Comments

Thanks for the interesting blog post. I take the point that journalists in the Pacific Islands region seem to be in general more engaged in their cultures and more focused on cultural preservation than journalists in other parts of the world. I was especially interested though in your finding that, even so, your respondents tended to see themselves as journalists first and foremost, with their cultural role taking second place in their sense of their own identity. Along the same line, you wrote that “52% agreed that the story was more important than respecting traditional customs and values, while 27% disagreed”. It’s clearly not a homogenous group. Nonetheless, it seems that Pacific journalists value their role as a journalist who pursues stories as best they can. I often reflect that journalists in the Pacific Islands region work very hard and play an important role in Pacific societies. This research reinforces that point, it seems to me. Thanks again. Dr Amanda H A Watson

Many thanks, Annabel, especially for explaining the process whereby Australia can, and it appears is, supplying weapons (or weapon parts) indirectly to Israel. I’m sure this is not well known within the general public. Some commentators have spoken of a reluctant of our political leaders to criticise or sanction Israel due to fear of being labelled anti-Semitic. I find it more probable that our weak stance on Israel is due to our fear of jeopardising our security dependence on the USA. To keep that in good nick, we accept genocide.

Thank you Annabel.

It is real in the sense that foreign investors are still seeking international approval for forest carbon projects in PNG. You can view the latest one (in West Sepik Province) at https://registry.verra.org/app/projectDetail/VCS/5287. And now it is possibly a bit more real, in the sense that the Climate Change and Development Authority announced that it would implement the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Market) Regulation back in March, despite continuing objections from some environmental NGOs. But we still don't know whether local landowners have received any substantial benefits from investments already made, let alone what benefits they might receive in future.

I am a resource owner and I am still confused, is the carbon market in PNG is for real.

Yes, the situation is extremely distressing. What kind of targeted sanctions are you suggesting? Surely sanctions against Israel could be applied immediately. Settler colonisation has a part to play, but the research on the armaments industry is also important.

Where do I download the training course books for community development workers? Please supply me with the correct website for downloads. Thank you.

No mention of Hamas or the hostages. This kind of wholesale complicity with antisemitic terrorism by left wing [peronal attack deleted] should be deplored.

It’s genuinely shocking how pro-Israelis cannot grasp that Muslim countries do not want to be complicit in another Nakba ethnic cleansing mass expulsion of their fellow people. What is so difficult about this? Israel and USA are massacring, slaughtering, butchering, raping, bombing, stealing, pillaging, destroying and bombing as many brown Muslim people as possible, and [personal attack deleted].

Annabel, it takes courage to speak truth to power. Well done. In a post truth world where empathy is woke and truth replaced by lies to serve the interests of the sociopathic few, we must defend the truth or risk returning to the barbarism that tore society apart a century ago.

Thank you for sharing this interesting perspective. Amidst the structural challenges to providing foreign aid under the certain presidential administration, this article helps identify a key, but likely overlooked benefit of foreign aid donations: they way in which it can boost the perception of the United States on the global stage. I also appreciate the specification that "targeted, sustained, effective and visible aid" particularly achieves this impact because it reminds the audience that not all aid is created equal, so to speak, and implicitly urges developed countries with much to donate via foreign aid that they must make substantial foreign aid donations to feel the self-interested benefits. Thank you for informing your audience of the importance and benefits of foreign aid. This type of writing is so important!

I have worked on several electrification projects in PNG. Sad to see that many of them did not take off due to shortcomings in funding and sustainability issues. I am fully aligned with your assertion that PNG's rural electrification programs should be different from grid connection. Small-scale and independent mini-systems based out in scattered communities would be the sustainable solution. In this regard, solar systems and mini-hydro schemes should be prioritized. Apart from a few scattered solar systems based in Christian centres far out in the woods, there is hardly any emphasis on solar power. In contrast, mini-hydro systems are totally lacking from the land scape filled with natural streams. These two systems offer a high degree of resilience not dependent on complex land-tenure related issues. I would like to add mini-hydro systems that were not mentioned in this article. In remote and rural Pakistan for instance, 100% of households in water-deficit areas are supplied with individual mini-solar systems. Our extensive field work in the country reveals that almost all have solar power. In terrain where streams are abundant, mini-hydro schemes have taken over as the source of energy supplying both day and night. The writers of article are right that solar has not spread fast enough in rural PNG. On the other hand, mini hydro schemes are totally absent. These gaps are partly due to the focus of funding agencies which almost entirely are aligned towards PNG Power grid supply or in a few cases large hydro power schemes. What is important is reliance on individual or community schemes rather than the alienation towards public agencies as the modality of ownership. The public systems face a number of challenges including land owner rights issues whilst individual and community-owned systems do face none. PNG's energy challenge is not just on electrification. We need a macro focus on all energy needs including cooking and other domestic chores. In this regard, attention is needed on fuelwood-efficient stoves that not only do save energy by as much as 50=70% but also a sustainable solution to deforestation. India, several countries in Africa and to a lesser extent in Pakistan have successfully implemented programs for introduction of wood efficient stoves that work very well.