The Commonwealth People's Forum in Samoa. [Inset shows Prime Minister Fiame of Samoa. YouTube]
[Derek McDougall is a member of the Round Table’s International Advisory Board and is filing his Samoa Diary series during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.]
‘We, the people’. I think the term has been used before. In any event, the first two days of the Samoa CHOGM (21-22 October) were for various civil society forums. I attended most of the sessions in the People’s Forum, but there were other forums for women, youth and business.
Here is my ‘diary’ for the People’s Forum, indicating the main themes and some of the highlights as I experienced them.
The general theme for the People’s Forum was ‘A Resilient Commonwealth of Equal, Just and Inclusive Societies’.
Beginning with a welcome by Prime Minister Fiame of Samoa, herself of chiefly status, the forum had sessions covering climate justice, health justice and freedom of expression. The panels had strong representation from the Pacific and Caribbean but all Commonwealth regions were represented.
On climate change the emphasis was very much on ‘1.5 to stay alive’, i.e. the need for radical action before it is too late to mitigate the effects of climate change. This was brought home for me when Dr Chris Bartlett (climate adviser, Vanuatu) told of a visit to a small island where the wells were dry (due to prolonged drought), the adjacent reef had been destroyed by acidification, and even the local graveyard was disappearing with rising sea levels (undermining the custom of venerating ancestors).
Clearly the emphasis in the discussion of climate change was to build momentum for the big emitters (some of which are in the Commonwealth, although not the United States or China) to take stronger action on climate change. This has long been a concern on the part of the Pacific island countries (PICs) in their relationship with Australia. In the Commonwealth context the PICs can count on support from the Caribbean and the Global South members more generally. In November the COP meeting will take place in Azerbaijan and small island developing states (SIDS) and their fellow members of the Global South.
I heard in the Forum of the way in which international law was being invoked in the campaign for climate justice. Vanuatu has initiated a request to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on climate change, with reference to state obligations and also compensation (reparations); there is a proposal to criminalize ecocide through the International Criminal Court. Vanuatu has been active in the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, now endorsed by 13 countries (seven of which are Commonwealth PICs, plus Niue; Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean is also a Commonwealth member).
Research Article: Climate justice and Pacific Island countries – a case study on grassroots advocacy
Special edition of the Round Table Journal on climate justice and the Commonwealth
More specifically there was some attention to the issue of climate finance, putting pressure on the Global North members of the Commonwealth, not just in reference to the forthcoming COP, but in enabling the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide assistance in navigating the complex application process.
On health justice one issue was the impact of global warming on health. More broadly there was the issue of health equity, the principle being that people should have the care they need irrespective of their background. There was significant input from disability advocates on this issue as seen from their perspective. A young woman from Samoa told of the difficult situation in Samoan hospitals with inadequate facilities and a shortage of staff. One issue (not confined to the Commonwealth) was the way in which health workers trained in developing countries are recruited to work in developed countries where they can earn more, but at the same time weakening their own health systems. The Commonwealth could play a role in promoting health justice by facilitating the development of relevant coalitions and partnerships.
A taster of articles by Derek McDougall for the Round Table
On freedom of expression the picture presented was bleak. In a session solely on this topic PIC speakers came from Samoa and Tonga, with others from Bangladesh, India and South Africa. There were problems with autocratizing governments, as well as the excessive concentration of ownership. The way people accessed news had changed, with social media becoming much more important. In the context of restriction and repression, one hopeful sign was the development of a statement on Commonwealth Principles of Press Freedom (with the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association playing a key role), due for discussion by leaders later in CHOGM.
A session on ‘Our Commonwealth, Our Future’ was an opportunity to reflect on where the Commonwealth might go in the future. Justice Michael Kirby of Australia said ‘the Commonwealth is about values, or it is about nothing’. He advocated the appointment of a Commonwealth Human Rights Commissioner to ensure more effective implementation of the principles of the Commonwealth Charter, also seeing a role for a strengthened Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. Sir Anand Satyanand (former Governor-General of New Zealand) said we ‘should walk backwards into the future’ (a Maori expression), learning from history. Darrion Narine of Trinidad and Tobago invoked Gramsci’s concept of the ‘organic intellectual’ as a model for Commonwealth activists (did Gramsci ever think he would be used in a Commonwealth context?).
It was good to end on an optimistic note, giving courage to those who will take up the issues raised with Commonwealth leaders. Many thanks to the Commonwealth Foundation led by Dr Anne Gallagher for putting together an excellent programme, focused but with a diverse range of speakers, and also emphasising Pacific perspectives. The moderators and panellists were all well chosen. The engagement from the floor was enlightening, although some people were inclined to give statements (sometimes too long) ahead of their questions. Poetry, music, dance and other forms of creative expression also featured. Selina Tusitala Marsh and Terri-Karelle Johnson were outstanding as co-hosts. Be joyful as one speaker said. The co-hosts were, and that was infectious.
At the end of the final session the Samoans spontaneously stood and sang their national song. It was very moving.
Derek McDougall is Professorial Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne.
Day one: Samoa Diary – The Samoa CHOGM in prospect
