Latest news with #JohnConnell
Observer
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- Observer
Nearly one-third of Tuvalu seeks Australian climate visa
SYDNEY: Nearly one-third of citizens in Pacific nation Tuvalu are seeking a landmark climate visa to live in Australia as rising seas threaten their palm-fringed shores, official figures obtained show. Australia is offering visas to 280 Tuvalu citizens each year under a climate migration deal Canberra has billed as "the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world". More than 3,000 Tuvaluans have already entered a ballot for the first batch of visas, according to official figures on the Australian programme, almost a full third of the nation's population. One of the most climate-threatened corners of the planet, scientists fear Tuvalu will be uninhabitable within the next 80 years. Two of the archipelago's nine coral atolls have already largely disappeared under the waves. "Australia recognises the devastating impact climate change is having on the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of climate vulnerable countries and people, particularly in the Pacific region," Australia's foreign affairs department said. Australia and Tuvalu inked the groundbreaking Falepili Union in 2024, part of Canberra's efforts to blunt China's expanding reach in the region. Under that pact, Australia opened a new visa category specially set aside for adult citizens of Tuvalu. Already, there are signs the programme will be hugely oversubscribed. Official data on the programme shows 3,125 Tuvaluans entered the random ballot within four days of it opening last week. "This is the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen," a spokesperson for Australia's foreign affairs department said. Tuvalu is home to 10,643 people, according to census figures collected in 2022. Registration costs Aus$25 ($16), with the ballot closing on July 18. The visa programme has been hailed as a landmark response to the looming challenge of climate-forced migration. "At the same time, it will provide Tuvaluans the choice to live, study and work in Australia," Australia's foreign affairs department said. But they have also fanned fears that nations like Tuvalu could be rapidly drained of skilled professionals and young talent. University of Sydney geographer John Connell warned that a long-term exodus of workers could imperil Tuvalu's future. "Small states do not have many jobs and some activities don't need that many people," he said. — AFP
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
One-third Tuvalu nation apply for Australian climate visa amid rising sea threat
Nearly one-third of citizens in Pacific nation Tuvalu are seeking a landmark climate visa to live in Australia as rising seas threaten their palm-fringed shores, official figures obtained by AFP show. Australia is offering visas to 280 Tuvalu citizens each year under a climate migration deal Canberra has billed as "the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world". One of the most climate-threatened corners of the planet, scientists fear Tuvalu will be uninhabitable within the next 80 years.(AFP) More than 3,000 Tuvaluans have already entered a ballot for the first batch of visas, according to official figures on the Australian programme, almost a full third of the nation's population. One of the most climate-threatened corners of the planet, scientists fear Tuvalu will be uninhabitable within the next 80 years. Two of the archipelago's nine coral atolls have already largely disappeared under the waves. "Australia recognises the devastating impact climate change is having on the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of climate vulnerable countries and people, particularly in the Pacific region," Australia's foreign affairs department told AFP. Australia and Tuvalu inked the groundbreaking Falepili Union in 2024, part of Canberra's efforts to blunt China's expanding reach in the region. Under that pact, Australia opened a new visa category specially set aside for adult citizens of Tuvalu. Already, there are signs the programme will be hugely oversubscribed. Official data on the programme shows 3,125 Tuvaluans entered the random ballot within four days of it opening last week. "This is the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen," a spokesperson for Australia's foreign affairs department said. Tuvalu is home to 10,643 people, according to census figures collected in 2022. Registration costs Aus$25 (US$16), with the ballot closing on July 18. Not 'much of a future' The visa programme has been hailed as a landmark response to the looming challenge of climate-forced migration. "At the same time, it will provide Tuvaluans the choice to live, study and work in Australia," Australia's foreign affairs department said. But they have also fanned fears that nations like Tuvalu could be rapidly drained of skilled professionals and young talent. University of Sydney geographer John Connell warned that a long-term exodus of workers could imperil Tuvalu's future. "Small states do not have many jobs and some activities don't need that many people," he told AFP. "Atolls don't offer much of a future: agriculture is hard, fisheries offer wonderful potential but it doesn't generate employment," he added. The Falepili pact commits Australia to defending Tuvalu in the face of natural disasters, health pandemics and "military aggression". "For the first time, there is a country that has committed legally to come to the aid of Tuvalu, upon request, when Tuvalu encounters a major natural disaster, a health pandemic or military aggression," Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo said at the time. "Again, for the first time there is a country that has committed legally to recognise the future statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu despite the detrimental impact of climate changed-induced sea level rise." The agreement also offers Australia a say in any other defence pacts Tuvalu signs with other countries, raising concerns at the time that the Pacific nation was handing over its sovereignty. Tuvalu is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei rather than Beijing. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last year his country shared a vision for a "peaceful, stable, prosperous and unified region". 'It shows our Pacific partners that they can rely on Australia as a trusted and genuine partner.'
