Oceania Books

The TimeOut Guide to Sydney, as with all TimeOut Guides I've used, is great. It is well organized, making it easy to locate your specific interests. The information is consice but clear enough to make sure you are well informed. Maps, which are crucial to any guidebook, are included at the end of TimeOut Sydney. These maps layout the city well, with bright colors and clear text. It is the perfect guide for those in their college years or 20's. The Guide offers information on nightlife and cultural events of interest to such an age group. Beyond simply providing information, TimeOut is cleverly written. It is enjoyable reading.

When I have been to Hawai'i, I've
found it's good to go in the off-
season (Feb.-thru-May), go to the
Pro Bowl, AFC-NFC Conference Cham-
pionship game, The Big Island; The
Volcano(s), Moloka'i; Moloka'i Ranch,
Ni'ihu is accessable only by helicop-
ter, Ko'olawe must be gone to by ar-
rangement by boat to help clean up;
it was used by US Military as dumping
ground, 1944-71; Maui has great Harbour
and Luaus. Kaua'i also has great Luaus
and Kilaea Lighthouse / Wildlife Refuge.
Maui is also the burial place for the
late, great Amer-I-can aviator Charles
Lindbergh, Jr. NCAA Hula Bowl played
there every year right before the Pro
Bowl. Lana'i is the private Isle; only
two placesa to stay, 2,700 people and
one town Lana'i City; a great place to
get away from hustle and bustle of Oah'u.
See 'Em all. The Aloha State, 'No Ka Oi'!

A great book that gives a good insight in the geology, mythology, history flora and fauna of the National Park.

This recent book (1991) is well researched and will assist those explorers who have GPS (he gives precise lat/long of each Island).

Those of us searching for existing sovereignties that need help getting an ISO 3166-1 code to entitle them to an Internet top level domain (i.e. like .aa or .uk) will also not be disappointed.

Originally published by Llompanics Unlimited.

This is the opinion of a Sovereign Individual, and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Laissez Faire City.

Over 2,700 delegates gathered in West Papua's capital of Jayapura in June 2000 for the Papuan Congress. The theme of the Papuan Congress called for a major historiographical revision: `COME ON, LET'S STRAIGHTEN THE HISTORY OF WEST PAPUA.' The Anatomy of Betrayal is the first significant historical work about the transfer of West Papua from the Netherlands to Indonesia. By the estimation of Papuan nationalists this was this key period that was in need of revision. Dr. Saltford's timely book questions if the people of West Papua were ever given a genuine opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination.

On 15 August 1962 representatives of the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia signed an accord at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. This accord, which has become known as the New York Agreement, `explicitly acknowledged and guaranteed the right of self-determination for West Papua' by Saltford's analysis. The UN, the Netherlands, and Indonesia were obligated by the New York Agreement to protect the political rights and freedoms of the Papuans and to hold a referendum in accordance with international practice. However, Cold War politics and the interests of `big power,' Saltford argues, meant that Papuan self-determination was never considered to be a serious option once the New York Agreement was signed.

The United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) administered West Papua from 1 October 1962 to 1 May 1963. Saltford has documented how the UNTEA banned Papuan nationalist marches during this period. Indonesian military troops also began a campaign of violence against Papuan nationalists while UN administrators were still ostensibly in control of the territory.

According to the preamble of the UN Charter, one of the aims of this international body is`to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained.' The Anatomy of Betrayal details how the UN ignored the obligations of the New York Agreement. In West Papua the UN violated its' own mandate, by Saltford's analysis.

Indonesian rule of West Papua began on 1 May 1963, before any act of self-determination had taken place. Military operations against Papuan nationalists intensified once Indonesian administration officially began.

In 1969 `The Act of Free Choice' was conducted by Indonesian authorities, Saltford argues, in order to give the false outward appearance that Papuans supported the transfer of authority to Indonesia. This fulfilled the terms of the 1962 New York Agreement which stipulated that Indonesia, under UN supervision, would conduct an act of self-determination `in accordance with international practice.' What contemporary Papuans call `The Act of No Choice' was an unanimous vote by 1,022 carefully selected `representatives.' Saltford details the UN role in monitoring and endorsing this controversial consultation. `The vote was a complete sham' according to a senior UN official quoted by Saltford.

