Stories From The Pacific
Stories From The Pacific
ABC Radio Australia ABC Radio
For centuries, Pacific Islanders have been sharing stories across the region, Stories from the Pacific honours that tradition, allowing the audience to hear in-depth personal stories from right across the Pacific.
Monica Paulus was accused of sorcery, so she became a human rights activist for PNG women
Monica Paulus is a human rights activist and co-founder of both the "Highlands Women Human Rights Defenders Network" and "Stop Sorcery Violence". Monica is a protector of women accused of and affected by sorcery and witchcraft accusations. Hailing from the Highlands of Papua New Guinea from the village of Aregol, Monica takes us on a journey through her life – sharing the struggles, hopes and her fight against sorcery accusations and the extreme violence that follows such accusations.
Oct 6
29 min
Tamatoa Tepuhiarii's island may be slowly killing him but he will not leave
Maohi scholar and anti-nuclear testing activist Tamatoa Tepuihiari’i grew up in French Polynesia and had a humble childhood, but something sinister had occurred on his island three decades before he was born. Do you have a story idea for this program? You can email us on: [email protected]
Sep 29
29 min
Lydia Gah's story of survival is harrowing, but by telling it, she hopes to educate and save others
Lydia's story of her marriage with her first husband details 12 years of significant abuse, but she's using it to educate others who may be experiencing something similar.
Sep 22
28 min
Thomas Manglona II's journey to elevate Chamorro voices
For Thomas Manglona, journalism is life. Hailing from the island of Rota, Thomas is a native Chamorro multimedia journalist, whose work in covering government, social justice and environmental issues for TV, has solidified him as a trusted and respected figure within his local community. For Thomas, he has always loved journalism and storytelling and he has always known what the final goal would be. The founder of the Pacific Islander Journalism Taskforce, Thomas' work has extended into the advocacy space, where he champions journalists and coverage across the Oceania region. Today Thomas shares more on the journey he has taken through his career and the next step he takes into the future.
Sep 15
29 min
Filmmaker Agapetos Aia-Fa'aleava is asking the hard questions
Agapetos Aia-Fa'aleava has always been compelled to speak up against social injustice, and when she learned a law in Queensland had let pubs and clubs deny entry to Pasifika people with facial tattoos, she spoke up once again. She did this in the form of a documentary and a PhD, Illegal Ink, which explores culture and tattoos and considers who should and shouldn't be allowed to wear the malu. This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 28 February 2024
Sep 8
43 min
While the Bougainville Crisis raged around her, Llane Munau believed she was on a holiday
LLane Munau is a filmmaker from Bougainville. The Crisis began she was 10 years old and her father decided to move the family inland to escape the brunt of the violence. In the bush they spent about half of the decade-long civil war, which killed 20,000 people. And for a while, Llane was protected from the harsh realities of the conflict.  This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 6th December 2023
Sep 1
29 min
Teaote Davies built a sea wall in Kiribati
There is a children’s book that can be found in schools across Kiribati called Teaote and the Wall. It’s about one woman’s quest to build her own sea wall to protect her home in Tarawa from rising sea levels. The book is based on the story of i-Kiribati woman Teaote Davies and introduces children to the human impacts of climate change. Teaote also happens to be the Aunt of Stories from the Pacific host Bobby Macumber.   This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 26th July 2023
Aug 25
29 min
William Kadi saved an island from mining, but that’s just his day job
A big mining company. A small island. And a lawyer just two years into practice. William Kadi from the Solomon Islands’ western province took on the case on behalf Wagina’s 2,000 residents, who were opposed to the idea of digging up 60% of their land for bauxite. Throughout the gruelling process, William’s escape was music. And he soon found himself going from a huge legal battle to a huge hit song.
Aug 18
29 min
Tau'ili'ili Alpha Maiava is on a mission to bring extinct sounds back to life
When Tau'ili'ili Alpha Maiava plays the nose flute, he is transported back in time. He knows it is the same sound his ancestors heard 400 years ago. But this sound, along with many others, have almost been lost to history. Tau'ili'ili is travelling across the Pacific Islands to gather stories of extinct and endangered instruments like the nose flute. He hopes sharing this traditional knowledge will help people connect with who they were and who they are today.
Aug 11
29 min
For Visila Koliqaqaru Lagilagi, boxing is life
When Visila Koliqaqaru Lagilagi started boxing, she didn't know where it would take her. She just knew it made her feel strong. It's a strength that she has had to draw on many times, particularly five years ago, when a chance accident paralysed her husband.
Aug 4
29 min
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