all my life I’ve been driven by a challenge it was given to me or was
challenge it was given to me or was
challenge it was given to me or was often repeated to me by my late aunt who
often repeated to me by my late aunt who
often repeated to me by my late aunt who said that dellavedova Kawakawa yon
said that dellavedova Kawakawa yon
said that dellavedova Kawakawa yon economy no in an opinion which
economy no in an opinion which
economy no in an opinion which translates into something like I should
translates into something like I should
translates into something like I should work hard so that I can support myself
work hard so that I can support myself
work hard so that I can support myself with my writing my story began in my
with my writing my story began in my
with my writing my story began in my small island my small village on the
small island my small village on the
small island my small village on the island of now where I was raised
island of now where I was raised
island of now where I was raised after I was taken from sober as a child
after I was taken from sober as a child
after I was taken from sober as a child by my late aunt and uncle under an
by my late aunt and uncle under an
by my late aunt and uncle under an adoption system that is widely practiced
adoption system that is widely practiced
adoption system that is widely practiced in the Pacific in the village I was
in the Pacific in the village I was
in the Pacific in the village I was taught to believe in the omnipresent God
taught to believe in the omnipresent God
taught to believe in the omnipresent God to relate to my relatives my
to relate to my relatives my
to relate to my relatives my responsibilities to swim to garden to
responsibilities to swim to garden to
responsibilities to swim to garden to forage in the forest and in the sea for
forage in the forest and in the sea for
forage in the forest and in the sea for food and to cook by the time I left the
food and to cook by the time I left the
food and to cook by the time I left the village in pursuit of higher education
village in pursuit of higher education
village in pursuit of higher education in the 19 late 1970s I was recently well
in the 19 late 1970s I was recently well
in the 19 late 1970s I was recently well grounded in Who I am my people’s
grounded in Who I am my people’s
grounded in Who I am my people’s reliance on the ocean and of course my
reliance on the ocean and of course my
reliance on the ocean and of course my role later in life although my aunt
role later in life although my aunt
role later in life although my aunt would have wanted me to have a life
would have wanted me to have a life
would have wanted me to have a life outside of the village I actually wanted
outside of the village I actually wanted
outside of the village I actually wanted to be educated to be a better villager
my first work was at the Queen Victoria
my first work was at the Queen Victoria School on the northeast coast of
School on the northeast coast of
School on the northeast coast of Thailand at the Queen Victoria school I
Thailand at the Queen Victoria school I
Thailand at the Queen Victoria school I was introduced to the fishes of my
was introduced to the fishes of my
was introduced to the fishes of my Island a fishing community offshore
Island a fishing community offshore
Island a fishing community offshore former fishes were providing for the
former fishes were providing for the
former fishes were providing for the school as well as as a part of the
school as well as as a part of the
school as well as as a part of the community of fish needs were reliant on
community of fish needs were reliant on
community of fish needs were reliant on the sea and yet were not regarded
the sea and yet were not regarded
the sea and yet were not regarded commercial fishes because they are
commercial fishes because they are
commercial fishes because they are villages and villages are supposed to be
villages and villages are supposed to be
villages and villages are supposed to be unreliable produces maybe not very
unreliable produces maybe not very
unreliable produces maybe not very strong to withstand the rigors of
strong to withstand the rigors of
strong to withstand the rigors of commercial fishing and often did not
commercial fishing and often did not
commercial fishing and often did not access the kind of support that often
access the kind of support that often
access the kind of support that often were given to commercial operators I
were given to commercial operators I
were given to commercial operators I made the fishes of Noma a subject of my
made the fishes of Noma a subject of my
made the fishes of Noma a subject of my postgraduate studies years later
postgraduate studies years later
postgraduate studies years later fortunate enough to be allowed to do a
fortunate enough to be allowed to do a
fortunate enough to be allowed to do a PhD research and I added that earlier
PhD research and I added that earlier
PhD research and I added that earlier study this time the subject was rural
study this time the subject was rural
study this time the subject was rural development projects or for Nobel in
development projects or for Nobel in
development projects or for Nobel in there in the design and reasons but fear
there in the design and reasons but fear
there in the design and reasons but fear failure later the rural development
failure later the rural development
