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Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Palau workshop papers
SMALL
ISLANDS VOICE - COOK ISLANDS
Bruce Gray , Rarotonga Environmental Action Programme
1.
Activities undertaken in 2002 and related to Small Islands Voice
Local activities in Mitiaro Island
Commonwealth
Youth Award: Mitiaro Itiki
Environmental Rangers for Maire Track Project.
Mitiaro
receives satellite TV dish: Bringing
daily TV viewing to the island for the first time.
Preparation
for a sports field for the Manea Games:
Community-wide project.
Construction
of new airport runway: Community-wide project. Visit by New Zealand
Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff for opening.
Maire
Ei (Lei) exports to Hawaii: Largest source of income for the island.
Island
votes unanimously against National
Environment Bill.
Hosting
Manea Games for Southern Group Islands: Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke,
Mitiaro.
Fifty-two
residents depart for visit to New Zealand and Australia: Concern over
how many will return to the Cook Islands. Mitiaro population 230 and
declining.
Longline fishing boats in island waters: depleting local fish stocks.
National activities
Environment
Bill: Public meetings – petition campaign - Parliament Select
Committee hearings.
Cook
Islands Environmental Rangers activities: On all islands and through
schools – presentations – discussions – question and answer sessions
with students.
Surveys
undertaken in Outer Islands: Findings of pollution – keeping their
islands clean – meetings on waste management and natural resource
conservation including alternative methods to common practices.
Recycling
activities: Involve all aspects of community – household pick-up –
schools.
Publication
of Viewpoint: Community input on issues of concern - environment,
development, land control issues, role of central government.
Adopt-A-Beach/Coastal
Clean-up:
All volunteer environmental clean-up.
Manea
Games 2002 (in Mitiaro):
Inclusion of special events for Athletes with Disabilities for the first
time in the history of the Cook Islands.
2.
Local, national and global issues emerging from the Small Islands Voice activities
Local: Mitiaro Island
Use
of poisonous plants (trees) to kill fish in lagoon is depleting future
fish stock.
Over-harvesting
of Maire and sandalwood trees exposes need for improved conservation and
reforestation efforts. Mitiaro is home to the Iniao Fan Palm Tree which is
found no where else in the world. It is an endangered species.
Cutting
and burning of other trees for
firewood.
Need
for improved community awareness so as to safeguard natural resources
such as the milkfish and eels found in Mitiaro’s inland freshwater lake.
Need
to properly maintain the natural underwater caves whose waters are known
for healing.
The
need for Parliament to pass islands by-laws: These would give Mitiaro
the right to preserve and protect their environment in keeping with
traditional culture.
National
Good
governance: Central government political interference at all levels of society,
e.g. Civic Center rather than
water.
All
decisions made in Rarotonga: Outer islands’ needs/wishes ignored.
National
Environment Bill:
Issue is land and control.
Land
Lease revision: Government interfering in private land issues.
Tourism
development: Wishes of the people versus that of central government.
Devolution
for Outer Islands: More local decision-making.
Water:
Clean water and sufficient water supply for all islands.
Education:
Equal opportunities – good education and textbooks for every
student.
Health
care: lack of information on Dengue fever, meningitis, hypertension,
diabetes; lagoons not safe to swim, problems with drinking water.
Alcohol
use amongst youth especially in Rarotonga - highest in the Pacific.
Migration
from Outer Islands to Rarotonga then out of country – who is going to be
left to do the work in 10 years, especially in Mitiaro, Mauke, Atiu,
Manihiki.
Political
reform: Zimbabwe media laws - immigration and investment policies.
Rising
racism: Anti-Asian influence.
Government
pushing food exports when islands are not even self-sufficient.
Is
tourism driving cost of living on Rarotonga: Too high for local people
(rents and groceries) based upon $4 -$5/hour wage.
Outer islands working 3 hours to pay for 1 gallon petrol –lack of
jobs – rotation system.
Address
issues at home: instead of travelling around the world commenting on
issues they have no control over or which don’t directly affect people at
home.
Global Issues
Rising
sea levels: Increased salinity of ground water supply.
3.
Ideas for Small Islands Voice activities in 2003
Local: Mitiaro Island
Increase
community awareness on the role a sustainable environment has in the
future progress and betterment of the lives of the people of Mitiaro.
Small
scale tourism: Need to improve historical and cultural sites and provide
signage.
Increased
involvement of youth in community projects to strengthen their social
responsibilities.
National
Model
Youth Forum like model United Nations or Parliament – can be
national/regional.
Review
of common issues such as good governance and recommendations on how
these issues might be addressed and the role of donor agencies.
More
active community interchange on specific issues of mutual concern.
Heightened
use of media to promote general concepts: needs and concerns of people
with specific and realistic solutions – must not be just talk.
Educational
materials into schools and general community:
How can one talk about good governance when people have no concept of
governance? Roles and responsibilities at different levels including that of
the individual.
Media
freedom and the right of free speech: Are these issues to be no more
than words on paper, and constitutional protections guaranteeing such to be
ignored?
The concept of a public office is a public trust must be encouraged throughout small islands states. The imitators of Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe are becoming all too prevalent in small island states, especially in the Pacific. They have twisted the concept that they are there to serve the people into meaning they hold office only to serve themselves at the people’s expense.
Regional/Inter-regional
Explore
employment opportunities and work exchange programmes between countries
within a region.
Explore
in a similar way trade, especially that of agriculture, within regions
as an economic boost along with promoting healthier eating and living. One
country’s surplus is another country’s shortage.
Health
and education issues: These must be addressed at a regional or
sub-regional level -- the global world demands it. Or Pacific Island nations will further slip from third world
to fourth world status in short order.
Exchange
of media awareness messages and concepts.
Youth exchange with non-governmental organizations for stint in another country working on a particular Small Islands Voice (SIV) project or concept or perhaps introducing a Small Islands Voice project that has been successful in their home country. Hands on learning and training -- sharing of knowledge and experience between countries and regions.
The above should always allow for adaptability in keeping
with local culture and tradition.
