We all have a heart and brain, the Future is in our hands, and is tomorrow….
The Vanuatu Clean and the Voices of the Erakor Lagoon are grateful to the Monash Global Immersion Guarantee program for the invitation to share our experiences on our journey to Save our beautiful Erakor Lagoon and to have the opportunity to engage with University Students to join us in this challenging but doable mission.
The Erakor Lagoon is a single ecosystem commonly known as Ekasuvat Lagoon (1) and Emten Lagoon (2), connected by a channel. In the same channel, Port Vila land is connected to Erakor Village by the Erakor Bridge. The Bridge makes the connection between the Urban and Rural life. The Bridge has become a symbol for our youth: a demarcation of different lifestyles and attitudes towards preserving the environment.
The Lagoon is rich in biodiversity, with a mangrove ecosystem hosts a rich biodiversity of land and marine life, indigenous birds, fish, crustaceans, turtles and dugongs which ecological balance is fundamental to provide ecological services, such as purifying water (eg. sea cucumbers and oysters), producing clean air and retaining carbon (eg. sea grass and mangroves) and direct livelihoods (food) and jobs (tourism sector) to communities. The Lagoon is a perfect playground that any children could have dream of, with an amazing diversity of entertainment within Nature. A proper Paradise…
So, What’s the Problem?!
Brief introduction to Vanuatu. People and Nature
Some indicators Vanuatu Australia
Surface Area 12,190 km2 7,741,220 km2
Population (2021) 319,137 26,316,000
GDP (2023) $1,126M $1,773,470M
GDP per Capita $3,529 $68,277
Life expec. (2022) 70.49 83.20
SDG index N/A 35/196
Happy Planet Index* 1 66
*country’s “efficiency” by combining life expectancy, self-reported well-being, and ecological footprint.
Melanesia – a subregion of the Pacific classified as named by Europeans. Etymology: “islands of black [people]”. Papua (fizzy hair) New Guinea. Guinea.
Indigenous Languages – 1,319 languages in Melanesia. Vanuatu Vanuatu is home to 138 indigenous Oceanic languages. Highest density per capita in the World. Pango, Erakor and Eratap speaks South – Efate language est. 6000 speakers. Wontok = One Talk
Tok Pisen, Pidgen, Bislamar (Bicho do Mar) – similar – a “lingua franca” developed in Queensland Australia during Blackbirding, for sugar cane plantations. Also used in Torres Strait Islands, Australia.
Condominium – French and British double colonization, after Fernando Queiroz, a Portuguese captain in a Spanish sail ship, arrived in Big Bay, Espirito Santo in 1606.
Vanuatu gain the independence in 1980. Vanuatu Constitution references to People, Nature and Future are well articulated.
Article 7. Fundamental duties
Every person has the following fundamental duties to himself and his descendants and to others –
(b) to recognise that he can fully develop his abilities and advance his true interests only by active participation in the development of the national community;
(d) to protect the Republic of Vanuatu and to safeguard the national wealth, resources and environment in the interests of the present generation and of future generations;
CHAPTER 5 – MALVATUMAURI COUNCIL OF CHIEFS
30. Functions of Council
(1) The Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs has a general competence to discuss all matters relating to land, custom and tradition and may make recommendations for the preservation and promotion of ni-Vanuatu culture and languages.
(2) The Council must be consulted on any question, particularly any question relating to land, tradition and custom, in connection with any bill before Parliament.
The Meaning of the Vanuatu flag
Namele leaves symbolize Peace. (also Respect / Tabu), Boar’s tusk: prosperity and tradition
Gold / Yellow: Christianity, Yellow Y-shape: Represents the islands’ map outline and the spread of the gospel Green: Represents the richness of the islands, Black: Represents the ni-Vanuatu people, Red: Represents shared humanity*
Vanuatu Chiefs Position on the Indonesia provinces of Timor-Leste, Maluku, West Papua and the Kanaky People.
Traditional Society – community that is guided by customs and traditions, rooted in the past. Values: traditional ecological knowledge and living in harmony with nature. Rigid Social Structure, division of labor based on age, gender and status. Engaged in ritual practices. Sense of belonging and identity within a community.
Modern Society / Money Society – Expanded education, industries, urbanization, and technology. More complex social structures, including formal institutions such as governments, legal systems, and educational organizations, financial institutions, regulations.
