Stories about Oceania
Aussie 14-year-old leads a trailblazing online news service
"Mate, I’m just seeing your broadcasts now and they are bloody fantastic! I tried doing what you’ve done when I was young and got nowhere near your professionalism."
Pacific groups celebrate Ocean Week by opposing deep sea mining
Various Pacific groups celebrated Ocean Week and Ocean Day on June 8 by calling on officials to reject deep-sea mining (DSM) in the region.
Podcast: Australia's election result, and a Mexican state looks for a way to deal with drought
Today we travel to the state of Queretaro in Mexico, and then to Australia.
Sorcery accusation-related violence continues to plague Papua New Guinea
"In no anthropological writings have I seen reference to anything barbaric as this. This is not part of the ancestry of PNG as we are far more a caring society."
Indonesia is caught between Russia and the West ahead of the November G20 conference
This year’s G20 is being chaired by Indonesian President Joko Widodo who is facing pressure to ban Russian representatives because of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Citizens push back on Palau’s plan to open marine sanctuary to commercial fishing and exploration
"...We believe there is a multitude of unexplored alternatives resulting in sustainable revenues that return social and environmental gains."
Mass coral bleaching of Australia's Great Barrier Reef goes under the media radar
This week Will Smith got more media coverage for bad behaviour than the ongoing decline of the world’s coral reefs.
Koalas face bleak future after being listed as endangered
"The primary driver of koala population decline is the clearing of its habitat. No amount of money can save koalas unless we tackle this".
Pacific media groups rally behind suspended Papua New Guinea journalist
Sincha Dimara was suspended for reporting on court proceedings against Australian hotelier Jamie Pang. MLN has faced criticism before for suspending and silencing journalists.
Meet ‘Lock the Gate’ Alliance: Australia's grassroots environmental campaigners
The movement campaigns against "risky coal mining and coal seam gas and fracking" and has taken on some of Australia's biggest polluters and environmental aggressors.
Mixed response to Australia's Great Barrier Reef funding boost in lead up to election
"Good to see greater effort going into reef management but the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef is still climate change and we need greater commitment ...on that front."
Tongans share stories of how they survived the volcano eruption and tsunami
"It felt like the heavens cracked open and the world exploded inside my ear. I’ve never heard a louder noise in all my life."
Australian town of Onslow hits record 50.7 degrees Celsius, as global warming rolls on relentlessly
A disaster film occurring daily in real time... Rising ocean temps are inextricably linked to massive extreme weather/climate events, destabilization of Antarctic ice shelves and massive sea level rise
Police violently break up Afghan refugee protest in Indonesia
Some refugees in Indonesia have been in limbo for more than 10 years. Protesters gathered outside the UNHCR building in Medan to call for resettlement and demand better living conditions.
Australia’s refugees react to double standard over tennis star Novak Djokovic's treatment
"It's sad that so many contacted me about Djokovic. I've been in a cage for 9 years, I turn 24 today, and all you want to talk to me about is that."
New Caledonia votes to stay with France in referendum boycotted by the Indigenous population
"The future of New Caledonia cannot be built without its indigenous people. The Kanak voice is the cornerstone of New Caledonia’s common destiny."
Citizens start clean-up and recovery efforts after protests and riots in Solomon Islands
"We bring hardships and struggles upon ourselves, our family members, relatives and community members by involving in unlawful activities like riots, arson and looting."
‘Strollout’: Australia’s word of 2021 alludes to the slow vaccine rollout and delayed climate action
Cartoonist Veteran Peter Broelman joked, "‘The government is a bunch of heartless climate-denying rorting crooks who only look after themselves’ was too long to fit on a page."
Meet the Pacific Islanders fighting for climate action at COP26
"We are resilient people, but we recognise the need for other countries to build their resilience as well if we are to have a fighting chance!"
Billboard satire blasts Australian government's tepid climate change stance for Glasgow COP26
"They are laughing at us in Times Square, as they should be: our response to climate change is the biggest joke on earth."
Prince Charles calls on Australia's Prime Minister to attend Glasgow global climate change conference
After jibes from Britain, reports indicate that Prime Minister Morrison will likely attend COP26. However, government sources have apparently denied that the prince’s remarks may have influenced him.