Many Pacific islanders would likely not feel exploited serving in a foreign army; they would see it as an honourable duty that comes with economic benefits to improve their lives.
By reflecting on sugar’s origins, we can trace the pathways that have made this commodity so abundant.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
By reflecting on the violent origins of the Canadian sugar industry, we can bring wider attention to the exploitation underpinning the history of Canadian cuisine.
Big resorts, cruise ships and visitor numbers are all up for debate across the Pacific, but economic pressure may test how post-pandemic reality lives up to the sustainability rhetoric.
For Pacific Islands, climate change trumps all other threats to their security. While they welcome Australia’s new emission targets, this is an issue of survival that demands greater ambition.
While Australia worries about Chinese influence, Pacific nations are more worried about climate change. By boosting climate ambition, Australia could be the region’s security partner of choice.
Despite losing jobs, many Fijians in tourism-dependent areas reported greater well-being during the pandemic. As tourists return, what are the lessons?
As Fiji did after 2016’s catastrophic cyclone, Tonga will likely face challenges with building materials and costs, and low levels of technical expertise. But these can be overcome.
In Fiji, 95% of adults have received one jab and 80% are fully vaccinated. In PNG, however, less than 1% of the population is fully vaccinated – and the country is giving away its vaccines.
Desperate for visitors to return, tourism-reliant Pacific nations are racing to re-open borders before Christmas. But will tourists feel safe enough to travel?
Having been protected by geography early in the pandemic, Pacific nations are now battling serious outbreaks and struggling to get their people vaccinated.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University