Is the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Exclusively an Economic Regime?

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-148
Author(s):  
Richard A. Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Security Studies ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Political Studies ◽  
Pacific Island Countries

Long neglected at the periphery of global politics, the Pacific region is home to more microstates than any other region on earth. As defined herein, the Pacific region comprises the sixteen states recognised by the Pacific Island Forum itself.** Inherently ocean-locked, the Pacific Island countries face numerous challenges of capacity and mobility. Though it maintains the typical diversity and variance of any region - from relatively resource-rich and mountainous Papua New Guinea (PNG), to the atoll states of Republic Marshall Islands (RMI), Tuvalu and Kiribati - it is noticeable for its reliance on foreign aid in order to maintain ongoing development. Even though lacking in major political flashpoints, the region still harbours strains of geopolitical struggle between major Asian powers. Japan, China and Taiwan all have investment and diplomatic interest in the region as the Pacific nations create a significant bloc of votes in the United Nations (UN). In addition to the proxy concerns of such nations, the Pacific Island countries have gained extra international influence in the past two decades due to their concerted lobbying in regard the negative impact of climate change in small island developing states. Their efforts have managed to bring the changing climate more consistently into the public arena, and also into the domain of security studies, thereby attempting to bridge the high and low branches of political studies.

Hybrid organisations contributing to wellbeing in Small Pacific Island Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Douglas ◽  
Buriata Eti-Tofinga ◽  
Gurmeet Singh
Keyword(s):  
Common Good ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Island Countries ◽  
Hybrid Organisations

Purpose This paper aims to examine the contributions of hybrid organisations to wellbeing in small Pacific island countries. Design/methodology/approach The concept and different forms of hybrid organisations are examined, and then the operation and contributions to wellbeing of three Fijian hybrid organisations are considered. Findings Hybrid organisations in this region operate with a commitment to the common good and an ethic of care. Fijian hybrid organisations improve social and economic wellbeing for individuals, families and communities by providing employment, schools and training facilities, financial and support services, sustainable agriculture projects and facilitating networking. These services improve individual and community social and economic wellbeing, build resilience, add to personal and family security, offer opportunities for the future, advance leadership skills and sustain the environment. Commercial activities that support these organisations in their wellbeing endeavours include product sales, service fees, project levies and investment income. Research limitations/implications Generalisability beyond the Pacific region is not assured, as this review only examines hybrid organisations in small Pacific island countries. Practical implications Hybrid organisations offer an alternative pathway to achieve a sustainable enterprise economy, an approach that is more culturally relevant for the Pacific region. Policies to nurture the development of these organisations, and research into the startup, operation, impact and effectiveness of different hybrid organisation models would help to improve wellbeing in this region. International charities and aid agencies could advance the wellbeing of people living in this region by supporting the development of hybrid organisations. External agencies seeking to support hybrid organisation development are advised to consider providing funding through a regional agency rather than engaging directly with national governments. Social implications Developing a robust hybrid organisation sector will improve social and economic wellbeing for people living in small island nations. Originality/value As one of the first studies to examine wellbeing and hybrid organisations, this review adds to hybrid business theory by its consideration of small Pacific island countries. The authors add to existing understandings of how hybrid organisations contribute to social and economic wellbeing for individuals, families and communities. The review identifies each form hybrid organisational form adopts. Each has a central commitment to generating social and economic value but different revenue sources. The review adds valuable new knowledge to the limited scholarship of this region by identifying the philosophical foundations and contributions to wellbeing of these hybrid organisations. A future research agenda and policy development process is proposed to improve wellbeing and advance hybrid organisations in the region.

scholarly journals Enhancing legal frameworks for biodiversity conservation in the Pacific

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika J. Techera
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Marine Management ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Island Countries

