Fiji Islands

Rural development is a multifaceted concept that implies the improvement in the quality of life of rural people. The objectives of rural development are multidirectional which includes the rise in the per capita income of the rural masses, improvement in agriculture and allied activities, development in the provision of basic amenities, and progress in all aspects of human resources. It is a process that enhances the social and economic well-being of rural people. For the success of sustainable development in rural areas, the Fijian government has formulated plans and implemented programs for the overall development of the rural people especially the rural poor. Fundamentally, the rural development plans and policies have been designed to increase the equity in the production and distribution system along with the enhancement in generating job opportunities for the rural masses both in agricultural and in non-agricultural sectors. However, despite the significant efforts the rural poor continue to live in poverty along with inadequate provisions of basic amenities, infrastructure, and poor communication system.

In this paper, I wish to propose a reading of biblical poetry specifically as metaphor, through a Tongan poetical convention, namely, heliaki (Tongan metaphor). I shall do so through the following four steps. Firstly, I wish to delineate a Heliaki reading strategy from Tongan poetry as a point of departure for reading biblical poetry. Secondly, I shall then apply that Heliaki reading strategy to a reading of Psalm 110. Thirdly, I wish to apply then the outcome of the second step to the contemporary social and political contexts of Tonga and the Pacific, in general, and suggesting some resolutions. Finally, I shall seek to identify the proper place of a Heliaki reading strategy in Biblical Studies and to show its validity for the contemporary context in Tonga (and the Pacific) and in the world.

After almost 50 years of independence, Fiji remains a fragile State politically because of the deep-seated racial division between the two major races, the indigenous Fijians, and the Fijian Indians. There is a general recognition that it continues to cost the nation enormously, politically, socially, and above all, economically. There has been some recent initiative by the Rabuka Coalition Government about establishing a process on reconciliation between two races through a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission". Is that the best way forward for Fiji or is there a better Pacific Way of bringing about reconciliation?

Missionaries who attempted to convert Pacific Islanders to Protestant Christianity in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries often engaged in public contests meant to demonstrate the power of Jehovah and the weakness of indigenous gods. These 'power encounters', as they came to be called, depended on a relationship between wonder and anti-wonder: missionaries were fully invested in the concept of wonder as radical alterity, as the success of their efforts depended on local populations' willingness and capacity to open up to the previously unimaginable; but to make new encounters with wonder possible, missionaries had to challenge local expectations of spiritual efficacy, denying local sites' original potential to evoke wonder. In this article, I begin by examining several cases of power encounters in Oceania, including Fiji, Tonga, and Solomon Islands. I then turn specifically to trees as spiritual sites that were prominent in old Fiji-and therefore the target of ax-wielding missionaries-but remain today as sites of a perceived fundamental, indigenous, land-based spiritual efficacy.

The impacts of climate change are particularly strong in Pacific Small Island Developing States. However, empirical data on mental health and well-being in the context of climate change and climate anxiety in the region remains limited. The aim of this research was to understand the emotional experiences of climate change and its impact on well-being in rural Fiji. Seventy-one Indigenous and traditional Fijian adults from seven rural villages were interviewed. Data were analyzed using an inductive latent thematic analysis. Evident was the experience of ecological grief among Indigenous and traditional Fijians. In particular, grief experiences were related to losses of species and resources, which impacted ways of life and led to the loss of culture, traditions, and customs. Anticipatory grief was also evident, relating to the loss of lifestyle for future generations, and the loss of traditional and ancestral homes through potential migration. Results provide new data from the Global...

Old Testament is practically relevant to the church age. The practicality and the contextual concepts in the Old Testament, among other things, make it relevant from ages past. One of the dominant concepts in the Old Testament that has practical bearing on the church today is youth discipleship. Although the word "discipleship" does not occur in the Old Testament, its ideological underpinning is pervasive. Some institutions were established in Judaism to enhance discipleship and that is why this paper approaches the necessity of youth discipleship from Old Testament perspective. Discipleship is cardinal to church growth. There is no church that can grow and be successful in the task of the Great Commission without discipleship generally and youth discipleship particularly. There have been scholarly effort on Christian discipleship and its implications on church growth but much attention has not been paid to discipleship in the Old Testament and those who have partially echoed youth discipleship in the Old Testament has not paid enough attention to 'generation gap' that hampers such effort and this is the lacuna to be filled. This paper pays keen attention to the significant of youth discipleship from Old Testament perspective and how that understanding can help to promote church growth today. The task of making disciples that Jesus gives to the church must not be downplayed if the church wants to fulfill her task and maintain her relevance. This paper adopts analytical method and uses David Blomgren theory of Team Ministry to guide it through.

