Ngedikes: portrait of a politician from Palau

Her Excellency Ngedikes Olai Uludong, 39, is Palau’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Palau’s Ambassador on Climate Change. She explains her philosophy to the SPC: “If my parents were strong and aggressive enough to fight for the rights of Palau, then I can carry this legacy on. Just because I am a woman doesn’t mean that I can’t participate in negotiations, seen as predominantly … Continue reading Ngedikes: portrait of a politician from Palau

New Techs are revolutionizing life in the Pacific- part 2

Last week, we explored the revolutionary change blockchain technology was bringing to the world, and even more to scattered populations like the islanders of the Pacific Ocean, or the coasters of the Asian, American and Oceanian continents. Now, let’s check out the second great disruption in the decentralization revolution: the energy decentralization, triggered by some of the greatest game-changing technologies currently developing at high speeds: … Continue reading New Techs are revolutionizing life in the Pacific- part 2

Fishing in the Pacific: “we have to give back as we take out”

At 35, Cook Islander Pamela Maru is part of a small but growing handful of Pacific women leading -and shaping- the future of fisheries in the world’s largest ocean. She is one of six Fisheries Management Advisers at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency in the Solomon Islands, where she provides technical advice for Pacific tuna fisheries management policies in the world’s largest ocean. She … Continue reading Fishing in the Pacific: “we have to give back as we take out”

Chailang Palacios Chamorro Heritage Custodian and Teacher

A 76 years-old fighter for a nuclear-free Pacific

Chamorro heritage custodian and teacher, Chailang Palacios, aged 76, has been an important pioneer of the international indigenous rights in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, as well as global peace movements, for many decades. In the 1980s she was active against nuclear waste dumping in the world’s deepest ocean – the Marianas Trench. In 1984, Chailang did a speaking tour of England, Scotland and … Continue reading A 76 years-old fighter for a nuclear-free Pacific

How the first female taxi driver of the Marshall Islands became a Senator

Marshall Islands Senator Daisy Alik-Momotaro has spent a number of decades working in community development as well as advocating for the rights of women, youth and children. In 1984, she participated in the country’s first Women’s Leadership Workshop organised by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), which led her and nine other women to travel to all of the country’s outer … Continue reading How the first female taxi driver of the Marshall Islands became a Senator

New Techs are revolutionizing life in the Pacific- part 1

After the latest industrial (19th-20th century) and information revolutions (brought by the Internet in the 20th-21th century), the next one is coming. It might be dubbed the Decentralization revolution, and it has already begun, boosted by the rise of several new technologies, like photovoltaic, blockchain and VTOL aircrafts. These are already spreading in places where they are the most useful. The scattered lands across the … Continue reading New Techs are revolutionizing life in the Pacific- part 1

Mireille Chinain (SPC)

Portrait of the Tahitian scientist who discovered what causes Ciguatera

French Polynesian scientist Mireille Chinain has been spearheading regional research efforts on Ciguatera poisoning, the foodborne disease related to the consumption of subtropical and tropical marine finfish which have accumulated naturally occurring toxins through their diet. Ciguatera poses not only a public health problem but has also a significant impact on the economies of affected countries, especially in Pacific Island Countries and Territories, where populations … Continue reading Portrait of the Tahitian scientist who discovered what causes Ciguatera

Solomon Island's class of 1983

Solomon Islands’ legendary class of 1983

In the early 80s, a group of eight Solomon Island women graduated with a Diploma of Secondary Education at the University of Papua New Guinea Goroka Teachers’ College. In the decades since, the women have worked at all levels and sectors of education including formal and information education, vocational training and distance education. They have contributed significantly to national curricula, educational policies, the establishment of … Continue reading Solomon Islands’ legendary class of 1983