Environment, Responsibility and Governance

Today challenges, from climate to oceans

27 April 2010
Responsible governance of Watersheds by Betsan MARTIN

This is a collection of papers from scientists, engineers, indigenous guardians and programme leaders from Vanuatu, Samoa and Aotearoa. Contributions are made from creative writers, lawyers, and esteemed Maori and Samoan leaders articulating indigenous knowledge to the complexity of managing watersheds. The responsibilities brought to the management of river catchments are varied and range from professional engineering to ecosystem priorities, to policy and legal interpretation to (...)

30 January 2010
Science Technology and Society conference by Betsan MARTIN

Science Technology and Society conference Brisbane, Australia, Dec 2009 A Science Technology and Society conference brought an opportunity to activate new contacts for the Across Oceania network by preparing a presentation for the conference and visiting an ‘ecotechnology’ scientist, Callum Coats with whom we have been associated for many years. Callum is experimenting with using energy enhancing technologies, such as spirals inserted into water pipes, to test the beneficial effects for (...)

Watersheds and Responsible Governance - 30 January 2010, by Betsan MARTIN

Watersheds and Responsible Governance: Aotearoa-New Zealand November 2009 A hillside gathering above Te Hakare Wetland The powhiri, or welcome by Maori elders from the tribes of the land and rivers of the area where our symposium was held, began the process of weaving together hosts and guests, those from the area and those from afar, and of drawing together the threads of different experience and expertise which people brought to share. For readers unfamiliar with the protocols of (...)

Local Management of Marine Areas (LMMA) Network Meeting, Fiji - 18 December 2008, by Betsan MARTIN

Details of the Shared Activity The LMMA meeting was held over 6 days in Suva, and in village member sites. Participants linked with the Across Oceania network included Hugh Govan (a member of the LMMA Network Co-ordinating team) Kelly May (NIWA), Wayne Ormond (Ministry of Fisheries), Aranui Puna, Guardian (Kaitiaki) of a customary marine reserve (Mataitai). Betsan Martin, Convener of RESPONSE and two participants from the Philippines, Merlyn Martinez and Rosalina Lodripaz. Merly and (...)

Conservation Roundtable Conference, ALOTOAU, PNG - 14 January 2008, by Betsan MARTIN

The Conservation Conference was a Pacific Conservation Roundtable meeting to work on the framework for the Pacific Conservation Action Strategy. KEY MESSAGE Conservation in the Pacific is integrated with sustainable livelihoods. Land being retained in customary tenure is a key to the link between Livelihoods and Environmental Responsibility. Pacific Conservation Action Strategy The Action Strategy is structured around: Three Goals: Economy, Environmental, Social Four Objectives: (...)

Leadership in a Climate of Change - 26 October 2007, by Betsan MARTIN

Commentary As a Representative of the NZ Charter committee, I was invited to a gathering of 48 invited participants to ‘create together new thinking and acting for Responsibility in a Climate of Change.’ It was exciting to meet for 4 days with people who represented business interests, journalists, writers, farmers, various environmental sectors, young activists and older leaders, trade union officials, land cultivators. There were people in humble roles and those who are in positions (...)

Water Forum: from the stories of our rivers to the quality of water - 11 January 2007, by Betsan MARTIN

Resume Charter activities in New Zealand are focusing on water. At a series of forums and meetings those with a focus on environmental responsibility emphasise water as a public good. Information given by activists and NGO’s track the ‘commodification’ of water, through various pressures for privatization and management through resource allocation and lease rights. The NZ Sustainable Water Programme of Action is managing water in the context of multinational trade agreements such as GATT, (...)

A Public Forum on Rights and Responsibilities for Sustainability - 8 January 2007, by Betsan MARTIN

Resume At a public Forum co-hosted last 12th December by the Regional Committee of the Charter of Human Responsibilities and the Human Rights commission, the speakers highlighted sustainability as a framework for economic and social re-organization, and an Ocean scientist gave a presentation of growing knowledge of ocean habitats to support decisions about sustainable fisheries. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment referred to values for social relationships and a (...)

Climate Change and Governance Conference, 28-29 March 2006, New Zealand - 4 April 2006, by Betsan MARTIN

The conference on Climate Change focused on scientific evidence and integration of the projections for climate change with social and economic policy and governance. The scientific presentations were brilliant, inscribing in our minds the graphic picture of fluctuations in Earth’s temperature over millions and hundreds of years, and the surge in the last 100. The conference brought forward the marvel of the complexity and integration of earth’s ecosystems and relationship between (...)

The Treaty of Waitangi and the Foreshore and Seabed - 7 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

Over the past year the ‘ownership’ of the Foreshore and Seabed has taken the dimensions of a tidal wave crashing on the shores of Aotearoa-New Zealand, and put relations between Maori and government under more pressure than they have been for a century. Under the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi indigenous titles to land were to be upheld. By 2003 the Foreshore is the last remaining area still in indigenous title, although the general population remained largely oblivious. Some particular (...)

Collaborative Environmental Activities - 7 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

As a result of a national seminar we held on Water, as part of an Alliance initiative in 2003, different activities have taken place associated with the ecology of water and land management. In the Lake Taupo region, an indigenous committee and a government agency have developed protocols for an effective collaboration on land management which support cultural safeguards associated with the land and the commercial operations of the government department. A research project to investigate (...)

Samoa, Culture and Environment - 7 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

In 2003, through the Alliance21 project, an environmental initiative was held in Samoa as part of the opening of the Nofoalii Centre for Cultural Research. Leaders of this Centre are on the committee for the Charter for Responsibility, with the Samoan members maintaining project work in the Pacific and in New Zealand. A symposium was held in New Zealand in November 2004, supported by the Charter for Responsibility. The Symposium was to build community awareness of the value of cultural (...)