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Cultural / professional comments on the CHARTER. Views from Researchers, indigenous communities. Experiences with methodological approaches.

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Southern Pacific

Navigating a Future of Responsibility in the Southern Pacific Region -

We have taken Indigenous peoples and communities as a priority focus, and relationships between Indigenous peoples and later settler communities as an opportunity to highlight the concepts of co-responsibility and ethics.
The environment provides a theme for collaborative responsibility and ethics, and for shared purpose – even though the approaches may be formed from different cultural legacies.

Responsibility is a highly respected concept amongst people associated with human rights and ‘social justice, who are pro-active for the environment, sustainable economy and who work from a base of values and ethics beyond exclusive commercial interest and advantage. In this region we are prioritizing involvement with indigenous people of this region.

For those who have come as later settlers to this region, it is imperative that we orient our future in collaboration with Maori, Pacific Islands peoples and Aboriginal people. There is growing willingness to do this, while many factors, such as the globalized free market, with the myriad effects that reach into every corner of our lives and undermine values and institutional efforts to work together in ways that are more respectful of indigenous experience and knowledge. There are many contradictions, including that indigenous people as well as the rest of us, seek to engage advantageously in the global marketplace.

The groups who are working on the Charter in New Zealand are made up of different cultural and socio-professional groups, including Maori, Samoan/Pacific Island, and Pakeha (white). The fields of work include academics in Education and Management (Not-for-Profit), independent researchers and community researchers, cultural leaders and advocates, and an education professional. We have initiated a small group in Australia, who are academics and environmental researchers and educators, one of whom works with works Aboriginal person.

We find that there is a strong interest in responsibility from those associated with environmental work – in projects, research and education. Along with support for the concept of responsibility there is a tendency to find this somewhat abstract and that it needs to have practical application to be of real significance.

27 April 2010
Responsible governance of Watersheds by Betsan MARTIN

This is a collection of papers from scientists, engineers, indigenous guardians and programme leaders from Vanuatu, Samoa and Aotearoa. Contributions are made from creative writers, lawyers, and esteemed Maori and Samoan leaders articulating indigenous knowledge to the complexity of managing watersheds. The responsibilities brought to the management of river catchments are varied and range from professional engineering to ecosystem priorities, to policy and legal interpretation to (...)

 

11 February 2010
Report 2009 by Betsan MARTIN

Betsan Martin Watersheds and Responsible Governance Aotearoa-New Zealand November 2009 Governance and Maori interests Integrated systems in the Pacific region Different interests, different scales, braided systems Mountains to Sea – challenges for governance Stand out notes and ongoing questions Science Technology and Society conference Brisbane, Australia, Dec 2009 A Science Technology and Society conference brought an opportunity to activate new contacts for the Across Oceania network (...)

 

New Zealand – Australia Regional Initiative - 5 January 2007, by Betsan MARTIN

Abstract Two members of the New Zealand committee had meetings with Robbie Lloyd who will be the Charter contact in Australia. Fields of interest and work in the Australian group include earth relationships, mental health reform, water allocation, sharing knowledge and experience across generations, partnerships with Aboriginal peoples, land restoration, earth-centred healing. We met Tony McAvoy, an Aboriginal lawyer whose work includes water issues, land restoration, education. A (...)

Bibliography - 10 April 2006, by Betsan MARTIN

Humphries, M.T. and Martin, B. (2005). Diversity Ethics: a compass pointing to relationality and reciprocity for navigating turbulent seas. The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management - In Print Martin, B. (2005) ‘Responsibility. Guardians of Life’ - Submitted for Yfeng Zhao’s edited publication on Responsibility. China. Martin, B; Humphries, M.; with Te Rangiita, R. (2005) ‘A Two Hulled Waka. Managing Diversity in Pacific Mode.’ - International Journal of (...)

Partners - 7 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

Networking within cultural groups and with various organizations with which we are associated is a necessary first step for dissemination of the charter. Two of our committee have extended existing involvement with Human Rights organizations, advocating a Charter for Human Responsibility. In New Zealand the Human Rights Commission include a concept of responsibility and they have shown initial openness to developing this aspect in their activities. The Commission has given preliminary (...)

