Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · 15d

Ten years after the publication of ‘The New Pacific Diplomacy’ (ANU Press, 2015), Greg Fry and Sandra Tarte have a new article revisiting the role of diplomacy by Pacific island states on key issues such as climate change, law of the sea, and regional security.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · 16d

During six months of conflict last year, the health sector in #NewCaledonia suffered major staff turnover, with many French doctors, nurses and paramedics leaving the islands. My Islands Business feature looks at efforts to rebuild and renew health for all.
islandsbusiness.com/news-break/f...

Tip of the spear • Nic Maclellan

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Aug 14

In New Caledonia, the independence coalition Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) has formally rejected the Bougival Accord. The FLNKS has called for direct talks with the French State, to develop a pathway to full and sovereign independence.
islandsbusiness.com/breaking-new...

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maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Aug 4

New Caledonia’s Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste #FLNKS will hold an extraordinary Congress next Saturday, 9 August, amid growing opposition to the Bougival agreement. My Pacnews feature looks at decolonisation debates within the independence movement.
pina.com.fj/2025/08/04/f...

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maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Aug 4

In the last days of the Pacific War, US bombers flew from the island of Tinian to drop atomic weapons on #Hiroshima and #Nagasaki. My report for Inside Story shows, on the 80th anniversary of the bombings, that the United States is again readying Tinian for war.
insidestory.org.au/tip-of-the-s...

Eighty years on, America prepares for war in the Pacific

insidestory.org.au

Devil in the detail of New Caledonia's "historic" agreement

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Jul 14

To unpack New Caledonia’s Bougival Accord, I speak with ‘Pacific Mornings’ in Aotearoa. In the interview, I outline many steps still needed to implement the deal: persuading supporters, legislative change in Paris, and a referendum in New Caledonia next February. www.facebook.com/watch/?v=192...

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maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Jul 14

With New Caledonia’s new political agreement, the devil’s in the detail. My feature for Islands Business magazine looks at the Bougival Accord, signed on 12 July, and the long (and likely contested) process to implement its provisions.
islandsbusiness.com/news-break/d...

Meeting in France, New Caledonian political leaders have signed an agreement on the political and economic future of the French dependency.

Tjibaou on New Caledonia talks in Paris: “We want to resolve this now”

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maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Jun 30

Emmanuel Tjibaou, president of New Caledonia’s Union Calédonienne party, says the FLNKS will join political status talks this week in Paris. Before leaving for France, Tjibaou told me that “we want to resolve this now, and that is why I am committed to dialogue.”
islandsbusiness.com/news-break/t...

“We want to resolve this now, and that is why I am committed to dialogue.” That's Emmanuel Tjiabaou, President of the Independance Party UC.

Turkey tussles with Australia to host 2026 UN climate talks

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Jun 25

Australia’s bid to host the 31st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP31) in 2026 is still not locked in. Türkiye – the other bidder from the Western European and Other States group – has just ramped its campaign to host next year’s climate summit in Antalya.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Turkey on Wednesday doubled down on its pitch to host 2026 UN climate talks, defying calls to step aside and let rival candidate Australia stage the high-profile global event.

www.france24.com

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Jun 19

Release of a major report on the consequences of French nuclear testing in Mā’ohi Nui. The parliamentary report (in French) makes 45 recommendations for economic, health, educational and cultural initiatives, to address legacies of 193 French nuclear tests www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/rappo...

Reposted

Van Jackson @vanjackson.bsky.social · May 31

Frontiers are spaces of exception--places of sacrifice and extraction; sponges for violence that you must control for fear that your enemy will if you don't. And for US strategists, the Pacific itself is a frontier

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maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · May 29

From Australia to New Caledonia, conservative politicians are arguing about flags, opposing public display of symbols of indigenous sovereignty. My report for Inside Story looks at the fight over flags displayed on the New Caledonia driver’s licence. insidestory.org.au/flag-fall/

Flag fall • Inside Story

From Australia to New Caledonia, symbols of Indigenous sovereignty are proving divisive in both predictable and unpredictable ways

insidestory.org.au

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Reposted

MEAA @withmeaa.bsky.social · May 28

1966: 80 Indigenous workers at the Newcastle Waters cattle station in the Northern Territory walk off the job, led by Lupna Giari and supported by Dexter Daniels, demanding immediate pay equity. The campaign spread to Wave Hill station, where a walk-off was led by Vincent Lingiari.
#NRW2025
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maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · May 28

From ITLOS to ICJ, developing states are mobilising to call for new international legal norms, to ensure that industrialised nations meet obligations on climate, development and oceans protection. My report for Islands Business magazine looks at new initiatives.
islandsbusiness.com/news-break/c...

Changing legal obligations on climate action

Pacific Small Island Developing States and other developing nations are mobilising to call for new international legal norms.

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · May 26

Sad news, with the death of Motarilavoa Hilda Lini, a ni-Vanuatu campaigner for indigenous rights, Melanesian solidarity and a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific. A warrior to the end, as Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat says: “Rest in Peace soldier, for you have fought a great fight.” Vale.

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · May 9

My report for Islands Business looks at the collapse of negotiations in #NewCaledonia. Anti-independence Loyalist leader Nicolas Metzdorf bluntly states: “We will never accept independence, independence in association, or a trajectory towards independence.”
islandsbusiness.com/news-break/n...

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Apr 28

This week, the Pacific Theological College will transition into the new Pasifika Communities University (PCU), transforming its structure and education program. My report for Islands Business looks at the adaptation of the regional ecumenical institution. islandsbusiness.com/news-break/p...

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Apr 28

With learning centres in Fiji, Kiribati and Vanuatu - and more nations to come - the PCU's regional program will transform theological studies. They aim to expand community-based learning, engage local communities at home and draw on indigenous philosophy, spirituality, and local knowledge.

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Apr 28

On behalf of the new institution, PCU’s Reverend Professor Dr Upolu Luma Vaai signed partnership MOUs with the Fiji Ministry of Education, Fiji Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs, United Nations Development Program and Tetra Tech, to support new rural community learning centres.

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Apr 28

Ecumenical service this morning at the Pacific Theological College in Suva, as PTC transforms its structure into the Pasifika Communities University. To be launched this week, PCU will restructure theological education and development through “whole of life” Pasifika philosophy and spirituality.

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Apr 23

The Front de Liberation National Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) will hold a convention this Saturday, 26 April. The gathering of Union Caledonienne and other members of independence coalition will feature report to members and re-set a negotiating mandate for the FLNKS delegation to next week's talks.

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Apr 23

However, Union Calédonienne Secretary General Dominique Fochi says: “To build the future, we must not rush to create short-term solutions that will cause problems in the long term. So we mustn’t drag our feet, but we shouldn’t rush into things. We want to create a win-win situation.”

maclellannic.bsky.social @maclellannic.bsky.social · Apr 23

French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls will soon arrive in #NewCaledonia to push forward negotiations, hoping to strike a deal between supporters and opponents of independence: “The objective of this phase will be to reach an overall agreement on the institutional future of New Caledonia.”