ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED MIGRATION in FIJI by Amanda Rae
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CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by The University of Utah: J. Willard Marriott Digital Library ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED MIGRATION IN FIJI by Amanda Rae Bertana A dissertation submitted to the faculty of The University of Utah in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology The University of Utah May 2018 Copyright © Amanda Rae Bertana 2018 All Rights Reserved The University of Utah Graduate School STATEMENT OF DISSERTATION APPROVAL The dissertation of Amanda Rae Bertana has been approved by the following supervisory committee members: Brett Clark , Co-Chair 2/22/2018 Date Approved Marie Sarita Gaytan , Co-Chair 2/22/2018 Date Approved Tabitha Benney , Member 2/26/2018 Date Approved Andrew Jorgenson , Member 2/23/2018 Date Approved Kim Korinek , Member 2/22/2018 Date Approved and by Ming Wen , Chair/Dean of the Department/College/School of Sociology and by David B. Kieda, Dean of The Graduate School. ABSTRACT This research is a compilation of ethnographic and ecological accounts of three rural Fijian villages that moved inland as a response to coastal erosion. Using Vunidogoloa and Vunisavisavi on Vanua Levu, and Narikoso on Ono Island, Kadavu, as case studies I show how: (1) communities are affected by the physical and discursive elements of climate change, (2) communities manage their relationship with an increasingly unpredictable and changing environment, and (3) local level actors are working with national and international actors to make environmental decisions. Beyond description and interpretation, I examine how relocation is embedded in themes of power, culture, gender, religion, agency, and political control in respect to local level social fabrics, relationship to the environment, and perceptions of environmental deterioration within Fijian communities. As a whole, this dissertation illustrates the complexities and heterogeneity of rural people’s perception and experiences with their environment, environmental changes, and adaptation measures. With the distinct case studies, I pay specific attention to the relocation process including: how the Fijian government incorporates communities into environmental decision-making processes, how bureaucratic processes interact with local level hierarchies, how vulnerable populations are disproportionately marginalized by relocation efforts, and the unintended social consequences of relocating a community. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... vi Chapters 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................1 1.1 Media and Political Discourses ..................................................................................2 1.2 Unequal Ecological Exchange ...................................................................................5 1.3 Climate Change in Fiji ...............................................................................................7 1.4 Pacific Island Development Forum ...........................................................................9 1.5 Fiji National Relocation Guidelines .........................................................................12 1.6 Methodology ............................................................................................................15 1.7 Interpretation ............................................................................................................24 1.8 Layout ......................................................................................................................26 2 VUNIDOGOLOA ...........................................................................................................31 2.1 Vunidogoloa, the City at Night ................................................................................31 2.2 Bula, Bula, Bullshit ..................................................................................................37 2.3 Walk Like a Fijian ...................................................................................................51 2.4 What If? ...................................................................................................................58 2.5 They Brought the Light ............................................................................................61 2.6 The Government Has No Face .................................................................................66 2.7 Call Me Daddy .........................................................................................................69 2.8 Isa (Sigh of remembrance) .......................................................................................80 3 GENDER IN VUNIDOGOLOA ....................................................................................84 3.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................84 3.2 We Love Our Women ..............................................................................................87 3.3 What He Said ...........................................................................................................93 3.4 The Scream No One Heard ......................................................................................97 3.5 Did You Eat? ..........................................................................................................100 3.6 Conclusion .............................................................................................................103 4 NARIKOSO ..................................................................................................................105 4.1 Narikoso, the Most Beautiful Village .................................................................... 105 4.2 Maybe? ................................................................................................................... 108 4.3 Just Go with It ........................................................................................................112 4.4 Stay Positive ..........................................................................................................119 4.5 Are You Here with the Government? ....................................................................123 4.6 Blow It Up .............................................................................................................127 4.7 Tomorrow… ..........................................................................................................134 5 DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, AND RELIGION IN NARIKOSO ............................137 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................137 5.2 Arne Yadra (Good Morning) .................................................................................141 5.3 Makers Remorse ....................................................................................................147 5.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................................160 6 VUNISAVISAVI ..........................................................................................................163 6.1 Vunisavisavi, the Catholic Village ........................................................................163 6.2 Shooting Stars, Falling Sky ...................................................................................168 6.3 Write It Down ........................................................................................................173 6.4 It’s A New Start .....................................................................................................179 6.5 It’s Not Fair ............................................................................................................183 6.6 Are You Empty? ....................................................................................................188 7 CULTURE IN VUNISAVISAVI .................................................................................194 7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................194 7.2 Sandalwood Island .................................................................................................195 7.3 The Backbone of Cakaudrove ................................................................................199 7.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................................203 8 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................205 8.1 Future Relocations .................................................................................................206 8.2 Relocations .............................................................................................................209 8.3 Environmental State ...............................................................................................212 8.4 Climate Change Adaptation ...................................................................................214 8.5 Environmental Politics ...........................................................................................215