Daily Archives: June 20, 2020

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Oceania isn't a mythical underwater world like the lost city of Atlantis. Instead, it's a real place, resting in the immensity of the Pacific Ocean. If you've ever spent time in Australia or New Zealand, you were in Oceania, but that's just the beginning. This unimaginably vast region stretches on for many more miles, often just bits of dry land peeking out of the great blue ocean. Here are nine things to know about it.

Oceania is an incredibly vast geographical region with boundaries that geographers can't quite agree on. It consists of Australia, and a constellation of islands, large and small, mostly located north and east of Australia. By some counts, there are roughly 10,000 such islands covering more than 100 million square kilometers (38,600,000 square miles) of ocean surface, but just over 8 million square kilometers (3 million square miles) of land.

The region's so enormous that if you include surface water and surface land, it's bigger than all the other land area on Earth combined.

Most of the islands are downright tiny and uninhabited. But others, like New Zealand and the eastern half of New Guinea, are sizable by comparison.

Oceania is so enormous that geographers break it into smaller chunks. The most common subdivisions are Australia, followed by Melanesia (from New Guinea island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean to Tonga); Micronesia (more than 600 islands in the Pacific, like Palau, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia); and Polynesia (more than 1,000 islands including New Zealand, Cook Island, Samoa and Hawaii.)

People have lived in Australia for at least 60,000 years, and they reached the Solomon Islands about 30,000 years ago. But in other tiny remote areas of Southeast Asia, humans are relative newcomers, having arrived just 1,000 years ago.

How they did so befuddles many scientists, who struggle to see how prehistoric people with few instruments could possibly navigate the vast waters separating these far-flung outposts.

Oceania is known for its cannibalistic past. In 1839, two British missionaries visited Erromango, part of the Vanuatu archipelago, which in older times was called Martyr's Island. They were devoured by the locals. Anthropologists believe that cannibalism was practiced in that area until at least 1969. One local in 2008 even gave out the recipe for cooking a human after killing (baking time is three to five hours.)

On Fiji, the practice of human flesh eating survived until at least the 1800s. The belief was that eating your enemies transferred their power to you. Even in 2011, there were reports that a German tourist was eaten in French Polynesia, though experts think it was more likely a garden-variety murder with the killer trying to burn evidence of the body. Nowadays, "cannibal tours" are offered for tourists, and souvenir shops selling "cannibal dolls" are abundant in the Pacific Islands.

Some sources estimate that sheep actually outnumber people in Oceania. Most of its landmasses are sparsely populated, but there are roughly 42 million people living there, strewn throughout 14 different countries.

Australia (25 million) makes up most of the population, followed by Papua New Guinea (9 million), New Zealand (5 million), Fiji (1 million) and the Solomon Islands (nearly 700,000). The remaining countries are Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Territories and dependencies include American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Pitcairn Island, Tokelau, and Wallis and Futuna. Niue and Tokelau are the least populated places in Oceania less than 1,700 people each.

No wonder the region is called Oceania water is Oceania's defining feature.Most of the region is under the Pacific Ocean just 8 percent is aboveground (as we said earlier 100 million square kilometers of ocean but just 8 million square kilometers of land). Given its small percentage of landmass, perhaps it's no surprise that Oceania's population density is just eight people per square kilometer (roughly three people per square mile).

Safety alert: please do not try this at home.

On the southern tip of Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, the local men practice what's called Gol, or Nanggol land diving. They construct haphazard-looking stick towers, tie vines to their ankles and then jump off headfirst.

These plunges see the hurtling bodies reaching speeds of 45 mph (72 kph) or more. And the most successful dives are the ones where the men can tuck their heads at the last moment and lightly brush their shoulders against the ground, stopping just short of certain death.

Good dives ostensibly, the ones where people survive supposedly ensure a bountiful yam harvest. The event is now a tourist attraction and is considered the progenitor to modern bungee jumping, only without any safety features whatsoever ... unless you count forest vines. The country has tried to get royalties from adventure companies that apparently ripped off the practice.

As the planet warms due to climate change, rising seas are encroaching on Oceania's islands. One Polynesian island, named Tuvalu, about halfway between Australia and Hawaii is, as the locals say, "sinking."

