Pacific Islands - Polynesia and Melanesia.

[Sandhi Yudha]

It seems that there were several waves of riots and protests at the Solomon Islands in the last two decades.

According to this article, PM Sogavare's switch in diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China in 2019, is one of the most important reasons for these protests.

Solomon Islands: Australia sends peacekeeping troops amid riots

Violent riots have rocked the Pacific Island nation for a second straight day.

www.bbc.com

 

[ngatimozart]

It seems that there were several waves of riots and protests at the Solomon Islands in the last two decades.

According to this article, PM Sogavare's switch in diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China in 2019, is one of the most important reasons for these protests.

Solomon Islands: Australia sends peacekeeping troops amid riots

Violent riots have rocked the Pacific Island nation for a second straight day.

www.bbc.com

Yes there have been. From 1998 - 2003 there was the RAMSI - Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, lead by Australia at the request of the Solomon Islands government. It was endorsed by the Pacific Islands Forum and comprised of 2,000 soldiers, police and civilians from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

It appears that the Chinese aren't particularly liked by certain sections of the population and in the current case Chinatown was attacked. From memory, back in 1998 it was attacked and burned, although I might be confusing that with the riots in Tonga.

 

[StingrayOZ]

Australia deploys troops to Solomon Islands as riots continue

Unrest rocks capital for a second day with rioters targeting Chinatown amid escalating inter-island tensions..

www.aljazeera.com

Many issues at play here. COVID issues, complicating existing issues of poverty and tensions as well as political unhappiness.

Many of the pacific island nations have had extremely difficult time with covid, as it killed off tourism, and overloaded the health care system. Government focus has also shifted to covid from existing issues like poverty.

It seems like a protest that got out of control, when more than expected numbers turned up and police weren't able to handle the situation. They burnt a police station, a high school and burnt and looted in Chinatown.

I don't expect the rioting to continue much longer. However, it doesn't solve the problems that people are unhappy with.

I hope Australia and NZ can open up borders and start getting regional flights going again, they are so essential for these countries for tourists, family etc.

 

[Rock the kasbah]

Ive lived in Honiara and they love burning down china town
Any tribal issue china town in flames
This is more the malaita seccessionist thing

 

[Rock the kasbah]

Solomon Islands – time to take an Indigenous perspective - Australian Defence Magazine

Throughout the Indo-Pacific, Indigenous nations have strengths that need to be acknowledged, leveraged, and recognised as an asset to benefit their nation. But we must also recognise that vulnerabilit...

www.australiandefence.com.au

Interesting reading
It was free for me but may be behind a paywall for others

 

[Redlands18]

Australia and New Zealand send flights to assess damage from Tonga volcano eruption

The toll from the eruption of a huge undersea volcano in Tonga remains unclear with Australia and New Zealand sending surveillance flights to assess the damage.

www.abc.net.au

Australia and New Zealand are sending AF Surveillance Aircraft to assess the impact of the Volcano eruption and subsequent Tsunami. A RNZAF P-3K a RAAF Surveillance Aircraft(P-8?) and a RAAF C-130 are already in the area, Comms are patchy at best.
HMAS Adelaide is being prepared for a HADR Mission.

 

[ngatimozart]

Yep she's a pretty stunning eruption. We heard it here in NZ as it was in Alaska. However what is unusual about it is the tsunami. It's not unusual for eruption induced local tsunami, but for a worldwide tsunami, that's quite rare. The most famous one is the Krakatoa one from 1883 and that has been theorised to have been the first recorded incidence of phase coupling between the atmospheric wave train and the tsunami wave train. If this is the case for the latest Tonga Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai eruption then it may explain why the tsunami reached so far.

However the real problem is that it is not known if this eruption is the end of this sequence, or just part of the current sequence. The question is whether or not this eruption is the largest of the sequence. The volcano has a history of explosive eruption sequences every 1,000 years. There is a massive caldera below the surface of the ocean that reaches to a depth of 150m Recent eruptions have formed the two islands.

Hunga eruption: Episode could last months, scientist says - NZ Herald

Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next | Stuff.co.nz

Tonga tsunami, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption: Surging waves hit island nation - NZ Herald

Volcanic gases are now making their way around the Pacific. With the amount of gas and particles ejected into the stratosphere by the eruption there will be some climatic impacts possibly lasting the next 12 - 24 month period. There may be 1 or 2 cold years ahead depend upon how much SO2 (sulphur dioxide) that has been ejected. When SO2 interacts with atmospheric water (H2O) it forms H2SO4 (sulphuric acid) in the form of droplets. These are highly reflective, increasing the earth's albedo, reflecting solar radiation back into space. Those atmospheric acid droplets eventually fall as acid rain having detrimental impacts upon vegetation, runoffs, waterways and water storage.