failure later the rural development landscape I joined the University of the
landscape I joined the University of the
landscape I joined the University of the South Pacific in 1990 and as at once
South Pacific in 1990 and as at once
South Pacific in 1990 and as at once made a member of a non-government
made a member of a non-government
made a member of a non-government organisation based at the University
organisation based at the University
organisation based at the University called specky and our target was to
called specky and our target was to
called specky and our target was to advocate for good environment management
advocate for good environment management
advocate for good environment management amongst Pacific Islanders that go
amongst Pacific Islanders that go
amongst Pacific Islanders that go through the university it was it’s
through the university it was it’s
through the university it was it’s patchy that I first got to work with
patchy that I first got to work with
patchy that I first got to work with communities and with government and for
communities and with government and for
communities and with government and for me was was enjoyable I was beginning to
me was was enjoyable I was beginning to
me was was enjoyable I was beginning to realize some of the things that I had
realize some of the things that I had
realize some of the things that I had wanted to do
wanted to do
wanted to do one of the things that I did not mention
one of the things that I did not mention
one of the things that I did not mention earlier was that from the young age
earlier was that from the young age
earlier was that from the young age while in the rural in the rural village
while in the rural in the rural village
while in the rural in the rural village I was actually asking God to bless my
I was actually asking God to bless my
I was actually asking God to bless my relations or the other love that was
relations or the other love that was
relations or the other love that was unconditional that they showed me in
unconditional that they showed me in
unconditional that they showed me in raising me to live in my island world so
raising me to live in my island world so
raising me to live in my island world so working with all the big the work that
working with all the big the work that
working with all the big the work that non-government organizations do was for
non-government organizations do was for
non-government organizations do was for me like a really refreshing moment in
me like a really refreshing moment in
me like a really refreshing moment in 1992 I attended a short training offered
1992 I attended a short training offered
1992 I attended a short training offered by the International Ocean Institute
by the International Ocean Institute
by the International Ocean Institute again a non-government organisation but
again a non-government organisation but
again a non-government organisation but this is international as it’s registered
this is international as it’s registered
this is international as it’s registered in Malta and they were trying to
in Malta and they were trying to
in Malta and they were trying to advocate for the promotion and
advocate for the promotion and
advocate for the promotion and endorsement of what what had come out in
endorsement of what what had come out in
endorsement of what what had come out in 1982 the United Nations Convention on
1982 the United Nations Convention on
1982 the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea others that don’t
the law of the sea others that don’t
the law of the sea others that don’t know United Nations Convention on the
know United Nations Convention on the
know United Nations Convention on the law of the sea is like a constitution
law of the sea is like a constitution
law of the sea is like a constitution for the ocean it outlines the rights and
for the ocean it outlines the rights and
for the ocean it outlines the rights and responsibilities of States over their
responsibilities of States over their
responsibilities of States over their maritime areas it also proposes the
maritime areas it also proposes the
maritime areas it also proposes the sustainable news of the marine
sustainable news of the marine
sustainable news of the marine environment and of the resources in 1992
environment and of the resources in 1992
environment and of the resources in 1992 as well a world gathered in Rio for
as well a world gathered in Rio for
as well a world gathered in Rio for arguably the biggest conference in the
arguably the biggest conference in the
arguably the biggest conference in the world at the time presidents prime
world at the time presidents prime
world at the time presidents prime ministers ministers of state they all
ministers ministers of state they all
ministers ministers of state they all gathered there and out of that meeting
gathered there and out of that meeting
gathered there and out of that meeting came number of agreements one I’d like
came number of agreements one I’d like
came number of agreements one I’d like to make you remember for this
to make you remember for this
to make you remember for this presentation are the two conventions one
presentation are the two conventions one
presentation are the two conventions one on climate change and one by diversity
on climate change and one by diversity
on climate change and one by diversity conservation and the third agenda 21
