Moana Performance from the University of the South Pacific, Unveiled Already at Our First Conference in Suva in 2013

No 4, December 2015 Newsletter

4th and Final Newsletter Dear Reader,

The final ECOPAS Newsletter is in your hands, but do not despair! After three years with high levels of activity at the crossroads of Europe and the Pacific, the EU-funded ECOPAS project has come to an end. We will stay alive, however, through our Facebook page where stories about climate change and Oceania will still be shared from our ever growing network. In this Newsletter you can read about some activities through our last year of work. A particular focus has been the Moana performance from the University of the South Pacific, unveiled already at our first conference in Suva in 2013. In 2015 Moana: the Rising of the Sea has brought the Pacific to Europe, giving an emotional and deeply human dimension to climate change. With soaring voices and spectacular choreography, the Moana artists even performed deep in the European Parliament, as well as to all who attended the Brussels ESfO conference (subject of Newsletter No. 3). The contributions to this Newsletter are joint efforts of ECOPAS participants. Make sure you follow us on Facebook and make good use of our Pacific research database at pacific-studies.net! Meanwhile new side activities arise from our platform, including “Understanding Gender Inequality Actions in the Pacific”, an EU-funded interdisciplinary effort of 14 ECOPAS scholars, bringing new case studies from 10 Pacific nations. Eilin Holtan Torgersen Newsletter Editor and Designer ECOPAS at SIDS Apia, Samoa September2014

The Third International Conference Crook and Doctoral Fellow Camilla place during the conference were on Small Island Developing States A. Borrevik, were present at the con- of particular interest to ECOPAS as was held in September 2014 in Apia, ference and participating in some they provided insights into global Samoa, with the overarching theme of the many events that took place. policy and decision making arenas being “The sustainable development Allan Alo from the ECOPAS Creative with focus on climate change and of small island developing States Team also choreographed the cul- sustainable development. The con- through genuine and durable part- tural ceremony at the opening night ference also brought together rep- nerships”. 115 States and the Euro- in front of a high level audience in- resentatives from all Pacific coun- pean Union were represented at the cluding the Prime Minister of Sa- tries and states which opened up conference, as well as a large amount moa, Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Aiono for deep and valuable dialogue. The of intergovernmental organizations, Sailele Malielegaoi, Mr Ban Ki Moon, conference is only hosted every ten commissions, agencies, United Na- Secretary-General of the United Na- years and was as such a great op- tions offices, non-governmental -or tions, and Mr Wu Hong-bo, Under portunity for ECOPAS to participate ganisations and many more. Mem- Secretary-General of the United Na- in important discussions regard- bers from the ECOPAS team, Dr. Tony tions. Many of the events that took ing the future for all island nations.

www.ecopas.info No 4, December 2015 Newsletter

“Resources, boundaries and governance: What future for fisheries in the Pacific?” Third Problem-based Workshop in Marseille and Pacific Connections Roundtable in Brussels

The third and final problem-based stand the current state of fisheries in scholars from Europe and from the workshop of the ECOPAS project, or- the Pacific, it is necessary to deal si- Pacific Islands, and between these ganised by WP2 in collaboration with multaneously with deeply entangled experts and the various stakehold- WP3, was held in Marseille on 13 -14 international, regional, sub-regional ers and policy-making institu- October, 2014. Discussions centred and local processes. This point was tions involved in the Pacific region. around the future role of fisheries in particularly well illustrated with re- After the workshop in Mar- the Pacific with regard to resources, gard to Overseas Countries and Ter- seille, discussions continued at the boundaries and govern- European External Ac- ance. The workshop tion Service in Brussels included participants on October 16 with a Pa- and presentations from cific Connections event WPs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and organised by WP3. The associate experts from roundtable included the Pacific and Europe. participants and pres- The presenta- entations from WPs 1, tions and discussions 2, 3, 4 and 5 and asso- of the workshop exam- ciate experts from the ined multiple aspects Pacific and Europe. A of coastal and oceanic panel debate included Photo by Edvard Hviding fisheries in the Pacific. Pacific diplomats and They showed that fisheries do not ritories (OCTs) through several case officials from EEAS, DG-MARE, DG- raise economic and ecological issues studies focusing on French Polynesia DEVCO and DG-RTD. Pacific fisheries only: fisheries reveal and are embed- and New Caledonia. The workshop and marine resources constitute a ded in significant social changes, also highlighted the importance particularly complex field of debate (geo)political asymmetries, geostra- of establishing a constructive and between the region and Europe, and tegic rationales, developments in ongoing dialogue around fisher- the workshop and roundtable were legislation, customary dynamics, etc. ies between social scientists and timely and forwards-looking. It was also suggested that to under- environmental scientists, between

ECOPAS at ANU in Canberra, Australia The ECOPAS coordinator visited the to an ANU audience (followed by mats was generously hosted for the Australian National University in panel discussion) and to diplomats ECOPAS coordinator by HE Charles March 2015 as a guest of the ANU of Pacific and Nordic countries. A fi- Lepani, High Commissioner of Pap- Pacific Institute and the chair of the nal agreement between the ANU’s ua New Guinea to Australia; separate ECOPAS Advisory Board Professor Pacific Manuscripts Bureau and the meetings were held at the Solomon Margaret Jolly. A master-class on University of Bergen was signed, Islands High Commission and the long-term anthropological fieldwork giving PMB its first European mem- Royal Norwegian Embassy, and ad- and a public lecture entitled “Living ber library. Meetings were held with vice on Pacific matters of climate in the Ring of Fire” were given. The Canberra-based representatives of change and governance was given 2013 film version of “Moana: the Ris- PACE-Net and climate change NGOs, in special meetings with Labour MPs ing of the Sea” was screened twice, a lunch with Pacific and Nordic diplo- at the Australian Parliament.

