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The international launch of ABARA BANABAwas carried out recently at the International Islands of the World VIII 2004 conference held at Kinmen Island (Quemoy) Taiwan, between 1-7 Nov 2004. A Banaban delegation attended this event to launch the newly formed Banaban lobby group - ABARA BANABA at an International level. This delegation consisted of Iakoba Karutake, Chairman of the Rabi Council of Leaders, Molly Amon, Director/Secretary of Rabi Council of Leaders, Ken Sigrah and Stacey King, spokespersons for ABARA BANABA. The Banaban delegation had four papers/abstracts accepted and they were also orally presented at the conference.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
This conference, the eight in the International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA) series, was titled Changing Island - Changing Worlds. In 19986, a group of scholars, researchers, and island enthusiasts from around the world organised an international conference on Vancouver Island, Canada to discuss issues related to small islands. This inaugural "Island of the World" gathering was followed by other conferences in Tasmania (1988), the Bahamas (1992), Okinawa (1994), Mauritius (1998), Isle of Skye (2000), and most recently, Prince Edward Island (2002). This year's (2004) conference was held on Kinmen Island, also known as Quemoy, Taiwan. Although Kinmen Island is the site of warfare and violence in the 20th century, the island today is a natural paradise, showing visitors its cultural past with restored village sites and other buildings that show how the people of Kinmen have lived and worked. The devastating conflicts of the past can be seen, making the contrast even greater with the calm and beauty of the present.
PARTICIPANTS
Over 150 scholars from various regions throughout the world convened on Kinmen Island with fifteen keynote speakers delivering speeches during the plenary sessions. More that 120 papers/abstract were received and either orally presented during concurrent sessions, or as posters that were shared with all participants. Conference participants representing diverse small islands attended from about thirty different countries: Australia Barbados, British Virgin Island, Canada, China, Cook Island, Denmark, Fiji (Banabans), Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Kiribati (Banabans), Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Palau, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Seychelles, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago-West Indies, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the USA.
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| President ISISA - Prof. Grant McCall giving the
'Welcoming Address' at Islands of the World VIII conference |
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Close up view of Prof .Grant McCall during his
'Welcoming Address' at ISISA |
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A view of the audience during the Opening Ceremony at ISISA conference Kinmen Island, Taiwan |
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Enjoying the 'Welcome Banquet' on Monday evening 1 Nov 2004 |
CONFERNENCE THEMES
The Themes of the confrernece included:
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Islands in a Changing World |
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Globalization |
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Regional perspectives |
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Barbados + 10 and beyond |
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Islands and Environmental Concerns |
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Climate change |
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Water resources |
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Biodiversity and cultural diversity |
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Land use |
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Waste management |
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Coastal and marine resources |
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Islands and Social Concerns |
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Insular communities |
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Health and population |
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Local sustainable development |
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Educational challenges and solutions |
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Island societies in transition |
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Economic perspectives for island societies |
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Economic vulnerability |
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Island Tourism |
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Overcoming the constraints of small size |
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Insular economies and transport |
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Culture, history and literature on changing islands |
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Islanders' voices |
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Islanders' view of history |
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The cultural identity of islands |
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Social theories of changing islands |
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Island arts and literature |
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The music of islands | |
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Banaban delegation arriving at Kinmen Island . L-R: Molly Amon, Iakoba Karutake, Stacey King, Ken Sigrah |
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A view of the presentation titled 'Banaban Identity' delivered by Chairman of Rabi Council of Leaders - Iakoba Karutake during ISISA 2004 |
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Banaban delegation enjoying the Cultural Performance evening |
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Banaban delegation enjoying there visit to the historical village National Park on Kinmen Island | |
BANABAN PAPERS/ABSTRACTS
The following papers/abstracts were written and delivered as 20 minute Power Point presentations by the Banaban delegation. Copies are now available for download by clicking on the DOWNLOAD NOW highlighted link. These files are large and depending on the speed of your modem can take some time to download. Larger versions of the images shown on this page can be viewed by 'double clicking' on each image.
A copy of our Banaban Papers/Abstracts are available as a  .pdf format which requires Acrobat Reader to read it.
To get a FREE copy of Acrobat Reader "click on here..."
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Banaban delegation arriving at Kinmen's National Park Visitors Centre |
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Stacey King and Ken Sigrah sampling traditional foods during their excusion to historical village site |
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Ken Sigrah performing a Banaban dance during the Farewell party |
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Iokoba Karutake presenting a copy of Banaban history book - Te Rii ni Banaba ot Kinmen government of behalf of the Banaban delegation |
CONFERENCE OUTCOME - THE KINMEN DECLARATION
By the close of the conference a declaration titled - The Kinmen Declaration was implemented and is available for download in a .pdf format
A WORD OF THANKS
The Banaban delegation would like to thank the ISISA Executive and members of ISISA for their words of encouragement and support offered at the recent ISISA VIII conference. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with such an array of Island experts in such diverse fields of interests including, environment, culture and history, development, island tourism, economic development etc. The delegation would especially like to thank the people of Kinmen Island for their warm hospitality and assistance while we were guests on their island.
For many of the conference delegates and local students attending, it was the first time they had heard of the Banaban people and their history. We hope that the launch of ABARA BANABA at this forum is just the start of an international campaign to bring the plight of the Banabans to a much broader public forum.
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The newspaper article about the Banabans -
'The Forgotten People' appearing in the local Kinmen
Island newspaper during the conference. |
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Ken Sigrah being interviewed
by local Kinmen Island journalists. |
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If you would like any further information on our papers of the oral presentations at this launch, please contact us at - info@banaban.com
For more information of ABARA BANABAN - Australia/Pacific Launch |