Challenges to face - 7 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

One reflection from our agreement to integrate the concept of responsibility into existing local organizations, is to question whether the concept of responsibility becomes assimilated, or absorbed rather than identified as a distinct, future oriented concept. The Human Rights Commission is well respected in New Zealand and has excellent strategies for wide dissemination of their work. They are interested in ‘responsibility’ but then tend to interpret it within their existing frameworks, (...)

Facilitation methods: débates, videos, collaborations, publications.. - 4 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

We are following the agreements of Syros (first meeting of the Facilitation Committee) to weave the Charter work into existing organizations and socio-professional groups, to raise awareness of the concept of responsibility and discuss it as widely as possible. 1. Interviews with small groups from different sectors to discuss and receive feedback on the Charter text. Evaluation : an effective way of inviting engagement in the Charter principles. At this stage, partnering in projects is (...)

Objectives - 4 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

The Charter and Governance At a meeting of the Aotearoa-Pacific committee in May 2004 there was convergence that to focus on governance as a major project over 2 years. In the discussion it was envisaged that we would convene a wananga/symposium, with invited contributors bringing prepared material (papers, documentaries, research). From such a gathering a case book to be collected and edited with initial and accessable ‘ethical governance’ ideas – examples and proposals –and an associated (...)

Contact - 4 January 2005

Betsan Martin (International Facilitation Committee) betsan 9Kj response.org.nz

Members of the Charter Facilitation Committee for the Pacific Region - 4 January 2005, by Betsan MARTIN

The Committee Members are : Betsan Martin (Coordinator of the Regional Committee, member of the International Facilitation Committee) Maria Humphries – Professor of Management Studies and Ethics _ She works in Not-For-Profit management, ethics, human rights and responsibilities. Maria is active in the Third Sector, linking the Community sector with academic research. Maria and Betsan are colleagues in research and writing. Maria lives in Auckland. Te Kawehau Hoskins – Lecturer in Maori (...)

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Environment, Responsibility and Governance

Responsible governance of Watersheds by Betsan MARTIN, 27 April 2010

This is a collection of papers from scientists, engineers, indigenous guardians and programme leaders from Vanuatu, Samoa and Aotearoa. Contributions are made from creative writers, lawyers, and esteemed Maori and Samoan leaders articulating indigenous knowledge to the complexity of managing watersheds. The responsibilities brought to the management of river catchments are varied and range (...)

Science Technology and Society conference by Betsan MARTIN, 30 January 2010

Science Technology and Society conference Brisbane, Australia, Dec 2009 A Science Technology and Society conference brought an opportunity to activate new contacts for the Across Oceania network by preparing a presentation for the conference and visiting an ‘ecotechnology’ scientist, Callum Coats with whom we have been associated for many years. Callum is experimenting with using energy (...)

Watersheds and Responsible Governance by Betsan MARTIN, 30 January 2010

Watersheds and Responsible Governance: Aotearoa-New Zealand November 2009 A hillside gathering above Te Hakare Wetland The powhiri, or welcome by Maori elders from the tribes of the land and rivers of the area where our symposium was held, began the process of weaving together hosts and guests, those from the area and those from afar, and of drawing together the threads of different (...)

Local Management of Marine Areas (LMMA) Network Meeting, Fiji by Betsan MARTIN, 18 December 2008

Details of the Shared Activity The LMMA meeting was held over 6 days in Suva, and in village member sites. Participants linked with the Across Oceania network included Hugh Govan (a member of the LMMA Network Co-ordinating team) Kelly May (NIWA), Wayne Ormond (Ministry of Fisheries), Aranui Puna, Guardian (Kaitiaki) of a customary marine reserve (Mataitai). Betsan Martin, Convener of (...)