This research utilises theories of institutionalised patterns of discrimination to tell a story about how accounting becomes part of discourse orientations that are deeply rooted in notions of racial identity and differentiation. By exploring the complex demands for a financial restructuring of a South Pacific State-owned enterprise, the research study not only highlights accounting's enrolment in processes of preferencing that assume hegemonic and exclusive strategies based on pre-existing patterns of Chiefly power. But, through an ethnography of the Fijian pine industry, the study also shows how accounting becomes involved in perpetuating existing institutionalised inequalities in a society practising forceful racist exclusions. In the process, the paper also highlights that accounting change and requests for its change emerge not only because there is a search for new financing strategies and performance indicators, to sustain a Chiefly-based preferential initiative, but also because accountancy practice institutes a certain faith and expectation. In doing so, the paper focuses on the way in which indigenous identity initiates a new ethnic expression of accounting.

There is now an emerging literature that focuses on accounting practices in colonial processes of imperialism. This historical study theorises accounting's involvement in collectivistic social arrangements within a colonial regime. It analyses the colonial functions of accounting in British-ruled Fiji. We define colonialism by an official emphasis on the customary in 19th century utopian community-type ideas. The paper focuses on the moments and processes including that of accounting that produced such an expression of cultural difference. Rather than taking the communal division as given, this paper analyses the construction of such an identity and the role played by accounting from a political economy perspective. It examines the complex negotiations that sought to define a utopian communal arrangement that exploited, inter alia, the generation of much needed revenue for the state coffers. Archival documents highlight the emphasis on revenue that led to exploitative colonial labour policy for indigenous taxation and its attendant requirement for exacting unremunerated labour from the indigenous population. The paper also shows how accounting calculations were indiscernible from exploitative and oppressive acts of organising indigenous labour for colonial taxes as well as for the collaborating Chiefs' personal services.

The impacts of climate change are particularly strong in Pacific Small Island Developing States. However, empirical data on mental health and well-being in the context of climate change and climate anxiety in the region remains limited. The aim of this research was to understand the emotional experiences of climate change and its impact on well-being in rural Fiji. Seventy-one Indigenous and traditional Fijian adults from seven rural villages were interviewed. Data were analyzed using an inductive latent thematic analysis. Evident was the experience of ecological grief among Indigenous and traditional Fijians. In particular, grief experiences were related to losses of species and resources, which impacted ways of life and led to the loss of culture, traditions, and customs. Anticipatory grief was also evident, relating to the loss of lifestyle for future generations, and the loss of traditional and ancestral homes through potential migration. Results provide new data from the Global...

There are several challenges to the international diffusion of research and development (R&D) in disaster management. The present study aimed to examine a paradigm shift in international R&D diffusion in the field. Qualitative content analysis was used as the methodology in comparing commercialization-based versus humanity-based international R&D diffusion in terms of international organizations, developed nations, and developing nations. A key finding is that the field needs to shift from commercialization-based to humanity-based international R&D diffusion, while enhancing international cooperation, equality and human rights, and networking, among other factors. Compared with previous studies, this research reviewed a paradigm shift in international R&D diffusion in disaster management in a more comprehensive and timely manner.

Poverty in coastal communities is very important and is increasingly the object of different development approaches. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, it was widely accepted that poverty, unsustainable development and environmental degradation were prevalent in coastal communities, particularly those in rural areas. As people in these communities are involved in development and the formal economy, they lose their independence which is replaced by their reliance on the globalised economic system in which they are often at a disadvantage. Poverty and environment degradation have become features of life in rural areas as people undertake to utilize their food resources to earn an income. Governments and NGOs have formulated policies, strategies and development projects to improve the living conditions in coastal communities. Unfortunately, the outcomes of all these activities to improve the living conditions in rural areas have not been up to the expected standard...