As the waters rise, the beaches are slipping under the waves, slowly devouring this small island. Crops fail to thrive in the salty soil. Climate change-related illnesses (like ciguatera poisoning from consuming fish that eat micro-algaes expelled from bleached coral) are increasing. Tuvalu is home to 11,000 people and is the fourth-smallest country on Earth. But it may not be home to anyone in the next 50 to 100 years, or perhaps even sooner. The island of Kiribati is also "disappearing."

Oceania is home to dozens of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These sites meet stringent criteria for their importance in relation to cultural, natural or historical landmarks.

In that regard, Oceania contains an embarrassment of riches. Here, you'll find UNESCO World Heritage sites like Australia's famed (and dying) Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii's Mauna Loa (the largest active volcano on the planet), the Auckland Islands, the Sydney Opera House and Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

And how about Mount Cook National Park, which protects New Zealand's tallest mountain? There's also Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island, and the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, which preserves one of the biggest remaining oceanic wildernesses on Earth.

Due to its sheer sprawling size, Oceania includes millions of people living in starkly different circumstances. Australia and New Zealand both land in the top 10 of the United Nations Human Development Index, which shows where countries rank according to standard of living, life expectancy and other factors.

Near the bottom of the list lie Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. These are some of what the U.N. calls the Least Developed Countries. For example, the gross domestic product per capita in Australia is more than $51,000 while in the Solomon Islands it is around $2,400. New Zealanders can expect to live past 82 years on average; on Vanuatu, the average is 70 years.

Originally posted here:

9 Deep-diving Facts About the Lands of Oceania - HowStuffWorks

Gold Coast (Australia) - The Tournament Coaches Course (TCC) for female coaches concluded the 7-session workshop designed to develop future mentors and coaches in the Oceania region.

The course was completed with a Scouting Module presentation by Katrina Hibbert and was attended by Jessica Olson (Marshall Islands), Arleen Mad (Guam), Derin Stinnett (Guam), Keziah Lewis (Cook Islands), Richelle Gempton (Cook Islands), Lanieta Baleiono (Fiji), Lysa Wini (Solomon Islands), Pualele Craig (Samoa) and Natsumi Wiainebengo (New Caledonia).

"We want to thank all our participants for joining in the activities and also handling your weekly tasks to us. It's been an amazing journey and we hope to continue again soon," shared FIBA Oceania Development Manager, Annie La Fleur.

La Fleur spearheaded the webinar sessions and was supported by various esteemed female mentors that supported deliver the course over the last two months.

"We were so excited about this project and even from coaching for a long time and listening to other presenters as well, the course reinforces us that we are on the right track," shared guest presenter Lori Chizik, who discussed "Planning" in the first session.

"The big thing about coaching is building your network and it's really important to share your knowledge and help each other grow," she added.

In the final session, Fordham University Women's Basketball Assistant Coach and current Fiji national team player Valeria Nainima was invited to partake in the session with the group had encouraging statements regarding the course.

"I want to thank everyone for inviting me to this course and for taking up this advocacy of growing the game for future female coaches in the Pacific. I have learned a lot as well, I was so excited to join even if it's just for one session," Nainima said.

Nainima, who regularly scouts in the FIBA Oceania Youth Championships for the Fordham Rams reiterated her commitment to Pacific basketball and vowed to put more emphasis on international recruiting within the region.

"My passion is with Pacific basketball and always has been, this is where I learned my work ethic. We usually don't have resources, so we learn to work with what we have and tend to work harder than others," she said.

"We are very big in international recruiting and one of the things we can teach our Pacific players in the fundamentals to help develop their skills," she added.

The session ended with a thematic discussion and everyone involved praised the workshop and how it has encouraged them tobuild this network with each other.

"I enjoyed getting to know everyone over Zoom and hopefully we get to meet in person soon. I enjoyed the topics and I liked how different the tasks and how it has allowed us to grow each week," shared Olson.

"Thank you so much, everyone, it's kind of lonely because most of the time I am the only female coach in a tournament. This is inspiring for me, I feel like I am on the right track and there's a validation in this group it's exciting and nice to know I am not alone," Arlene shared.

Le Fleur and the group decided to keep in touch intermittently to check up on each other's progress and continue to build their relationships with each other.

"I am looking forward to us having meetings from time to time so we can all share the things we are doing to continue to inspire each other and lead the way in showing the importance of Women in Basketball," La Fleur ended.

FIBA

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TCC deemed a resounding success by participants - FIBA

At a time when the whole word is fighting a life and death battle against a pandemic, the way people are being rounded up and sent to jail bears part resemblance to the country of Oceania in George Orwells book 1984. We are hopeful of finding a vaccine for Covid-19, which is acting like a death warrant, soon, but liberty may not come back in public life, as we have so long known it. The new normal in democracy is frightening.

