Rukshana Afu
As technology continues to connect our globalized community it is also helping our Pacific community to shift our perceptions of beauty after years of being subjected to Western ideals and standards. Rukshana Afu is a Samoan Fijian-Indian woman determined to make her mark in the...
A Pacific without NCDs for our children, is it a dream Beyond the Stars?
The impact of non-communicable diseases is more than an alarming statistic for people across the Pacific. For many of us, it’s a scary reality. Illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer touch our parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, and friends. Around 70-75% of...
Completing the Circle of Pacific Storytelling: Our Home, Our People
Last year, I had the privilege of listening to and writing the incredible stories of four seemingly every day Fijians, who are living on the forefront of the impacts of climate change. Stories of resilience, courage, concern, adaptation and pure love – vei lomani –...
Introducing Emele Ugavule, Talanoa’s Creative Director
I’m thrilled to introduce you to Emele Ugavule, Talanoa’s Creative Director! Emele is taking over the management of Talanoa over the next 12 months as I pursue full time study, storytelling and communications in non-profit across Australia and the Pacific. My role in Talanoa as...
Vei Lomani: Rupeni’s story
On 20 February 2016, Tropical Cyclone Winston, the most intense (category five) tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere on record, struck the mainland of Fiji, killing 44 people and injuring countless others. Hundreds of people lost their homes, with others seriously damaged, including Rupeni Vatugata’s,...
Catalina’s story: climate change in Fiji, through the eyes of a child
It’s 5:30am in Vunisavisavi, a small village on the coast of Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second biggest island. The sun is starting to rise, birds are beginning to chirp, and Catalina, 11 years old, is awake. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, she’s up with a spring...
For Tonga, For Pasifika: Have Your Sei
Joseph-Zane Sikulu is a Pacific climate change warrior, and Pacific Project Coordinator for 350.org. Along with many Pacific islanders, Joseph is representing his island nation Tonga at COP23 in Bonn, Germany to Have their Sei in the fight against climate change – a petition and declaration...
Pasifika Literature, Representation and Critical Thinking: Talanoa with Winne Siulolovao Dunn
‘I belong to Oceania – or, at least, I am rooted in a fertile portion of it – and it nourishes my spirit, helps to define me, and feeds my imagination.’ – Albert Wendt, ‘Towards a New Oceania A few weeks ago, I came across...
Where My Woke Pasifika Athletes At? (No Typo)
Following the recent controversy surrounding Jason Taumalolo’s decision to play for Tonga rather than New Zealand in the Rugby League World Cup, and the way Israel Folau recently declared his stance on marriage equality, I’ve been thinking about Pasifika athletes – their choices, voices and...
Investing in Fiji’s Water, and Youth Leadership: Broderick Mervyn’s Story
Tell us about yourself – who are you, where are you from? Ni Sa Bula Vinaka and Noa’ia e mauri, my name is Broderick Mervyn, I am currently a 3rd Year student at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus completing a Bachelor of Laws. I...
Deprecated: strpos(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($haystack) of type string is deprecated in /home/ouyg0b4ahz04/public_html/wp-content/themes/gillion/footer.php on line 22