Forum Topic

Happy New Year Kiribati (pronounced Kiribass)

whose New Year came at 10 am our time this morning as the first nation to see it in before New Zealand and who the BBC decided to ignore on the broadcast news despite it being on their app.  Perhaps they can't pronounce it - or pronounce the island of Kiritimati so famous for its involvement in British nuclear bomb tests of the 1950s ('ti' is pronounced as 's').  I do remember that Jeremy Paxman getting it right on University Challenge and I didn't then have to shout at the radio/TV!Sky News got right.Is this censorship of the BBC?

Philippa Bond ● 506d8 Comments

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/nauru-outsource-asylumThe current action isn't even dealing with the mitigation of problems caused by climate changes here now. 

Philippa Bond ● 491d

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Location-of-Kiribati-Tuvalu-and-Nauru-in-the-Pacific-Ocean-World-Atlas-nd_fig1_333164475

Philippa Bond ● 494d

2023 was the hottest year on record.  Both Banaba and Nauru have been heavily mined for phosphates which has resulted in reduced land suitable for growing food.  Phosphates als contaminate the surrounding water.  With higher temperatures creating higher storm surges low lying islands' fragile fresh water systems are very vulnerable.https://www.spc.int/updates/blog/interactive-story/2023/05/securing-naurus-water-lifeline-for-the-most-vulnerable#:~:text=With%20its%20limited%20freshwater%20resources,which%20is%20our%20desalination%20plant.

Philippa Bond ● 495d

Thank you for info Philippa - and Nauru ?

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 497d

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/05/chris-skidmore-resigns-conservative-whip-over-sunaks-oil-and-gas-licence-plan

Philippa Bond ● 497d

The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is being hosted by Samoa:https://thecommonwealth.org/news/samoa-announces-theme-2024-commonwealth-heads-government-meeting

Philippa Bond ● 498d

More independent than they used to be.  Closer due to increased telecommunications and transport than they used to be yet further away too.Here's the obituary of a great ambassador of the Pacific Islands:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/10/tony-de-brum-obituary

Philippa Bond ● 498d

Hi Phillipa - I see you post on the Pacific sometimes. Whats your thoughts on the govts of Papaua New Guinea and Micronesia ? Are they really their "own boss" ?

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 498d