an action research experiment

Pete's blog

"Blowin' in the Wind" new research on international shipping and the IMO from Europe

Posted Sun, 04/21/2013 - 18:02 by Pete

Through our contacts at Greenheart we've met Isabelle who's just finished her thesis which is well worth the read (see attachment below) - many thanks to Isabelle and her university for allowing us to put her thesis on our website....

We made it on to Al Jezeera

Posted Tue, 04/09/2013 - 11:25 by Pete

Following on from media reports on the Sustainable Sea transport Talanoa 2012, Al Jezeera's Sydney correspondent Andrew Thomas made contact wanting to make a news article about our endeavours. You can view the clip here:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/04/2013485134121317.html

Check out Suli on his way to Tutu Pita's funeral in Solodamu, Professor Joeli, Bera and the Korova gang sailing the Camakau Cumu and cool animations of Greenheart's ship designs.

Many thanks to Andrew (and cameraman Pete).

It's great to see the message spreading and the collaboration growing.

Much love always

Pete

Thomas' Blog

Posted Wed, 03/20/2013 - 11:55 by Pete

When Quini (Courtney) asked me if I wanted to stay in a Fijian village for a few weeks, I didn’t know what to think. I knew nothing about the island, its traditions, its people, or really anything except that it was halfway around the globe from my home in New York. She said that her professor, Ali, was always talking about how wonderful the village was, and had convinced her that she needed to see Solodamu before she could really understand sustainable living. I decided to come along; I was excited to see a place very different from what I was used to, or in other words, warm and not a city.

Courtney's Blog

Posted Wed, 03/20/2013 - 11:51 by Pete

I first met Ali in the beginning of September when she was graciously taking time away from her boys and the Hibiscus III to guide myself and ten other American university students around New Zealand along with Peter Horsley. At that point Fiji was only a distant travel hope. It only took a few van rides listening to Ali’s occasional Solodamu stories and her work in sustainable sea transport to spark my interest. Being my fellow cynic (or realist as I prefer) of the group, Ali understood my need to see to believe all that she was talking about.

Flettner Rotors and their potential for Oceania

Posted Tue, 03/19/2013 - 16:09 by Pete

Following on from a number of leads, I've been doing some research into the Flettner Rotor. I've summarised the findings in the attached PDF - there's an extensive reference list at the back.

This technology was proven in the 1920s but, as with the electric car and the electric tram, appears to have been consigned to the "too weird and whacky" bin.

Now a wide range of researchers are looking again at the Flettner Rotor as an alternative to fossil fuel powered propulsion for shipping.

There appears strong potential for its use here in Oceania.

All feedback and comments appreciated

love always

Pete

Sustainable Sea Transport Talanoa 28-30 Nov 2012 - Outcomes Record

Posted Tue, 03/19/2013 - 15:44 by Pete

I am delighted to post up the Sustainable Sea Transport for Oceania: Outcomes Record from the Sustainable Sea-Transport Talanoa, 28-30 Nov 2012, USP.

This outlines the 5 main work streams that were agreed upon at the Talanoa and that will form the basis for much of our work in Fiji and beyond over the next couple of years.

loloma

Peter

Sustainable Sea Transport Talanoa 28-30 Nov 2012 - final programme and presenters

Posted Sun, 12/02/2012 - 14:59 by Pete

Attached below is the final programme and presenters biographies

A huge vinaka vaka levu to all of these

malo
Pete

Sustainable Sea Transport Talanoa 28-30 Nov 2012 - presentations

Posted Sat, 12/01/2012 - 21:23 by Pete

The Talanoa was a great success. We'll put up a more detailed blog in a few days. Attached below are some of the first of the presentations (some are too large a file size and aren't attached). They'll also be posted on USP's research site and we'll provide the link for that in the next blog.

Vinaka vaka levu to all that participated and made the talanoa such a huge success.

Mark Trexler's presentation on climate change and shipping is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYrnYYAQfHc&feature=channel&list=UL

The Drua Files

Posted Fri, 11/16/2012 - 21:00 by Pete

A year ago Ali and I were privileged to provide support to a team of researchers from Fiji Islands Voyaging Society to the Southern Lau to collect oral histories on drua. Following the field research FIVS and USP hosted a day long talanoa at USP on drua for the Mataisau and Lemaki.

Bikini Atoll voyaging revival

Posted Tue, 10/30/2012 - 20:04 by Pete

... and another inspirational story that arrived in our inbox this week. Follow the links below

Dear Alison,

My name is Tamara Greenstone Alefaio and I work with Dr. Taafaki at USP here in the Marshall Islands.

Thank you for this email and request. We have discussed this and feel that you should be in contact with Mr. Alson Kelen regarding this conference. Alson runs a local canoe building program in Majuro and will have a lot to offer you - he is the best person to talk to locally. We suggest if possible that he be part of your workshop and conference as he will have a lot to share. You can read more about him below . Do keep us in the loop however as this sounds like a very interesting workshop/conference.