Author Archive

A few years ago, the concept of “the 99%” entered mainstream parlance. It’s a bit of an ironic expression because quite frankly the missing 1% refers to those with the money and the power and leaves the rest of us, the 99%, very much like mere puppets on strings moving […]

The traditional lifestyles of the Pacific Islanders are an epitome of how growth can go hand in hand with sustainability.  Growth for them is not about economic acceleration. Growth is more intangible in nature; personal growth, cultural growth, spiritual growth and collective growth. Growth happens within the natural limits of […]

Here is a fictional scenario. I’m a contestant on a quiz show called Who Wants to be a Millionaire. I’ve managed to answer all the questions correctly up to now and there’s only one more question separating me from the million dollar prize. I’m on the edge of my seat […]

Free trade has yet to become a topic of daily conversation for  people in the Pacific but it certainly figures large in the political arena where Pacific leaders have been under considerable pressure to sign free-trade agreements. Standing behind them are the big brothers – Australia, New Zealand and the […]

The transition from subsistence to a cash economy is pushing Melanesian women into the workforce. The issue is not just about what is gained and what is lost but about challenging the discriminatory practices that suppress women from exercising their human rights.  Violence Against Women (VAW) is a silent crime that is […]