Stories about Oceania from May, 2007
Papua New Guinea: Elections
Islandbaby describes the dynamics of voting in Papua New Guinea. “So the result is that people, as extensions of familial and tribal groups, vote in context rather than on perspective and what comes out are unrealistic expectations which appear to have very little to do with the job of political...
Marshall Islands: Petition for Justice for Nuclear Test Survivors
Minaajet Chamorro is urging readers to sign a petition for justice for the nuclear survivors of Marshall Islands. The Micronesian island nation was site of a series of nuclear tests carried out by the US between 1946 and 1958.
How the South is financing the North's internet connection
Reseau International de correspondants writes about pricing inequalities in the international telecom system (Fr) that place a disproportionate burden of payment on developing countries to the extent that “the South is financing the North” and it is in effect “three times more expensive to connect to the internet” in developing...
Fijian Freedom bloggers and the military junta
It seems that the persecution faced by the anti-military Fijian Freedom Bloggers – who are using blogs to protest against the coup of December 5th, 2006- has subsided following a decision by the Fiji Military Forces (FMF) to stop hunting for anti-military bloggers and abandon its efforts to block the...
French Polynesia's Beauty Pageant Fever
In May, French Polynesia, where even the smallest island communities host their own beauty pageants, choose a new Miss Tahiti, a Miss Pirae, and a Miss Dragon. The islands have seen a proliferation of pageants in recent years, including a “Miss Hinano,” named for a Tahitian beer, and a “Miss...
Fiji: Blogs are a threat to national security
On May 14th, Intelligentsiya reported that the army's Land Force Commander has a list of about 20 people who will be arrested in connection with anti-military blogs. It has also been reported that the Fiji Military Forces (FMF) have pressured FINTEL, Fiji's only ISP, to block blogspot.com blogging platform, nearly...
Fiji: Blogging Suspect Detained.
Pacific Empire comments on the arrest and detention of a Fijian businessman by the Fijian army. The army suspects that the businessman was writing anti-government posts. Fijian army took over the power last December in a coup. “Some had high hopes for this coup. But truth was the first casualty,...
Morocco: Two Australians Attacked
TWO Australians relaxing by a hotel pool in Marrakech, Morocco, with other guests have been hacked with machetes in a senseless, unprovoked attack, reports Moroccan blogger Samir. The attacker is said to have had previously received hospital treatment in the central town of Fes for mental problems.