International Women’s Day 2010

"Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Women - A Better Future for the Pacific"

International Women’s Day has particular implications for the Pacific Islands, where reported levels of violence reach as high as 85% in some Countries. Pacific Island women represent half of all reported HIV cases, with approximately 13,300 men and 15,000 women living with HIV (2008). Women are fifty times more likely to die in childbirth in Papua New Guinea than in New Zealand.

The 2010 International Women’s Day theme in the Pacific is "Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Women - A Better Future for the Pacific"; United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is holding a contest related to this. Contestants will submit an essay or series of photos to show a case study on how women’s lives in the area have or have not changed in the past thirty years. The day is not just intended to focus on the negative but also to encourage positive changes. For example, as part of the lead up to the day, Australia is promoting the Australia Indonesia Basic Education Program, encouraging equal education access to boys and girls in Indonesia. And the book Being the First: Storis Blong Oloketa Mere Lo Solomon Aelan, celebrating the achievements of women in the Solomon Islands in expected to be published on International Women’s Day 2010.

IWD has been observed annually since 1975, this acknowledges the achievements made toward equal rights and equal opportunity for all women and girls, and highlights the remaining barriers that prevent equality and the full protection of women before the law and the full and active participation of women in all forms of social, economic and political life.

Official International Women’s Day site

Press release from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Pacific Regional Office

Official announcements on International Women’s Day by the Australian Government.

Solomon Island women’s book on their achievements:

Violence against the girl child in Pacific Islands region essay.

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Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day

Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day, aka Bikini Day is observed every March 1 to commemorate the anniversary of the detonation of the nuclear bomb Bravo on Bikini Atoll in 1954. The detonation of the bomb, part of tests by the United States military, sent radioactive fallout as far away as Rongelap (100 miles away) and radioactive mist as far away as Utirik (300 miles away). Evacuation of these two islands by the US navy did not commence for another three days. On Bikini Island itself, residents left voluntarily in 1946 to allow the tests to occur, but radiation levels remain too high for them to return to the area. The detonation created a hole in the island one mile wide and 400 feet deep. Despite this, for a time people did return to the remains of the island but had to be evacuated again due to excessive radioactivity. The total fallout area for the region was 7,700 square miles.

The Nuclear Claims Tribunal has been asked to pay $948 million in compensation as part of a 1986 agreement, but as of March 2009 had only paid out $3.8 million. The people of Bikini and Enewatak filed a lawsuit but the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled against them, claiming the case was beyond judicial review. Documents declassified in 1994 reveal that the contamination of the people and their environment was deliberate, not accidental; this was part of Project 4.1, designed to study the effects of humans being exposed to radiation. The United States continues to use the Pacific Islands as military bases and testing sites. Their treatment of the Bikini Atoll matter has been criticized not only for the resulting deaths and illnesses but also for the disregard for the islanders`dignity and human rights. Therefore, Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day is important not only to raise awareness to what has gone on before but also to raise awareness of what is still happening in the islands as well as what is not being done to try to compensate for what happened.

Learn more at:

Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day – Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day Monday, 1 March 2004

Nuclear Free & Independent Pacific Day, Bikini Day

A Short History of the People of Bikini Atoll

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International Languages Day

Imagine that you are one of 8 remaining speakers of your mother tongue language. You are heavy with awareness that within you lay the last remaining links to your ancestors. You carry the very roots and knowledge of time immemorial, a direct connection to the land of your birthright and your forefathers. This is a form of DNA that intimately describes and articulates generations of interconnectivity to the earth and gives voice to the expressions of your peoples. This is your heritage and world view. How can you ensure this legacy to your grandchildren?

Over 6000 languages exist in the world today. Without drastic action over half will be extinct within two decades. The South Pacific is the most linguistically diverse area of the world with over 1,524 unique languages. Yet only .1% of the world’s population speak these endangered languages. Faced with a history of colonization and the challenges of globalization, trade and tourism 171 Indigenous languages of the South Pacific are facing impending extinction.

The situation in Canada is not much better; British Columbia is the most linguistically diverse province of Canada with over 30 distinct Indigenous languages. These languages are also at risk and intensive community action is making a difference in reversing this frightening trend.

We must act together to ensure a future legacy of Indigenous Languages for the health and well being of our future generations.

The Pacific Peoples’ Partnership invites you to support the work of fortifying Indigenous Languages. Donations to benefit South Pacific language initiatives can be made at: http://www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org/donations.html Or through http://www.fpcf.ca/giving-index.html for BC First Nation Languages

To download more information about Pacific Languages

click here

 

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Celebrate International Development Week!

Congratulations to Kat Zimmer a dedicated Pacific Peoples’ Partnership volunteer! She has been recognized by the BC Council of International Cooperation as an outstanding youth role model. See Kat’s interview and learn more about the BCCIC at: http://bccic.ca/

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PPP is Turning 35!

In 2010 the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership is celebrating our 35th Anniversary. We invite your ideas, thoughts, reflections and suggestions to mark this special occasion. Of key interest is the planning for a Pacific Networking Conference in the fall, so watch for further announcements! 

Late December 2009  the winter edition of Tok Blong Pasifik was published and distributed.  Features included: PPP Updates; Papua Land of Peace; Vanuatu Reconilliation Ceremony; Midway: Message from the North Pacific Gyre; Hailans to Ailans; and A Tribute to Melina.  A special thanks to all contributors.  Click here to check out a digital full colour version.

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PPP is continuing work on our major project Papua: Land of Peace – Civil Society Leadership in Conflict Transformation a three year civil society strengthening initiative to enable the work of five Papuan civil society organizations based in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia.

The project will run from February 2009 through to February 2012 and is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency's Voluntary Sector Fund with matching funds coming from Development and Peace along with generous donations of individual Canadians. Check out the winter edition of Tok Blong Pasifik for a project update and profiles on our partners.

 Special Thanks to our Major Partner:

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