Pacific

Performing arts company Fine Fatale is examining how the Pacific's 'third gender' is faring in today's cultural climate.

Their latest work, 'Le Freak', performed during Auckland's Urbanesia Festival, draws inspiration from the noble savages of the Pacific, and asks how they can move beyond being the freaks of the world.

The lead choreographer, Amanaki Prescott-Faletau, says fa'afafine and fakaleiti are traditionally called on to entertain - and they're using this to get their own messages across.

First established in 2014, the Pacific Geospatial and Surveying Council (PGSC) is composed of representatives from Lands and Survey Departments, Hydrography Units, and geospatial management sections throughout the region. The meeting is supported and facilitated by the Government of Australia and the Pacific Community’s (SPC) PGSC Partnership Desk.

“Accurate geospatial information provides a critical foundation for sustainable economic development,” said Interim PGSC Chair and Director of Tuvalu Lands & Survey Department, Faatasi Malologa.

The Director-General of the Pacific Community, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, has warned that failing to invest sufficiently in youth will come at substantial economic, social and political costs to the region.

People in the Pacific are being called on to share stories on social media of how they've been impacted by climate change, in a bid to strengthen the Pacific voice leading up to the COP21 conference in Paris.

The Pacific Islands contribute to less than 0.03 percent to the world's total greenhouse gases yet are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme says the outcomes of COP21 are crucial to the Pacific region.

Australia's foreign minister has announced financial assistance to Pacific countries struggling with drought brought on by this year's severe El Niño.

Julie Bishop yesterday toured areas of Papua New Guinea's Highlands with foreign minister Rimbink Pato.

The PNG government estimates a million people in the Highlands are in a state of distress as a result of months of severe drought and frosts, which has killed crops and dried up water supplies.

The United Nation Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth is alarmed at the rate of unemployment in the Pacific region.

Ahamad Alhendawi told the High Level Dialogue on Youth at the Pacific Community (SPC) Conference in Alofi, Niue that 23 percent of young people in this region are unemployed.

“National youth unemployment rates in some countries of the region stand at 50 or 60%. 

A small but energetic team of agriculture and food production stakeholders and entrepreneurs from the Pacific are currently in the Caribbean region this week exchanging ideas with their Caribbean colleagues with the hope of bringing back home valuable ideas.                                                   

Australia has announced that it will support the Pacific in its quest to have a legally binding agreement at the United Nations Climate Change (COP21) talks in France later this month.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Steven Ciobo, made the revelation while launching the Tide Gauge system in Niue Wednesday.

The announcement is good news for the region as pleas from Pacific Islands to Australia in the past to reduce its greenhouse emissions fell on deaf ears.

The United States says it is providing US$5 million dollars for a Pacific climate change strengthening project.
 
The US Ambassador to Fiji, Judith Cefkin, made the announcement during the Pacific Community Conference underway in Niue.