Patrick D Nunn is Professor of Geography at the Australian Centre for Pacific Island Research and Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast.

He says that well intentioned outside agencies, including those of Australia and the European Union who are trying to help the people of the region adapt to the effects of climate change have not taken into account the overwhelming influence of "spirituality on the way people live in the Pacific"

"Over some 30 years, most such interventions have failed, proving neither effective nor sustainable. The answer to the question "why" may in part lie in the sidelining of God."

"My research suggests that one reason for the failure of external interventions for climate change adaptation in Pacific Island communities is the wholly secular nature of their messages."

"Among spiritually engaged communities, these secular messages can be met with indifference or even hostility if they clash with the community's spiritual agenda."

Nunn points out that after the Moana Declaration was issued by the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) in 2009 the PCC set up a climate change unit and drove initiatives to put climate change into Sabbath sermons.

"But more needs to be done. My ongoing research, including projects with the PCC and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, suggests that this lack of effective engagement with the religious community is still a key failing," he says.

In 2016 the Executive Committee of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, meeting in Noumea, expressed concern about climate change saying:

Of particular concern to us are rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and unusual rainfall patterns. These are affecting many of our communities in a harmful way. In some cases, entire regions and nations are under threat from the indisputable fact of rising sea levels.

Source

• theconversation.com
• social-spirituality.net
• Image: commonwealthyouthcouncil.files.wordpress.com

The exhibition, which opened in May, features more than 80 works, most of which were created in Polynesia before the early 19th century.

Gallery director Ron Radford said the exhibition explored the Polynesian concept of gods, figurative objects and associated beliefs that were developed over many years and spread throughout the region.

The pieces come from Easter Island, Mangareva, Tuamotu, Tahiti, Nuku Hiva, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Tonga, Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The celebrations also included Tongan performers who sung harmonies and demonstrated a traditional dance ritual that described the process for mixing the welcoming drink kava.

After Canberra, the show will travel to St Louis in the US.

Source

• The Sydney Morning Herald
• The Australian
• The Canberra Times/Jeffrey Chan

For its exhibition Atua: sacred gods from Polynesia, the National Gallery of Australia has negotiated loans from more than 30 museum collections around the world.

The Vatican Ethnological Museum is lending their great god Tu from Mangareva.

The exhibition explores the relationship between atua and art, between spirits and sculpture, between gods and priests, between women and men.

It looks at some of the most unique works of art in the Polynesian world and tries to make sense of an enduring mystery surrounding religious objects and their association with belief in gods.

Source

• Radio Australia International
• The National Gallery of Australia
• Image: Sydney Morning Herald