Goodbye 1995
p. 22 · Read in the full issue
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As we farewell 1995, it is probably worth our while to take stock of the year’s events and look at the chal lenges of the next century.
As an individual, an event in 1995 might have affected you, in perhaps more ways than one. No doubt, the passing of this year has left some with sad memories and others with happier ones. We were affected one way or the other.
At the regional level, 1995 was a year which saw the resolve of Pacific Island countries, under the umbrella of the South Pacific Forum, to tackle the nuclear issue
together.
Despite the outrage expressed by the Leaders of the Pacific and world opinion, France continues to test its nuclear arsenal in the Pacific, instead of conducting these tests in metropolitan France.
As a result of such arrogance, France’s status as a post-Forum Dialogue Partner with the South Pacific Forum has been
suspended.
The suspension was announced by Sir Julius Chan, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, in his capacity as chair of the South Pacific Forum, in New York on October 2 - the day France detonated its second underground nuclear device on Fangataufa. At 150 kilotones, it was the most powerful yet in its nuclear-test series.
There is no doubt, scientific or other wise, that French nuclear testing has done irreparable damage both to the region’s environment and to the health of its people in the long-term. Efforts by the region for a complete stop to nuclear testing and a commitment by France to bear the full responsibility for past, present and future environmental damage will continue.
The announcement of intent by France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America to sign the relevant Protocols to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Rarotonga Treaty) is noted as a welcomed development. But apart from our opposition to nuclear testing, 1995 has been a year to remember in other areas as well.
Global changes in politics, trade and economic development, for instance, con tinue to bring to bear on what the region does and its linkage to the outside world.
As well, advances in technology, par ticularly in the area of telecommunica tions, has brought the island nations of the Pacific much closer together, rendering
them active participants in regional and world affairs.
As a region, we must be prepared to take advantage of these developments and the challenges they present, using them as opportunities to advance the interests of the region.
Other forces are at work as well, both for and against us.
With our own regional structure, for instance, mechanisms are gradually being put in place to accommodate and deal with some of these changes firmly and prompt ly- At our sister organisation, the New Caledonia-based South Pacific Commission (SPC), a new team headed by former AusAID Director General, Dr Bob Dun will take the reins from next year.
Here in Fiji, at the secretariat of the South Pacific Forum, there will be drastic changes in the overall structure of the organisation. Decided by the Forum Officials Committee - the organisation’s governing body at its recent meeting in Madang, Papua New Guinea, last September, these changes were intended to make the organisation more responsive and focused.
Among other things, the changes mean that the number of divisions (departments) will be reduced from nine to five.
Many programmes which have been administered by the Secretariat for many, many years will either be transferred to other regional organisations or will be gradually phased out. Details are being worked out. Areas with potential benefit for the region are also being looked into.
For instance, an initiative by the South Pacific Forum to establish an office in Tokyo, Japan, has moved a step closer with the completion of a major study into its feasibility.
The study, undertaken jointly by the South Pacific Forum Secretariat’s Trade and Investment Division and the Oceania Division of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was completed in July this year. The six-month study looked into establishing a South Pacific Economic Exchange Support Centre (SPEESC) in Tokyo. A report on the study has been sub mitted by the Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Finance for pos sible funding in Japan’s 1996 fiscal year.
A final decision is expected by the end of this month .
The possibility of setting up similar centres have been raised with the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan/Republic of China.
Increasingly, the South Pacific Forum is looking at linkages into other processes to broaden and maximise the region’s exposure. One such process is the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) which held its ministerial meeting in Osaka, Japan, last month.
The Secretary-General of the South Pacific Secretariat, leremia Tabai, attended the meeting. The South Pacific Forum has observer status at both APEC and the United Nations.
In anyone’s books, the South Pacific Forum has achieved a lot in the last 24 years. A lot more remains to be done. As such, we shall continue in our endeavour to give the region back to our children (from whom we borrow this part of the world) in a better shape.
Many of us may not be around to see our children enjoy a better life in this part of the world. At least, if we can say with some degree of certainty that we have done our part, we can safely rest in peace.
For a better life for them is the chief reason we in the Pacific continue to take the trouble to tell France that it must stop its systematic destruction of our future and our children’s.
The environment is our livelihood.
Most importantly, it is our children’s. They have a right to their livelihood and a future. No-one, including France, has the right to deny the children of the Pacific an opportunity for a better and disease-free future.
It is our hope that today’s children will remember and thank their forebearers for their efforts in trying to preserve the Pacific and its environment for them.
It has not been easy, but it has been worth the effort. We hope they will carry on with the work.
There is no doubt that the 21st century will bring with it more challenges. Only those with the resolve will survive the rigidity of these challenges.
But as we gaze into this new century, let’s use our experiences and resolve as the bedrock for all future endeavours.
Have a blessed Christmas and a pros perous 1996. May God bless you. ■