conservation and the third agenda 21
conservation and the third agenda 21 because I’ll come back to those that
because I’ll come back to those that
because I’ll come back to those that that meeting in Rio I didn’t I was not
that meeting in Rio I didn’t I was not
that meeting in Rio I didn’t I was not there I was too insignificant
there I was too insignificant
there I was too insignificant it’s sort of however propelled by my
it’s sort of however propelled by my
it’s sort of however propelled by my area of research to the global level all
area of research to the global level all
area of research to the global level all of a sudden I was getting a toll to go
of a sudden I was getting a toll to go
of a sudden I was getting a toll to go invited to get to meetings all over the
invited to get to meetings all over the
invited to get to meetings all over the place and I learned two things from the
place and I learned two things from the
place and I learned two things from the conference’s that I went to one this is
conference’s that I went to one this is
conference’s that I went to one this is this one that we are feeling in our
this one that we are feeling in our
this one that we are feeling in our attempts to manage the fisheries of the
attempts to manage the fisheries of the
attempts to manage the fisheries of the ocean so I was actually fortunate in a
ocean so I was actually fortunate in a
ocean so I was actually fortunate in a sense because I was in in st. John’s
sense because I was in in st. John’s
sense because I was in in st. John’s Newfoundland in 1998 we were gathering
Newfoundland in 1998 we were gathering
Newfoundland in 1998 we were gathering there to celebrate the five hundred year
there to celebrate the five hundred year
there to celebrate the five hundred year anniversary of the arrival into Canada
anniversary of the arrival into Canada
anniversary of the arrival into Canada of Europeans at 1998 at six years after
of Europeans at 1998 at six years after
of Europeans at 1998 at six years after the collapse of the cod fishery of the
the collapse of the cod fishery of the
the collapse of the cod fishery of the Northwest Pacific six years after the
Northwest Pacific six years after the
Northwest Pacific six years after the declaration of the moratorium that is
declaration of the moratorium that is
declaration of the moratorium that is still there today banning all kinds of
still there today banning all kinds of
still there today banning all kinds of fishing of this major stock like the
fishing of this major stock like the
fishing of this major stock like the Titanic the unsinkable and then it sank
Titanic the unsinkable and then it sank
Titanic the unsinkable and then it sank on its very first passage across the
on its very first passage across the
on its very first passage across the Atlantic a cod fishery of that part of
Atlantic a cod fishery of that part of
Atlantic a cod fishery of that part of Canada was regarded too big we could not
Canada was regarded too big we could not
Canada was regarded too big we could not imagine that it would disappear in less
imagine that it would disappear in less
imagine that it would disappear in less than 500 years so I often wonder why and
than 500 years so I often wonder why and
than 500 years so I often wonder why and countries around the world serious about
countries around the world serious about
countries around the world serious about addressing the sustainability of
addressing the sustainability of
addressing the sustainability of Fisheries I’m also quite
well I want to be hopeful but a bit
well I want to be hopeful but a bit troubled that we have not implemented
troubled that we have not implemented
troubled that we have not implemented agenda 21 which is supposed to be agenda
agenda 21 which is supposed to be agenda
agenda 21 which is supposed to be agenda for sustainable development in the 21st
for sustainable development in the 21st
for sustainable development in the 21st century we have not done that so that’s
century we have not done that so that’s
century we have not done that so that’s that’s the outcome for me from from
that’s the outcome for me from from
that’s the outcome for me from from these global meetings and beginning to
these global meetings and beginning to
these global meetings and beginning to feel like maybe some of them or some of
feel like maybe some of them or some of
feel like maybe some of them or some of the meetings what they want to do is is
the meetings what they want to do is is
the meetings what they want to do is is produce the reports from where I’m
produce the reports from where I’m
produce the reports from where I’m coming from reports are not good enough
coming from reports are not good enough
coming from reports are not good enough so run about 2,000 group of us at the
so run about 2,000 group of us at the
so run about 2,000 group of us at the University of the South Pacific together
University of the South Pacific together
University of the South Pacific together with our partners decided we want to try
with our partners decided we want to try
with our partners decided we want to try a different approach to address in this
a different approach to address in this
a different approach to address in this whole issue of articulating sustainable
whole issue of articulating sustainable
whole issue of articulating sustainable development we decided commenced against
