Young Samoan climate activist recognised; call for New Zealand to act over sea bed mining; Tonga gets a new police chief; reassurance for the outer Cooks over covid and the UN launching a climate summit in French Polynesia
Samoan youth climate activist Brianna Fruean. Photo: Suppiled
Young Samoan climate activist recognised
A young climate change activist from Samoa, Brianna Fruean, is the recipient of the Oceania Global Citizen Prize's Award.
The award recognises activists across the world whose efforts focus on ending extreme poverty and achieving the United Nations' Global Goals.
Ms Fruean is being recognised for her work leading grassroots community projects for climate justice, and her commitment to bring small island representation and young Pacific voices to the forefront of global climate conversations.
Brianna has been a climate champion in the Pacific since the age of 11, when she became a founding member of 350.org Samoa.
"Through her work as the youth representative on the Pacific Climate Warriors Council of Elders, Brianna has consistently fought for the future of vulnerable Pacific island states in the face of the climate crisis," said the organisation.
She says she's not special for receiving the award and has been lucky to be supported by her family and community, and is encouraging other young people in the region to know the importance of their voice.
Fruean said "historically climate activists haven't won the Global Citizen Award. So even as just a climate activist, it's great to see that this work has been highlighted and therefore, we know that it is important or we know that it should be seen as important by everyone else."
Call for New Zealand to act over sea bed mining
Oceans advocates from across Aotearoa have called on the New Zealand Government to urgently ban seabed mining.
During a webinar held yesterday, experts from across Oceania voiced concerns over the threat of seabed mining in New Zealand.
The Pacific liaison officer with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Phil McCabe, says the practice must be banned considering the push for mass scale mining in the deep Pacific.
He says the New Zealand government is well placed to be a global leader in calling for a moratorium in international waters to protect the ocean.
Reassurance for the outer Cooks over covid
The Cook Island's Prime Minister is reassuring the people of Pa Enua - the outer islands - over the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Travel to and from Pa Enua has opened up albeit with RAT testing still for the islands other than Aitutaki.
There are 136 active Covid cases and so far one death.
Mark Brown says the nation is bouncing back from the pandemic
Tonga gets a new police chief
Tonga's Government has announced the appointment of a new Police Commissioner, Shane MacLennan from Australia, on a three year term.
The Australian police commander takes up the position from former New Zealand police superintendent Stephen Caldwell, who finished up in 2020.
The appointment of a new commissioner was delayed by the pandemic, and the position was filled in the interim by Tongan army brigadier, Lord Fielakepa.
Mr Maclennan has extensive experience, working for the Australian Police since 1981, and serving on
UN launching climate summit in French Polynesia
The UN's Blue Climate Summit will begin in Papeete, French Polynesia on Saturday.
The six-day summit will bring 250 scientists, environmental activists, business and other officials representatives to talk about ocean-related solutions to tackle climate change.
It will principally be held on the ocean, aboard the ship Paul Gauguin.
Six missions have been set by the summit based around carbon removal, ecosystem regeneration, blue tourism, wave energy, dangers of deep sea mining and many more.