This study developed and tested a model to predict customer satisfaction (SAT) with chain budget hotel in Bangkok,thailand. Our research is to find which factors that influence customers "satisfaction and how it influences. Besides,we would like to test new independent variable "eco-tangible" ; physical facilities that were environmentally appropriate and equipment that minimizes environmental degradation ,to customer satisfaction in chain budget hotel business section that is significant to SAT or not and how it influences. Data was collected from both customers who were staying at the time we collected and customers were recently experienced within 6 months. We did 200 online/offline questionnaires from 10 chain budget hotels in central business district in Bangkok only. We initially hypothesized 5 independent variables; hotel image, eco-tangible, physical quality, staff service quality and value for money had positive and direct effect on SAT. We used multiple regression to test the proposed SAT model. The result revealedd differently a bit. Two new constructs were found ; room quality and facility ,which were originally physical quality construct variable. Thus, final SAT model consists of 6 independent variables and all constructs have positive relationship and direct effect to customer satisfaction. The final model has a good explanatory power with R 2 = 72.3%. As room quality construct has highest correlation coefficient at 0.819 while value for money has correlation coefficient at 0.092,meaning that customers pay attention in room quality such as room cleanness even it is budget hotel.

The relationships between actors contributing to local development on remote outer islands are not well understood. This research identifies the role of key actors and their mutual relationships in Vulaga, a highly remote outer island district in Southern Lau, Fiji. The positive contributions of yachties to local development need to be valued more by the Fiji Government and its development partners, yet carefully managed and coordinated to do no harm.

Method: Drinking water samples were collected from taps, a waterfall, wells, creeks, streams, springs, rivers, boreholes and rain water tanks in a diverse range of rural and urban areas across the Fiji Islands. A total of 223 areas were sampled between December 2014 and June 2015. Samples were analysed for fluoride using a colorimetric assay with the Zirconyl-SPADNS Reagent. The samples were pre-treated with sodium arsenite solution prior to analysis to eliminate interference from chlorine. Results: Measured fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 0.35 ppm, with a mean concentration across all samples of 0.03 + 0.04 ppm. No samples achieved the optimal level for caries prevention (0.7 ppm). The Western Division had the highest fluoride levels compared to the other Divisions. The highest single fluoride concentration was found in Valase. The drinking water for this rural area located in the Western Division is from a borehole. The lowest concentrations of fluoride were in reticulated water samples from rural areas in the Central Division, which were consistently less than those recorded in the Northern, Eastern and Western Divisions. Conclusion: All samples had fluoride concentrations below the optimum level required to prevent dental caries. Implications for public health: This research forms part of the objectives of the 2011 National Oral Health Survey in Fiji. At present, Fiji lacks water fluoridation and therefore a baseline of the fluoride content in drinking water supplies is essential before water fluoridation is implemented. The results from this study would be beneficial in designing caries-preventive strategies through water fluoridation and for comparing those strategies with caries prevalence overtime.

Climate change has various impacts on the environment manifesting in form of changing weather patterns to intensity and frequency of climate hazards. Most small island countries are particularly vulnerable to climate hazards, and Pacific Island countries (PICs) are not an exception to this. Recently, climate change has substantially affected agriculture in PICs, and its future remains uncertain.

Fiji's agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate hazards, including cyclones and floods. Agriculture is a major economic activity (both subsistence and commercial) in Fiji, and farmers have recently been struggling to cope with the increasing impact of climate hazards; hence, there is an urgent need to find better-coping methods for the future of Fiji's agriculture and farmers.

