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Opinion

raison d’être. Climate change, caused by global warming, is an solutions are within our grasp. Clearly, however, any solution
existential threat for PICs. Sopoaga’s castigation of Australia’s must preserve the PICs/PSIDS-only forum configuration. The idea
undermining of the Boe Declaration, but specifically on its coal of a two-caucus approach was tried in 1971, each caucus having
policy, echoes the concerns of other PICs Leaders. Sopoaga leads its own meeting and then coming together for a joint meeting,
from the forefront because of the existentiality of the threat on then adopting a joint communique as a result.
his low-lying atoll country. Tuvalu is one of the three atoll states This two-caucus approach worked recently during the negotia-
in the Pacific seriously impacted by rising sea levels. And on a tions on PACER Plus. PICs negotiators planned out their trade
global level, one of the four. strategy separately and then they negotiated with their counter-
Questions of a USoP’s rationality and justification are valid parts from Australia and New Zealand.
considerations. But this has to be viewed from the perspective If the preference is for a more formalised configuration, then
of existentiality of the threat. In such context, any strategy that we can learn from that existing relationship between the EU and
promises relief and an escape from a certain devastation, is a the Pacific members of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group
strategy worth considering. There is nothing untoward about of states (PACPs). PACPs are members of the ACP Group. But
this. Humans are hard-wired to always seek preservation and under the existing Cotonou Agreement, EU has a direct struc-
self-improvements; and conservation is very much a part of that. tural link with the PACPs. The EU has its regional indicative
Any physicist or futurist will tell you that. programme with PIF/PIFS and national indicative programmes
Consideration of sustainability comes next. How can a USoP be with individual PACPs.
made sustainable? How can USoP be effectively resourced? This In my chapter: ‘Towards a New Regional Diplomacy Architec-
is an obvious challenge for the PICs/PSIDs. The solution must ture’, published in ‘The New Pacific Diplomacy’, edited by Greg Fry
lie in the collective’s imagination. It is therefore the collective’s and Sandra Tarte, 2015, ANU Press, I provided an architectural
responsibility to elevate its imagination to unprecedented heights configuration that captures such a relationship with Australia and
to seek relevant solutions. If global powers are queuing up to be New Zealand. The same configuration can be expanded to link
counted in the Pacific, the largest ocean on Planet Earth, if they with other global powers wanting to partner with PICs/PSIDS.
are always seeking PSIDS’ support at the UN to get the numbers Sopoaga’s USoP emerged from the concern about the existen-
that secure mandatory majority of backers, then USoP should tiality of global warming/climate change in PICs and how best
not be lacking prospective offers of assistance. this can be addressed by them. It may have come about from
From the perspective of good governance and strategic au- disillusionment with PIF member Australia. It does demonstrate
tonomy, USoP has to be sustainably and innovatively funded. however the strength of feeling when an existential threat does
This is its quid pro quo. not receive the commitment it deserves.
If, for historical sentimentality and/or propriety, the linkage with • The author is a former Fijian ambassador and Foreign Minister
ANZ is to be preserved, then this too can be addressed. Possible and runs his own consultancy company in Suva, Fiji.

SPOTLIGHTS, PROTECTION, women’s peace and security
“For women in Vanuatu,
means safe shelters and
SECURITY, SAFE SHELTERS... displaced. Women are at the
not living in fear of being
frontline of these disasters
“I believe the spotlight and for us, when we’re
should shine on the “After [Tropical Cyclone] “For us in the humanitarian looking at protection with
leadership because women Gita, I had realised that sector, it’s important that dignity, we’re looking at
with disabilities can also protection and the right to these human security is actually being confident at
provide assistance and be life and the basic necessities extended to the humanitarian being at the frontline and
first responders in disasters must be immediate and sector that we are working in being at the humanitarian
because they understand urgent for the people. We because women are always decision-making spaces
their networks and their can’t stop the natural disaster affected by so many disasters because if you are at the
communities better. As but we can arm ourselves and we have to look at the frontline, you’re wanna lead
women with disability, we with knowledge on better new and emerging issues confidently and lead the
only need the appropriate preparedness. We must that affects the lives of community towards safety
support mechanisms to include women and young women in the Pacific region and dignity” – Yasmine
lead us to providing that women in the discussion. and disasters are one of Bjournum, Sistah magazine,
assistance that’s needed on After Gita, I saw a lot of the them so we have to look at Vanuatu
the ground” – Luisa Mana, Fiji key decision-makers were the humanitarian sector”
National Council for Disability men” – Vanessa Heleta, – Josephine Teakeni, Vois
Persons, Fiji Talitha Project, Tonga Blong Mere, Solomon Islands.

Islands Business, June 2019 25