Recently, two prominent human rights activistsGautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde were arrested for their alleged involvement in Bhima Koregaon case. Police knock at the door of activists and journalists alike because they are perceived to be opposing the ideology of Hindutva or speaking up against detention of those who protest against controversial laws.

Compared to Oceania, though, India has a Constitution with a chapter on fundamental rights enforceable by the judiciary. However, when Navlakha and Teltumbde sought additional time from the Supreme Court to surrender before the trial court in the Bhima Koregaon case,the court rejected it, rescindingits own observation earlier, i.e.,bail, not jail to the accused, therebyconcurring with the government, effacing its own purpose under the Constitution. The court overlooked that the government of the day is representative of a tiny minority (considering statistical absolutes), but the judiciary represented constitution and citizens of all ideological persuasions.

In Oceania, the ruling partys ideology is socialism that rejects and vilifies every principle for which the socialist movement originally stood, and it does so in the name of socialism." Similarly, Hindutva rejects foundational principle of Hinduism, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), in the name of Hinduism.

Doublespeak

The government claimed that the CAA is neither anti-Muslim nor anti-human, though, it has no logical answers on reports of building detention camps across the country.

Oceania is a state where doublethink is the norm, which Orwell defined as the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in ones mind simultaneously and accepting both of them, such as, India is home to diverse cultures, India is a Hindu Rashtra; Gandhian principles are foundation of constitution, constitution does not reflect Indian ethos.

While at play, this doublethink becomes doublespeak that Orwell describes as, to tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just as long as it is needed. In Oceania, the ruling party members distort reality and doublethink is method to achieve it.

Presently, the followers of Hindutva are demanding doublethink from its citizens, and those who do not agree with or resist this state of cognitive dissonance are being questioned.

Mass Surveillance

In Oceania, propaganda captures mind of people by constant bombardment of manufactured statistics, stigmatising opposition, and arousing hate. Recent media coverage of Shaheen Bagh protests comesclose to, how Emmanuel Goldstein, the opposition leader in the book, isportrayedas a traitor.

In Oceania Thinkpol (thought police) is entrusted to detect, arrest, and kill thought criminals, citizens whose intellectual, mental, and moral independence challenges the political orthodoxy of Ingsoc. They spy upon the people through ubiquitous two-way telescreens. Indian governments National Intelligence Grid and facial recognition system will perform similar tasks. So, when the police raid peoples house, seizing cell phones and computers, theyalready establish guilt by thought and association as they know, with whom the seditious citizen has spoken. This is possibly going to be a new normal in new India that might find hard topass as anything but democratic.

(The author is a Melbourne-based researcher and author. He earlier taught political science in Delhi University and was the national general secretary of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties. Views expressed are personal.)

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Orwellian Dystopia Is Here, So Is The New India - Outlook India

For 50 years the University of the South Pacific (USP) has been seen as a jewel in the crown of Pacific regionalism. With campuses in 12 island nations, about 20,000 students and 1,500 staff, USP is one of the great connective tissues for the large blue continent that is the Pacific. Its alumni have gone on to become heads of state and business leaders in all Pacific nations. As renowned University of Hawaii academic Dr Tarcisius Kabutaulaka puts it:

USP was the place where we learned to navigate the academic ocean; where we tried out ideas; where we made mistakes and learned to correct them; where we met, got to know and befriend people from other parts of Oceania; where we first fell in love and made love for the first time; where we first experienced heartbreaks; where some met our spouses; where some had our first child and buried their umbilical cord.USP is therefore a sacred place of learning and where we weave and maintain relationships across Oceania.

Over the last few weeks the status of this venerable institution has become imperilled by claims and counter-claims of corruption and infighting at the most senior levels.

The story stretches back to last year, with the arrival of outsider Professor Pal Ahluwalia to the position of Vice Chancellor following an international recruitment effort. Ahluwalia came with a reform and modernising agenda that had the support of the universitys senior management and governing council.

While senior leadership has been consumed by the scandal, the general operations of the university have struggled.