This study investigates farmers’ perceptions of climate change and climate hazards, and coping methods and adaptive capacities in agriculture, using the case studies of Wainadoi and Navua, Viti Levu, Fiji. The results show that farmers have observed the change of climate and its impact, in particular increasing intensity of cyclones and frequency of floods. Farmers find traditional coping methods in agriculture less effective because of climate change, and feel the necessity of better coping methods. Farmers recognize that modern coping methods—using machinery, chemicals, or fertilizer—are more effective to reduce the impact of a climate hazard and to quickly recover after a hazard; however, some farmers, especially small-scale subsistence farmers, find it difficult to convert their coping methods. This is because of financial difficulties, religious beliefs, the loss of cultural identities, and low-level education. Results show that small-scale farmers are particularly becoming vulnerable to climate change. In conclusion, there is a need to find measures to support small-scale farmers under the current climate change, such as the combination of traditional and modern coping methods to enhance resilience.

Vanuatu ranks first in the World Risk index (2021) as the most vulnerable to disaster and climate risks. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role women play in Vanuatu, as key first responders, and in supporting and leading communities to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and threats such as climate change. Despite this recognition, there is still scant evidence about the extent to which, and in what ways, women and women’s organisations have leadership and decision-making roles in disaster and climate resilience. This research sought to fill this gap through a piloting process in Vanuatu of the ‘Assessing Women’s Leadership in Disaster and Climate Resilience: Framework and Tools.’

Overall, the findings demonstrate that women’s leadership and participation in disaster and climate resilience is improving in certain spaces in Vanuatu. However, there is considerable opportunity to bolster support to women and women’s organisations – including through increased funding, improved capacity support, and higher quality partnerships – to increase their contribution to leadership and decision-making in broader forums and spaces.

Women’s leadership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement is at a critical juncture. Since its establishment in 2017, the GLOW Red network has driven key actions in the RCRC Movement and improved the experiences and trajectories of women and women leaders. However, with greater understanding of the opportunities for change in the RCRC Movement, there is a need to define visions, models and strategies for GLOW Red’s role in building a new era of women’s leadership.

This report outlines the results of a review of GLOW Red’s effectiveness, relevance and reach over the past four years, future priority areas, and vision and highlights opportunities to inform the growth and sustainability of GLOW Red.

dpa.bellschool.anu.edu.au Liberal Party (SODELPA) led by another former military officer, Sitiveni Rabuka, were again foremost. In 2014 and 2018, the government’s policies on land were a central plank in its drive to portray FijiFirst as the standard-bearer of modernity. According to the government, the principal opposition party SODELPA stood for tradition, including in relation to land policy. While the government’s strategy appeared to work in 2014 — when it won a convincing electoral majority — this was much less successful in 2018. In November 2018, FijiFirst lost considerable voter support. The party won around 50 per cent of the total valid vote, down from 59.2 per cent in 2014 (Fijian Elections Office 2018; See also Arms 2015:10; Nanau 2015:22; Sakai 2015:50). Even as the overall proportion of the substantially increased number of registered voters who voted fell, SODELPA lifted its share of the votes cast to over 39 per cent, up from just over 28 per cent at the previous el...

A two-dimensional theory of adolescent coping with cross-cultural and cross-Human Development Index Categories (HDI) application was tested: the Measure of Adolescent Coping Strategies (MACS). The MACS was answered by 809 adolescents of diverse origins from different parts of Fiji and compared with findings from Australia and Iceland. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results showed the MACS to have a reliable factorial and dimensional structure in Fiji. Differences between girls and boys were similar in Fiji, Australia, and Iceland. Stoicism/distraction was identical for boys and girls in all countries. There were no differences comparing mother tongue (Fijian and Hindi). The two-dimensional theory of adolescent coping was supported.

This interpretive study of teaching practices explored the perceptions of teachers in a changing landscape in secondary schools in Fiji. Research participants engaged in focus group interviews in which they shared their teaching stories. The study found that the key issues for teachers were student-centered learning and continuous assessment. It also found that teachers were skilled and knowledgeable in pedagogy however some of their teaching practices are ineffective. It is contended that this situation is the result of inadequate support systems for teachers and in turn is perpetuating protracted change in the education system. Suggestions for teachers to develop adaptive and innovative skills that enable them to meet the changing role of teaching include a range of initiatives related to continuous professional development.

