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It's been over a year and we are still going through this rough patch. We saw how USA distanced itself from taking the lead to cover up poor countries. On the other hand, China is clearly head and shoulder above others in providing help even in South America. Is there any chance of birth of new WORLD ORDER or change in the dynamics of WORLD POLITICS? If you can guide in this manner? With suggestion of any book, articles?

Just wow, Juliet!! I love this.

Hello - do you have any reports on the financial viability of process and selling bamboo-based products in Timor-Leste? Many thanks

Thanks for writing a blog on water treatment systems and emerging technologies! Information on Capacitive Deionization (CDI) has been useful and also the road map for selection of new technologies. An another study highlighting the cost comparison between CDI and Reverse Osmosis (RO) found the material costs for CDI processes being the largest component and hence, the technology unlikely to be cost-effective sometimes. (Ref: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsestengg.0c00094#) I agree, certain benefits and challenges come with every technology.

A good overview Stephen and your analysis makes sense. COVID-19, and in particular the Delta variant, could put an interesting spin on things. The struggles several ASEAN countries are having with the latest wave of outbreaks could increase the attractiveness of some Pacific nations as a source of agricultural workers. One thing is certain, as you rightly point out - in future, Australia's dependence on labour from offshore will only increase. People need to get used to that idea and governments need to undertake effective preparations.

Well said Albert, I agree with your comments on the strategies to address this global issue. As a public health practitioner, I agree that a combination of both punitive and health education strategies provides ideal options for addressing this issue. Yes, policies such as zero tolerance to alcohol are good to regulate individuals' behavior. At the same time, providing adequate information about the long term effects of drinking will shape their knowledge and regulate their behavior in the long term. A very good research for university administrators to consider.

I read through your text. The situation now is quite critical than the report you wrote in May. I hope people with a bit of backyard and farm are encouraged to use every bit of their area to plant vegetables, fruits and any other crops they can. This will keep them engaged in something productive, at the same time avoid boredom and provide self isolation. Since Covid 19 was first traced in Sydney and working from home was introduced our family, including Pranish who had some back yard, started planting, harvesting and cooking his own garden produce. We had always been doing that but we started planting more. We had abundance of vegetables which we shared with our neighbours, and they in turn passed to us their surplus. I was shocked to see during my many visits that people with acreage hardly had vegetables, fruit trees or root crops. Instead they were spending considerable time on TV. I thinks it is time for people to go back to basics and save enough money, crop harvest for "rainy days". God Bless Fiji.

The reason why DSIP funds were rising is Peter O'Neill's strategy to retain power indefinitely. In fact, he prepared this strategy carefully, even writing a paper about "decentralization", which he understood would give him money to buy support. Fortunately, his attempt to establish an autocracy was undone by his own greed.

Let this sink in: "One of the least electrified countries in the world". How can any business or institution operate without light or computers? When there is power, those few hours, the voltage spikes and harmonic effects fry all the electronic equipment. Meanwhile, the electrical engineering department at the PNG University of Technology is too slow at training power engineers with master level competences. Nothing was done to retain the only European power engineer, who was head of department, or to hire more where he was coming from, despite an agreement being in place.

Great article - so clear, so compelling

At long last, an article that draws attention to the long-standing problem of massive and life-threatening alcohol abuse by university students in PNG (not only DWU). The students' interviews reveal a frightening picture. Students all over the world drink, and sometimes to excess, but what is described here is close to suicidal. There is no trend, rather it is a cyclical phenomenon. In election years, like 2012 and 2017, "steam" production goes up, and students consume more. If nothing is done, in election year 2022 it will be the same again. As Vice-Chancellor, I found it impossible to reason with colleagues about how to effectively address this issue. It is clear that bans, punishments and repression are totally ineffective, yet this is the only approach they are willing to consider. This type of behaviour is accepted or at least tolerated in the communities where students hail from. The misbehaving students, often have a history of abuse before they come to university. It is probably time now to try something else, and, for example, start educating students about the dangers to their health, long-term of consuming steam and binge-drinking in general. It would also be time to get serious about academic quality and assessment, because a student who opts to be drunk for weeks should never be able to combine that with serious studies.

Nice blog and it's very inspiring.