But soon after Ahluwalias arrival, a troubling report emerged in Islands Business magazine in May 2019 about allegations of serious cases of mismanagement and abuse of process at USP under the previous Vice Chancellor and current Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson. The magazine has tracked the story closely since as the two men remain at loggerheads, with claims allowances were abused by 25senior USP academics and staff, costing millions, according to a leaked account of a special audit by New Zealand accounting firm BDO that was completed in August last year. The full audit is yet to be released, with a formal commission established under the leadership of Samoas Deputy Prime Minister to implement recommendations.

While senior leadership has been consumed by the scandal, the general operations of the university have struggled. Its understood that there are anywhere from 100150 unfilled academic positions at the university. Many academics are also acting in their current roles, and teaching loads are becoming untenable, which is no doubt having an impact on the quality of education students are receiving.

The public nature of these proceedings, combined with the seriousness and breadth of allegations mounted against USP management, put Ahluwalia on a collision course with the universitys senior leadership.

This turmoil is complicated by the universitys complex governance structure. The USP is owned by 12 Pacific nations, which contribute a total 20% of its annual income. As the host nation Fiji stands out, contributing three quarters of government contributions in 2018. Foreign aid donors are also a key funder, contributing roughly the same amount as Pacific governments. In 2018 Australia contributed 13% of the Universitys income. This leaves the USP with a lot of stakeholders. The USP Council, similar to a Board of Directors where all major decisions must be taken, has 35 members spread across 14 countries.

Because USP Council only meets twice a year a smaller Executive Committee made up of roughly ten Council members, including three members of USPs existing senior leadership, is empowered to act on behalf of the Council. It is this committee that brought this showdown to a head in recent weeks. On 9 June, Ahluwalia was suspended and an investigation launched into accusations of his own apparent misconduct.

The move has thrown the university into chaos. Students and faculty at campuses across the region are protesting. The scandal is a subject of daily news items across Pacific media outlets. Police have been on campus, even hauling the chief librarian in for questioning. Pacific politicians from Samoas Fiame Naomi Mataafa to Naurus Lionel Aingimea to Australias Marise Payne have all spoken out on the matter. A special Council meeting has been arranged for this week on 19 June to weigh in on the Executive Committees controversial decision. The Council will be left with no easy options.

The Council could decide to ratify the Executive Committees decision, keeping Ahluwalia on suspension as they carry out an investigation. This would assuage the universitys senior leadership, many of whom have strong links with and support of the Fijian government. Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson in particular is regarded by many in Fiji as one of the countrys most storied public servants and diplomats. Such a move to ratify the committee decision would cast doubt on serious allegations of misconduct Ahluwalia was reported to have uncovered, generating further schisms in the university. The universitys reputation will suffer greatly, and they will struggle to recruit a high-calibre replacement.

Alternatively, the Council could refute the Executive Committees decision and reinstate the Vice Chancellor. Ahluwalia clearly has the support of the broader faculty and student body. Those that pushed for his suspension, as well as much of the remaining senior leadership, would have to take a step back, creating a significant power vacuum and leaving the university in even more disarray. The lack of faith from the senior leadership, and clear distrust from the Fiji government who have significant influence over the Executive Committee and USP Council, would still likely make his position untenable in the long-run without further Council intervention.

A third and more radical option could be to clean house at the top entirely. Acknowledging that the situation has become completely untenable, the Council could pay out Ahluwalia and the Pro Chancellor and appoint a special administrator to carry forward a reform agenda.

There are no offramps from the unmitigated mess that the universitys leadership now finds itself in. Whatever the outcome of this weeks council deliberations it will only be the start of more reforms needed to overhaul governance, management and oversight at the universitys highest levels.

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Hard knocks at University of the South Pacific - The Interpreter

The Play! Pokmon Oceania Rating Zone is being updated for the 2021 Championship Series season. This Rating Zone will now comprise only the countries of Australia and New Zealand. Players from these two countries will continue to earn Championship Points and other account-based rewards for Oceania. Players affected by these changes should visit their localized Pokmon websites for details about future events.

Players who competed in the Oceania Rating Zone during the 2020 season and who earned enough Championship Points to qualify for the Pokmon World Championships will have their qualification honored at the 2021 Pokmon World Championships. They will not be eligible for Travel Awards through The Pokmon Company International's Organized Play program.

The timing for the next live Play! Pokmon events will be determined by the health mandates, guidelines, and recommendations from appropriate government agencies to determine when the resumption of events and operations will be safe for our communities. Look forward to more details about the 2021 Championship Series season this August.

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The Oceania Rating Zone is realigning for the 2021 Championship Series season - GoNintendo