A large crowd of protesters gathered in Suva, Fiji on August 25 to march and voice their collective opposition to Japan鈥檚 nuclear waste water disposal strategy, reports Rowena Acraman.
Fiji
Australia seems to be聽helping Fiji set up a defence facility in Lami, although Canberra is keen to eschew the military intent. Binoy Kampmark reports.
Logham Savari, a young Iranian refugee fled from PNG to Fiji in late January. He was sent to Manus Island detention centre in 2013, after he tried to get to Australia by boat.
He suffered constant beatings and abuse and eventually accepted resettlement in Port Moresby to try and escape the horrors of detention.
But in Port Moresby he suffered more abuse and lived in constant fear and destitution, often homeless.
In Fiji he was welcomed with kindness and was staying with a family. He was reportedly happy for the first time in ages.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, the Category 5 storm that slammed into Fiji on February 20, was the strongest storm ever to make landfall in the Southern Hemisphere and the second strongest ever in the world, with wind speeds approaching 300 kilometres an hour. At least 44 people were killed, and thousands left homeless, deprived of livelihood and at risk of water- and mosquito-borne diseases.
The tasteless joking between immigration minister Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Tony Abbott about the threat of rising sea levels to Pacific Islands 鈥 caught on a microphone after the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) meeting 鈥 sums up the Australian government's attitude to the victims of its climate inaction.
The 46th PIF leaders' meeting in Port Moresby ended without reaching agreement on a united position to take to the Paris climate summit later this year. Pacific Island leaders could not convince Australia and New Zealand to agree on more ambitious targets.
Marchers in Honiara in support of West Papua鈥檚 bid to join the MSG, June 19.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) granted the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) observer membership during a summit meeting in Honiara on June 26. It also upgraded Indonesia鈥檚 membership from observer to associate.
鈥淭he rising sea levels caused by global warming threaten the very existence of some of our neighbours,鈥 Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama (PIDF).
鈥淜iribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands 鈥 and are already swamping the coastal areas of many Pacific nations, including Fiji.鈥
Many see Australia as a small power dependent on British and then US power for protection, but it is important to note that Australia has its own imperialist agenda it pushes the Pacific region.
From the late 19th century to today, Australia's ruling class has been finding ways of extending its influence on nearby countries. It has even succeeded, if only temporarily, in gaining colonial possessions.
This began even before federation in 1901, as the new capitalist class, having accumulated capital from the gold rushes in the mid-19th century, was looking for outlets for investment.
The West Papuan independence movement's hopes of of gaining a foothold in the international community were set back when foreign minsters visiting West Papua pledged non-interference with Indonesia.
Last June, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit met in Noumea, New Caledonia, and discussed a membership application from the West Papua National Council for Liberation (WPNCL). The summit postponed the decision until a ministerial delegation visited West Papua to determine the legitimacy of the group and to assess the situation in the occupied country.
The following statement was issued by the family of Mere Samisoni, arrested by the Fijian military regime, and later released on bail on January 3. For more information, please contact pacifikanews@gmail.com .
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The family of award-winning Fijian businesswoman and former MP Dr Mere Samisoni has been warned by her lawyers she might be charged with conspiracy by the country鈥檚 military rulers when the courts reopen on Tuesday.
The (ACTU) released the statement below on November 9.
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The rights of Fijian workers have deteriorated further following the start of a draconian decree that effectively bans collective bargaining.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Essential Industries Employment Decree, which came into full effect yesterday, denied workers of many fundamental rights, including to freely organise or collectively bargain.
About 1400 nurses in Fiji, who began a strike on July 25, were joined on August 2 by thousands of teachers and other public servants, resulting in at least half of Fiji聮s 20,000 public sector workers being on strike.
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