Join us to hear from two leading campaigners for land rights in Melanesia about the impacts of land reforms on Melanesian peoples, their cultures, economies and livelihoods.
Throughout Melanesia, customary land tenure is under pressure from aid agencies such as AusAID, which want to instigate land reforms as a means to accelerate economic growth in the region. However, local indigenous peoples have significant concerns about the transformation of land ownership practices through registration and privatisation. Customary ownership remains central to the lives of Melanesian peoples and land reforms threaten to undermine their livelihoods, cultures, environments and economies.
Speakers:
Joel Simo, Land Desk, Vanuatu Cultural Centre
Steven Sukot, Campaigns Manager, Bismarck Ramu Group, PNG
The tour will visit Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne.
For tour dates, see: http://www.aidwatch.org.au/events/our-land-our-future-melanesian-land-sp...
For more information contact Gary at AID/WATCH on 02 9557 8944; or email: gary@aidwatch.org.au