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Google Alert - Melanesia

Melanesia Weekly update ⋅ July 25, 2018 NEWS Melanesian Spearhead Group failing - Ralph Regenvanu Radio New Zealand Vanuatu's Foreign Minister says he's lost faith in the Melanesian Spearhead Group because of a lack of consensus and political engagement. Flag as irrelevant See more results | Edit this alert You have received this email because you have subscribed to Google Alerts. Unsubscribe | View all your alerts Receive this alert as RSS feed Send Feedback

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Vanuatu Foreign Minister: Melanesian Spearhead Group “Failing”

By NEAL CONAN JUL 24, 2018

Earlier this year, Hawaiʻi joined the Polynesian Leaders Group, a sub-regional organization in the Pacific modeled on the Melanesian Spearhead Group. But the MSG is having its problems and the Foreign Minister of Vanuatu now says the organization is failing.

Back in 2015, the Melanesian Spearhead Group made what may prove to be a fatal compromise. At a summit meeting in the Solomon Islands, leadership agreed to admit the United Liberation Movement of West Papua as an observer and, at the same time, raised Indonesia’s status from observer to associate.

The deal papered over a fundamental contradiction: The ULM is fighting to establish an independent state in the western half of New Guinea, land that Indonesia regards as its sovereign territory.
The three small members of the MSG side with their Melanesian cousins; the two bigger members with Indonesia and the split keeps widening.

Papua New Guinea, which occupies the eastern half of New Guinea, supports Indonesia, but, earlier this month Prime Minister Peter O’Neill fudged that. In a speech in Fiji, he urged regional countries to take the issue of West Papua to the United Nations.

On a weekend visit to Jakarta, Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato clarified what he called misreporting. He said Papua New Guinea’s position on West Papua has not changed and, he added, “there is no intention of changing it.”

Ralph RegenvanuCREDIT MARKE LOWEN, RALPH REGENVANU / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Vanuatu is among the MSG countries that support the United Liberation Movement.
This week, Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu expressed his frustration and disappointment to an Australian think tank. “That consensus approach to decision making is failing in the MSG.” he told the Development Policy Centre, “Vanuatu’s been consistently saying that it’s not happy with the way decisions are made.”


Google Alert - Melanesia

Melanesia Weekly update ⋅ July 18, 2018 NEWS The lava lake in Melanesia took video of helicopter pilot The Siver Telegram The lava lake in Melanesia managed to capture on video the helicopter pilot named Andy Martin. Incredible video appeared on YouTube, becoming ... Flag as irrelevant Melanesian cargo cults and the unquenchable thirst of consumerism New Historian To the Western consumer's mind, a bottle of Coca Cola might appear to be one of the least spiritual items there is. But to the followers of the John Frum ... Flag as irrelevant See more results | Edit this alert You have received this email because you have subscribed to Google Alerts. Unsubscribe | View all your alerts Receive this alert as RSS feed Send Feedback

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Google Alert - Melanesia

Melanesia Weekly update ⋅ July 11, 2018 NEWS Pacific links: Melanesian arts festival, more The Interpreter Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to host a meeting with Pacific leaders in Papua New Guinea ahead of the APEC leaders summit in ... Flag as irrelevant Memories from MACFest lingers on Solomon Star He said the Melanesian Art and Cultural Festival in Honiara gave them an opportunity to share their skills and talents with other Melanesian countries. Flag as irrelevant MACFest closes in spectacle and style Solomon Star DEPUTY Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare thanked all participants as the 6th Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival closed in spectacle and style ... Flag as irrelevant West Papua activists stopped by Solomons police Radio New Zealand Solomon Islands police says they confiscated a West Papuan flag at the Melanesian Arts Festival to stop any provocation aimed at the Indonesian ... Flag as irrelevant White Folks Get Schooled About Not Being the Only Ones with Natural Blonde Hair Atlanta Black Star One person mentioned the derivation of blonde Afros from people in Melanesia, Australia. He wrote, “Blonde hair is natural amongst the people of the ... Flag as irrelevant See more results | Edit this alert You have received this email because you have subscribed to Google Alerts. Unsubscribe | View all your alerts Receive this alert as RSS feed Send Feedback

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Google Alert - Melanesia

Melanesia Weekly update ⋅ July 4, 2018 NEWS Melanesian Culture and Arts Festival to get underway in Solomon Islands Radio New Zealand At the last installation of the festival, in PNG in 2014, performers from Melanesian communities in Indonesia's Papua region, Timor Leste and ... Flag as irrelevant Biggest Melanesian festival underway in Solomon Islands Radio New Zealand The festival, held every four years, aims to promote and preserve Melanesian culture, as well as celebrate unique differences between participating ... Flag as irrelevant MACFEST opens in style Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation Visiting Melanesian countries who are in the country for the MACFEST festival were left in awe after last night's opening ceremony at the Lawson ... Flag as irrelevant Tammur in SI for MSG meet Loop PNG The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture has arrived in Solomon Islands a day ahead of the 6th Melanesian Spearhead Group Ministers of Culture ... Flag as irrelevant See more results | Edit this alert You have received this email because you have subscribed to Google Alerts. Unsubscribe | View all your alerts Receive this alert as RSS feed Send Feedback

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Biggest Melanesian festival underway in Solomon Islands

Source: https://www.radionz.co.nz/

The Solomon Islands has welcomed 1500 participants to this year's Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Honiara.
The festival, held every four years, aims to promote and preserve Melanesian culture, as well as celebrate unique differences between participating nations.
This year's theme is Past Recollection for Future Connections.
A Fijian cultural dancer at the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival in Solomon Islands.
A Fijian cultural dancer at the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival in Solomon Islands. Photo: Today Solomons
The Solomon's director of government communication, George Herming, said hosting the event brings many benefits.
"Through cultural interaction and creating knowledge and understanding of different Melanesian cultures which has resulted in a common understanding between participants as well as governments of Melanesian countries."
"So that's one of the benefits and the other economic benefits of hosting the festival is that it generates revenue," he said.
Cultural performers from Vanuatu at the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival in Solomon Islands.
Cultural performers from Vanuatu at the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival in Solomon Islands. Photo: Today Solomons
George Herming said the festival features cultural dance and music performances, as well as culinary arts and fashion.
The Solomon Islands was the first Melanesian Spearhead Group country to host the festival back in 1998.
Opening night of the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival held in Solomon Islands.
Opening night of the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival held in Solomon Islands. Photo: Today Solomons