Pragmatic discourses and alternative resistance: responses to climate change in the Pacific

This paper explores the portrayals of climate change by United Nations diplomats, ambassadors and representatives from intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Counter discourses are also revealed through interviews conducted with ambassadors representing small Pacific states at the United Nations. Among the literatures that posit climate change is occurring, there has been a broad consensus that the impacts of climate change threaten the long‐term capacity for people to continue living in small island states such as Tuvalu or Kiribati.1 Pacific island states are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as their fresh water reserves are limited to a shallow subsurface lens which is susceptible to depletion in drought and contamination from salt water. Further, the height of these atoll states above sea‐level rarely exceeds two metres, which makes them highly susceptible to wave damage. The ecological balance of these systems is in threat even due to minor alterations to global climate. Even by the most conservative estimates of climate change, major alterations in the response of the hydrologic behaviour of these islands will ensue.

Migración con dignidad a través de las fronteras en Kiribati

La política de “migración con dignidad” forma parte de la estrategia nacional de reubicación a largo plazo en Kiribati

A state of emergency: how local businesses experienced the 2012 flood in Fiji

In late March 2012, severe flash-flooding caused loss of life and widespread damage to property, businesses and community infrastructure in and around Fiji's international tourism destination, Nadi. With little warning, local businesses had limited or no time to prepare for inundation once the banks of the Nadi River broke. Drawing on the experiences of local businesses in Nadi, the major causes of extensive financial loss were high recovery costs, limited insurance of property and goods, and contracted levels of government assistance to help them prepare and recover. This was a serious concern for the long-term sustainability of local businesses in the area. Lessons on how local authorities might better respond in the future are proposed, which include more effective early warning systems and strengthened disaster preparation and recovery systems to ensure that the socio-economic wellbeing of the local community is protected in the long-term

Documenting and Sharing the Seasonal Calendar for Erub Island, Torres Strait

Reading landscapes, seasons and environments has long been a tradition for Torres Strait Islanders through their close relationships with their islands and seas. Researchers funded by MTSRF Project 1.3.1 'Traditional knowledge systems and climate change in Torres Strait' worked with community Elders on Erub Island in the eastern group of islands in the Torres Strait to document the Elders' knowledge of seasonal patterns, including winds, wet and dry seasons, and also patterns in plant, animal and bird life. This report examines and synthesises this knowledge. The information varies from details on the migration and nesting patterns of key totem birds, to the movement of the Tagai star constellation, to the onset of wind patterns indicating certain planting or fishing cycles. The importance of documenting and transferring such knowledge is that it begins the task of generating interest among the younger generation to identify seasonal and environmental indicators in their landscape. This ability of Islanders to identify indicators and ‘read’ their land and sea country becomes important in maintaining culture, livelihoods and their surrounding environment. To this end, the seasonal calendar, which was assembled from the knowledge of four Erub Island Elders, was also developed into a large wooden mural at the local primary school. The school's students were involved in the creation and installation of the mural, and its contents will now form part of their teaching curriculum. It is hoped that by documenting, safeguarding and transferring this knowledge, it will remain alive and valuable

Intrapartum fetal deaths and unexpected neonatal deaths in the Republic of Ireland: 2011 – 2014; a descriptive study

Intrapartum fetal death, the death of a fetus during labour, is a tragic outcome of pregnancy. The intrapartum death rate of a country is reflective of the care received by mothers and babies in labour and it is through analysing these cases that good aspects of care, as well as areas for improvement can be identified. Investigating unexpected neonatal deaths that may be associated with an intrapartum event is also helpful to fully appraise intrapartum care. This is a descriptive study of intrapartum fetal deaths and unexpected neonatal deaths in Ireland from 2011 to 2014

The impact of intrapartum fetal death and other serious adverse perinatal events on healthcare professionals and the maternity services

Obstetrics and midwifery are high risk specialties. Sometimes and even despite the provision of the best medical care possible, serious adverse events do occur. While patients and service users of the Irish maternity services bear the bulk of the burden of harm from these adverse events, the healthcare staff who are also involved in these cases can be substantially affected. Stillbirth, which encompasses both antenatal and intrapartum death, is one of the more serious adverse events or outcomes that can happen during a pregnancy. Existing research focuses largely on the impact that antenatal stillbirth has on obstetricians and midwives, with no research focusing specifically on the impact that intrapartum fetal death has on maternity service healthcare professionals. Much is also now known and acknowledged about the increasing levels of burnout and compassion fatigue that are affecting healthcare professionals. In fact, it has been recognised that healthcare professionals are more likely to experience burnout than the general workforce and it is now estimated that burnout affects 1 in 2 doctors. Healthcare professionals in the maternity services are not exempt from these issues. What is apparent, however, is that relative to the literature pertaining to the general medical specialties, there is a clear paucity of research investigating the effectiveness of available support strategies for maternity healthcare professionals to access either in the aftermath of an adverse event or to help them tackle burnout in the longer term. This thesis focuses on the specific impact that intrapartum death, and other serious perinatal adverse events have on healthcare professionals. I have utilised both quantitative and qualitative research methods to describe in detail the scale of the impact, both personally and professionally, that these events have on the involved healthcare professionals. Obstetricians and midwives are profoundly and negatively affected by a personal involvement in an intrapartum death. Following a review of the existing literature, I identified a substantial lack of effective support strategies for maternity healthcare professionals to access to help them with the impact of adverse events. This finding was echoed by my research with the cohort of obstetricians and midwives who participated in my studies. By and large they had received no training in dealing with intrapartum death nor had they received any education on self-care strategies. This thesis concludes with two studies, aimed at addressing this deficit and these studies are an evaluation of both local and national support strategies for maternity healthcare professionals to potentially utilise on an ongoing basis. Finally, I discuss the implications that my research has on clinical practice, and I discuss the possibilities for future research that may potentially improve the support that maternity healthcare professionals are given in the aftermath of these adverse events