development we decided commenced against
development we decided commenced against a lot of criticism to focus our
a lot of criticism to focus our
a lot of criticism to focus our attention in one place an island
attention in one place an island
attention in one place an island hopefully big enough so that it can be
hopefully big enough so that it can be
hopefully big enough so that it can be representative of Islands throughout the
representative of Islands throughout the
representative of Islands throughout the Pacific not too big like Viti Levu delay
Pacific not too big like Viti Levu delay
Pacific not too big like Viti Levu delay was too big it’s only for government
was too big it’s only for government
was too big it’s only for government maybe for us individuals researches
maybe for us individuals researches
maybe for us individuals researches maybe an island this size would be a
maybe an island this size would be a
maybe an island this size would be a would be more appropriate and we decided
would be more appropriate and we decided
would be more appropriate and we decided the reason why we wanted to do this was
the reason why we wanted to do this was
the reason why we wanted to do this was that it is really difficult to show
that it is really difficult to show
that it is really difficult to show people what is worked and so if we can
people what is worked and so if we can
people what is worked and so if we can concentrate our attention in having our
concentrate our attention in having our
concentrate our attention in having our intervention in one place the hope is
intervention in one place the hope is
intervention in one place the hope is that it would work out well so with the
that it would work out well so with the
that it would work out well so with the little resources that we are we secured
little resources that we are we secured
little resources that we are we secured and of course we all have full-time jobs
and of course we all have full-time jobs
and of course we all have full-time jobs elsewhere we started the engagement
elsewhere we started the engagement
elsewhere we started the engagement process but to start this is the unique
process but to start this is the unique
process but to start this is the unique and and the natural capital that is
and and the natural capital that is
and and the natural capital that is worth worth looking after
worth worth looking after
worth worth looking after mountain forests that have not been
mountain forests that have not been
mountain forests that have not been logged wonderful biodiversity not seen
logged wonderful biodiversity not seen
logged wonderful biodiversity not seen anywhere else outside of these forests
anywhere else outside of these forests
anywhere else outside of these forests nice clean rivers that rush towards a
nice clean rivers that rush towards a
nice clean rivers that rush towards a coastal habitats
coastal habitats
coastal habitats hymned with rich and endemic
hymned with rich and endemic
hymned with rich and endemic biodiversity peace don’t you think he’s
biodiversity peace don’t you think he’s
biodiversity peace don’t you think he’s worth looking after and then endemic
worth looking after and then endemic
worth looking after and then endemic birds like the Fiji petrol so from about
birds like the Fiji petrol so from about
birds like the Fiji petrol so from about 2000 over 16 years ago and we still edit
2000 over 16 years ago and we still edit
2000 over 16 years ago and we still edit with doing community-based meetings
with doing community-based meetings
with doing community-based meetings training because let’s face it a lot of
training because let’s face it a lot of
training because let’s face it a lot of the people that are back in the villages
the people that are back in the villages
the people that are back in the villages really cannot come out of the villages
really cannot come out of the villages
really cannot come out of the villages it is up to us to reach out to them and
it is up to us to reach out to them and
it is up to us to reach out to them and then hopefully change them or change the
then hopefully change them or change the
then hopefully change them or change the way they do things we also document the
way they do things we also document the
way they do things we also document the management activities undertaken by
management activities undertaken by
management activities undertaken by communities in this case they have the
communities in this case they have the
communities in this case they have the protected areas every single one of the
protected areas every single one of the
protected areas every single one of the 16 villages already has a protected area
16 villages already has a protected area
16 villages already has a protected area and these are the kinds of marine
and these are the kinds of marine
and these are the kinds of marine management results yeah we’ve mobilized
management results yeah we’ve mobilized
management results yeah we’ve mobilized people to go out there and plant
people to go out there and plant
people to go out there and plant mangroves in the hope that the mangroves
mangroves in the hope that the mangroves
mangroves in the hope that the mangroves would enhance the fishery recovery as
would enhance the fishery recovery as
would enhance the fishery recovery as well as protect the coastline a
well as protect the coastline a
