Model of Development

Hands Off! Why Customary Land should never be 'bankable'

24th February 2020

Banks want to lend money to people and small business in Papua New Guinea and to take rights over customary land as security in case the loans do not get repaid.

This could lead to a huge transfer of customary land into private ownership and lead to families and whole communities being forced off their land and losing their livelihoods.

Government out of its depth on customary land

12th February 2020

The Land Minister’s announcement of a new pilot project that will further disenfranchise customary landowners is part of a misguided promotion of private sector greed over people’s need for customary land for income generation.

The government should be focused on empowering rural people to build resilient communities on their own land rather than serving the greed of foreign owned banks and big corporations. 

Government out of its depth on customary land

The Land Minister’s announcement of a new pilot project that will further disenfranchise customary landowners is part of a misguided promotion of private sector greed over people’s need for customary land for income generation, says community advocacy group ACT NOW!

Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago says "the government should be focused on empowering rural people to build resilient communities on their own land rather than serving the greed of foreign owned banks and big corporations". 

Report: Malaysian logging firms party to PNG deforestation

 

Source:  Azril Annuar / Malay Mail - 8th January 2020

Malaysian companies from Sarawak are allegedly trespassing while carrying out logging activities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and contributing towards deforestation in the island nation, Sarawak Report (SR) wrote today.

The online investigative portal accused Sibu-based Rimbunan Hijau Group (RHG) and WTK Group as well as Amanab 56 Timber Investments Limited as among those stripping the resources of PNG.

Saving the Sepik from the Frieda mine

 

By ROSA KOIAN. Source - PNG Attitude

A photo posted on Facebook showing dried freshwater fish at Wewak market has sparked a discussion on the future of the Sepik River.

In the river’s headwaters, the Frieda copper and gold mine is pushing ahead with its development plans.

The Sepik is 1,100km long and empties into the Bismarck Sea. The river system’s 430,000 people use the river for food, education, transport, health and culture.

What they want is a truly holistic economic approach to development.

MILDA commemorates 10 years of Melanesian solidarity

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.

Will the Sepik be Our Next World Class Environmental Disaster?

 

The Sepik River, one of the last great pristine areas left on earth, is under threat from mining.

The government and Chinese mining company say the river will be safe.

Just like they said the Ok Tedi mine would be safe. 

They said the Panguna mine would be safe. 

They said Porgera and the Ramu mine would be safe.

Do you believe them this time?

Rotten state of forest management in PNG exposed

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.