the Marshall Islands to story their own issues and chart their own course as Marshallese … without filter by colonial powers,” says Desmond Doulatram, a social science instructor at the College of the Marshall Islands.</p><div id="gmail-img-3" class="gmail-dcr-1t8m8f2" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail-dcr-evn1e9" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block"><img alt="Heavy machinery is used to fight the fire that destroyed the national parliament" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aac927e5ea0f4344ba8cf0ea298db7865ea91f3a/0_0_6078_4052/master/6078.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none" width="445" height="296.66666666666663" class="gmail-dcr-evn1e9" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; height: 413px; width: 620px; object-fit: cover;"></span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/02/marshall-islands-picks-up-pieces-after-fire-destroys-parliament-nitijela#img-3" class="gmail-open-lightbox gmail-dcr-13fd1ms" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;width:620px;height:413px"><button type="button" class="gmail-open-lightbox gmail-dcr-4tmywn" aria-haspopup="dialog" style="margin:6px;border-radius:50%;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;background:rgba(18,18,18,0.8);opacity:0;height:44px;width:44px"><span class="gmail-dcr-194i6pr" style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;overflow:hidden;width:1px;height:1px">View image in fullscreen</span></button></a></div><span class="gmail-dcr-1inf02i" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 4px 0px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;width:1em"></span><span class="gmail-dcr-1qvd3m6" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">Heavy machinery is used to fight the blaze that destroyed the national parliament.</span> Photograph: Chewy C Lin/AP<p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">When the Nitijela is in session, key votes, debates and public hearings are broadcast on national radio and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/lAKyb5mGTQY?si=n4LuaYcyXDtTEwv1&t=4535" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">livestreamed</a>, connecting Marshallese communities around the world.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Doulatram describes the Nitijela as a “symbol of a reciprocal relation between leaders and the people” where plans are developed and debated, and cultural memory and oral traditions preserved.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">What the Marshall Islands needs most now, Kaneko says, is “solidarity and support from our friends and partners”, including technical expertise, financial assistance, and guidance in design and preservation.</p><div id="gmail-img-4" class="gmail-dcr-1t8m8f2" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail-dcr-evn1e9" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block"><img alt="Locals watch as fire destroys the Nitijela parliament building in Majuro" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0bfe0d2f95ce066e5876e929f3c83217c724691d/0_0_5632_3755/master/5632.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none" width="445" height="296.6930042613636" class="gmail-dcr-evn1e9" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; height: 573.656px; width: 860px; object-fit: cover;"></span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/02/marshall-islands-picks-up-pieces-after-fire-destroys-parliament-nitijela#img-4" class="gmail-open-lightbox gmail-dcr-13fd1ms" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;width:860px;height:573.656px"><button type="button" class="gmail-open-lightbox gmail-dcr-4tmywn" aria-haspopup="dialog" style="margin:6px;border-radius:50%;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;background:rgba(18,18,18,0.8);opacity:0;height:44px;width:44px"><span class="gmail-dcr-194i6pr" style="box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;overflow:hidden;width:1px;height:1px">View image in fullscreen</span></button></a></div><span class="gmail-dcr-1inf02i" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 4px 0px 0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;display:inline-block;width:1em"></span><span class="gmail-dcr-1qvd3m6" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline">Locals watch as fire ravages the Nitijela building in Majuro.</span> Photograph: Chewy C Lin/AP<p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Under a recently renegotiated <a href="https://www.state.gov/marshall_islands-24-501.2" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">compact of free association</a> with the United States, the Marshall Islands <a href="https://www.fema.gov/hi/locations/republic%20of%20the%20marshall%20islands" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">may be eligible</a> to receive disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Fema, which the Trump administration has threatened with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/25/fema-trump-hurricane-katrina" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border-width:0px 0px 1px;border-top-style:initial;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:initial;border-top-color:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:rgb(220,220,220);border-left-color:initial;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(199,0,0)">drastic cuts</a>, did not respond to requests for comment.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">Kitlang Kabua, a senator representing Kwajalein Atoll, tells the Guardian: “Although our hearts are heavy … I believe that Nitijela is still alive and strong through the survival of our people. So long as we remain and exist, we will always have Nitijela.</p><p class="gmail-dcr-130mj7b" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 0.75rem;padding:0px;border:0px;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.4;font-family:GuardianTextEgyptian,"Guardian Text Egyptian Web",Georgia,serif;font-size-adjust:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;word-break:break-word">“We will build another Nitijela chamber that honours the legacy of our forefathers, our culture and the Marshallese of today and tomorrow.”</p></div></div></div></div></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" size="4"><i>Sunny Walker </i></font><div><div dir="ltr"><i><font face="arial, sans-serif">She/her/hers</font></i></div><div dir="ltr"><i><font face="arial, sans-serif">On </font></i><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif"><i>Arapaho, Cheyenne, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), and Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux) tribal land</i></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif"><i><img width="200" height="71" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wPZyPY_WvsB1jy2GzPMb8pu58faklRdoOJQo2voecFQf7GxG2gsHYpUU7cAq4vfXWdUpp55rU"><br></i></span></div><div><font face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" size="4"><i></i></font><div>Certified Facilitator (Also Certified ToP Facilitator) </div><div>ToP Methods Mentor Trainer - <a href="https://www.top-training.net/w/" target="_blank">Upcoming Courses</a></div><div>Virtual Facilitation Collaborative Senior Facilitator</div><div><a href="mailto:sunny.sunwalker@gmail.com" target="_blank">sunny.sunwalker@gmail.com</a></div><div>303-587-3017</div><div><br></div><div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">For diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging inquiries:</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="mailto:sunny@diversityinnovators.com" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">sunny@diversityinnovators.com</a></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="http://www.diversityinnovators.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.diversityinnovators.com</a></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div></div><div>For virtual facilitation inquiries:<br></div><div><a href="mailto:sunny@virtualfacilitationcollaborative.com" target="_blank">sunny@virtualfacilitationcollaborative.com</a></div><div><a href="http://www.virtualfacilitationcollaborative.com" target="_blank">www.virtualfacilitationcollaborative.com</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>