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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
January 5, 2006
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| December 11, 2005 |
Protecting our greatest resource – the oceans of the world – Joeli Veitayaki |
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| Marine Affairs Specialist Joeli Veitayaki looks over the inspiration for his work – the Pacific Ocean. |
As Peace Boat makes her way around the globe on the 51st voyage, guest educator Joeli Veitayaki came onboard to encourage participants to respect the oceans that carry us.
The Coordinator of the Marine Affairs Programme at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, Joeli works to promote the need to manage the ocean’s resources. Onboard Peace Boat, he talked about the deterioration of our oceans and coastal areas, and the need for effective and sustainable management of marine resources. |
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| Some marine life in our oceans is under strain due to over-fishing. |
Growing up on a small island in Fiji, Joeli learnt to appreciate the ocean from an early age. “I learnt to respect the sea not so much for the beauty that it hides, but because it can be a threat to my life if I’m not careful, and it can provide for me if I respect it,” he said. Since gaining his PhD in Environmental Management and Development, he has published books focusing on marine research, and his work has even taken him to address international forums such as the United Nations.
During his lectures onboard Peace Boat, Joeli explained the various uses of the ocean: from being an important source of food, transportation, communication and income, to a dumping ground for waste. He then looked at the deteriorating state of the ocean, including a change in the quality of sea water, and overexploitation of resources, which has put the future of many species of the ocean in jeopardy. The ocean is providing fewer natural resources now than just a few generations ago, said Joeli.
Joeli explained changes in fishing techniques in recent years, which continues to strain the supply of marine life in areas all over the globe. “We have become very effective at hunting. We can now use computers to track fish and use helicopters to physically locate them. Fishing has become so unfair on the fish, it is no longer fair game,” he said. |
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| Joeli teaches Peace Boat participants about the deterioration of marine resources. |
The importance of looking after the resources of our oceans must not be underestimated. “I believe that the biggest threat to peace and the future will be people fighting over resources, including those from the sea. So I dedicate everything I have to addressing the issues at a global level, national level and the level of ordinary people,” he said. |
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| A Fijian women displays a woven mat made from local materials. She can now earn an income that doesn't solely rely on fishing. |
Joeli believes that an important factor in maintaining the ocean’s resources lies in working at the grass-roots level in local communities. Through his work, he helps Fijian coastal communities to develop projects that improve their infrastructure. Examples of this include systems to improve drinking water, waste disposal methods and drainage systems. Joeli also encourages sustainable living that does not strain ocean resources. He helps locals to look into establishing sources of income other than fishing, to counteract the problem of over-fishing, and hence create a more sustainable future. This includes responsible eco-tourism, making handicrafts and agriculture. “It’s my hope that by doing these things, the people will have a better chance to face the future,” said Joeli.
What can we do as individuals to help sustain our ocean resources? Plenty, says Joeli. “We need to appeal to individuals to play a part, because the sum of our collective effort will make the difference.” He encouraged participants to try to reduce waste and pollution in their every day lives, and to plant trees to help balance the huge concentration of carbon dioxide emissions that humans are responsible for producing. “My appeal to you all is to live a life that respects the resources that are in the ocean. If we help the environment, and the environment will in turn help us”, he said. |
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