well as protect the coastline a coastline that is loaded because the
coastline that is loaded because the
coastline that is loaded because the seawall no longer works has to be
seawall no longer works has to be
seawall no longer works has to be repaired because that’s that’s important
repaired because that’s that’s important
repaired because that’s that’s important for the people to continue with their
for the people to continue with their
for the people to continue with their lives and of course we’re trying to find
lives and of course we’re trying to find
lives and of course we’re trying to find sources of income other than the sale of
sources of income other than the sale of
sources of income other than the sale of fish because actually we believe that
fish because actually we believe that
fish because actually we believe that the fish that are there maybe should be
the fish that are there maybe should be
the fish that are there maybe should be kept fresh the surface preference or
kept fresh the surface preference or
kept fresh the surface preference or local consumption you I think would now
local consumption you I think would now
local consumption you I think would now believe that things are happening
believe that things are happening
believe that things are happening unfortunately the villages still can
unfortunately the villages still can
unfortunately the villages still can connect who can make the connections
connect who can make the connections
connect who can make the connections between a variety of activity
between a variety of activity
between a variety of activity organization that sustainable
organization that sustainable
organization that sustainable development requires and that’s that’s a
development requires and that’s that’s a
development requires and that’s that’s a challenge that we have to face so again
challenge that we have to face so again
challenge that we have to face so again an in very attentive way we learn from
an in very attentive way we learn from
an in very attentive way we learn from our mistakes and our difficulties and
our mistakes and our difficulties and
our mistakes and our difficulties and try and put into the future we’ve now
try and put into the future we’ve now
try and put into the future we’ve now decided to work on a demonstration
decided to work on a demonstration
decided to work on a demonstration center to put all of our intervention in
center to put all of our intervention in
center to put all of our intervention in one spot so that people can come have a
one spot so that people can come have a
one spot so that people can come have a look and then maybe decide which one is
look and then maybe decide which one is
look and then maybe decide which one is appropriate for them which one they want
appropriate for them which one they want
appropriate for them which one they want to take and so on and you can see people
to take and so on and you can see people
to take and so on and you can see people are now willingly because willingly
are now willingly because willingly
are now willingly because willingly participating because they believe in
participating because they believe in
participating because they believe in what is being done government is even
what is being done government is even
what is being done government is even coming to the party providing some
coming to the party providing some
coming to the party providing some assistance so that we can reach out to
assistance so that we can reach out to
assistance so that we can reach out to the people at large this is a two
the people at large this is a two
the people at large this is a two two-year-old Center wood plantation part
two-year-old Center wood plantation part
two-year-old Center wood plantation part of the new kind of crops that we hope to
of the new kind of crops that we hope to
of the new kind of crops that we hope to promote around the island we also have
promote around the island we also have
promote around the island we also have all thanks to the Embassy of Japan
all thanks to the Embassy of Japan
all thanks to the Embassy of Japan they’ve given us some equipment because
they’ve given us some equipment because
they’ve given us some equipment because there’s a lot of pine plantation on the
there’s a lot of pine plantation on the
there’s a lot of pine plantation on the island this sawmill will allow us to
island this sawmill will allow us to
island this sawmill will allow us to influence the kind of logging that is
influence the kind of logging that is
influence the kind of logging that is done on the island and we actually want
done on the island and we actually want
done on the island and we actually want to go back to wooden houses because they
to go back to wooden houses because they
to go back to wooden houses because they stand up to climate change a lot better
stand up to climate change a lot better
stand up to climate change a lot better so I’ve seen you what I have a what I
so I’ve seen you what I have a what I
so I’ve seen you what I have a what I have done with what I have learnt and
have done with what I have learnt and
have done with what I have learnt and I’m saying that I’m still engaging I’m
I’m saying that I’m still engaging I’m
I’m saying that I’m still engaging I’m still there
still there
still there whenever they work at the university
whenever they work at the university
