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Pacific island leaders face increasing pressure to bring much needed development to their people’s doorsteps. Because of this, lending institutions are taking advantage and don’t seem to care if their predatory lending practices will affect future generations to come. Our latest Discussion Starter, ‘Unsure Refuge’, reflects on whether it is time Pacific leaders reconsider the consequences of acting too fast.

Around the world, the pace is quickening in the process to determine what comes after the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015. As custodians of the world’s largest ocean and home to some of its most vulnerable countries, the Pacific has a significant stake in redefining the global approach to development.

A new development agenda, emerging from this week’s international meeting in Timor-Leste, is demanding greater understanding from the international community of the complexities that exist in all developing countries. Simply, “business as usual is not a viable option”. Read it in French or English

Pacific Politics Blog – PiPP is proud to introduce our latest contribution to informing and empowering policy makers and political junkies alike. With features from journalists and commentators throughout the region, we hope to be able to provide more and better insight into the stories that define this region.

This powerful statement by Timor Leste’s Finance Minister, Emilia Pires, was delivered in Monrovia, Liberia on February 11^th where 27 members of a High Level Panel met to advise on the global development framework beyond 2015—the target date for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While this was not specifically about the Pacific, she touched upon issues that were just as pertinent. She believes peace building and state building should be a headline goal.

Timor Leste Finance Minister Emilia Pires, a member of the UN High-level Panel considering the post-MDG development agenda, is seeking input from across the region on what should be prioritised by the global community after the MDGs expire in 2015.

Timor Leste Finance Minister Emilia Pires, a member of the UN High-level Panel considering the post-MDG development agenda, is seeking input from across the region on what should be prioritised by the global community after the MDGs expire in 2015.

PiPP spoke with a number of students concerning their views, their hopes and the challenges they see their respective nations facing in the future. Here are the results.

A holistic approach to climate change, security and development

PiPP’s latest Discussion Starter revisits the climate change issue with a focus on the security implications for Pacific island nations. As climate change begins to bite, Pacific governments are moving to think more deeply about how to integrate climate change into national security and other development policies. How is it affecting water and food security, energy security and international diplomacy?

The recent Four Corners documentary feature on East Timor’s efforts to recoup petroleum taxes and a leak from Papua New Guinea Mine Watch on how mining companies are avoiding tax in PNG demonstrate that for Melanesia the amounts international companies are not paying in tax might eclipse even the aid money they receive. Major countries, it appears, will not necessarily act in the interests of the Pacific if one of their own is avoiding tax. Ben Sims explains….