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A Pacific Islander mother’s letter to her children about climate justice
My little darlings, on 28 July 2016 as you slept with the sound of the ocean keeping you both company, there was a big commotion on the other side of the ocean. The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines asked 47 fossil fuel companies, including BHP Billiton, Shell and BP, to respond to a 60-page legal petition alleging…
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Why Pacific Islanders will lead the fight against climate change
Most of us know the story of coal miners and their caged canaries. When my seven-year-old daughter heard it, she was sad that the canaries had to give up their lives to warn the miners to get out. She asked me if miners still use canaries today and I reassured her: ‘No, we have come…
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The rise of Pacific power: From small island states to large ocean states
The Pacific region consists of 24 island states scattered across a quarter of the earth’s surface – a vast area of some 30 million square kilometres. By description alone, the vast area should command the respect and attention of the international community. The countries make up almost 10 percent of United Nations votes and are…
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Cyclone Winston devastates Fiji
Blog post from Cayla Tikaram – Greenpeace Australia Pacific Intern On Saturday night, the cyclone of all cyclones rocked our tiny island nation. As we clung together in cupboards, under tables and holding the people we loved close, I’m sure a collective prayer or two went up! Nothing prepares you for the wrath of Mother…
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Tropical Cyclone Winston was one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever been through
Tropical Cyclone Winston was one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever been through. I live on the western side of Viti Levu, in Nadi. On Saturday night, by the time the sun went down, the wind had began howling and it was bucketing down. The electricity went off. Within a few hours, the…
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Greenpeace calls for overhaul of Pacific fishing practices after Nauru transshipment ban
Press release – 16 September, 2015Sydney, September 17 2015 – Greenpeace Australia Pacific has called for a region-wide ban on the transshipment of fish catches following Nauru’s announcement today that it would no longer allow the practice in its waters.The Government of the Nauru issued the ban on transshipping in its waters outside its port,…
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Greenpeace calls for investigation into illegal fishing by Taiwanese ship
Press release – 10 September, 2015Port Moresby, September 11 2015 – Greenpeace is urging Pacific nations to investigate and capture the Taiwanese-flagged ship that illegally caught tuna and 75 kilograms of shark fins, which the state’s Taiwan Fisheries Agency (TFA) had failed to ensure had permission to fish.“We are still tracking the Shuen De Ching…
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Greenpeace ship busts illegal tuna fishing operation in Pacific high seas, underlining urgent need for enforcement
Press release – 9 September, 2015Port Moresby, September 10, 2015 – As Pacific Islands Forum leaders consider a 10-year road map for a sustainable fisheries industry, the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior has uncovered a pirate fishing operation near Papua New Guinea’s waters with 75 kilograms of illegally caught shark fins — underlining the scale of…
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Ready to hear the truth about South Pacific Albacore?
Originally published on Pina.com These are worrying times for our local tuna industry. In Fiji boats are being tied up, and staff are being laid off in Samoa, Tonga and in American Samoa where entire fleets are up for sale. Now there is talk of Starkist’s American Samoa cannery potentially losing 2,000 jobs due to…
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The Rainbow Warrior arrives in Tanna Island
Seeing the sun coming through my cabin’s porthole early on Wednesday morning was a very welcoming wake-up call. I knew that this meant land ahead. Captain Mike had predicted an early arrival to Tanna Island and I was more than ready for some steady ground. Unfortunately my decades of trips in the ‘tinny’ at home…