News from the entire Pacific Region
The General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend James Bhagwan says now more than ever, there is a need to respect the ocean. As today marks “World Oceans Day”, Reverend Bhagwan says people turn to the sea for survival as a result of lockdown and unemployment. Rev. Bhagwan says during the time
Opinion Feature The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic to our Pacific shores once again brought to light the weakness of public health systems in our region. The reality is that our health systems are not ready for this crisis. Amid the challenge of understanding and mitigating the spread of this global pandemic,
Opinion Feature Our team arrived at the riverbank just below Katehana village. It took us about half an hour bumpy drive through a red muddy terrain. The clear afternoon had quickly turned dull. The sky was already grey and droplets of rain beckoned us to turn around. Darker clouds loomed further up
We previously shared episodes of “Who Asked Her?” the podcast created by Papua New Guinean lawyer Elvina Ogil to discuss “issues of importance to Papua New Guineans across all demographics” but from a unique feministic perspective. “[The podcast] is about broadening our view of Papua New Guinean women at home because we have
Raising Pacific Voices (RPV) has launched a research project on behalf of the Pacific Regional NGO Alliance (PRNGO) to listen to the voices of communities and community leaders in Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu about what the ocean means to them. The 'Blue Economy' topic for research was selected by the
Written by ERNEST GIBSON – Oxfam in the Pacific and Pacific Youth Council Technical Advisory Group; and CHRISTOPHER TENISIO – 350 Pacific Climate Warriors Auckland In the Pacific, we are taught to recognise the value of narratives and stories from the day we are born. You need to know who you are: your mother
By Harrison Selman Patrick Pedrus is the maker and host of the Micronesian Podcast, a regular podcast where he discusses a range of social issues with guests. Highlights include: New bill for women in FSM congress A bill introduced by vice speaker, Senator Esmond B. Moses could guaranteed women representation in Congress. https://anchor.fm/the-micronesian/episodes/Episode-39---New-bill-for-women-in-FSM-Congress-e1sdns
By Harrison Selman The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) have agreed to work together in addressing sexual and reproductive health needs of people living with disability. Their Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) formalises and builds on the existing partnership between the organisations. IPPF Director Programme and Operations,
The future and sovereignty of the people of Ma’ohi Nui/French Polynesia and their natural resources remains a concern as Pacific churches continue to push for the decolonisation process. The President of the Association Union Chretienne des Jeunes Gens, Tiare-Maohi Tairua, says: “We remain optimistic that a genuine process of implementation of these mandates will
By Katerina Teaiwa The office of Nei Tabera Ni Kai (NTK), a film unit based in the town of Taborio, in the small island nation of Kiribati, is a small concrete building situated two metres above sea level, 30 metres from the lagoon on one side and 45 metres from the ocean on the
Addressing the Rights, Needs and Strengths of Fijian Sexual and Gender Minorities in Disaster Risk Reduction and Humanitarian Response On a sunny day in Lautoka, around 20 Fijian sexual and gender minority members met to share their stories. One attended in defiance of threats from her family. For another, it was the very
By MAUREEN PENJUELI, Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) [The following article was first published in the Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2019 report.] Global powers and Pacific Island nations are racing to divide up the ocean's resources using the narratives of Blue Economy and Blue Growth to justify their exploitation. Technology advances make once-unfeasible seafloor
