Fiji landowners hail rejection of Malolo project

MALOLO,10 APRIL 2019 (RNZ PACIFIC) Villagers on Fiji’s Malolo have welcomed the cancellation of a Chinese resort project and are calling on the government to stop tourism expanding on the island. Fiji’s Environment Department has revoked Freesoul Real Estate’s Environment Impact Assessment approval, following substantial environmental damage to the island. The headman at Solevu Village […]

EJN Awards Grants to 14 Asian Organizations Focused on Expanding Access to Environmental Information

Internews’ Earth Journalism Network has selected 14 organizations as recipients of its annual media grants supported by our Asia-Pacific and Bay of Bengal projects. The competitive grant program is an opportunity for media, civil society organizations and academic institutions throughout Asia and the Pacific to think critically and creatively about how to build local resources for […]

Changing Climate, Changing Home

TIGAK ISLANDS, Papua New Guinea–The Pacific Islanders face some of the most dire consequences of rising seas—from flooding to disruptions on various islands, saltwater intrusion and the inevitable relocation of people from disappearing shorelines. They face similar challenges from the changing climate, yet these are exacerbated by their remoteness and smallness. In the atoll communities, […]

Saving Tongan Whistlers

Nuku’alofa, Tonga – Mount Talau on the island of Vava’u in Tonga, is a conservation area. It is also a favourite sight-seeing place for many – locals and tourists alike. Hovering over Neiafu town, the view from the top is majestic. One gets to see the Bay of Refuge and surrounding islands from the mountain […]

Return of the kanahe in Vava’u

NEIAFU, Vava’u – Mullets (scientific name Mugilidae) were caught in waters of Vava’u around 50 years ago. “We used to have kanahe (mullet) around our island shores,” says Ulaiasi Vaisima, the town officer and local businessman. “Then they disappeared and for most of our lifetime, we did not see this species of fish again.” Vaisima’s […]

Covering climate change a challenge for the Pacific Island journalists

Journalists in the Pacific region who cover climate change and environment-related issues continue to face many challenges. The scientific component of climate change has traditionally been the greater area of challenge. This is coupled with the lack of opportunities that enable reporters to enhance their understanding to be more effective at communicating about the complexities […]

D Day for Fiji’s Talanoa

KATOWICE, Poland — By tomorrow (December 15, 2018), the world will know whether Poland’s hosting of the UN climate change summit, commonly known as COP24, has succeeded in delivering a strong outcome, and by extension whether Fiji’s exported concept of talanoa or dialogue had aided in producing such a good outcome. As I write this, […]