Post 1 – Kiunga, Tabubil and Ok Tedi, Papua New Guinea

For the past 3 weeks I’ve been fortunate to be part of a team and film crew traveling about 4000 km's throughout Papua New Guinea. With rather open ended questions the purpose of the trip was to document development patterns with an emphasis on PNG’s experience dealing with mining over the past 30 years, and to share that experience with Solomon Islands by a series of documentaries. 

Our first stop was Kiunga and Tabubil, 18 km's from West Papua, and the township of Ok Tedi Mining Ltd. Since it’s beginning in 1982 Ok Tedi has been one of the longest operating mines in PNG. Environmental issues have been at the forefront of Ok Tedi’s operation with 100,000 tones of toxic tailings being dumped direct into the Ok Tedi River which merges with into the Fly River the largest river system in the entire Pacific. Ok Tedi has been the subject of environmental concerns for many years.

Recently the company has been attempting to clean up its image by putting measures in place, such as a dredge to ensure the tailings and sediment that builds up in the river system is reduced. However, the long term effects of the mine has resulted in the permanent damage of long the 1000 km of river.

We spent a few days documenting this, and meeting with villages who live along the river system. It was fascinating to hear the stories of local peoples, and impacts and changes they have seen along this water course. The company has also made efforts to offset these damages, for example, by assisting the people become involved in trade and commerce by purchasing a cargo boat and passenger ferry. Yet the permanent environmental damage as a result of the mine to use still outweigh these economic endeavours.

Pirouetting Autumn

The tree blushed - a rude blast of air

Betrayed a shapely bough.

My saddened heart aware

That nature's clock was chiming.

I froze upon the twelfth

Clanging tone, caught alone, 

Staring at a creaking door -

Left ajar for dancing, coloured Autumn,

Pirouetting in her leaves,

While agitating summer creatures

Backing away resignedly,

Sighing in protracted breves.

I turned; gave company;

We stood together, watching

Summer slowly blow away.

-Mark Slaughter, 2009

Glacier National Park, Montana, US

The concept of a national park system or areas of protected areas in the Solomon Islands, has potential. But unlike the many parks in the US that displaced the original inhabitants, in the Solomons or Pacific for that matter it is not the right model. For any system of protected areas to work, indigenous peoples (with all the complexities that are involved in land tenure) are integral to any success. A few good examples of some sort of progress in terms of this work can be seen in Tetepare, and Kolomobangara. But looking at different models and applying those that may be useful into a local Melanesian and by site context is possible. 

My island home! Solomon Islands

One of the awesome things about my job (if you want to call it a job) is that I get to visit and some of the last most spectacular landscapes and interacting with inspiring beautiful people. Many times, I don't really have to go very far to find these exotic places. Even within the islands I call home, are some of the last wild place left on earth. But more disturbing is the fact that large tracts of these landscapes are being cut. 

New York Botanical Gardens

On a beautiful autumn day I accompanied botanist Myknee Sirikolo from Solomons to the New York Botanical Garden. The herbarium has been receiving specimens from all over the world and holds a catalogue of many of the collections around the world.

Autumn colours were all around. Leaves of the elms tree turning to yellow and ready to fall. Am totally unaware of many plants and flowers. But it's great to at least see such diversity, even within an urban center.

Took a few photographs of some flowering plants and shrubs. For those with a liking in natural history, it's a great place to visit.