Int'l Business Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Nearly One-third Of Pacific Nation Tuvalu Seeks Australian Climate Visa
Nearly one-third of citizens in Pacific nation Tuvalu are seeking a landmark climate visa to live in Australia as rising seas threaten their palm-fringed shores, official figures obtained by AFP show. Australia is offering visas to 280 Tuvalu citizens each year under a climate migration deal Canberra has billed as "the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world". More than 3,000 Tuvaluans have already entered a ballot for the first batch of visas, according to official figures on the Australian programme, almost a full third of the nation's population. One of the most climate-threatened corners of the planet, scientists fear Tuvalu will be uninhabitable within the next 80 years. Two of the archipelago's nine coral atolls have already largely disappeared under the waves. "Australia recognises the devastating impact climate change is having on the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of climate vulnerable countries and people, particularly in the Pacific region," Australia's foreign affairs department told AFP. Australia and Tuvalu inked the groundbreaking Falepili Union in 2024, part of Canberra's efforts to blunt China's expanding reach in the region. Under that pact, Australia opened a new visa category specially set aside for adult citizens of Tuvalu. Already, there are signs the programme will be hugely oversubscribed. Official data on the programme shows 3,125 Tuvaluans entered the random ballot within four days of it opening last week. "This is the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen," a spokesperson for Australia's foreign affairs department said. Tuvalu is home to 10,643 people, according to census figures collected in 2022. Registration costs Aus$25 (US$16), with the ballot closing on July 18. The visa programme has been hailed as a landmark response to the looming challenge of climate-forced migration. "At the same time, it will provide Tuvaluans the choice to live, study and work in Australia," Australia's foreign affairs department said. But they have also fanned fears that nations like Tuvalu could be rapidly drained of skilled professionals and young talent. University of Sydney geographer John Connell warned that a long-term exodus of workers could imperil Tuvalu's future. "Small states do not have many jobs and some activities don't need that many people," he told AFP. "Atolls don't offer much of a future: agriculture is hard, fisheries offer wonderful potential but it doesn't generate employment," he added. The Falepili pact commits Australia to defending Tuvalu in the face of natural disasters, health pandemics and "military aggression". "For the first time, there is a country that has committed legally to come to the aid of Tuvalu, upon request, when Tuvalu encounters a major natural disaster, a health pandemic or military aggression," Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo said at the time. "Again, for the first time there is a country that has committed legally to recognise the future statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu despite the detrimental impact of climate changed-induced sea level rise." The agreement also offers Australia a say in any other defence pacts Tuvalu signs with other countries, raising concerns at the time that the Pacific nation was handing over its sovereignty. Tuvalu is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei rather than Beijing. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last year his country shared a vision for a "peaceful, stable, prosperous and unified region". "It shows our Pacific partners that they can rely on Australia as a trusted and genuine partner." (FILES) A file photo taken on February 19, 2004 shows the serpentine coastline of Funafuti Atoll, home to nearly half of Tuvalu's entire population of 11,500, as king tides threaten to inundate the tiny island nation. The Pacific nation of Tuvalu was once seen as the embodiment of palm-fringed paradise, but nearly a third of its population has applied to leave under a landmark climate and security pact with Australia on June 25, 2025. AFP
France 24
14 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Nearly one-third of Pacific nation Tuvalu seeks Australian climate visa
