Position on Pacific ‘contradictory’ say academics
15 March 2010
THE
ORGANISERS of a major forthcoming conference on the Pacific say they have
identified “a contradiction in
“Official
institutions are attempting to increase their influence in the region,” say the
organisers of Oceanic Transformations, “yet Australians
learn less and less from their educational institutions and media about this
region.”
They
were commenting on the failure of the Federal Government to ensure its new draft curriculum for years 1-10 in
primary and secondary schools gives due attention to the Pacific.
The Australian Association for the Advancement
of Pacific Studies (AAAPS) will hold its Oceanic
Transformations conference in
Academics,
postgraduate students, journalists and people with an interest in the Pacific
region will meet at
Prominent Pacific Islanders such as 'Alisi Taumoepeau, former Attorney General of Tonga, Dr Lyndes Wini, of the vector-borne disease control program in the Solomon Islands, and Siula Bulu of Vanuatu’s ‘Won Small Bag’ theatre group will speak at the conference.
Also among the diverse range of speakers
will be Wep Kanawi, former PNG senior civil servant turned HIV-AIDs activist,
and Mosmi Bhim, human rights proponent from
The conference seeks to incorporate the
study of
Papers in anthropology, history, politics, international relations, economics, health, the environment, education and culture form the backbone of the conference.
Cultural activities by members of
More
information: See Fragments of Attitude
To
register: Visit the AAAPS website at http://www.aaaps.edu.au
Read the AAAPS’s recently launched strategy for
the Study of the Pacific in
Any serious consultation process must provide sufficient advance notice of the times and venues arranged for the consultation seminars.
There are claims that the venues and times in some cities were only available for a matter of hours prior to the meeting being held.
This looks like a classic case of a 'fait accompli' and the schools curriculum having already been stitched up and ready to go into print. It begs the question that perhaps the venues and times were only known to those who were safe to invite?
I refer to comments at http://www.pngaa.net/bb/viewtopic.php?t=324
Perhaps a few more should challenge the process and give a reality check to whoever was supposedly running an effective 'consultation' process?
I have responded to the advertised e mail address that I wish to offer some suggestions but 'answer came there none'.
Posted by: Paul Oates | 15 March 2010 at 07:01 PM