Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Mon, 27 Jul 1992 04:12:13 PDT
From:         "Indonesia Publications/Task Force" <apakabar@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject:      PAC: That Sinking Feeling
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

/* Written 12:19 am  Jul 27, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "SOUTH PACIFIC: GREEN ANTIDOTE FOR I" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Environment
Title: SOUTH PACIFIC: GREEN ANTIDOTE FOR ISLAND STATES' SINKING FEELING


an inter press service feature

by kalinga seneviratne

suva, fiji, jul 25 (ips) -- fearing they will sink into the sea much
like the mythical continent of atlantis, tiny pacific island nations
are taking steps to halt environmental degradation not only in their
region but worldwide.

the 15-member south pacific forum (spf) this month already
announced step one: the holding of a global conference on
sustainable development for small island states next year.

''the (earth summit in rio) has called for a commission on
sustainable development to be established,'' said spf information
and publication officer alfred seseko.

''what the forum simply did was to endorse the call,'' he added,
''and ensure that those issues that are of concern to pacific island
nations are incorporated into whatever mechanism are put into place
in forming the commission.''

the south pacific island states are particularly worried about
global warming, believed to cause a rise in sea levels due to
the melting of antarctic ice.

jeff liew, u.n. development programme (undp) coordinator for the
integrated atoll development project, has said a 15-cm rise in sea
level can wipe out ''a whole nation'' in the south pacific.

''it's not like a few beachfront bungalows washed away in the
east coast of the united states,'' liew said. ''it's a whole
civilisation, a whole culture that will be lost.''

global warming, also known as the 'greenhouse effect', is the
rise in temperatures brought about by an increase of certain gases
in the atmosphere.

during the earth summit in rio in june, micronesian secretary of
external affairs resio moses said ''low-lying island countries are
already experiencing the first effects of climate change brought on
by global warming''.

''patterns and intensity of storm activity throughout the pacific
have changed noticeably for the worse within the past decade,'' he
said. ''the micronesian region has also experienced a prolonged
drought brought on by the shift in pacific ocean currents.''

for the past few years, environmental concerns have dominated
talks among the south pacific island nations. this year's spf
meeting, held last week in honiara, solomon islands was no different
-- although the calls for environmental reforms were more urgent.
(more/ips)



south pacific: green (2)

said solomon island governor general george lepping: ''the region
as a whole faces tremendous environmental concerns as a result of
the destructive effects of pollution and the consumerism of the
industrialised nations.''

major powers have tried to soften the blow their activities give
to the region by joining the south pacific regional environment
programme (sprep), which coordinates environmental activities in the
area.

australia, one of spf's biggest and most industrialised members,
also announced at the recent spf meeting that it would provide one
million dollars to upgrade the south pacific's meteorological
services, including the ongoing region-wide sea level rise and
climate monitoring project.

australia also pledged 3.8 million dollars more for the
development of a biodiversity conservation and management project.

but a report released by the australian bureau of statistics
(abs) in june has indicated australia is one of the world's biggest
producers of the greenhouse gas methane. abs data show the country's
methane production increased by 10 percent in the last decade to an
estimated 4.8 million tonnes a year.

noted noni keys of the international environment group
greenpeace: ''without commitments to strict targets and timetables
for reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which
australia continues to avoid, the monitoring systems are an empty
gesture.''

meanwhile, greenpeace lauded spf's support for reducing waste at
its source and the development of a regional convention to control
thee trade in hazardous wastes. ''where the earth summit failed,''
said keys, ''the pacific island nations may set the standard for
implementing the rhetoric on environmental protection.''

spf officer seseko said the forum for years has been monitoring
the increasing use of the region as dumping ground for the toxic
waste of industrialised countries.

''they come in the form of building hi-tech incinerators and
things like that,'' he said. ''two of the countries approached were
papua new guinea and tuvalu -- both of whom flatly refused.''

for this year, though, spf has one less worry. french suspension
of its underground nuclear testing in the pacific for 1992 still
stands. but spf has sent off a letter to french president francois
mitterrand urging him to make the nuclear testing moratorium
permanent. (end/ips/ks/cb/92)
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