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This sounds a great initiative, Kule-en. Please email me (mike.bourke[at]anu.edu.au). I'll send you some material which may be useful to you. Best wishes Mike

I'd encourage you to click on the links in the story, which provide much more detail. One link discusses the three referendums you raise, with detail of the Pacific Islands Forum ministerial mission that criticised the legitimacy and credibility of the 2021 vote. Their report notes: “The result of the referendum is an inaccurate representation of the will of registered voters and instead can be interpreted as a representation of a deep-seated ethnic division in New Caledonia, which the Committee fears has been exacerbated by the State’s refusal to postpone the referendum.” The issue of France’s “supposed” colonial status may be uncomfortable for some, but is simply a statement of international law: the United Nations General Assembly voted in 1986 to reaffirm France’s status as an administering power under the mandate of the UN Special Committee of Decolonisation – today, the French state and representatives of local political parties participate openly in the work of the Decolonisation committee each year (There’s also a certain irony of arguing for the importance of three decolonisation referendums, while objecting to the description of France as a colonial power!). This “very anti-French” article simply raises issues that are freely discussed in neighbouring Melanesian nations, but largely invisible in the Australian debate. As President of New Caledonia Louis Mapou has said: “The issues of emancipation and self-determination are principles that underly the Forum’s 2050 Strategy [for a Blue Pacific Continent]. I note that Australian Prime Minister Albanese and NZ Prime Minister Ardern have both decided to give their indigenous peoples, Aboriginal and Māori, a very important place in the policies they’re committed to. I think that they’re not unaware about what this First Nations policy means for New Caledonia – and especially the situation of the indigenous Kanak people.” https://islandsbusiness.com/latest-magazine-articles/new-caledonia-3/

Thanks so much for this post. Love it!

Thanks Peter. Let's hope those women get the chance to use their skills one day soon. Mary

I just read "Bikpela wok na liklik mani", and find the analysis valuable and useful. I am Chairman of a newly formed small farmer Association in Manus called "Admiralty Agarwood & Agribusiness Association"(AA&AA). AA&AA was incorporated with IPA in 2021. AA&AA currently has small registered 350 farm family members coming from 11 out of 12 local level governments in Manus. AA&AA currently working on "Manus Integrated Sustainable Livelihood Project 2021-2023. One outcome is development of Integrated Sustainable farm models to generate K100000 per year with eaglewood as core crop Integrated with vanilla, virgin coconut oil, food security crops and livestock, and complimented with Personal Viability Business Scheme. Training. Any advise you can give will be greatly appreciated.

This is very anti french article due to the supposed colonial status of France, it's interesting that the author forget the THREE referendum for independence that the "decolonialist" have lost since 2018. New Caledonia wants to stay with France, have some humility and respect them.

Thanks Mary - a very thoughtful commentary on the eternal question in aid, not just that in Afghanistan. What sticks and makes a permanent change ? Perhaps it's necessary to look for small changes. In 2013, I helped fund an ActionAid project: "Empowering women to overcome violence through mobilisation, organisation and access to justice" in two stated provinces of Afghanistan. Over 12 months, it trained 40 women to become paralegals and to act for Afghan women in domestic violence cases. It provided them with training in - Conflict Resolution and Peace Building - Women’s Rights - Psychosocial Support - Paralegals Skills - Civil and Criminal Court Procedures I didn't think this training would change the entire Afghan legal system, but I always hoped that those 40 women would retain this knowledge and awareness of what could be done in cases of domestic violence. That this would stick in their hearts, even if The Taliban were to return. I still hope that.

Thanks Linda!

The price and other data are for balsa in the NE lowlands of the Gazelle Peninsula in East New Britain, Howard. As far as I know, this is the only place where balsa is processed in PNG. I have seen balsa trees growing on Bougainville Island. However, there is no market there. As you know, balsa has to be processed within a few days of being harvested. So effectively it cannot be sold from locations that are not close to Kokopo and have road access to Kokopo. The trees that I saw on Bougainville were too old to be milled as they have to be harvested at 4-5 years after planting for processing.

Hi Mike, I was just wondering if the prices for balsa are based on small holders providing balsa to the PNG Balsa Company in Kokopo or is there a market outside this area. I did a little work for the PNG Balsa company years ago and all the balsa was being used to make wind turbine blades. Last year I was in Western Province and a local from a remote village had been given balsa seeds to plant. I didn't think this was a great idea given distance to markets and didn't know of any other market for the balsa in PNG other than the PNG Balsa Company which probably has high quality requirements etc, not to mention transport costs from Western Province and storage facilities to prevent degradation. The market for balsa for model plains etc is pretty small too. I've been producing coffee from my small farm on Mt Tamborine (Gold Coast hinterland). We gave up since it is slave labour and the returns are so low, even in Ausatralia so can appreciate the coffee issues in PNG. Cheers Howard

Tess, do you have any update on possible return of ABC Radio Australia shortwave service? I can't find anything from the ABC or Government online. I'm interested, as the recent book Australia Calling by Phil Kafcaloudes seems to be getting some media attention. Geraldine Doogue also did a good interview with him last Saturday. PNG Attitude did a review of the book as well. Any update appreciated. John

Good post, Jo. Practical and useful.