A shot of the forum


A shot of the forum

According to most speeches on the forum, globalization and westernization pose a great threat to culture and environment in the Pacific region where a lot of intangible cultural heritages are at stake. For example, the environmental destruction of Banaba due to British, Australian and New Zealand phosphate mining resulted in the breakdown of cultural identities and practices, as mentioned by Dr. Katerina Teaiwa, an Associate Professor in the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Some speakers also shared their countermeasures.

When it came to the sustainable development of minority' culture, a Chamoru Language & Culture Specialist named Rufina Mendiola, who produced for the Chamoru Film "MAISA" in Chamoru Language,, commented that Chamoru - a unique ancient language dating back to pre-colonial period - could be revived to some extent if it was combined with modern art of animated film.

As for the win-win of culture and environment, Alson Kelen, a Marshall islander who has been committed to making traditional canoes, Focused on empowering young people to use traditional Marshallese skills for young people as a medium to transfer needed life skills and capacity building to the youth of the Marshall Islands.

With regard to women reclaiming culture in the Pacific region, as the leader of a female writing group in Guam, Dr. Laura Souder-Betances, encouraged her members to write their own stories, which helped with the gender equality and the preservation of Chamoru Culture.