TRADITIONAL SOCIETY VERSUS / MONEY SOCIETY
Land / Air / Water (Commons) / Property or resources to be used
Respect for the order and elders / Individualism
Stability / Instability (focused on progress – innovation – growth)
Community ‘safety net’ / cost of a insurance, the premium
“Sharing is caring” rule / state of providence – no individual obligation to care
Sharing is not giving / Sharing is favor “an act of kindness” – generates power
Simple / Complex
Predictable / Unpredictable
Rural / Urban
Chiefs forever no salary / Politicians temporary with salary and allowances
Council of Chiefs little resources / funded by national and multinational
Voluntarism / stimulation of entrepreneurship and private initiative
Cooperation / Competition
Inclusive / Exclusive
Focus on order stability / focused of progress and generate revenue
Food is available / Bring your own food
Nature is respected (TABU) / nothing can stop “development” – environmental destruction
YUMI / MI
relations for Commons / relations for mutual beneficial exchange
indirect reciprocity / direct reciprocity – transactional
collective impact / personal influence
The Erakor Lagoon: The Problem
Poor or lack of compliance with legislative framework
Manipulation of land built of artificial island for real state development (eg. Tassiriki, Emten Lagoon); Mangrove areas destroyed to build tourism investments; Private housing building concrete walls and swimming in the lagoon; Tree cutting and mining of coral and sand Quarries with discharge of sediments into the Lagoon; The Erakor Bridge affected the water circulation oxygenation and is a obstacle for marine life movement; Swage systems leaking into ground water in flood-prone areas; Vanuatu Central Hospital waste water treatment plant dysfunctional for the last 38 years (currently producing waste water equivalent of 1500 people per day = 20-25 X 4000 liters per day – as per tender technical specifications). Private Resorts waste water treatment plants not compliant with building code.
Climate Change: 2015 Cyclone Pam: tree destruction opportunity for Nabanga tree forest destroyed by investor a area of cultural and ecological importance for the communities; 2016 El Nino (Hot and Dry) – thousands of fish dead; 2021 La Nina (Hot and Wet) – thousands of fish dead
Plastic pollution: 2017 – thousands of fish dead
Community mobilization to clean ups and awareness: 2018 Plastic bags banned, but not plastic bottles as announced by the government . Most likely, due to a sponsorship to Pacific mini games from a company that produces plastic.
Overfishing
2018 – Video John Coquiage: The Tragedy of the Commons. Problem and Solution
Erakor Lagoon: Community Solutions
SOLID WASTE
2017 – Fight against plastics
Appropriate Technologies for trapping pollution
2017 – Erakor Bridge Environment and Wellbeing Committee
2017 – Building of multi purpose garbage bin at Erakor
2018 – The building of the Independence Canoe
2018 – The tidal pollutant trap
2018 – The Pollutant Trap to prevent discharge of pollution water in the Lagoon
2019 – Chiefs announce Fishing Ban for 5 years
2019 – Erakor Bridge Youth Environmental Fighters
2020 – Community participation of the youth in multiple events and continuation of weekly cleanups of the Community and Lagoon
2021 – Constitution of the Ekoftau Environment and Wellbeing Association
Majority of youth departed to New Zealand and Australia and community lost the momentum to keep fight pollution in the Lagoon.
After the Tragic Event 2021 La Nina (Hot and Wet) – thousands of fish dead – when youth had departed to Australia and New Zealand the Children Erakor stood up and created The Voice of the Erakor Lagoon – an idea of the children of Erakor Bridge from 2021.
The Voice of Erakor Lagoon was led by Marik Koftau I, Timothy Natongtong. With full community support and the endorsement of the Erakor Council of the Tribal Chiefs the event is composed by a PETITION, wokabout in the Lagoon, exhibition, children’s theatre play Bibingo conference, demonstration, music, arts.
After the first edition, the Paramount Chief of Erakor ordered to the committee of the Voice of the Erakor Lagoon to work together with the Chief of Solwota, Marik Waoute, Patrick and create the Erakor Lagoon Restoration Plan
2021 – The Voice of Erakor Lagoon
2022 – Erakor Lagoon Restoration Plan
2023 – Constitution of The Bridge Revolution Youth Association
2024 – The Voice of Erakor Lagoon
The Erakor Lagoon Restoration Plan has 3 objectives focused on Nature:
- STOP POLLUTION
- CLEAN
- RESTORE
And 2 Objectives focused on People:
- EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
- LIVELIHOODS
It assumes cooperation between all People (Communities, Businesses and Government) that live around the Lagoon or are responsible to enforce legislation to promote CHANGE.
The Erakor Lagoon Restoration Plan and The Voice of the Erakor Lagoon became a common purpose of the various groups at Erakor, from the bridge to the Village. The 3rd Version of the Voice of Erakor Lagoon United, all generations, various groups, associations and the Chiefs in a significant event of 25 km demonstration by sea, land from Erakor to the CBD of Port Vila.
THE PROBLEMA AND SOLUTION TO THE “TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS”
DropVKal Family – Go back to my Roots
Thank you Monash University Global Immersion Guarantee program for your unexpected financial contribution. It will be used in to support the implementation of the activities the Erakor Lagoon Restoration Plan .
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