The Impact of SIV Global in the Pacific

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The Impact of SIV Global in the Pacific

• Hans Dencker Thulstrup
• UNESCO Office for
• the Pacific States
• Apia, Samoa

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Impact what do we mean?

• How do we measure impact?
• Visibility of SIV Global in the public debate?
• Number of readers e-mail addresses?
• Content and origin of Pacific postings?
• Actions taken as a result of reading SIV
  Global?
  
• all are valid, but no easy method exists!

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Visibility of SIV Global

• Articles reprinted in newspapers, referred in
  broadcast media (Palau, Samoa, Cook Islands,
  Fiji)
  
• References to SIV global made by donor agencies,
  governments, NGO community
  
• SIV Global topics referred to and advanced at
  public forums, events (Samoa water sector
  stakeholders meeting, Siumu, Upolu, 2005)
  
• Thanks so much for sending us this article and
  feel free to send more in the future....we'll
  publish it in our paper and do inform us where we
  can send you a copy
• Editor, Diario Belau, 2002

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Number of readers e-mail addresses

• In spite of the clear advantages of good
  connectivity, Internet penetration remains low in
  the Pacific and costs high.
  
• However, estimating that at least 25-30 of SIV
  globals 20,000 addresses are Pacific-based would
  yield 6,000 recipients among the regions
  6,000,000 people 1 in 1,000!
• Pacific participation in SIV global is
  consistently high often near 50 of substantive
  responses

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Content and origin of Pacific postings

• Pacific postings voice concerns and opinions
  often with direct reference to specific local
  issues with global relevance
  
• Postings are made by NGOs, traditional leaders,
  youth, urban/suburban wage earners, journalists,
  academics, government staff a surprisingly
  complete cross-section of Internet-connected
  Pacific islanders
• SIV Global is an outlet through which even
  controversial opinion can be expressed outside
  the conventional social structures and without
  fear of repercussion

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A sample from home

• In my small urban village, we have a
  very well-kept beach and increasingly other
  villagers from inland and elsewhere are now using
  it both for swimming and night fishing. This
  makes me jealous, and recently I told my father
  that this is not on. At first I physically
  chased people away from our beach and now my
  father alter the balance by being more diplomatic
  and taking it to the Chiefs monthly meeting
• I do believe, however, that people
  have a natural right to swimming and enjoying
  their leisure time at the beaches, but to a
  certain extent, the rights of those who own the
  beaches, whether it be the county, village or
  district must also be taken into consideration.
  
• Finally, may I thank those
  wonderful people who have written articles
  expressing their fears and concerns about this
  subject. I wish you well and have a great day at
  the beach.
• Anya Koche, Samoa

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The ultimate impact Actions taken perhaps - as
a result of SIV Global
Andy George, Director of the Kosrae Conservation
and Safety Organization in the Federated States
of Micronesia read and contributed to the
discussion on bottled water Andy was inspired t
o consider UNESCOs approaches to environment and
development issues further and expressed interest
in helping one of Kosraes local communities set
up a Biosphere Reserve After two years of work
by the community and Andys organization, the
Utwe Biosphere Reserve was approved by the MAB
Bureau two weeks ago as the Pacifics first
Biosphere Reserve
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Thank you very much!

• questions are very welcome!