The Indo-Fijian community has a complex history and heritage. Coming to the Fiji Islands as indentured labourers from India between 1879 and 1920, these Girmitiyas were forced to reevaluate their place in the world while simultaneously rebuilding their culture and maintaining their traditional and religious practices in a harsh colonial environment. Finding no place in India, Girmitiyas created a unique Indo-Fijian culture in the tropical South Pacific through their shared struggle for respect and acceptance. This chapter introduces the history of indentured labour in Fiji and its effect on Girmitiyas, explaining the obstacles faced during and after indenture. It explains how the Indo-Fijians shaped the economy of Fiji but despite this, were never accepted as equal citizens. Due to their enduring struggle for respect and equality, the Indo-Fijian people of today, much like their Girmitiya ancestors, left Fiji in search of a homeland where they would be accepted in society. Coming to Canada, the Indo-Fijian people have finally found a land where they are equal citizens with the opportunity to flourish as a culture. It is my hope this chapter will help Indo-Fijians better identify with our shared history and heritage and help readers understand and appreciate our unique Canadian Indo-Fijian culture.

The phenomenon of labour mobility in Fiji is encouraged by the existing pattern of uneven regional development which creates and contributes to limited economic opportunities. This is manifested by a disparity in the average annual growth rate of the provincial population, which implies migration from the lower income provinces to the higher income provinces. Circular labour migration follows the same paths. Gains to the village economy from circular mohility, especially in the remote periphery and the outer islands, take the form of remittances which supplement local income. Labour mobility, and particularly its circular form, expresses the interdependency between the capitalist and village modes of production. This mobility is a mechanism whereby the native villagers supply cheap labour for the production of commodities, and at the same time contribute to village households income, and thus enable the native population to satisfy cash requirements beyond local commercial production capacity. Although this mechanism supports the existing core-periphery pattern in Fiji, it may be considered an integrative component in the development strategies of small island states.

The field of systematic conservation planning has grown substantially, with hundreds of publications in the peer-reviewed literature and numerous applications to regional conservation planning globally. However, the extent to which systematic conservation plans have influenced management is unclear. This paper analyses factors that facilitate the transition from assessment to implementation in conservation planning, in order to help integrate assessment and implementation into a seamless process. We propose a framework for designing implementation strategies, taking into account three critical planning aspects: processes, inputs, and context. Our review identified sixteen processes, which we broadly grouped into four themes and eight inputs. We illustrate how the framework can be used to inform contextdependent implementation strategies, using the process of 'engagement' as an example. The example application includes both lessons learned from successfully implemented plans across the engagement spectrum, and highlights key barriers that can hinder attempts to bridge the assessment-implementation gap.

In agricultural cultivation technology, there are very influential limiting factors on plant growth and yield, one of which is the presence of fertilization. This research aims to study the composition of Bio fertilizer and Cow manure fertilizer application bean’s growth and yield. This research was conducted from February 25th, 2022 to May 22th, 2022 at Seed Garden of Food Crops and Horticulture Tawangmangu (TPH) Tawangmangu, Karangpandan District, Karanganyar Regency with an altitude place of 1100 meters above sea level and Latosol soil. This research method uses a single factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of 6 kinds of experiments and each was repeated 4 times in order to obtain 24 kinds trial. The variables used are length of plant, number of leaves, length of root, fresh weight of biomass, dry weight of biomass, the number and weight of pods. The results of this research showed that the composition of biofertilizer and cow fertilizer application has no ef...

Indigenous populations throughout the world suffer from chronic poverty, lower education levels, and poor health. The 'second wave' of indigenous development, after direct economic assistance from outside, lies in indigenous efforts to rebuild their 'nations' and improve their lot through entrepreneurial enterprise. This paper suggests that there is a distinguishable kind of activity appropriately called 'indigenous entrepreneurship'. We begin by defining the indigenous population and noting some general facts about their numbers and distribution. In an effort to discern the potential for development on indigenous peoples' own terms, we then explore three frameworks for understanding efforts at development, including indigenous development: modernisation theory, dependency theory and (at somewhat greater length) regulation theory. After distinguishing 'indigenous' from 'ethnic' entrepreneurship, we conclude by identifying a number of lead questions that present themselves at the outset of an enquiry into the nature of indigenous entrepreneurship.

