Page 27 - IB Mar 2020

Opinion Opinion

strength of commitment.
“The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind”, echoes
the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s famous song. And the commentator’s
take: “The answers are there in the wind. They move, they
change, but the answers are there. It’s only a matter of trying
to pick them up.”
I have been playing the commentator’s role as a contributor
to this magazine since last September. My article for
the September/October (2019) issue: ‘Death of Pacific
Regionalism?’, was a proposition that we need to approach
Pacific regionalism differently from what we have been doing
since 1971. My December article: ‘2050 Strategy for the Blue
Pacific Continent: A Sea Change?’ explored the likely approach
to the formulation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific
Continent in my attempt to build a regional architecture that
is essential and conducive for a fresh approach to Pacific
regionalism.
My January 2020 article: ‘PIF Identity May Need Re-focusing’
delves deeper into what we are – our regional persona. If
we are to be different and to assert our persona and our
agency, we have to correct one of the building blocks of A student on Tuvalu makes his plea to the world amid the rising ocean around his tiny
what we are and what we project to the world. My February island nation. Photo: Supplied
article: ‘PIF Needs to Strategise After COP25’, points to some
options that our new approach can take, especially in the
context of our existential threat of climate change, given the former, current and in-coming Chairs) was recommended
disappointment of COP25. I discussed the prospects of south- in the report. And what better way to start the work of
south, north-south and triangular co-operations in addition to the empowered Troika than on the climate change crisis! If
our multilateral approach. managed and resourced well, there could be early dividends
Now, let us look for some other answers in the wind. to reap.
The proposed 2050 Strategy is giving prominence to the The current composition of the Troika comprises Nauru,
interests of Pacific Island Countries (PICs), not only in terms Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The all-PIC composition is ideal for the
of issues and policies but also in terms of their options as Troika’s strengthened role in climate change crisis. Its role has
regards the regional architecture of Pacific regionalism. This to be formalised and protected. It should not be subjected to
makes a lot of sense when it comes to climate change. There variation with changing membership.
is no unity in climate change among PIF members. But it is the The Troika is to be charged to spearhead all discussions/
Pacific Island Countries (PICs) amongst them that understand negotiations/advocacy on climate change crisis, starting with
fully the existentiality of the threat that climate change relevant PIF membership and extending beyond the region.
presents. These negotiations need to be intensive and focused. The
In geopolitics as well, PICs are generally used as pawns of Troika is to direct its first advocacy with PIF’s developed
the bigger and developed powerful countries, especially the country members of Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). PIF
Pacific Rim countries. PICs know best their own situations and will be more convincing globally if it starts its climate change
feel more passionately about being shunned and ignored when crisis advocacy properly at home.
other powerful allies abuse their agency and speak on their The Troika’s work, as far as ANZ are concerned, is
behalf as if they don’t exist. unequivocal, given our climate change knowledge of the
In mid-2019, an answer had blown in from the northern causes of greenhouse gas emissions of those countries. For
wind when former Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga of Tuvalu Australia, the PIF Troika is to advocate for an effective
suggested the ‘United States of the Pacific’ as a way of programme for that country to wean itself from fossil fuels.
restructuring Pacific regionalism. This was a way of creating For New Zealand, the Troika is to advocate for the production
a forum for PICs only and he justified this as a means ‘to of ‘clean meat’ in the not-too-distant future.
amplify(ing) their concerns about climate change on the ‘Yes, and how many ears must one man have, before he can
global stage.’ hear people cry? Yes, and how many deaths will it take till
A new answer blew in late last year in the form of a he knows, that too many people have died? The answer, my
consultant report to PIFS on ‘Review of the Forum Processes’. friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the
I admit that I was one of the consultants that drafted the wind.’
report. My partner in crime and a senior partner at that was
Garry Wisemen, formerly of UNDP and PIFS. Strengthening • The author is a former Fijian ambassodar and Foreign
the role of the PIF Troika (comprising at any time the Minister and runs his own consultancy company in Suva, Fiji.

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