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The Diplomat
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
The Referendum Cook Islanders Deserve
Let the islands' people decide whether deepening ties with China reflect their collective aspirations – and whether the constitutional relationship with New Zealand still serves their future. From left to right: Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Cook Islands Tukaka Ama, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Chinese Minister of Natural Resources Guan Zhi'ou at a signing ceremony in Beijing, China, Feb. 13, 2025. This month, the Cook Islands marks 60 years of self-governance in free association with Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a remarkable constitutional milestone for a proud Pacific nation that has long punched above its weight diplomatically and culturally. Yet what should have been a celebration of enduring partnership is instead overshadowed by diplomatic tension, public disappointment, and missed opportunity. Rather than reaffirming shared values and commemorating a Pacific success story, we are witnessing a visible drift. Senior elected leaders from New Zealand, including the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs, will not attend the 60th Constitution Celebrations in Rarotonga. More than a scheduling conflict, it is a political signal. The decision to send the governor-general as New Zealand's representative reflects a deeper concern about the Cook Islands' recent foreign policy decisions, particularly its new strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China. It is not my place to tell the Cook Islands whom to engage with. But it is my place, as a long-time advocate for democratic values, Indigenous sovereignty, and Blue Pacific peace and security, to affirm this: when a foundational constitutional relationship is potentially being redefined, the people must decide. Not just politicians. Foreign Minister Winston Peters was right to say Cook Islanders should be consulted. But the referendum he proposed, a binary choice between full independence or maintaining the status quo, is the wrong one. The real question is not whether to walk away from New Zealand. It is whether the terms of a 60-year-old relationship still serve the aspirations of Cook Islanders today, especially in a fast-changing geopolitical context. If that relationship is to evolve, the Cook Islands public must lead that conversation, not follow it. There should be a referendum, but one focused on securing public consent for any significant change to the relationship agreement with New Zealand. Cook Islanders deserve to know whether foreign policy decisions, particularly those involving large-scale economic and infrastructure partnerships, are being made in their long-term interest with appropriate transparency and accountability. This is not a critique of engaging with China or any other development partner. It is a call for sovereignty to be exercised with care, clarity, and consultation. Decisions with far-reaching consequences must be made with the people's consent. Public trust is the only path to sustainable nation-building. The absence of New Zealand's political leadership at this year's milestone celebration speaks volumes. It reveals a fragile trust at the heart of a relationship built on shared whakapapa, migration, and mutual support. Prime Minister Mark Brown has said that New Zealand cannot fund the Cook Islands' NZ$650 million ($387 million) infrastructure plan. That may be true. But it is also true that his government did not engage in good-faith consultation before signing agreements with China that may affect the wider Pacific region. Much of the infrastructure plan focuses on development in the outer islands, including proposed upgrades in Penrhyn (Tongareva). This remote atoll, home to only a small population, holds significant strategic value. While these projects are presented as economic development initiatives, they appear more aligned with China's regional interests than with the everyday needs of Cook Islands communities. There is growing concern that such infrastructure could one day support surveillance or military activity, shifting the balance of regional security without public debate or informed consent. The people of the Cook Islands deserve to know whether these developments are genuinely for their benefit or if they serve another nation's geopolitical goals. Having worked closely with Blue Pacific democracies through the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), I know that China's bilateral economic partnerships often carry hidden costs to sovereignty, to environmental sustainability, and to strategic autonomy. The Cook Islands, like all Pacific nations, has the sovereign right to determine its path. But sovereignty is also about protecting your people and maintaining relationships built on trust, transparency, and history. There is still time to recalibrate. That starts with humility, respect, and dialogue. Prime Minister Brown should recognize that New Zealand's concerns are valid, not paternalistic. New Zealand, for its part, must reaffirm its commitment to the constitutional partnership, not as a relic of the past but as a platform for the future. This moment calls for courage on both sides to recommit to shared principles and reimagine what a respectful and resilient Pacific partnership can look like in the years ahead. Most of all, it calls for the voices of the Cook Islands people to be heard. The government of the Cook Islands should consider putting its foreign policy direction to the people through consultation, public dialogue, and if appropriate, a referendum. Not to choose between independence and free association, but to shape the next chapter of that association together. Let the people decide whether deepening ties with China reflect their collective aspirations. Let them determine whether the constitutional relationship with New Zealand still serves their future. That is the essence of democratic self-governance. That is the kind of leadership the Blue Pacific needs now.