Indigenous populations throughout the world suffer from chronic poverty, lower education levels, and poor health. The 'second wave' of indigenous development, after direct economic assistance from outside, lies in indigenous efforts to rebuild their 'nations' and improve their lot through entrepreneurial enterprise. This paper suggests that there is a distinguishable kind of activity appropriately called 'indigenous entrepreneurship'. We begin by defining the indigenous population and noting some general facts about their numbers and distribution. In an effort to discern the potential for development on indigenous peoples' own terms, we then explore three frameworks for understanding efforts at development, including indigenous development: modernisation theory, dependency theory and (at somewhat greater length) regulation theory. After distinguishing 'indigenous' from 'ethnic' entrepreneurship, we conclude by identifying a number of lead questions that present themselves at the outset of an enquiry into the nature of indigenous entrepreneurship.

The aim of this article is to consider research method and research ethics issues in the unique location of the Fiji Islands. After arguing that Eurocentric, Anglo-American ethics clearance processes, embedded into Global North Universities, are culturally inappropriate, in the Fiji setting, I go on to imagine alternative ethics clearance questions that pick up on and reflect adequately Fiji's social and economic context. I discuss and explore why traversing relationships, relationships that traverse time and space through giving, receiving, obligation, reimbursement, and forgiveness, often emerge in the Fiji context, and how they can be a local, social equilibrium that benefits both parties. My own research on Fiji soccer history is used to provide illustrations and anecdotes throughout the article.

The long watertight boards (tau) covering each end of the canoe hull forward and aft of the washstrake-box upon which the platform is raised. Fish: To secure the scarf joint connecting the masthead to the mast or that linking yard and boom components together by laying two or more long fish/fishingpieces (reinforcing rods) across the joint and tightly woolding or binding the assembly together. Damaged outrigger cross-booms were sometimes strengthened in this way. Fore-and-aft: Aligned between bow and stern, forward and backward. Grommet: A tightly whipped rope ring attached to the foot of the yard, into which the foot of the boom was inserted. Gunwale: Upper edge of the open canoe well. Applicable to Fijian and Western Polynesian paddling-canoes but not platform-surmounted voyaging canoes Halyard: The rope(s) attached to the yard of a Micronesian-rigged canoe to support the sail and enable it to be raised and lowered. Heel: The foot or lower end of a canoe mast or yard. Jack-staff: A short detachable staff on which a flag or other emblem is flown. Jibe: To swing the sail from one side of the mast to the other. Keel: The strong hardwood spine (takele) upon which the hull was built. Lee: The side opposite to that from which the wind is blowing. Leeward: To or beyond the lee or downwind side. Outrigger: Conventionally, the lattice and float assembly projecting out to the port side of an outrigger-canoe to stabilise it. Technically and historically, the huasi 'balance/rigging-beam/spar' that extended out beyond the side(s) of a Tangaloan-rigged canoe was also an outrigger. Platform: See Deck. Port: Historically larboard: the left-hand or outrigger (hama) side of the canoe, looking towards the bow. Prow: The bow of the canoe. Quarter: In terms of an approaching sea, between bow and beam, or beam and stern. Rake: The slant of a mast. Rig: The way in which mast, sail and rigging are arranged. Rigging: The ropes and lines whereby mast and sail are secured and controlled. On European vessels, "standing rigging" supports the mast and "running rigging" moves and controls the sails. In Tangaloan and Micronesian-rigged canoes the stays and shrouds required constant adjustment, so all of the rigging was running rigging. Scarf: To join the ends of two adjoining timbers by notching, halving, or sloping the ends to fit them together, thereby strengthening the joint. Scull: To row by working and twisting an oar from side to side, rather than pulling it backward in the European way. Sculling is an old Asian technique. Sheet: The long rope attached to the boom to control the sail's movement and alignment. Shift tack: To transfer the tack/foot of the sail from one end of the hull to the other when tacking in the Micronesian way. This term is coined here because the popularised "shunt" (deviate?) does not properly define the procedure in English.