The Pacific region is a biodiversity hot spot with a long history of human occupation closely linked with sustainable use of the marine environment. The health of the marine environment and its resources is of environmental, economic and socio-cultural concern, and law plays an important part in its conservation and management. Designing appropriate legal mechanisms is, however, a challenging prospect. The Pacific Island countries involve a complex environment for law and policy-makers. As a result of their colonial past, these nations are legally pluralist, with more than one legal system operating at the same time. In addition, Pacific Island countries have embraced international law, ratifying the majority of key environmental treaties and subsequently taking steps to implement their obligations, including those related to biodiversity conservation. This complicated legal landscape means that law and policy must be adopted that implements international treaties whilst also meeting the needs of local communities. A particular feature of the Pacific region is the widespread adoption of community-based marine management approaches. Their proliferation is due to a combination of underlying customary law, which has subsisted despite colonial rule, together with a willingness by governments to support local approaches. This article examines community-based marine management through a legal lens; it commences by outlining traditional rules for marine management before exploring the contemporary legal position with a focus on the hybridisation of state-based legislation and customary law. Finally, comments are made on the effectiveness of these legal approaches, as well as remaining challenges.

scholarly journals Overseas Medical Referral: the health system challenges for Pacific Island Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Boudville ◽  
Wayne Irava ◽  
Silina Motofaga ◽  
Katherine Gilbert ◽  
Peter Annear
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Island Countries ◽  
Medical Referral

The delivery of specialised clinical services in the small Island nations of the Pacific region is an increasing challenge in the context of a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. Resources are limited and case-loads too low to support local specialists. This article focuses on the common practice of Overseas Medical Referral (OMR), which is an increasing challenge in the region. We collected interview and secondary data across 16 Pacific Island Countries. We found that OMR policies are often weak or incomplete, systems inadequate and reforms needed. Integrating OMR fully into national health referral systems and national strategic planning and prioritisation processes is needed. There is an additional need for collection of routine data on OMR service providers in the recipient countries and the outcomes of clinical care. With these reforms, a move towards increased regional cooperation and some form of strategic purchasing is possible.

scholarly journals China contributes to the ISID in Pacific Island Countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2254-2256
Author(s):  
Hongfei Yue
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Island States ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Pacific Island States ◽  
Pacific Island Countries

As we know, the Small Island Developing States face special challenges to their development. This is particularly true for the Pacific Island States, scattered as they are over a huge area of ocean.More specifically, the 22 Pacific Island countries are scattered over one third of the globe (thirty million sq. km. mostly ocean). The total population of the South Pacific excluding Australia and New Zealand is about 8 million; half of which reside in Papua New Guinea.Many stakeholders have been involving in assisting the development of Pacific Island Countries for a long time. In recent years, China has become one of the active players in the inclusive and sustainable development of Pacific Island Countries.

scholarly journals Envisioning South-South relations in the fields of environmental change and migration in the Pacific Islands - past, present and futures

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eberhard Weber
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Pacific Islanders ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Migration Flows ◽  
Pacific Island Countries

Climate change poses severe threats to developing countries. Scientists predict entire states (e.g. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Maldives) will become inhabitable. People living in these states have to resettle to other countries. Media and politicians warn that climate change will trigger migration flows in dimensions unknown to date. It is feared that millions from developing countries overwhelm developed societies and increase pressures on anyway ailing social support systems destabilizing societies and becoming a potential source of conflict.Inhabitants of Pacific Islandsahave been mobile since the islands were first settled not longer than 3,500 years ago. Since then people moved around, expanded their reach, and traded with neighbouring tribes (and later countries). With the event of European powers in the 15thcentury independent mobility became restricted after the beginning of the 19thcentury. From the second half of the 19thcentury movements of people predominately served economic interests of colonial powers, in particular a huge colonial appetite for labour. After independence emigration from Pacific Island countries continued to serve economic interest of metropolitan countries at the rim of the Pacific Ocean, which are able to direct migration flows according to their economic requirements.If climate change resettlements become necessary in big numbers then Pacific Islanders do not want to become climate change refugees. To include environmental reasons in refugee conventions is not what Pacific Islanders want. They want to migrate in dignity, if it becomes unavoidable to leave their homes. There are good reasons to solve the challenges within Pacific Island societies and do not depend too much on metropolitan neighbours at the rim of the Pacific such as Australia, New Zealand and the USA. To rise to the challenge requires enhanced Pan-Pacific Island solidarity and South-South cooperation. This then would result in a reduction of dependencies. For metropolitan powers still much can be done in supporting capacity building in Pacific Island countries and helping the economies to proposer so that climate change migrants easier can be absorbed by expanding labour markets in Pacific Island countries.

scholarly journals Why Are There So Few Carbon Offset Projects in Pacific Island Countries?

