Within the crossfire of a worldwide energy wrestle, a compelling have a look at the impression of militarisation of the Pacific islands.
In Fallout Zone, we discover the intensifying geopolitical tensions between the US and China within the South Pacific and expose the area’s ever-growing strategic significance.
We journey to Hawaii, the place a big US army presence has had far-reaching implications not solely on the area’s atmosphere but additionally on Indigenous communities of Hawaii. The US presence has elevated the price of dwelling to such a degree that most of the state’s native folks wrestle to make a dwelling. Tia Marie Masaniai, a Hawaiian activist, embarks on a journey to her ancestral homeland and explains why most locals reject the very notion of Hawaii being a US state.
The legacy of US nuclear testing has at all times been beneath scrutiny. Within the Pacific idyll of the Marshall Islands, we meet Mina Titus, who tells us of the lasting impression of US actions in her homeland – and whereas there’s little seen proof of the nuclear testing in the present day, the long-lasting well being implications linger on.
We conclude in Kaitoke Aotearoa, the Maori title for New Zealand, the place Indigenous communities are implementing strategies of meals sovereignty. By producing and rising their meals, they goal to rely much less on imports, transfer to a extra sustainable and wholesome lifestyle, and reclaim land that was as soon as colonised.
Battle for the Pacific, a four-part collection, showcases the Pacific’s important transformation right into a battleground of world energy. This collection captures the high-stakes rivalry between the US and China as they vie for dominance in a area pivotal to international stability. The collection frames the Pacific not simply as a battleground for superpowers but additionally as a area with its distinctive challenges and aspirations.