Tonga volcano eruption and tsunami: Invisible and toxic gas currently over the Pacific - NZ Herald

Tonga eruption likely the world's largest in 30 years - scientist | RNZ News

There are reports of a British aid worker missing on the main island of Tongatapu.

Tonga volcanic eruption: Fears for missing British aid worker Angela Glover - NZ Herald

EDIT: Add Radio NZ Link.

 

[kiwipatriot69]

Yep she's a pretty stunning eruption. We heard it here in NZ as it was in Alaska. However what is unusual about it is the tsunami. It's not unusual for eruption induced local tsunami, but for a worldwide tsunami, that's quite rare. The most famous one is the Krakatoa one from 1883 and that has been theorised to have been the first recorded incidence of phase coupling between the atmospheric wave train and the tsunami wave train. If this is the case for the latest Tonga Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai eruption then it may explain why the tsunami reached so far.

However the real problem is that it is not known if this eruption is the end of this sequence, or just part of the current sequence. The question is whether or not this eruption is the largest of the sequence. The volcano has a history of explosive eruption sequences every 1,000 years. There is a massive caldera below the surface of the ocean that reaches to a depth of 150m Recent eruptions have formed the two islands.

Hunga eruption: Episode could last months, scientist says - NZ Herald

Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next | Stuff.co.nz

Tonga tsunami, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption: Surging waves hit island nation - NZ Herald

Volcanic gases are now making their way around the Pacific. With the amount of gas and particles ejected into the stratosphere by the eruption there will be some climatic impacts possibly lasting the next 12 - 24 month period. There may be 1 or 2 cold years ahead depend upon how much SO2 (sulphur dioxide) that has been ejected. When SO2 interacts with atmospheric water (H2O) it forms H2SO4 (sulphuric acid) in the form of droplets. These are highly reflective, increasing the earth's albedo, reflecting solar radiation back into space. Those atmospheric acid droplets eventually fall as acid rain having detrimental impacts upon vegetation, runoffs, waterways and water storage.

Tonga volcano eruption and tsunami: Invisible and toxic gas currently over the Pacific - NZ Herald

Tonga eruption likely the world's largest in 30 years - scientist | RNZ News

There are reports of a British aid worker missing on the main island of Tongatapu.

Tonga volcanic eruption: Fears for missing British aid worker Angela Glover - NZ Herald

EDIT: Add Radio NZ Link.

Will RNZN be sending HMNZS Manuwanui or Canterbury , our will RAN LHD ship Adeliade and the aircraft being sent by RAAF plus ours enough?

 

[swerve]

...
Volcanic gases are now making their way around the Pacific. With the amount of gas and particles ejected into the stratosphere by the eruption there will be some climatic impacts possibly lasting the next 12 - 24 month period. There may be 1 or 2 cold years ahead depend upon how much SO2 (sulphur dioxide) that has been ejected. When SO2 interacts with atmospheric water (H2O) it forms H2SO4 (sulphuric acid) in the form of droplets. These are highly reflective, increasing the earth's albedo, reflecting solar radiation back into space. Those atmospheric acid droplets eventually fall as acid rain having detrimental impacts upon vegetation, runoffs, waterways and water storage.
...

Iceland had catastrophic eruptions in 1783-85, Laki (the main one) & Grímsvötn (added to the disaster). The combination of ash, poisonous gases & acid (hydrofluoric & sulphuric) rain killed half the livestock & about a quarter of the population, mostly by starvation & hunger-induced diseases as a result of vegetation dying but some from poisoning & respiratory illnesses.

The poisonous ash & gas cloud drifted across Europe, killing many more & disrupting weather worldwide for years. The crop failures it caused are thought to have been factors in the French revolution.

Never underestimate volcanoes.

 

[htbrst]

Will RNZN be sending HMNZS Manuwanui or Canterbury , our will RAN LHD ship Adeliade and the aircraft being sent by RAAF plus ours enough?

HMNZS Aotearoa was reportedly headed out today just-in-case it’s needed having already been stocked for a trip to McMurdo in a week. She will either head to Tonga or turn around again and head to McMurdo.