2011 ◽  
pp. 101-119
Author(s):  
Paul Dargusch ◽  
Shaun McMahon ◽  
Sebastian Thomas ◽  
Ray Collins
Keyword(s):  
Clean Development Mechanism ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Policy Options ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Carbon Offset ◽  
Suitable Form ◽  
Pacific Island Countries

This article examines reasons for the lack of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects registered in Pacific Island Countries (only two of the 1699 projects registered as of 1 July 2009 were located in such countries) and assesses the potential for new project development in the region. Two groupings of CDM projects are analyzed. First, features of the eight CDM projects located in Small Island Developing States and Territories that were registered as of 1 July 2009 are examined to identify what factors have characterized successfully registered CDM projects. (No new projects have been registered in SIDS since this date, although there are more projects currently being validated.) Second, the 122 agricultural-based CDM projects registered as of 1 July 2009 are analyzed to consider how agricultural and bioenergy projects – which seem the most suitable form of CDM projects for the Pacific Islands region – can be best developed in the region. Analysis reveals that agricultural CDM projects that generate electricity have strong potential for development in the Pacific Islands. Policy options to support electricity generation projects are discussed, including the establishment of a regional CDM body, the possibility of Pacific Island countries engaging in unilateral CDM projects, and the role that ‘regional economic leaders’ such as Australia could play to assist project implementation.

Trade policy and health implication for Pacific island countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 816-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siope Vakataki ‘Ofa ◽  
Azmat Gani
Keyword(s):  
Trade Policy ◽  
Trade Liberalisation ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Processed Food ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Island Countries ◽  
Liberalisation Policy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of trade policy pertaining to imported processed food on poorer health outcomes of people’s in the Pacific island countries. Design/methodology/approach Using an extended gravity model, the paper adopts the OLS time varying importer/exporter effects method and a Pseudo Poisson maximum likelihood estimator on a cross-sectional panel data set of 215 countries and territories. The estimation procedure controlled for 11 Pacific island countries between 2003 and 2013. Findings The empirical findings revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between trade liberalisation and increased processed food imports in the Pacific island countries. The findings also reveal that the access ratio (kg/person) to selected imported processed food high in salt to Pacific island countries has increased significantly over time. Originality/value While much of the trade literature reveals positive impact of trade on the prosperity of nations, this study makes a new contribution in terms of supporting a negative impact of trade liberalisation policy on people’s health in small island developing states.

scholarly journals Assessing the links between human rights and global tobacco control through statements made on global fora

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neiloy R. Sircar ◽  
Stella A. Bialous
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Global Health Governance ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Western Pacific Region ◽  
Health Governance ◽  
Pacific Island Countries ◽  
The Western Pacific

Abstract Background Increasingly, international health bodies frame public health measures, including tobacco control, in the context of human rights (HR). It is unclear how prevalent is the connection between human rights and tobacco control within global health governance. This paper describes the inclusion of HR in tobacco control governance, and the inclusion of tobacco control in HR treaty oversight. We depict the current reach of HR’s normative influence in framing the tobacco epidemic in global, regional, and country-specific contexts. Methods We reviewed documents (agenda, reports) from 2010 to 2019 from the World Health Assembly (WHA); the WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee Meetings (RCM); the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Conferences of the Parties (COP); and documents provided by Pacific Island Countries party to, or by committees overseeing, HR treaties. We purposively selected the Western Pacific Region, and Pacific Island Countries specifically, to represent countries of varying populations, capacities, and governance. Results Tobacco control and HR are infrequently mentioned together in the WHAs, and primarily in only one COP. Tobacco control is mentioned in 47 HR treaty committee documents for Pacific Island Countries, mostly under the Convention of the Rights of the Child recognizing or calling for ratification of the WHO FCTC. HR and tobacco control are connected in WHO Western Pacific RCM, particularly through their two most-recent action plans adopted by respective RCMs. Discussion Tobacco control as a HR concern is gaining traction within HR treaty bodies, at least with respect to children’s health in the Western Pacific Region. Conclusion Globally, HR is just emerging as an influence in global health governance for tobacco discussions. Within the Western Pacific Region however tobacco control is seen by some authorities as a HR issue. Similarly, to HR experts, tobacco control is becoming important to how Pacific Island Countries fulfill their treaty obligations, suggesting tobacco control advocates might explore these mechanisms to further influence the development of strong tobacco control measures to implement the WHO FCTC.

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