Conservation Roundtable Conference, ALOTOAU, PNG by Betsan MARTIN, 14 January 2008

The Conservation Conference was a Pacific Conservation Roundtable meeting to work on the framework for the Pacific Conservation Action Strategy. KEY MESSAGE Conservation in the Pacific is integrated with sustainable livelihoods. Land being retained in customary tenure is a key to the link between Livelihoods and Environmental Responsibility. Pacific Conservation Action Strategy The (...)

Leadership in a Climate of Change by Betsan MARTIN, 26 October 2007

Commentary As a Representative of the NZ Charter committee, I was invited to a gathering of 48 invited participants to ‘create together new thinking and acting for Responsibility in a Climate of Change.’ It was exciting to meet for 4 days with people who represented business interests, journalists, writers, farmers, various environmental sectors, young activists and older leaders, trade (...)

Water Forum: from the stories of our rivers to the quality of water by Betsan MARTIN, 11 January 2007

Resume Charter activities in New Zealand are focusing on water. At a series of forums and meetings those with a focus on environmental responsibility emphasise water as a public good. Information given by activists and NGO’s track the ‘commodification’ of water, through various pressures for privatization and management through resource allocation and lease rights. The NZ Sustainable Water (...)

A Public Forum on Rights and Responsibilities for Sustainability by Betsan MARTIN, 8 January 2007

Resume At a public Forum co-hosted last 12th December by the Regional Committee of the Charter of Human Responsibilities and the Human Rights commission, the speakers highlighted sustainability as a framework for economic and social re-organization, and an Ocean scientist gave a presentation of growing knowledge of ocean habitats to support decisions about sustainable fisheries. The (...)

Climate Change and Governance Conference, 28-29 March 2006, New Zealand by Betsan MARTIN, 4 April 2006

The conference on Climate Change focused on scientific evidence and integration of the projections for climate change with social and economic policy and governance. The scientific presentations were brilliant, inscribing in our minds the graphic picture of fluctuations in Earth’s temperature over millions and hundreds of years, and the surge in the last 100. The conference brought forward (...)

The Treaty of Waitangi and the Foreshore and Seabed by Betsan MARTIN, 7 January 2005

Over the past year the ‘ownership’ of the Foreshore and Seabed has taken the dimensions of a tidal wave crashing on the shores of Aotearoa-New Zealand, and put relations between Maori and government under more pressure than they have been for a century. Under the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi indigenous titles to land were to be upheld. By 2003 the Foreshore is the last remaining area still in (...)

Collaborative Environmental Activities by Betsan MARTIN, 7 January 2005

As a result of a national seminar we held on Water, as part of an Alliance initiative in 2003, different activities have taken place associated with the ecology of water and land management. In the Lake Taupo region, an indigenous committee and a government agency have developed protocols for an effective collaboration on land management which support cultural safeguards associated with the (...)

Samoa, Culture and Environment by Betsan MARTIN, 7 January 2005

In 2003, through the Alliance21 project, an environmental initiative was held in Samoa as part of the opening of the Nofoalii Centre for Cultural Research. Leaders of this Centre are on the committee for the Charter for Responsibility, with the Samoan members maintaining project work in the Pacific and in New Zealand. A symposium was held in New Zealand in November 2004, supported by the (...)

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Reports

Report 2009 by Betsan MARTIN, 11 February 2010

Betsan Martin Watersheds and Responsible Governance Aotearoa-New Zealand November 2009 Governance and Maori interests Integrated systems in the Pacific region Different interests, different scales, braided systems Mountains to Sea – challenges for governance Stand out notes and ongoing questions Science Technology and Society conference Brisbane, Australia, Dec 2009 A Science (...)

Report on Asian Solidarity Economy Meeting by Betsan MARTIN, 14 January 2008

Relate to the Pacific with an approach of humility before the land and before the people This report is focused on areas of particular interest to RESPONSE and the Charter for Human Responsibility, highlighting contributions to Across Oceania Te Au o Te Moana. Firstly, profound appreciation to: Solidarity Economy committee for contributing to travel to the Philippines The FPH and Charter (...)

