Peace Corps man’s

textbook surveys the Pacific

Pacific Nations and Ter ritories. By Reilly Ridgell. Pub lished by the Guam Community College, 1983. Available from the Bookstore, Guam Community College, P.O. Box 23069, Guam Main Facility, Guam 96921.

SU.S.I3, plus postage.

This is a comprehensive textbook on the Pacific aimed mainly at

secondary school pupils, al

though it contains useful infor mation for any student interested in the Pacific and its people. It offers a background of Pacific

geography, history and culture,

as well as some general informa tion on every island nation, but without too much detailed infor mation on any particular island group.

The book is divided into six units, the first half dealing with information of a general nature on geography, history and people of the Pacific, while the second half examines each island group individually. A lot of hard facts are crammed into the first few chapters in an attempt to give the student all necessary information

about the geological formation of the islands, weather patterns, migration, traditional navigation methods and canoe-building techniques.

The historical rundown is pre sented in a clear and straightfor ward manner. This is particularly apparent when the author de scribes the various influences the islanders have been subjected to over the centuries, from beach combers and blackbirders, to traders and missionaires. Ridgell has no kind words for any of them and some of the European missionaries come in for criti cism for the negative role they played in the development of the islands and their contribution to the widespread destruction of traditions and rites. But he does get carried away with a sweeping statement of the alleged anti communist feelings of the islan ders. However, the author’s way of not being afraid to take a personal stand on controversial matters can be regarded as both a plus and a minus in a work of this nature.

For an American who first came to the Pacific as a Peace Corps volunteer, Ridgell takes a refreshingly objective stand when he assesses the American presence in the Pacific, particu larly in the Trust Territory. He obviously has no illusions about the true motives behind the Un ited States’ apparent generosity towards some islands and spells out quite clearly the crude self interest that has determined U.S. policy towards the Pacific throughout the post-war years.

I only wished Ridgell would have been as adamant in his condemnation of the manner in which the French Government has treated its Pacific territories, as there are many parallels bet ween the way Paris and Washington have treated their

overseas dependencies, particu

larly in the field of nuclear

testing.

Nevertheless, Ridgell attempts to highlight in clear and concise terms most major problems that bedevil the Pacific, whether it be the tough deal meted out to the Banabans by the British Govern ment, the racial frictions in Fiji between Fijians and Indians, the efforts to stem the disappearance of Fa’a Samoa in both Samoas,

or the racial disharmony in Hawaii and the grave problems created by the influx of haole (Caucasians) from continental

U.S.A.

Each of the 26 chapters in the second half, on the individual island nations, has five sub headings dealing with geog

raphy, people and culture,

economy and resources, political status, and major problems. Pre senting the data on each nation in such a systematic fashion makes comparison very easy. The book is also well illustrated with a good selection of black and white photographs from all over the Pacific.

After Ridgell’s dozen years spent as a teacher in various parts of the Trust Territory it is not surprising that the chapters deal ing with Micronesia are the most detailed and comprehensive, while many other Pacific nations rate only one or two pages.

Nevertheless the essential infor mation is all there, with only a few factual mistakes having crept in.

The islands' problems, whether of an economic or de velopmental nature, are treated with understanding and sym pathy, with the author in several instances offering his own sug gestions how to solve some of these. It was interesting to read that Hawaii’s unfavorable ba lance of trade is made up for by

tourism, military spending and

the sale of marijuana, although one hopes that the latter is not

going to be taken as an example of the kind of product that could help improve the balance of pay ments of other Pacific nations.

Each chapter ends with a series of review questions for the benefit of the teacher, as well as a list of further reading. Not surprisingly, one book men tioned extensively as a reference is Pacific Islands Year-Book.

Otherwise the selection of re commended books offers the more serious student an adequate appreciation of island affairs and a good insight into their cultures.

Some people may disagree

with Ridgell’s personal com

ments appearing in some of the

sub-chapters dealing with the

major problems of the various

islands. It is a matter of debate whether one should include any personal comments in a book of this kind, or whether the students should only be presented with all necessary facts and left to decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. In a few instances

Ridgell has certainly strayed

across the thin line dividing sub

jectivity from objectivity.

But at east no one could ac cuse him of not being well inten tioned. Throughout the book it is unmistakeably clear that the au thor has the best interests of the Pacific people at heart. This text book, which fills a long-felt gap in Pacific education, is the best proof of his good intentions.

Jimmy Cornell.