Local Ni-Van women from Takara village preparing local laplap

Author: Joey Tau

The production and consumption of indigenous foods are important for our resilience and the survival as Pacific people, especially in challenging times of fast and easy foods.

Source: Joey Tau - PANG

A celebration of Melanesian people and our land took place last week in Takara village, Vanuatu to commemorate a decade of resistance and protection of Melanesian values and ways.

The Melanesian Indigenous Land Defence Alliance (MILDA) was formed in 2009 by a collective of individuals who shared a vision and commitment to working together to protect customary land systems and Melanesian values.

Prof Colin Filer from the Australian National University has exposed how Forest Clearance Authorities have taken over the forest resource allocation process in Papua New Guinea. 

According to Filer, these FCAs are now being issued without any accompanying Special Agriculture Lease since that scheme was itself exposed as a scam.

Source: Sarawak Report - 8 September 2019

ACT NOW! has published an updated version of its sucessful short video 'SABL Scandal Buried and Forgotten' to mark the six year anniversary of the SABL COI findings.

The stain of the SABL land grab is hanging over the head of the new Marape government says Community Advocacy group ACT NOW!

“It is now six years since the Commission of Inquiry reports were presented in Parliament revealing that over 5 million hectares of land had been stolen from the local communities”, says Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago.

By Kireni Sparks-Ngenge

Halo, nem blong mi em i Kireni Sparks-Ngenge.

Papa blong mi kamaut long Lou Ailan long Manus Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Mi bon lo PNG na bikpla long Madang, PNG, na long Vanuatu.

ACT NOW! has launched a new video toolkit, titled Giraun Emi Laif, to assist rural communities to better understand the benefits of customary land and the threats they face to their livelihoods, natural environment and culture.

The toolkit shares stories of resistance, resilience and hope from communities around the world whose territories are central to their way of being but who have found themselves on the frontline of the global rush for land.

The toolkit features communities:

Source: Scott Waide / My Land My Country

Our economic investment model as it relates to job creation is wrong.  We have had it wrong for nearly half a century. We followed a colonial model of job creation where an enterprise is established, jobs are created and people get a paid job.

Customary land tenure is an inherent feature Papua New Guinea society and culture and its protection is enshrined in the nation’s legal framework. It is also highly contentious. Powerful economic interests ensure customary land tenure is always at the forefront of national and local debates about development and wellbeing.