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The commercialisation of Fiji’s national drink and its impact on rural women
Rapid modernisation has caused Fiji to adopt new cultural trends that are at odds with traditional customs. Kava is a drink that is usually served at formal ceremonies such as meetings of village elders and chiefs but as a result of modernist influences, it has become a commercialized commodity rather […]
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Educating its way to growth: Fiji invests in sustainability
Once a prosperous industry, drawing many to Fiji’s shores and an erstwhile key contributor to Fiji’s economic success, the agricultural industry is now in threat of collapse. Agriculture alone accounts for nearly 20% of Fiji’s gross domestic product and sugar exports were equal to 187 million Fiji dollars in 2009. […]
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Forging a regional alliance for the future of Melanesia
In our fragmented world, one important question that needs to be asked is whether economic imperatives can force nations to overcome their political differences and act in unison to tackle the pressing global challenges of today, such as human rights and climate change? Such goals may seem unrealistic or unachievable […]
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Fiji and the rising dragon
Australia and New Zealand’s political moves to impose sanctions and cuts in foreign aid to Fiji, have resulted in the suspension of diplomatic relations. But China is stepping in to fill the gap. Ever since the military coup in 2006 in Fiji, relations between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji have taken a […]
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In Fiji, austerity is another word for making ends meet
We all know that to get more, we need to spend more, and this is usually the way government expenditure works. But in Fiji it doesn’t really matter how much or how little the government spends, because whatever the amount might be, it doesn’t have a huge impact those communities […]