News Update from New Zealand and the Liquid Continent by Betsan MARTIN, 26 July 2007

The pictures give a local scene, prior to a meeting in Auckland with Maria and Te Kawehau for our Charter plans. Here re a couple of recent photos at the Lake, and one of Maria and Qiujing, a film maker, with whom we are discussing making a film of the Pacific ‘Across Oceania’ project. In New Zealand, we are continuing to liaise with groups in New Zealand, Australia and Pacific countries, (...)

Women’s workshop – Kotare, August 06 by Betsan MARTIN, 5 December 2006

In New Zealand there is a centre called Kotare that works for social transformation. It holds workshops on many topics such as green economics, globalization, relations with indigenous people and sewage management. Providing an opportunity for structural and social analysis with young activists is an emphasis of the centre. An intergenerational gathering of women was held in August. We (...)

Plans for 2006/7 by Betsan MARTIN, 4 April 2006

a. Continuing Partner/collaborative projects in Good/Ethical Governance. Writing and publication for dissemination of notion of Responsibility: Academic papers Edited collection Newspaper / journal articles Extending collaboration with Human Rights networks Interview project Development of network in Australia Further initiatives with Maori and Pacific groups Strategies for (...)

Reflection on the Charter and governance, Oceania, 2005 by Betsan MARTIN, 4 April 2006

Diffusion, coordination, elaboration of communication tools (film), reflection on the text of the Charter, work on a good governance.

Writing by Betsan MARTIN, 7 January 2005

Reference to the Charter for Human Responsibility has been a feature in our writing, and a significant aspect of the Charter work. I (Betsan Martin) wrote a chapter for a book on a philosopher of responsibility par excellence, Emmanel Levinas, and Dr Maria Humphries and I have written several papers on the theme of Responsibility and Ethical Relationality in the last year for conference (...)

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Human Rights, Responsibility and Governance

A visit to Vanuatu by Betsan MARTIN, 30 January 2010

Vanuatu 29 Nov – 6 Dec 2009 A visit to Vanuatu was hosted by a Ni Vanuatu women known to us though her studies at a university in new Zealand. We found that women are bearing large burdens of extended family responsibilities – and that in urban areas there are added pressures of financial responsibility upon women who have jobs. Highlights of the visit included a village ‘Mountains to reef” (...)

News Item on Australian Government Apology to Aboriginal People by Betsan MARTIN, 13 May 2008

Summary Apology to Australian Aboriginal People part of a flow of Government Apologies in the Pacific Region, including to Samoan people, and to Mãori Tribes. Apologies are a recent response to support the reconciliation process. They are intended to heal past wrongs on the part of governments who have exercised state powers to destroy the cohesion of indigenous peoples, or suppress (...)

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples by Betsan MARTIN, 26 October 2007

Commentary NZ Opposes Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples In New Zealand there has been quite a lot of attention amongst Human Rights and Indigenous networks, to the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was passed by the UN General Assembly on 13th September. There has been an outcry because of NZ opposition to the Declaration, despite years of advocacy and (...)

Series of Public Forums in partnership with the Human Rights Commission by Betsan MARTIN, 8 January 2007

The Charter of Human responsibilities committee in New Zealand is hosting a series of public seminars in partnership with the Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission supports public forums and has an extensive network for citizen participation and discussion in matters of public interest. The forums we have co-hosted were in Wellington, they are to encourage public information (...)

Good Governance, Responsibility and the Waka by Betsan MARTIN, 4 April 2006

Dr Humphries worked closely with the Board of a significant government agency whose task it is to work with other government agencies, community and private sector organisations to enhance the working lives of New Zealanders. Among the priorities set for this organisation is the urgent need to work with Maori and Pacific Peoples to see how the resources of this organisation can be better (...)

Human Rights and Responsibilities by Betsan MARTIN, 7 January 2005

This is the network that most closely corresponds to the Charter work in New Zealand. Two of the committee members have become particularly involved in Human Rights networks where discussions for collaboration on the introduction of responsibility have been initiated. There have been initial proposals to introduce provision for Human Responsibility in law, through the Human Rights (...)

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