Stories about Oceania from March, 2009
Water: One Take International Video Contest
“Is access to clean, safe water for drinking a basic human right? Why? or Why not?”. That is the question One Take is asking for you to answer in your own language, recording it on a video no more than 2 minutes long, uploading it on their site and on DotSub and having it subtitled in at least 1 other language. Just this month, world leaders met in Istambul, Turkey at the World Water Forum to have this discussion, and although they aren't sure what the result will be, it is our chance to show what we believe about this issue, and make our voices heard.
Global Recession Survey: Survival Tips and Business Opportunities
Everybody is trying hard to cope with the global economic crisis. Bloggers are offering survival tips to their readers. Businesses around the world are adjusting. Some are even profiting from the crisis. In this post, I will feature individuals and companies exerting their very best to overcome the recession.
Fiji: ‘It was stones, now it's molotov cocktails’
At least six people in Fiji who could be termed “public opponents” of the country’s military-backed government have been targeted by unidentified individuals who late at night have thrown large stones at their houses and severally damaged their cars. During the stonings, much of Fiji’s political blogosphere have claimed the rock attacks were perpetrated by members of the country’s military.
Global: Bubbles, Bailouts and Stimulus Plans
Identifying the economic woes of the United States is crucial. But we should also understand that other countries are also grappling with bankrupt companies and shrinking economies. Many countries are also implementing their own stimulus plans. What are some of the examples used by bloggers around the world when they discuss the bubble economies, bailout of banks and stimulus plans of their countries?
Falling standards at Fiji's resorts
Commenting on a local report regarding the falling service standards at some of Fiji's well-known resorts, Oceanic: User Experiences from the South Pacific argues that ‘service complacency’ is more dangerous to the viability of Fiji's large-scale tourism industry than any worries over ‘political instability.’
Fiji: A step towards elections?
Fiji’s political parties may have taken a first step toward restoring Parliamentary democracy when they met with the military backed Interim Government and agreed on the issues to be discussed during the President’s Political Dialogue Forum, which will take place next month. But the usually exhaustive political blogosphere and forum posters analyzing Fiji affairs have been less than enthusiastic talking about it. And, frankly, they've ignored most of the event.
Fiji court lowers retirement age to 55
In light of the recent court ruling stipulating that Fiji's public servants must retire at age 55, Wendy from Babasiga argues with so many people in the prime of experience and responsibility in their late 50s, perhaps the pension age for government workers should be optional.
Fiji Times editor's car vandalized
After news hit that the editor of the Fiji Times had has vehicle vandalized, Fiji Coup 2006 points out that other government critics have suffered the same fate and Talking Fiji contends the property damage forces these critics to live in fear of clandestine prosecution.
Taiwan: Best Job in the World
Taiwanese girl Clare wants to take the “Best Job” in the world and she is almost there. Job description: managing a beautiful island of Australia and blog about how you enjoy living and swimming there for six months with the total wage amounted to 3,380,000 NTD. Take a look at...
Fiji: Rugby, politics and democracy
People in Fiji are slowly coming to grips with the fact the nation’s Rugby sevens team could not defend its World Cup title because it was beaten by upstart Kenya in the quarter-finals. Nearly everyone in Fiji has fingered blame on someone — the players, trainers and coaches. Yet more than a few bloggers and commenters are blaming the loss on the country’s political situation.
Australia: Reactions to “Cricket Terror”
Cricket, that shared legacy of British colonialism, has taken centre stage in Australian blogs following the terror attack in Lahore. This terror attack has taken bushfires off the front pages of Australian newspapers and the lead stories of the electronic media.
Fiji soldiers show up at murder trial
When about 30 uniformed soldiers in Fiji's army — including the Chief of Staff — showed up at a trial where eight servicemen (and one former police officer) have been accused of killing a teenager in 2007, Fiji Today called it “intimidation of court witnesses by [the] Fiji military.”
How will Fiji repay its debt to China?
With China's loan to Fiji to build low-income housing soon to be approved, Intelligentsiya wonders how the money will be repaid if few people can even afford inexpensive accommodations because of Fiji's sagging economic figures.
Australian film on Lebanese gangs talk of the town
An Australian film depicting Lebanese gang life in Sydney's western suburbs has sparked more than a series of reviews. “The Combination“ was pulled from several cinemas in Sydney after brawls broke out, following the screenings and the controversial film has been the talk of the town, receiving wide media attention, writes Antoun Issa.
Descendants of Fiji's first indentured servants
Fiji: The Way It Was, Is and Can Be chronicles the plight of the Kai Solomoni people, the descendants of Fiji’s first indentured servants who were kidnapped in the mid-1860s to work on European cotton and copra plantations.
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