corruption
(From PINA Nius Online)
Nadi, Fiji Islands (PINA Nius Online, 25 July 2000) - Pacific
Islanders have been badly let down by many political leaders,
Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) president William
Parkinson told environmental journalists from around the world.
And he says the lure of quick cash has brought threats to the
environment.
He said this has come as:
o Pacific Islands have had to turn to their natural resources to
generate the funds needed to build a modern state.
o The lure of quick cash from these ventures has also led to
large-scale political corruption and further threats to the
environment, such as logging scandals in Papua New Guinea and
Solomon Islands and possibly Fiji.
Parkinson was speaking at the joint Asia-Pacific Forum of
Environmental Journalists (APFEJ) and Commonwealth Environmental
Journalists Association (CEJA) congress at the Fiji Mocambo
Hotel, Nadi Airport. The APFEJ-CEJA congress is hosted by the
PINA Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists.
Parkinson, managing director of radio stations FM96, Navtarang
and Viti FM (Fiji), NauFM and Yumi FM (Papua New Guinea) and Paoa
FM (Solomon Islands), said: "The entire region is in a state of
rapid transition politically, economically and socially. It is a
transition process, which started in the late 60s as the first
Pacific nations became independent from their colonial rulers and
continues to gain pace as we in the Pacific struggle to keep up.
"Generally speaking it has to be said that the Pacific has not
handled the transition process very well. The current political
crisis in Fiji and the Solomon Islands is but the latest
indication of the trauma we in the Pacific face.
"While it is dangerous to point a finger at any one reason I have
to say that in general the Pacific has been badly let down by
many of its political leaders. At PINA we play a key role in
lobbying to preserve the freedom of the media in the region which
we see as key to the development of competent, honest government
in the region. In the absence of strong systems of accountability
it has often been a few brave media owners and journalists who
have stood in the way of political corruption.
"This rapid change has placed severe strain on our environment.
With limited populations and far away from the world's major
trading centres Pacific Island economies have had to turn to
their natural resources to generate the funds needed to be build
a modern state. As a result we have seen across the region the
development of large mining, forestry, fishing, agricultural and
tourism operations each placing a severe strain on the
environment of the region.
"In some cases the lure of quick cash from some of these venture
has also lead to large-scale political corruption and to the
inevitable problems which result from this breakdown in society.
"Clear examples of this corruption have been exposed in Papua New
Guinea and the Solomon Islands in connection to logging ventures
and there are some who suggest that it might have something to do
with the current political unrest in Fiji where some of the
world's largest mahogany plantations have been developed.
"On top of this with the transition from traditional substance
based diets to a more western manufactured diet the people of the
Pacific have faced with severe health problems and the dilemma of
what to do with the packaging that comes with the manufactured
goods. Disposal of plastic, aluminum and other materials has
become a huge problem particularly in small island states.
"The pursuit of a modern western based lifestyle has also
resulted in rapid urbanization placing severe strain on the
infrastructure of some of the countries of the Pacific leading to
major problems with sewerage and the supply of fresh water.
"Finally layered on top of these day to day issues are those that
are generated by the world outside of the Pacific and are having
an immediate impact on the People of the Pacific. Climate change
and global warming not only threatens the very existence of many
Island countries but also appears to be having a severe impact on
the weather patterns of the region. In recent years severe
cyclones and lengthy droughts have struck the Pacific devastating
already vulnerable economies.
"Little wonder, as I said earlier, that we place such importance
on environmental journalism. With the environment playing such a
key role in the development of our societies much of our
journalism by necessity must be a bout the environment and its
exploitation."
The five-day APFEJ-CEJA congress finishes on Friday. It was
originally due to be held in June in Suva but was delayed and
then moved to Nadi because of the continuing Fiji crisis. - PINA
Nius Online.
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