Australia is offering visas to 280 Tuvalu citizens each year under a climate migration deal Canberra has billed as "the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world". More than 3,000 Tuvaluans have already entered a ballot for the first batch of visas, according to official figures on the Australian programme, almost a full third of the nation's population. One of the most climate-threatened corners of the planet, scientists fear Tuvalu will be uninhabitable within the next 80 years. Two of the archipelago's nine coral atolls have already largely disappeared under the waves. "Australia recognises the devastating impact climate change is having on the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of climate vulnerable countries and people, particularly in the Pacific region," Australia's foreign affairs department told AFP. Australia and Tuvalu inked the groundbreaking Falepili Union in 2024, part of Canberra's efforts to blunt China's expanding reach in the region. Under that pact, Australia opened a new visa category specially set aside for adult citizens of Tuvalu. Already, there are signs the programme will be hugely oversubscribed. Official data on the programme shows 3,125 Tuvaluans entered the random ballot within four days of it opening last week. "This is the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen," a spokesperson for Australia's foreign affairs department said. Tuvalu is home to 10,643 people, according to census figures collected in 2022. Registration costs Aus$25 (US$16), with the ballot closing on July 18. Not 'much of a future' The visa programme has been hailed as a landmark response to the looming challenge of climate-forced migration. "At the same time, it will provide Tuvaluans the choice to live, study and work in Australia," Australia's foreign affairs department said. But they have also fanned fears that nations like Tuvalu could be rapidly drained of skilled professionals and young talent. University of Sydney geographer John Connell warned that a long-term exodus of workers could imperil Tuvalu's future. "Small states do not have many jobs and some activities don't need that many people," he told AFP. "Atolls don't offer much of a future: agriculture is hard, fisheries offer wonderful potential but it doesn't generate employment," he added. The Falepili pact commits Australia to defending Tuvalu in the face of natural disasters, health pandemics and "military aggression". "For the first time, there is a country that has committed legally to come to the aid of Tuvalu, upon request, when Tuvalu encounters a major natural disaster, a health pandemic or military aggression," Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo said at the time. "Again, for the first time there is a country that has committed legally to recognise the future statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu despite the detrimental impact of climate changed-induced sea level rise." The agreement also offers Australia a say in any other defence pacts Tuvalu signs with other countries, raising concerns at the time that the Pacific nation was handing over its sovereignty. Tuvalu is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei rather than Beijing. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last year his country shared a vision for a "peaceful, stable, prosperous and unified region".
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bloomington to launch free downtown shuttle. Here's when and where.
Bloomington Transit will launch a free downtown shuttle this summer. Here's when and where it will run and how you can use it. BT will launch the shuttle June 2 as part of its BLink Microtransit service. It will run weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. BT said in a news release that it chose those hours 'to serve peak lunch and dinner times.' The shuttle will run in an area between Rogers Street in the west and Indiana Avenue (IU campus) to the east and First Street in the north to 10th Street in the south. The shuttle will provide free, curb-to-curb rides to and from anywhere within that area. You can order rides on demand or schedule them up to 24 hours in advance. BT suggests you make reservations on the BloomingtonLink mobile app or at In that case, the driver will follow a designated course within the shuttle zone. The course will include the Fourth Street and Walnut Street parking garages. Pedestrians can flag down the vehicle at an intersection, hop on and ask the driver to take them to their destination — so long as the destination is within the shuttle zone. BT General Manager John Connell said on The812 podcast, 'We're trying to do something a little innovative this summer just to see how it plays out so we can plan for the future. If you're going to ride a block or two – great, ride a block or two. We encourage people: If they see it, take advantage of it.' Former Bloomington City Council member Steve Volan, who hosts the podcast, had for many years advocated for a downtown shuttle. BT said in the release that it created the shuttle at the request of Bloomington officials and business leaders 'who were concerned about the increased difficulty of transportation and parking brought about by the seasonal closure of Kirkwood (Avenue.)' Bryan Fyalkowski, manager of marketing and development at BT, said via email the downtown shuttle program, as currently laid out, would cost a maximum of $30,000. The shuttle is being paid through the local income tax levied by the city of Bloomington. No. Fyalkowski said the shuttle this summer 'is essentially a pilot program.' 'Based on how much use the service gets over the next few weeks/months will determine how we want to move forward,' he said. Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@ This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: The city of Bloomington will launch a free downtown shuttle