The Anatomy of Betrayal is an important reference work for historians of the Cold War, scholars of post-colonial Southeast Asia, and policy makers who seek to understand the roots of Papuan nationalism. Saltford's documentation is thorough, and at times daunting. An Indonesian language translation of this study-eagerly awaited by Papuan intellectuals-is already in the works. Saltford's exhaustive study of UN sources about the Indonesian acquisition of West Papua is one of the very first academic books about the post-colonial history of West Papua. This book has broken significant ground and sets the stage for future research on related topics with the vast wealth of rich and varied source materials that remain unstudied.

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S. Eben Kirksey completed his Ph.D. in the History of Consciousness Program of the University of California at Santa Cruz. Currently he is writing a book titled "Freedom in Entangled Worlds: Lived Experiences of Possibility in West Papua."

Reprinted from the IIAS Newsletter

The Pacific islands are characterised by relatively small populations, widely dispersed. And with large differences in income and skills. Yet many are urbanising. Driven in part by the diffusion of technology throughout the world. And also by expanding populations. The book is an attempt to give a systematic overview, across a vast area, of these changes.

Of the areas studied, Papua New Guinea gets the most attention. The largest in area, with very rugged terrain in New Guinea, and an archipelago of associated islands. In population, it far outweighs Fiji, Samoa etc. Many sources of instability are cited for PNG. One is simply the high levels of unemployment and underemployment in the towns. Especially Port Moresby. Migrations from villages has led to an underclass that is unskilled, with little prospects of betterment. This has led to endemic violent crime by gangs of "rascals" and to instability of the PNG government itself. The spectre of a failed state looms. Worsened by ethnic differences with the people in Bougainvillea.

The book's survey of Micronesia gives scarcely better hopes for that region.

A depressing analysis. Especially if you are Australian. Because as the pre-eminent power in the region, Australia might have to intervene if PNG or others become failed states.

Lynne Withey succeeds in providing a balanced and well-researched account of the famous explorations of Captain James Cook in the South Pacific. She discusses the impact of Cook's journeys on both the 18th century Europeans and the native peoples of the South Pacific. Although it has been popular to cast the "Age of Discovery" as a violent and invasive period for indigenous people, Withey shows that Cook generally had the best intentions when dealing with the inhabitants of these islands, and that most unfortunate incidents were the result of misunderstandings. Further, Cook showed an uncommon concern and compassion for all the people he came in contact with. Withey's book provides the reader with numerous insights into the motivations which spurred on this age of exploration, both political, in the case of the English government, and personal, in Cook's case. Her fascinating account of the complex events surrounding Cook's death in Hawaii, and the Hawaiian belief system that contributed to this unfortunate event, clearly show how two cultures can come unwittingly into conflict when they first meet. Overall, this book is a clearly written, comprehensive, and highly informative treatment of this fascinating period of our history.

This book offers a lot more than its title might suggest. Murray's survey of opinion formation about Japan in the 1930s through the Australian media ranges from political and diplomatic machinations to the intrigues of propaganda campaigns and espionage. It is richly researched, steeped in primary sources, including the author's own interviews, yet written with a light touch that maintained this reader's interest. The book's price-tag is certainly a discouragement, but it is well edited and sturdily made. It deserves a wide readership.

Best educational book on the climate and weather of New Zealand ( and Australia) ever written. Good for one studying docturates on meteorology.

If you ever have the time to visit Western Australia, the book can be a good guide to its vastness. The state is twice the size of Alaska, with scarcely 2 million people. And over half of these are in the Perth metropolitan area.

The book's coverage of Perth and Fremantle isn't bad. Describing places like Kings Park, with a magnificent view of the Swan River and the CBD. The city is basically as clean and safe as portrayed by the authors. Travel books are typically panglossian. Skipping carefully over the slums and bad aspects of a city. Since such books are sold to people going to a region. But the synopsis of Perth is accurate.

The south west has a slightly cooler climate. The grape growing in the Margaret River district is explained as world renowned.

While if you do venture north of Perth, the photos in the book illustrate the desolate beauty of the coastline. The outback stretches to the Indian Ocean. The mining towns of Tom Price and Newman are shown. Important in the global sense, for a lot of iron ore mined from here gets exported; mainly to Asia.