Pacific Elders Group calls for action in Cairo
The Pacific Elders Group is calling for urgent action at upcoming climate talks in Egypt “to enable nations to implement the agreed goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement.” The group is calling for the
PIANGO: Prioritise progress on loss and damage
The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (PIANGO) wants greater action on mitigation, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the COP27 climate conference. PIANGO says this requires the
Three new MPs for Tongatapu decided in by-election
Three new Tongatapu People’s Representatives have been elected into the Legislative Assembly, after the by-elections on November 3. Electoral Commissioner Pita Vuki has announced the by-election results for the
Mark Robinson joins as new CEO of Bank South Pacific
Bank South Pacific Financial Group Limited has announced the appointment of Mark T. Robinson as Group Chief Executive Officer. Robinson is a senior financial services executive and globally experienced banking Chief
More funding needed for climate adaptation: UNEP
Countries must urgently ramp up action to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change, as efforts now are too little and too slow, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its latest report, published
PNG to receive ‘biggest slice’ of Australian finance
Papua New Guinea has been allocated the biggest slice — around 70 percent — of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), according to the Australian government. Australia’s minister
Small island, big ocean: Niue makes its entire EEZ a marine park
When Niueans are babies, their parents traditionally take them down to the seashore and throw them in the water so they learn to swim, Mona Ainu’u told Mongabay. That’s more important in Niue than most places. The
Be A Good Ancestor, Protect Our Legacy for Future Generations
In the Pacific, the moana (ocean) does not divide our islands, it unites us. For centuries, Indigenous peoples have recognised that the oceans are a creative force of nature and form the foundation of our blue planet.
Connectedness important in preventing depression in Pacific adolescents
A new study uses network analysis to demonstrate how connectedness with family, friends, and school can prevent depression in Pacific adolescents. Youth mental health in New Zealand is declining and the impact on
Protecting the Pacific from Foot and Mouth Disease
Earlier this year, alarming reports came out of Indonesia about an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). As of 2nd July, Indonesia recorded 313,636 infected cattle, with over 2,700 deaths. [1] What is FMD? FMD is a
‘Til death do us part: Village holds out against the waves
As the sun sets over Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island, a gong sounds, calling the people to evening prayers. Waves crash on the shoreline, inching ever closer to the village and threatening their very
A Holy Vow: Churches attempt a lost cause
On the black sand a child ran, face turned upwards as he chased a butterfly. Oblivious to the encroachment of rising sea levels and the gradual erosion of his village, he ran back and forth - lost in this moment. Fifty
A cog in Fiji’s history: Site links ancient kingdoms
One account of the origins of Vunisavisavi begins with a young chief setting out from the pre-European kingdom of Verata which was, at the time, a dominant political force. With his retainers, the chief left his home on
Whispers
PNG’s big bills Papua New Guinea government offices have been able to move back into their premises after temporarily being locked out over non-payment of rent, but the matter had to go to court for that to happen.
America’s Catch-Up Summit
Spooked by China’s influence in the Pacific Islands, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted an unprecedented summit at the White House for leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum on 28-29 September. It was the culmination of
Blandness Debilitates Regionalism
It has been a bugbear for me for some time. However, over the years, I have learned that I was not the only one being stressed by this. Others, many in fact, have been equally perturbed by this tendency for the Pacific
Avoiding a WASHout
There has been a significant decline in donor funding for water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the Pacific, as the region continues to lag behind the Sustainable Development Goals on access to water. A recent study
WOTA: A Japanese Solution to Water Shortages?
A Tokyo-based start-up working on small-scale water recycling systems hopes they may help solve water shortages in small island communities. WOTA’s technology is a response to what it describes as a ‘looming
EV Chargers may spawn e-revolution on Fiji roads
The company behind Fiji's first electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is optimistic that its transformative clean energy project will also spill over to Fiji's maritime transportation, with plans to produce
Decarbonising transport: hydrogen fuel is next
While electric vehicles are only just entering Pacific Island markets, Tokyo is working towards an ambitious plan that would see a decarbonised society with net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Increasing the number of
Saved from the Unknown
One in four women with cervical cancer live in what the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines as the ‘Western Pacific Region’, a collection of Asia and Pacific Island states and territories. An estimated 145,700
Aumua’s Challenge: Fund agriculture for nutrition, inclusion, survival
The international community has been urged to invest in agricultural innovation in a way that includes traditional practitioners and acknowledges the interconnectedness of agriculture with nutrition, culture, climate
Qaqi Mai: Bike Share
When I was younger, my friends and I used to say ‘Qaqi Mai’ when we were ‘choking’ each other for bus fare, a teasing way to say, ‘walk home’! But aspiring businessman Eliki Dakuitoga is giving the
