Japan’s recycling town: Can it inspire the Pacific?
When the residents of Osaki in southern Japan were first told about new plans for waste management and recycling in their small town, some were unhappy. “They threw cans at us,” said the Assistant Section Chief and
Tap into “environmentally conscious” tourists: Pacific report
A recently released report is recommending that Pacific destinations tap into environmentally conscious tourists when rebuilding their tourism sectors. This was part of recommendations in a recently released
Paddling Reverend creates global ripples
By Anendra Singh Mother Earth speaks volumes when it comes to defining life, but the Reverend James Shri Bhagwan believes a more universal dialect does that better.In trying to put global existence on its axis from a
Nawadra to lead SPREP
Fiji’s Sefanaia Nawadra is the new Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Nawadra takes up the role next April, and will succeed Samoa’s Kosi Latu, who has served
Giving it his best shot
Ernest Gibson wondered if it was a hoax when he was first contacted about joining the Earthshot Prize Council as it came completely out of the blue. The Council, which includes Prince William, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of
Opinion: Environmental protection and government’s failures
Last month the Suva Magistrates Court found the developers of a resort site on Fiji’s Malolo Islands guilty of undertaking development without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment Report. That development
Not for sale
FIJI’S iconic flower, the Tagimoucia, is not for sale. Fijian authorities have made this statement to Islands Business magazine following reports that a world-leading botanical garden is looking at taking
A murky mix of vested interests
AN oil spill in Rennell, Solomon Islands is turning into a disaster of catastrophic proportions, threatening the world’s biggest raised coral atoll and prompting caretaker Prime Minister Rick Hou to call for a
Fraud claims in Ambae
A MORE consistent and co-ordinated effort is required as an estimated 1000 people affected by continuous acid rain on Ambae Island have moved to Santo and Port Vila, a spokesperson for the Ambae disaster committee has
Flight from volcano island
Islanders return to acid rain WATER and sanitation testing is on the priority agenda for Ambae Island as it recovers from mass evacuation amid fears of the imminent eruption of Manaro volcano last month. Around 11000
Aliens invade the bay
ant invasive iguana (GII), also known as American iguana, in Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second biggest island. Last week villagers living near Viani Village, on the south coast of Natewa Bay, caught a male GII, a reptile
FANTASY ISLANDS; Once polluted, unusable space is now Tuvalu’s future.
IN the South China Sea, the Chinese Government has now built up a string of artificial islands that are robust enough to hold aircraft bases and give their regional neighbours a serious case of the jitters. Millions of
Winds of support propel Pacific Meteorological Services
THE “Nuku’alofa Declaration for Sustainable Weather and Climate Services for a Resilient Pacific” was endorsed by the first ever Pacific Ministers of Meteorology in Tonga in July. This is the first
Project turns waste into potential revenue
What do syringes and televisions have in common? Both become ‘hazardous waste’ when their useful life is over. That is, potentially dangerous or harmful to health or the environment if not properly managed.
Protocol aims to protect traditional knowledge from exploitation
History was made in Pyeongchang, Korea in October with the first Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, a landmark agreement covering access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits
Reflecting on the Third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States
Samoa showcased to the world a people united when they hosted over 4,000 delegates to the Third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Hailed as the best United Nations conference ever, UN
The Pathway to the 3rd SIDS Conference in Samoa
Samoa will make history this year as the first Pacific island country to host an international United Nations conference. The 3rd International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to be held from 1 to 4
Youth our greatest resource
As I contemplated writing this article for International Youth Day this year, I was struck by the number of confident, articulate and passionate young people I have met whilst at SPREP. Many of these young people hold
21 years of serving the environment and peoples of the Pacific
Pacific history was made twenty one years ago on June 16, 1993. On that day Pacific island countries signed an agreement to establish SPREP – the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme –
World Oceans Day – 8 June
“We are the sea. We are the ocean. We must wake up to this ancient truth.” – Professor Epeli Hau’ofa The oceans play a vital role in supporting all life on Earth. The oxygen in every third breath
Island Biodiversity
Since its establishment the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has worked to raise awareness on environment issues across the region and help empower others to do the same. Through our
April, a time to learn more about Asbestos
This month we commemorate Global Asbestos Awareness Week to raise awareness of an insidious and slow killer – the substance known as “asbestos”. Asbestos, which occurs naturally as a silky white
Weathering the storm together
I n January 2014, Tropical Cyclone Ian devastated a number of islands in the Kingdom of Tonga, a brutal and sobering reminder of how extreme weather affects our islands homes. On behalf of SPREP, I extend our deepest