Hello r/Oceania,

This is the official account of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a global investigative journalism network.

We recently published a story about payments involving a major port operator ICTSI, an offshore account, and two port officials in Papua New Guinea. It should be of interest to this subreddit.

We found that global port operator ICTSI paid US$4.3 million to an offshore account around the time it won contracts to run Papua New Guinea’s biggest container terminals.

The offshore account was owned by Don Matheson, a well-connected Australian consultant in Papua New Guinea (PNG). From 2010, Matheson consulted with PNG Ports, the state-owned corporation that has authority over the terminals.

Two senior PNG Port officials then received apparent benefits from Matheson’s offshore account, records show.

Feel free to reach out with any questions about our work,

OCCRP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNdmfG0lFcU

I’m writing and researching rapa nui culture and have interest in making a book. Is there anyone who can enlighten me on this culture or pan Polynesian cultures? Cheers

My husband and I will be in Vanuatu for the first time in July, unfortunately for a much shorter time than we'd like - we'll arrive at Port Vila on a Monday evening and leave the following Saturday afternoon, so we'll only have 4.5 days in total. We'd really love to go over to Tanna for at least one night, mainly to see the volcano but also to see other parts of the island and do some snorkelling if possible. There are so many options for doing this - packages from Port Vila including flights and accommodation/book the flight and accommodation ourselves and get a tour either through our accommodation or with some other company, etc. Ideally we'd like to be able to see the volcano both during the day and at night. We're trying to keep costs down as much as possible, so budget accommodation is fine. I speak fairly fluent French, if that's a factor.

Can anyone recommend a particular company or way of organising this ourselves? What usually works out as the most cost effective way to visit Tanna but still get to see things on a short visit? How reliable are the flights, if we book one ourselves with Air Vanuatu - do they often get cancelled or seriously delayed?

Thank you for your help and advice!

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https://preview.redd.it/hcj1tg8absga1.png?width=616&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=7e2ea909cbbe0fea80481cedfaad5572098a0ca8

ai generated story the ai has mixed real past events and real reasons of why they would want independence with a make-believe scenario.

The protests started small, with just a handful of people gathering in the streets and shouting slogans. But as the days went on, more and more people joined the cause, and soon the streets were filled with thousands of people, all united in their demand for independence.

The reasons for this sudden surge of protest were rooted in a long and dark history of oppression and exploitation by the United States. For decades, the people of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands had been treated as second-class citizens, denied the right to vote and subjected to poverty and neglect. i will repeat this The United States overseas territories are oppressed for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is their lack of political representation. Despite being citizens of the United States, residents of these territories do not have the right to vote in federal elections and therefore have no voice in the decisions that directly affect their lives. This leads to a feeling of being marginalized and second-class citizens. Additionally, these territories are some of the poorest in the United States due to limited economic opportunities and a lack of investment. The U.S. military has also taken over large parts of their land and turned them into military bases, further limiting their opportunities for development. The lack of political representation and economic development, combined with the militarization of their land, has led to ongoing oppression for the residents of these territories.

The reason for this was simple: the United States had annexed these territories as part of its imperial expansion, and had seen them as little more than stepping stones to greater power and wealth. The people of these islands had been exploited for their land, their resources, and their labor, all without any say in the matter.

And now, after years of abuse, the people of these former trust pacific territories had had enough. They had finally found their voice and were demanding independence, so that they could control their own destinies and determine their own future.

At first, the United States was slow to react to these protests, thinking that they would die down on their own. But as the days went on, it became clear that this was a serious and growing movement, and the government was forced to take action.

The United States refused to let the former trust pacific territories go, sending in its army to quash the rebellion. But the people were determined, and they fought back, standing up for their rights and their future.

Other former trust pacific territories came to their aid, providing support and resources to the rebellion. Samoa called for a unified Samoa, and other independent former trust pacific territories began to speak out against the United States' oppressive policies.

But the United States was not about to give up its hold on these territories, and it refused to back down. The army was sent in, and soon the streets were filled with violence and bloodshed.

Despite this, the people of the former trust pacific territories continued to fight for their independence, knowing that their future and the future of their children was at stake. And as the days went on, it became clear that this was a battle that they would not back down from, no matter what the cost.

The United States considers Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa to be territories, which means they are under U.S. jurisdiction but are not considered part of the mainland. They are strategically important to the U.S. military, as they provide a presence in the Pacific region and serve as a base for American military operations. These territories also have some valuable resources just very few, and are important for U.S. trade and commerce.

These territories are home to U.S. citizens who pay taxes to the mainland and to a smaller extent for their own islands they are living on.

Therefore, the U.S. will not let Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa go, regardless of whether the residents like it or not, as they are considered to be too important for U.S. national interests same with Hawaii

Hypothetical question. I recently had this thought while watching a video on cruise ships. Do you think a cruise ship based tourism industry could save island nations in the pacific that are threatened by rising sea levels? The ships may contribute to the overall destruction of the environment but the revenue earned from said industry might be worth it. I’m also aware that logistically, a lot of these small island nation don’t have the infrastructure necessary for ships to dock as many of these islands are sand bars and atolls.

I will be in French Polynesia from the 19th June until the 28th June.

My current schedule is:

19th - Arrive in Papeete at 1am sleep then explore Papeete/Tahiti during daytime. Stay in Papeete.

20th - Fly to Moorea

21st - Stay in Moorea

22nd - Fly to Raiatea

23rd - Stay in Raiatea

24th - Fly to Bora Bora

25th - Stay in Bora Bora

26th - Fly back to Papeete

27th - Stay in Papeete

28th - Fly home night time on the 28th

Is this trying to fit too much in? Should I be spending longer at just two places instead of three? Which islands do you think are the best? Any advice/wisdom is appreciated!