whenever they work at the university allows me but I look forward to retiring
allows me but I look forward to retiring
allows me but I look forward to retiring and maybe to drink that full-time
and maybe to drink that full-time
and maybe to drink that full-time because I believe that’s the only way we
because I believe that’s the only way we
because I believe that’s the only way we can we can articulate sustainable
can we can articulate sustainable
can we can articulate sustainable development
I’d like to a challenge you all wherever
I’d like to a challenge you all wherever you are sustainable development is a big
you are sustainable development is a big
you are sustainable development is a big commit
commit
commit and it will only happen however if
and it will only happen however if
and it will only happen however if individuals like you and I are united in
individuals like you and I are united in
individuals like you and I are united in the pursuit of a world where we have
the pursuit of a world where we have
the pursuit of a world where we have continuous supply of resources of
continuous supply of resources of
continuous supply of resources of services that we get from the
services that we get from the
services that we get from the environment where people have dignified
environment where people have dignified
environment where people have dignified lives where there is there’s no argument
lives where there is there’s no argument
lives where there is there’s no argument over resources because everyone is
over resources because everyone is
over resources because everyone is contented we need individual action you
contented we need individual action you
contented we need individual action you all have skills you all have resources
all have skills you all have resources
all have skills you all have resources just imagine the impact on a on a
just imagine the impact on a on a
just imagine the impact on a on a village community if you’ll participate
village community if you’ll participate
village community if you’ll participate in any of the activities that are
in any of the activities that are
in any of the activities that are undertaken in in those in those
undertaken in in those in those
undertaken in in those in those communities for sustainable development
communities for sustainable development
communities for sustainable development we need to make these mini governments
we need to make these mini governments
we need to make these mini governments that operate in oral rural communities
that operate in oral rural communities
that operate in oral rural communities around the world to share and work
around the world to share and work
around the world to share and work towards the common vision to achieve
towards the common vision to achieve
towards the common vision to achieve sustainable development because I think
sustainable development because I think
sustainable development because I think it’s the only right option that we have
it’s the only right option that we have
it’s the only right option that we have without sustainable development we will
without sustainable development we will
without sustainable development we will always be looking out for eventualities
always be looking out for eventualities
always be looking out for eventualities like the cod fishery in Newfoundland
like the cod fishery in Newfoundland
like the cod fishery in Newfoundland so my take-home message is basically
so my take-home message is basically
so my take-home message is basically very simple that we all have to work
very simple that we all have to work
very simple that we all have to work together sustainable development will
together sustainable development will
together sustainable development will not happen if half of our population are
not happen if half of our population are
not happen if half of our population are pursuing it and the other half are not
pursuing it and the other half are not
pursuing it and the other half are not involved for sustainable development to
involved for sustainable development to
involved for sustainable development to take place we need to work as the world
take place we need to work as the world
take place we need to work as the world community in fact that is the only way
community in fact that is the only way
community in fact that is the only way we can we can support our population
we can we can support our population
we can we can support our population going to the future and this is what I
going to the future and this is what I
going to the future and this is what I believe is the calling for us those of
believe is the calling for us those of
believe is the calling for us those of us who are here now with the power to
us who are here now with the power to
us who are here now with the power to influence
influence
influence the lives of our loved ones years from
the lives of our loved ones years from
the lives of our loved ones years from now as our very own president of the UN
now as our very own president of the UN
now as our very own president of the UN General Assembly said recently we have
General Assembly said recently we have
General Assembly said recently we have to do it right because this is the only
to do it right because this is the only
to do it right because this is the only planet that we can live in I think
planet that we can live in I think
planet that we can live in I think [Applause]
”
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