PINA

By Pita Ligaiula Japan’s plan to discharge radioactive waste water into the Pacific has been described by Acting Forum Secretary General, Dr Filimon Manoni ‘unconscionable’. Dr Manoni made the remarks at the World Ocean Day commemorated in Fiji’s capital Suva, today. “Because for us here in the Pacific, the ocean is everything. If it were up to us, this celebration would be...

Over a third of global fish stocks are being harvested at unsustainable levels – just one example of how human activity is harming oceans, which cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater action to protect oceans in his message to mark World Oceans Day on Thursday. “The ocean is the foundation...

World leaders should take action to protect small island nations from “choking on plastics.” This was said by Small Islands States during the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Paris. At the same time, island nations such as Palau urged world leaders to prioritize island nations that are facing a triple risk – climate change, increasing sea levels, and the scourge of...

Fiji and New Zealand will continue to collaborate further on issues of common interest. Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs  Sitiveni Rabuka made these remarks when he met New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Mahuta. Since their last meeting in March this year, Prime Minister Rabuka informed Mahuta that discussions for further collaboration between the two countries have progressed well. During the...

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says New Zealand currently receives the “lion’s share” of trade between the countries - something he wants to dramatically change, while also looking at joining a regionwide free trade agreement. But it was increasing trade between the countries, particularly on Fiji’s end, that Rabuka spent much of his airtime addressing. Fiji aims to increase two-way trade...

The ocean is under immense pressure from climate change and human activities. Ocean warming, deoxygenation or sea level rise are altering physical and biological conditions in the ocean, affecting the composition of entire ecosystems, including their spatial structure and functioning. Pacific Islands Countries and Territories are proactively addressing these challenges by implementing Integrated Ocean Management (IOM) strategies. These strategies aim...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Pacific Community (SPC) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising their cooperation in addressing and responding to economic and non-economic Loss and Damage from climate-induced impacts in Pacific Small Island Countries States (PSIDS). As part of this collaboration, €2.7 million (US$2.8 million) has been pledged to...

Fiji’s leader indicated Wednesday his nation is reconsidering its security ties with China at a time that geopolitical tensions in the Pacific are rising. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Fiji was reviewing a contentious police cooperation agreement it signed with China in 2011 that has allowed Chinese police officers to be stationed in Fiji. At one point during a news conference...

Vanuatu Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau, says Pacific security is about the security of the Pacific peoples and their way of life as identified by Forum Leaders in the Boe Declaration. Kalsakau said this reaffirms climate change as the single greatest threat to regional security. The PM was speaking at the opening of the Pacific Fusion headquarters in Port Vila on Tuesday,...

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wednesday welcomed Tuvalu's Foreign Minister, Simon Kofe, to Adelaide. “I was delighted to meet Minister Kofe again, after my visit to Tuvalu in April," Wong said. Minister Kofe's visit was an opportunity to build on Australia and Tuvalu's strong development and defence cooperation, people-to-people ties and discuss our shared aspiration for a safe, prosperous and resilient Blue...