Youth lead environment change
YOUTH from across the Asia-Pacific gathered in Nadi for the recent Sixth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of the
Youth
Deep-sea mining threatens Pacific futures
PACIFIC nations must unite against deep sea mining; Cook Islands youth leader Alana Matamaru Smith told a regional meeting
Fisherman’s call to save the ocean
METUA Mitchell is sailing with a mission – to protect the ocean he calls home and to keep the tradition of Pacific navigation
Farmwork pays for Premila Devi
At the crossroads of life, Premila Devi was suddenly widowed at 36, becoming the sole breadwinner for her family of
We’re not drowning
It’s a warm night in Sydney. A neighbourhood climate action group gathers at a pub in the inner-city suburb of Rozelle, to meet a visiting delegation of Pacific climate justice activists. For the six young advocates
Palauan youth allege human rights violations by US military
Guam-based international law firm Blue Ocean Law has filed a submission to two United Nations independent human rights experts detailing human rights violations they say are caused by the United States’ ongoing
Youthful resilience will be Commonwealth core strength in coming years, Samoa summit declares
The vibrant colours and rich Samoan culture filled the room as the 13th Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) opened in Apia, Samoa
The “Palauan Dream”
Palau’s tourism industry may be slowly recovering, but there are concerns that its young people are not participating in the
Moeloto Tuilaepa Tiatia wins for Samoa and the Pacific
Moeloto Tuilaepa Tiatia of Samoa has been elected to the Commonwealth Youth Council executive board ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa. She emerged as Pacific representative after a keenly
USP students with big dreams
Hundreds of students from around the region this week filled the Australia Pacific Lecture Theatre at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Laucala Campus, with much eagerness to further their studies. Every year,
Black Wednesday: PNG’s Tinder Box explodes
Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, is recovering from looting and burning of businesses in its National Capital District (NCD) after members of the PNG Police Force went on strike last month. “Black
Youth at the heart of building resilience
Advocating for the availability of financial aid from the government has become one of the key strategies for Pacific youth working towards community resilience. Sotiana Sorovakatini of the Bua Urban Youth Group said
Fiji’s low youth vote due to address records
A drastic drop in the voter turn-out for young people is of concern for the Fiji Elections Office. Only 58.46% of eligible voters aged 18 to 20 years voted in the 2022 general election. The Acting Supervisor of
Reduce voting age to 18: Samoa Election inquiry
A Commission of Inquiry (COI) has recommended Samoa lower its voting age from 21 to 18 so teens can cast their votes like their peers in the region. The recommendation calling for Samoa’s voting age to be
Illegal narcotics and meth use among youths a concern in Fiji
When Fiji’s Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua pointed out last year that the use and distribution of hard drugs had spiraled out of control and was a far bigger disaster than climate change, he was not
Kalekana Powerpuff Kids’ Club: Improving the lives of young Fijians
Like many of Fiji’s informal communities and settlements, when many people hear the name ‘Kalekana’, they associate it with drugs, crime and poverty. Yet, a group of dedicated youths are working on
Big picture vision conversations missing in the Pacific
Big picture conversations about the future of the Pacific islands should be happening, but they are not, said one of the region’s foremost commentators in an interview published this week in the Marshall Islands
PILNA identifies room for improvement
Pacific Island teachers are satisfied and proud of their work, but many of them have high stress levels. This is one of the newly-released findings of the Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) for
Emerging leaders take concerns to Canberra
Ongoing issues of overpopulation, economic inequality, domestic violence, climate change, geopolitics, illiteracy, and many health challenges are worrying to many Pacific Islanders. For young emerging leaders from the
Fiji Votes: A case of youth apathy or activism?
Young voters again have the opportunity to determine the result of Fiji’s election and the direction of the country in December, but many feel that political parties and candidates have failed to address the issues
Jobs, debt, inflation, representation: Issues concerning Fiji youth
Islands Business’ Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti asked young voters about the upcoming Fiji elections, and the issues of concern to them. This is what some of them had to say: Akansha, 21, from Nakasi, Suva is voting for
PNG youth carrying weapons ‘becoming a norm’
The rise in the use of a newly invented weapon called the wire-catapult or “silencer” is a big concern for East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea, says East Sepik Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent
Leaders of today: Declaration endorsed at youth forum in Rwanda
Young leaders representing 54 Commonwealth countries have presented a six-point action plan on youth development to Heads of Government gathered for a seminal meeting in Rwanda. The 25-page declaration makes
