Features

PiPP’s Communications Director Ben Bohane spent a month in Afghanistan observing how Pacific island soldiers are performing as NATO/ISAF forces begin to wind down. Ben embedded with the US Army’s Guam Battalion, as well Australian and British forces, documenting the experience of Micronesians, Polynesians and Melanesians in this faraway war. Read the full blog here.

Pacific leaders are now gathering in Majuro, Marshall Islands for the annual Pacific Island Forum (PIF) meeting. This year’s summit is expected to focus on climate change leadership, the Pacific Plan and the ongoing issue of Fiji’s suspended membership. Follow our full coverage of this summit here and at pacificpolitics.com.

Melanesian leaders are now gathering in Noumea, New Caledonia for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Summit. This is a historic gathering to celebrate 25 years of its existence and to transition its leadership from Fiji to the FLNKS in New Caledonia. West Papua is also poised to win membership. Follow our full coverage of this summit.

Pacific leaders meeting in Timor-Leste have echoed the objectives of g7+ nations by demanding a new deal on development once the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) expire in 2015. Read on for a full list of speeches, briefings, backgrounders and media releases.

Just lately everyone seems to be talking about ‘The Mountain’ by Drusilla Modjeska . It is a story of love, identity, power and relationships set against the enthralling backdrop of pre-independence and modern day Papua New Guinea. How, if at all, does it speak to the people of the Pacific? Linda Kenni, research officer at PiPP, gives us her thoughts here…. Read more

On November 21, 2012, the Pacific Institute of Public Policy will host a public forum in Koror, Palau bringing together Senators, civil society and regional thinkers from around Micronesia to discuss a range of issues affecting small island states. “Micronesian Futures” will be a chance to hear new ideas about governance and economics for smaller Pacific nations. Read More….

Toby Ley reviews, Understanding Future Leaders Attitudes to National Identity in Melanesia and Timor-Leste, the latest discussion paper released by Australian National University’s ‘State, Society and Governance in Melanesia’ series. The paper presents findings and analysis of 1,160 surveys conducted across universities in Melanesia and Timor-Leste. Read More….

New Flags Flying: Pacific Leadership is an accessible work that presents the conversations with Pacific leaders recounting the history of the various transitions from colonies to independent or self-governing states.  It is a portal into the past that will enrich the perspectives of students, academics and professionals interested in the Pacific. Read More….

The 2^nd Edition of the Climate Vulnerability Monitor provides a global overview of the current and future costs in 2030 resulting from both climate change (such as sea level rise and droughts) and impacts of the carbon economy (for example, indoor pollution and oil spills). These costs are broken down into a number of categories in the report: industry change, natural disasters, habitat change and health impacts. Read on for Ben Sims' review.

PiPP research associate Toby Ley’s paper, entitled ‘Policy, Papers and Pages‘ explores the interplay between media and democracy in the South Pacific. The paper draws upon interviews conducted with five Pacific media professionals and proposes a more strategic struggle for media freedom in the region. The paper was presented at the Media and Democracy in the South Pacific symposium held at the University of the South Pacific.