The Star
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
RM7.2mil work underway to strengthen Air Itam dam
Air Itam dam upgrades expected to be completed by October 2026. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star Air Itam Dam is undergoing a RM7.2mil upgrade to ensure its structure and the surrounding areas are in good condition. Penang infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the upgrading project followed inspections by the High Risk Dam Safety Inspection Task Force under Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry. 'The ministry through the water supply division appointed consultants to carry out repair works at the Air Itam dam. 'The objective is to ensure that the dam structure and surrounding areas are in good and safe condition. 'Using computer software, modelling and on-site tests, the consultants identified the extent of dam safety issues which might not be detected by visual inspection. 'This was done before consultants proposed the current repair works to ensure the dam's structure is stable.' Zairil said the project began on April 29 and was expected to be completed by Oct 28, 2026. 'The RM7.2mil cost was approved under the Third Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan in 2023,' he said. 'The project is being carried out by the Water Supply Department under Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry.' Zairil said the scope of the work included slope and abutment stabilisation (techniques to prevent or mitigate slope failures, landslides and erosion). Contractors also installed gabions and piling works, and undertook soil nailing work, construction of a surface drain and installation of an erosion control mat, he said. 'Repairs will be carried out on the spillway and tunnel structures as well. 'Dam monitoring systems will also be upgraded and repaired.' Inspections, Zairil said, would be carried out on existing instruments such as the standpipe piezometer, seepage measuring weir and surface movement indicator and deflection point. 'New monitoring systems will be installed, including a central base station, monitoring software and inclinometer.' The dam is an important component of Penang's water supply infrastructure, with its storage capacity tapped to sustain continuous supply in the Air Itam township and nearby highland areas. Penang Water Supply Corporation chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said as of noon Monday, the dam's effective capacity stood at 55.2%. He said given the dry spell, the dam could supply water for over 50 days at the current usage of 261 litres per person per day. — By N. TRISHA
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Govt identifies REE as strategic mineral source, to pursue responsible mining, says Johari
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has identified rare earth elements (REE) as a strategic mineral resource with significant economic potential, says Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. However, the acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister emphasised that any development must be carried out in a responsible and sustainable manner. 'To realise this potential, the REE industry must be developed across the entire value chain, from upstream to midstream and downstream, consistent with the policy framework outlined in the National Mineral Policy 3 (NMP3). 'However, this must be done responsibly and sustainably,' he said in a parliamentary written reply on Monday (July 28). He was responding to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam), who had asked the ministry to state its stance on REE mining in Malaysia and to explain the studies which encouraged the government to promote such activities, as well as how public concerns over pollution, water safety, technological capacity and public health would be addressed. Johari said a study under the 11th Malaysia Plan found that inferred REE resources in the country amounted to an estimated 16.1 million metric tonnes. However, further studies are required to determine the volume of measured resources and, subsequently, extractable reserves. 'A follow-up review by the Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) identified an estimated 144,220 hectares of land outside Permanent Forest Reserves (HSK) with potential for REE mining, subject to further evaluation and necessary approvals,' he added. To ensure that mining activities are conducted safely and sustainably, Johari said JMG, as the lead technical agency, will regulate operations under the Mineral Development Act 1994. This includes pollution control and periodic safety inspections. 'In Perak, for example, regulatory mechanisms have been strengthened through the establishment of the State Technical Regulatory Committee on REE Mining, which involves 10 technical agencies at both federal and state levels,' he said. Johari added that the ministry has commissioned the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) to carry out an impact assessment of REE mining on forest ecosystems. This includes preliminary studies of a mining project in Mukim Kenering, Perak, where REE extraction was carried out within a rubber plantation, he added. On technology, Johari said the project in Mukim Kenering currently uses the in-situ leaching (ISL) method with technological cooperation from China. Nevertheless, he said the ministry aims to build local expertise in upstream and midstream activities through strategic and progressive technology-sharing initiatives. 'The government is committed to balancing economic potential with public concerns, particularly regarding pollution risks, water safety, public health and local technological capability,' he said.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Fox News
Natural Resources Park at Ohio State Fair teaches families about the environment
Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean discusses the Natural Resources Park in Columbus, Ohio, with Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Mary Mertz on 'Fox & Friends Weekend.'
Zawya
23-07-2025
- Science
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi delivers ‘Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Environment Sector'
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) today launched the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Environment Sector (2025–2050), a comprehensive and science-based roadmap designed to protect the emirate's natural resources and systems from the increasing and inevitable impacts of climate change. This pioneering plan – the emirate's first – was created as part of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy 2023–2027. The plan is also aligned with the UAE National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050 and the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, established at COP28, which provides time-bound targets for adaptation planning across key sectors. Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the EAD, said, 'The launch of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the environment sector marks a defining moment for the environmental future of the emirate. We are moving beyond foresight to decisive actions, preparing for climate realities with unwavering commitment to safeguarding our natural heritage." She added that this plan will enhance the resilience of natural resources, safeguard biodiversity and strive to ensure water and food security. 'This achievement reflects our commitment to foreseeing a future based on adaptation to current and future climate impacts. It strengthens our efforts to achieve the UAE's national climate objectives and Sustainable Development Goals by reducing environmental vulnerabilities, safeguarding ecosystems. This plan firmly places the emirate at the forefront of adaptation planning in the region,' Al Dhaheri noted. The Environment Sector Adaptation Plan focuses on three highly vulnerable environmental systems: groundwater, soil and biodiversity. These are critical to Abu Dhabi's human health, long-term water security, agricultural productivity and overall ecosystem health. Through robust risk assessments, the plan identifies a wide array of climate-induced threats and outlines 142 adaptation actions to be implemented by 2050, including 86 high-priority projects identified for implementation over the next five years. These actions span a range of technical, institutional and nature-based solutions. Over the long term, the plan supports Abu Dhabi's strategic ambition to preserve and enhance its natural capital. It contributes to national efforts to increase food self-sufficiency, effect a shift toward more sustainable land and water management systems and enhance the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. Sheikha Al Mazrouei, Executive Director of the Integrated Environment Policy and Planning Sector, stated, 'Designed to be adaptive and forward-looking, the plan integrates the latest data, evolving climate projections, and policy alignment to ensure our responses remain effective over time. As part of a broader national and emirate-wide strategy, it reinforces our long-term vision to protect ecosystems, sustain natural resources, and secure the well-being of future generations.' The development of the plan was a collaborative process, led by EAD and involved more than 40 government, semi-government, academic, civil society entities and youth. The plan is designed to be dynamic and forward-looking, with built-in mechanisms for periodic review, stakeholder engagement and integration of new scientific findings and climate projections. Alongside the UAE National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050, it also complements the National Biodiversity Strategy and other international commitments. The Abu Dhabi Climate Change Adaptation Plan – Environment Sector is one of four sectoral plans being rolled out under a broader emirate-wide adaptation strategy.