Viable sí, pero Protegido para las Generaciones Futuras? Un Estudio sobre el Amplio Mercado del Turismo Basado en las Florestas

Este artículo enfoca el turismo en florestas, sobretodo en florestas tropicales y, explora supotencial a la hora de contribuir dentro de la industria turística global. Los objetivos específicos de este estudio fueron: desarrollar un perfil, incluyendo las motivaciones, de losturistas que visitan la Wet Tropics, la floresta tropical de Australia e identificar patrones anteriores de visita de florestas tanto en Australia como en otros destinos globales. Unestudio con 1.408 visitantes llevado a cabo en varios lugares con florestas tropicales Wet Tropics en la región tropical norte de Australia concluyó que más del 37% de la muestra yahabía visitado antes las florestas durante sus vacaciones indicando que el turismo basado enflorestas es un componente esencial en el mercado basado en la naturaleza. Países y lugares con florestas en el sudeste de Asia eran las atracciones más populares en las vacaciones yaque más del 13% de los entrevistados había visitado estos lugares. Este porcentaje se mantuvo similar en países del Pacífico sur, América del norte, América del sur, Américacentral, África, el sur de Asia y China, Caribe y Europa. Mientras que, en general este es unresultado prometedor, el turismo basado en florestas enfrenta un gran número de presiones, como el asentamiento urbano, las industrias de extracción y en un futuro próximo, el cambio climático.Este artigo enfoca o turismo de florestas e florestas tropicais em particular e explora seupotencial em contribuir para a indústria de turismo global. Os objetivos específicos desteestudo foram: desenvolver um perfil, incluindo as motivações, dos turistas que visitam a Wet Tropics, floresta tropical da Austrália e identificar padrões anteriores de visitação de florestastanto na Austrália quanto em outros destinos globais. Uma pesquisa com 1.408 visitantes conduzida em vários locais com florestas tropicais Wet Tropics na região tropical norte da Austrália concluiu que mais de 37% da amostra já tinham visitado previamente as florestas quando estavam em férias indicando que o turismo baseado em florestas é um componenteessencial ao mercado baseado na natureza. Países e locais com florestas no sudeste da Ásiaeram as atrações mais populares nas férias com mais de 13% de pesquisados tendo visitadoestes locais. Isto foi seguido por países do Pacífico sul, América do norte, América do Sul, América Central, África, sul da Ásia e China, Caribe e Europa. Enquanto, de maneira geral, este é um resultado promissor, o turismo baseado em florestas enfrenta um número de pressões, como assentamento urbano, indústrias de extração e em um futuro próximo: mudanças climáticas.This article focuses on forest tourism and rainforests in particular, and explores their potentialto contribute to the global tourism industry. The specific objectives of the study were todevelop a profile, including motivations, of tourists visiting the Wet Tropics rainforest of Australia and to identify previous patterns of forest visitation in both Australia and other global destinations. A survey of 1,408 visitors conducted at a number of Wet Tropicsrainforest sites in the tropical north region of Australia found that over 37% of the sample hadpreviously visited forests while on holidays indicating that forest-based tourism is a major component to the nature-based market. Countries and forested sites in South-East Asia werethe most popular as holiday attractions with over 13% of respondents having visited thesesites. This was followed by countries of the South Pacific, North America, South America, Central America, Africa, South Asia and China, the Caribbean and Europe. While overall thisis a promising result, forest-based tourism faces a number of pressures including urbansettlement, extractive industries and in the near future climate change

Correction to: Stories of loss and healing: connecting non-economic loss and damage, gender-based violence and wellbeing erosion in the Asia–Pacific region

The original article has been corrected. The phrasing of a part of the Abstract has been modified for clarity from "Through stories of loss and healing, we step into the realities of illustrating how women and children experience non-economic wellbeing loss within a climate-violence nexus in Bangladesh, Fiji, and Vanuatu. A storytelling and systems analysis approach guided the analysis of personal narratives gathered through a secondary data review and empirical field work. The research findings identified different pathways through which women and children’s mental health was compromised in the context of structural violence and climatic risks." to "Through stories of loss and healing, we step into the realities of women and children who illustrate how they experience non-economic wellbeing loss within a climate-violence nexus in Bangladesh, Fiji, and Vanuatu. A storytelling and systems approach guided the analysis of personal narratives gathered through a secondary data review and empirical field work. The research findings identified different pathways through which women’s and children’s mental health was compromised in the context of structural violence and climatic risks.

NASA Technology Readiness Level Definitions

This presentation will cover the basic Technology Readiness Level (TRL) definitions used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and their specific wording. We will discuss how they are used in the NASA Project Life Cycle and their effectiveness in practice. We'll also discuss the recent efforts by the International Standards Organization (ISO) to develop a broadly acceptable set of TRL definitions for the international space community and some of the issues brought to light. This information will provide input for further discussion of the use of the TRL scale in manufacturing

Practices of climate change adaptation in the Pacific: survey of implementing agencies (phase II)

Various and diverse socio-economic, political and environmental challenges face the countries of the Pacific region. Over the last few decades, climate change has risen to increasing prominence as a key challenge and focal point for both national governments and communities to address. This has largely been a result of the ongoing climate change projections for the Pacific region, coupled with various observations by locals of changes to the climate, seasons and their local environment. Together, these observed and projected impacts of climate change can have profound social, economic and environmental implications for all Pacific Island Countries (PICs). To date, a series of broad-brush climate change related impacts have been reported in the literature; the impacts of which include a significant strain on crucial community sectors such as agriculture and fisheries, freshwater resources, human health, economic security, physical infrastructure and coastal resources