It’s in this article:

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

 

[recce.k1]

Iceland had catastrophic eruptions in 1783-85, Laki (the main one) & Grímsvötn (added to the disaster). The combination of ash, poisonous gases & acid (hydrofluoric & sulphuric) rain killed half the livestock & about a quarter of the population, mostly by starvation & hunger-induced diseases as a result of vegetation dying but some from poisoning & respiratory illnesses.

The poisonous ash & gas cloud drifted across Europe, killing many more & disrupting weather worldwide for years. The crop failures it caused are thought to have been factors in the French revolution.

Never underestimate volcanoes.

Before and after pictures show the devastation this latest volcanic eruption has caused.

Water will be contaminated, some or many food sources will be affected, potential respiratory problems, damage to infrastructure etc. Jobs, health and livelihoods affected.

Australia, NZ and Pacific neighbors will assist as much as they can.

But are there any geo-politics issues to consider here? Immediately the population needs assistance, the rebuild will take alot of time and effort (especially if volcanic activity continues). May require the US and even the EU to become involved (and as a counter to CCP efforts, especially when playing the long game) ...

 

[Rock the kasbah]

Mate they need help fast. Once the rain gets onto all that ash the stuff sets likke concrete and weighs about the same.
Devastated my home town of Rabaul. Prayers go out to them.

 

[Redlands18]

Mate they need help fast. Once the rain gets onto all that ash the stuff sets likke concrete and weighs about the same.
Devastated my home town of Rabaul. Prayers go out to them.

The only reason RAAF and RNZAF C-130s are not already on the ground is due to the amount of Ash in the air and on the runway.

 

[oldsig127]

The only reason RAAF and RNZAF C-130s are not already on the ground is due to the amount of Ash in the air and on the runway.

Radio report just a few minutes ago mentioned that hundred of volunteers had cleared just 100 m of runway yesterday.

Multiply that by 10 or 15.

oldsig

 

[htbrst]

The only reason RAAF and RNZAF C-130s are not already on the ground is due to the amount of Ash in the air and on the runway.

That and Tonga hasn’t made any formal request for help yet. C-130s were were looking to airdrop supplies but that has also been cancelled

It also appeared the Tongan government was yet to make a request for New Zealand’s assistance.

“The delays mean we have taken the decision for both HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa to sail so they can respond quickly if called upon by the Tongan government,” Mahuta said.

From here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/127529810/two-navy-ships-heading-to-tonga-as-communication-issues-hamper-response-effort

 

[Ananda]

I heard on BBC that Tonga shown caution on International relief effort on spreading COVID 19. They say Tonga only have one confirm case so far, and they are very cautious on International relief contingent can spread COVID unintentionally.

Is this can be confirmed, and if it's true perhaps some relief effort potentially has to be restricted.

 

[htbrst]

I heard on BBC that Tonga shown caution on International relief effort on spreading COVID 19. They say Tonga only have one confirm case so far, and they are very cautious on International relief contingent can spread COVID unintentionally.

Is this can be confirmed, and if it's true perhaps some relief effort potentially has to be restricted.

Yes this is a part of the issue. There were discussions somewhere that HMNZS Aotearoa could provide water desalination “contactless” if necessary.

 

[oldsig127]

Yes this is a part of the issue. There were discussions somewhere that HMNZS Aotearoa could provide water desalination “contactless” if necessary.

It's not as if we haven't already had the experience of providing HADR support in the Pacific while taking precautions against spreading COVID. HMAS Adelaide on OP Fiji Assist about this time last year for example.

Also Vanuatu about the same time, different cyclone.

In the old "steam powered" version of the RAN thread, this post by @DDG38
and subsequent.

Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates

This is what I posted at the time of the announcement (about three pages back): * Continued investment in ESSM Blk2 * SM-2MR Blk IIIC - 150km range * SM-6 Blk I - 240km range * Anti Ship Missile - 370km range (LRASM?) * Maritime Land Attack Missile - 1500km range (Tomahawk?) It’s pretty...

www.defencetalk.com

oldsig

 

[DouglasLees]

Slightly off-topic, but here in the U.K. I haven’t heard of any emergency charity appeal for Tonga. Do any of you chaps know of one as a lot of people would like to offer support.

 

[ngatimozart]

Slightly off-topic, but here in the U.K. I haven’t heard of any emergency charity appeal for Tonga. Do any of you chaps know of one as a lot of people would like to offer support.

Definitely not off topic. The NZ Red Cross are running an appeal. The link takes you straight to the donation page.

NZ Red Cross - Assisting Tonga and other Tsunami affected Pacific Island nations.