South Pacific

Jacqueline Evans

A conservationist helped protect the Cook Islands from overfishing, and won a Goldman Environmental Prize

Environment

Over 99% of the tiny Cook Islands territory in the South Pacific is ocean, and home to coral reefs and many threatened marine species. Now, thanks in part to activist Jacqueline Evans, the Cook Islands’ entire ocean territory is being managed for sustainability.

a cartoon drawn by cartoonist Eaten Fish that shows a map of Russia with a sad face, a tear in one eye and the words "I am only a refugee" wit the "I" in the shape of a fishbone.

How Eaten Fish survived four years in refugee detention with his cartoons, social media and a network of activist friends

Media
Elisabeth Holland

An American scientist stands up for the Pacific Islands at UN climate talks

Environment
Refugee advocates hold placards and banners during a protest in Sydney on October 5, 2016.

Is the Australian government enabling crimes against humanity in its offshore detention centers?

Justice
A member of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) protests against an LGBT film festival in Jakarta, September 28, 2010. His posters read: "Disgusting Gay Scene."

In Indonesia, homophobic commentary is disturbing, and publicly displayed

Culture
Kale Walch cooks a pan of "bacon," one of the meatless meats that he and his sister Aubry Walch (in the back) whip up for The Herbivorous Butcher. They're hoping to open what they say is the world's first vegan butcher shop in the spring.

A sister and brother dream of making the perfect vegan Spam

Food

How do you make a meatless version of Spam? Turns out it’s relatively easy to match the taste — but getting the texture right is the trick.

Healthy corals use chemical signals, or smells, to attract fish. New research has found that corals also send out "distress" signals when they're in trouble.

Coral reefs can communicate with fish, and many of them are crying for help

Environment

With corals in trouble around the world, researchers are examining the role of smell in telling fish to come to a healthy reef or stay away. That may help scientists find ways to manipulate the smells to help damaged reefs recover.

Conservationists are trying to protect the ocean waters around Palau, a small island nation in the South Pacific due east of the Philippines. The waters are recognized as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world, with more than 1,300 species of fi

Conservationists are working to create more national parks at sea

Environment

Here’s some positive environmental news. In fact, it’s a positive environmental trend: nations across the world are protecting huge swaths of ocean waters. And the trend may just be getting started. Here’s some positive environmental news. In fact, it’s a positive environmental trend: nations across the world are protecting huge swaths of ocean waters. And the trend may just be getting started.

The World

How a Dutch coach and a transgender defender turned things around for American Samoa’s soccer team

Sports

The documentary film “Next Goal Wins” tells the story of the soccer team from American Samoa. The team went through a decades-long losing streak but managed to turn things around thanks to a Dutch coach and a transgender defender.

An American woman is on a multi-year journey to sail around the world

Lifestyle & Belief

Emily Richmond left Los Angeles three years ago to chase her dream of sailing around the world. She’s been criss-crossing the South Pacific from the Galapagos Islands to Samoa and now all the way to the southeast Asian island of Borneo.