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Pacific Primer

Ahead of the next Pacific Islands Forum, internal regionalism is going strong — contrary to the opinion of some external commentators. (Picture: US Embassy, Flickr) : Ola Thorsen CC 4.0

Pacific Island nations are keenly aware that disunity is unhelpful for the region.

Pacific primer

Reports of a Pacific fracture fail to understand the region

Pacific Island nations are keenly aware that disunity is unhelpful for the region.

Economy
The Pacific Islands Forum is taking place in Suva, Fiji from July 12 to July 14. : Michael Joiner, 360info CC BY 4.0

Backgrounder: 475 words

Climate change, relations with China and regional unity are expected to be the main subjects of discussion at the 2022 Pacific Islands Forum in July.

11 perspectives

11 perspectives
Special Report

Pacific primer

Not usually at the forefront of geopolitical argy-bargy, the Pacific has recently emerged as a strategic element of securing democracy. A rift threatened to tear apart normally unshakeable regional unity in 2021, with five Micronesian countries threatening to leave the most powerful transnational group, the Pacific Islands Forum. Ahead of the July 12 – 14 […]

Politics
Henry Puna of Cook Islands was given the role of secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum instead of the Micronesian candidate, Gerald Zackios of Marshall Islands : Alexwinkler CC 3.0

A last-minute agreement has avoided rupture in the Pacific Islands Forum. As the agreement was negotiated, regional strengths and vulnerabilities were revealed.

Pacific primer

Keeping everyone in the tent: the Pacific Islands Forum remains whole

A last-minute agreement has avoided rupture in the Pacific Islands Forum. As the agreement was negotiated, regional strengths and vulnerabilities were revealed.

Politics
Traditional fishing in the Pacific will need to adapt to a changed climate : Filip Milovac CC 2.0

As Pacific Islanders struggle to survive in the face of climate change, they will need to adapt their traditional ways of fishing to the new reality.

World fisheries day

A changing climate is changing the Micronesian way of life

Economy
Rampant misinformation has undermined the COVID-19 relief effort in Pacific countries such as Fiji. : Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Belur Math, Flickr CC BY 4.0

A shortage of resources and investment from major digital platforms has left the Pacific region battling a campaign of misinformation and under-moderation.

Pacific Primer

Pacific digital toolbox needs expanding to hammer out misinformation

Society
Pacific island countries such as Fiji are vulnerable to extreme weather events. : Stemoc, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0

After major setbacks to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Pacific needs fairer access to financing as it fights to overcome climate challenges

Pacific Primer

Who’s willing to pay for sustainability in the Pacific?

Economy
Pacific Island countries such as Fiji are poised to be leaders in planetary health. : cultur668, Pixabay CC BY 4.0

With Pacific Islands nations controlling 20 percent of all oceans, they are at the foundation of initiatives to help the planet and our health.

Pacific Primer

Pacific Islands vital to planetary health

Environment
Pacific Islanders’ lack of mobility during COVID-19 was crushing for both their economies, and the fruit industry in Australia and New Zealand. : DFAT (Flickr) CC 2.0

Encouraging work abroad schemes could help Pacific Island nations to steer their way clear of crippling debt.

Pacific primer

Mobile workers key to Pacific prosperity

Economy
1.3 millions tonnes of radionuclide-contaminated water are stored at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant : Greg Webb / IAEA CC 0

Japan plans to dump radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean, but its effects on Pacific nations are not clear.

Pacific primer

The Pacific faces a radioactive future

Environment