www.ecopas.info No 4, December 2015 Newsletter

Moana: the Rising of the Sea The European Tour

Photo by Edvard Hviding In 2015 ECOPAS has had the good European Tour for “Moana” (with co- soni Hereniko, choreographer Peter fortune of cooperating with coordi- ordinator Edvard Hviding as execu- Rockford Espiritu, composer Igelese nator host institution, the University tive producer and Nora Haukali of Ete and lead actor Allan Alo – the of Bergen (UiB), on an ambitious and the Bergen team as tour manager). professional dancers and singers Between 7 and 26 June, “Moana” from the University of the South Pa- was staged a total of 10 times at St cific’s Oceania Centre took on a dedi- Andrews, Scotland; Copenhagen, cated identity also as climate change Denmark; and Brussels, Belgium. The warriors. The artistic power and po- Scotland residence followed imme- litical impact of the European Tour diately after the Bergen Internation- attests to, as Vilsoni Hereniko writes al Festival and provided for smaller- in the stage programme, the power scale shows in close touch with the Photo by Tammy Tabe local community; and in Copenha- large-scale effort to raise the pres- gen “Moana” was performed twice at ence in Europe of the Pacific, with the international CPH Stage festival. particular attention to the climate Brussels saw “Moana” performed first change challenges currently facing in the heart of the European Parlia- Oceania. UiB provided a substantial ment (invited by member of parlia- budget for the travel between Fiji ment Maurice Ponga and attend- Photo by Edvard Hviding and Europe of the 32-member cast ed by parliamentarians and their for “Moana: the Rising of the Sea” teams), and finally to a large and di- of the arts to “move the debate of the Oceania Dance Theatre and the verse audience at the 500-seat Viage climate change from your head to Pasifika Voices choir) and for their Theatre as part of the conference of your heart”. Never before has Europe residence 25 May-7 June at the Ber- the European Society for Oceanists seen such a Pacific presence. At the gen International Festival. A series (see ECOPAS Newsletter 3). Directed conclusion of the Tour this presence of high-profile performances, in- by some of Oceania’s leading crea- was further expanded by the gather- cluding two packed theatre shows tive forces – writer and producer Vil- ing in Brussels – for the conference of “Moana”, and for the were given in performance Bergen. UiB’s – of large generosity numbers of provided a Pacific dip- unique op- lomats, dig- portunity for nitaries and the ECOPAS scholars, as coordina- well as Pa- tor team to cific Islanders organise a resident in subsequent Photo by Edvard Hviding Europe.

www.ecopas.info No 4, December 2015 Newsletter

Moana Rua A film about climate change and sea level rise in the Pacific “Moana” in Suva in 2013. At the COP21 conference in Paris, On 18 November 2015, “Moana “Moana Rua” was invited to play a Rua: the Rising of the Sea” had its key role of the main side event of 4 world premiere at the Damodar Cin- December, Oceans Day. A high-level ema in Suva, Fiji. The premiere was full-day programme with state lead- kindly sponsored by the Delegation ers and diverse dignitaries was con- of the European Union for the Pacif- cluded with the screening of a some-

ECOPAS, in association with the Uni- Photo by USP versity of Bergen and the Bergen In- Photo by COP21/IISD ternational Festival, proudly presents ic, and was attended by the “Moana” a new film of the stage performance cast with family and friends and by what shortened version of “Moana “Moana: the Rising of the Sea”. On 31 a large number of guests from the Rua”, presented by lead actor and May 2015, the second show in Ber- University of the South Pacific, Euro- creative director Allan Alo and ex- gen, at the state-of-the-art Oseana pean and Pacific embassies in Suva, ecutive producer Edvard Hviding. Theatre by the sea south of the city, and regional political and activist Once again, Pacific arts were given was recorded by a professional team organisations. A press conference the privilege of setting its own tone with six cameras in HD format. Dur- was convened, and media coverage for the climate change debate, this ing subsequent months, a film of 56 of the premiere included newspa- time at the pivotal context of COP21. minute duration (the performance pers and television. In subsequent Since the timing was beyond the in total being ca 70 minutes) was ed- days, “Moana Rua” and a short film funding period of ECOPAS, the Uni- ited by Varde Media and by “Moana” adapted from it entitled “The Chief’s versity of Bergen kindly funded Alo’s producer and executive producer Speech to the United Nations” were travel between Samoa and Paris and Vilsoni Hereniko and Edvard Hvid- screened in Honolulu at the Hawaii other expenses. ing. Both filming and editing were International Film Festival and at “Moana Rua” is being made availa- funded by the University of Bergen side events there. ble on DVD and will in due course be as part of its sponsorship of “Moana” uploaded for open-access streaming. for the Bergen International Festival. Meanwhile queries can be directed The final film was named “Moana to [email protected]. The distribution Rua: the Rising of the Sea”, “rua” being of the film should provide a lasting a widespread Pacific word for “two”, impact in terms of the overall ambi- signifying this film being the second tion of the ECOPAS project of “restor- after an original shorter DVD made ing the human to climate change in from the premiere performances of Photo by Hawai’i International Film Festival Oceania”.