PINA

By Nic Maclellan, in Waa wi Lûû, New Caledonia  As the bus traverses the Col des rousettes – a pass through New Caledonia’s central mountain chain – the guitars come out. Heading towards the east coast town of Waa wi Lûû (Houaïlou), the bus resonates to Kanak hymns, ‘Isa Lei Lia’ and ‘Three Little Birds.’ Music, song and poetry unite youth...

Small island nations, mainly in the Caribbean and Pacific, are most at risk from catastrophic damage caused by greenhouse gases, new research by Victoria University economics professor Ilan Noy and others concludes. Being a small island is a bigger risk factor than being in the poorest groups of nations, according to the working paper for non-profit think tank the Overseas...

Abandoned, Lost, Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), also known as Ghost Gear, is one of the most harmful forms of marine debris devastating our Ocean. Studies have found that 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear, consisting of fishing nets, traps and fishing lines, are lost and abandoned in the Ocean, posing a major threat to marine ecosystems. The threat is not lost on...

Marshall Islanders go to the polls Monday 20 November following what may have been the quietest election campaign in the 44-years of constitutional government. But the muted campaign — there are no political parties in the Marshall Islands — might mislead observers to think this every-four-year election is of little consequence. On the contrary, the Marshall Islands is moving into...

Chinese President Xi Jinping said last Thursday that China has developed relations with Pacific island countries in a candid manner, without selfish motives or targeting any third party. Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, stressing that China's policy on Pacific island countries fully respects their sovereignty and independence, and does not attach political...

The Pacific Islands are grappling with an alarming surge in climate-induced displacement, forcing a staggering number of residents to abandon their homes each year. This pressing issue took centre stage at this year’s regional leaders meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga. This alarming trend of severe disasters compelling Pacific islanders to abandon their homes has been escalating over the...

Regional leaders are serious about their commitment to addressing corruption in the region. The Pacific Islands Forum’s Teieniwa Vision, which Fiji committed to in 2020, recognises that progress and aspirations for a peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous Pacific cannot be realised unless corruption is addressed. Cook Islands Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Mark Brown recently announced that leaders...

Marking a significant milestone in international cooperation, Vanuatu’s Ambassador to the European Union (EU), Georges Maniuri, has signed the groundbreaking Organisation of African, Caribbean, Pacific States (OACPS)—EU Partnership Agreement in Apia, Samoa. This historic event represents the first comprehensive partnership agreement between the OACPS and the EU to be signed in the Pacific region. The agreement, known as the Samoa Agreement,...

This year’s COP 28 is of particular importance because of the first Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement. The GST will show how far the international community has come – or has not come – towards the goals formulated in Paris in December 2015. It is of utmost importance that Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are present and make their...

The Sol2023 Pacific Games officially commenced on Sunday night with a vibrant Opening Ceremony at Solomon Islands’ newly built National Stadium in Honiara. The event, held under the theme ‘Iumi Na Iumi’ meaning ‘We and Us,’ aimed to celebrate and unite the diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands. Athletes from the 24 participating countries kicked off the festivities with a lively...