The
REAP Report - Small Islands Voice
by
Bruce Gray
Small
islands are, by their very nature, limited in size and relatively
isolated. They are also particularly vulnerable to natural disasters
and global economic events, making the problems they confront
especially challenging. Despite these constraints, small islands
can contribute to and benefit from the 'information age', which
may provide a means to battle environmental degradation and
growing poverty at home, and serve as an example to the rest
of the world.
Small
Islands Voice, supported by UNESCO, is an inter-regional initiative
bringing together islanders from the Pacific, Indian Ocean and
Caribbean regions to overcome the isolation of small islands
by building capacity and strengthening local, regional and inter-regional
communication by:
Activities
have commenced in Palau and Cook Islands in the Pacific, Seychelles
in the Indian Ocean, and St. Kitts and Nevis and Bequia (St.
Vincent and the Grenadines) in the Caribbean. REAP has been
selected by UNESCO as co-ordinator for the Cook Islands.
The
environment, especially the issue of pollution, littering, waste
management and water quality ranks at the top of everyone's
list of concerns.
It
is not surprising that tourism is the number one income for
each island, however, there is a growing concern that the demands
of tourism are causing social problems a lack of respect for
local traditions, culture and lack of land areas for planting
and beach access.
Youth
feel that no one is really listening to their concerns over
lack of good relevant education, alcohol/drug abuse, teenage
pregnancy, job training and job opportunities. Pacific island
youth feel more disadvantaged from youth in the other regions
as to education, modern technology, Internet communication and
access to distance learning.
There
is also a growing concern that small islands are slipping backwards
in the area of practicing democratic principles and too much
attention is being focused by their leaders on international
issues and not enough on the everyday problems people face on
their islands.
Cook
Islands News 10th December 2002
