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Showing 9 of 2022 news items

Policy & GovernanceApril 21, 2026

UMass Dartmouth, Azores students unite to break stigma around addiction

Excerpt from heraldnews.com Students from UMass Dartmouth and the University of the Azores have been learning how stigma — often stemming from misinformation, fear and deeply entrenched social stereotypes — is one of the main barriers to treatment for substance use disorders on both sides of the Atlantic. Eight UAc students, along with three professors, were in the Southcoast from April 7 to 14 as part of the "Bridging the Atlantic" international nursing student exchange program between the two universities. “This is our 11th year, and 240 students have gone through the program,” said Dr. Maryellen Brisbois, who coordinates the "Bridging the Atlantic" program at UMass Dartmouth. “Every year, we look at a community health issue in the United States and the Azores. We talked about a lot of challenges in both countries, that we had seen and the students had seen, and it seemed substance use was very important at this moment.”

Tourism & Remote WorkApril 21, 2026

Siquijor looks to healing traditions and agri-tourism as foundations for sustainable growth

Excerpt from pia.gov.ph SIQUIJOR, Siquijor (PIA) — Long defined by its reputation for mysticism, Siquijor is staking its future on a different kind of tourist attraction, one rooted in spiritual heritage, indigenous healing traditions, and the untapped potential of its agricultural landscape. Local leaders and development officials say the island’s annual Healing Festival, held every Holy Week at Mount Bandilaan Nature Park, has become more than a cultural event. It is, they argue, a living expression of what makes Siquijor distinct and a platform for the kind of tourism that sustains communities rather than simply passing through them. “Siquijor is not just a place of beauty, with our white sand beaches, pristine waterfalls, and rich forests, but also a place of deep spiritual heritage and quiet strength,” said Rep. Zaldy S. Villa, who represents the island’s lone district. Villa said the island’s identity runs deeper than its natural attractions, pointing to generations-old healing practices and a faith tradition that draws both devotion and curiosity from visitors near and far. That identity has not gone unnoticed. Japanese tourist Kayoko Yamahata, who visited the island during the festival, said the experience went beyond sightseeing. “The green of nature and the spirit of the people, they really heal me,” she said. “Just arriving here, I feel my energy returning. Siquijor has a great healing power.”

Ocean & BiodiversityApril 21, 2026

URI Research Drives Global Collaboration to Protect Iceland from Invasive Species

Excerpt from web.uri.edu Iceland’s striking landscapes—shaped by volcanoes, glaciers, and the North Atlantic—have long benefited from a natural isolation that limited the spread of non-native species. Today, that isolation is no longer enough. Invasive species are increasingly present, arriving through imported plants and soil, goods moving within the country, organisms entering harbors and rivers, and even seeds carried on tourists’ clothing and shoes. With a population of roughly 400,000 and over two million annual visitors, tourism in particular has become a major pathway for new species, creating risks for both Iceland’s ecosystems and its economy.

Policy & GovernanceApril 21, 2026

EU Doubles Funding for Caribbean Territories, Including Curaçao

Excerpt from curacaochronicle.com ORANJESTAD – The European Union has nearly doubled its financial support for Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), including Curaçao and Aruba, increasing funding from €500 million to €999 million. The announcement was made during the OCT-EU Forum currently taking place in Aruba, where European and Caribbean leaders are meeting to strengthen cooperation. According to European Commissioner Jozef Síkela, the increase reflects a shift in approach. The partnership is no longer viewed as development aid, but as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening the resilience and long-term future of the territories. The funding boost is being described as one of the most significant outcomes of the forum, which has also seen the launch of several initiatives focused on sustainability, biodiversity, disaster management, and economic development. Mike Eman emphasized that the forum is producing concrete results rather than just discussions, pointing to new programs that are already being set in motion.

Ocean & BiodiversityApril 21, 2026

Creating the North Atlantic’s largest MPA network: Interview with Azores President José Manuel Bolieiro

Excerpt from news.mongabay.com José Manuel Bolieiro says he’s been an environmentalist for as long as he can remember. He recalls captivating encounters with marine life as a teenager while diving in the North Atlantic waters of his native São Miguel, one of the nine islands that make up the Portuguese-administered Azores archipelago. The gaze of the moray eel remains etched in his memory: “It’s impressive because it watches us vigilantly, without aggression,” he tells Mongabay. Bolieiro’s early interactions with the ocean proved formative. A member of the Social Democratic Party, Bolieiro is a former mayor of Ponta Delgada, the largest city in the Azores, and has served as president of the regional government of the Azores since 2020, championing the establishment of a remarkable network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the biodiverse waters around the archipelago. The region is home to numerous species of dolphins and whales, sharks and turtles, and rich in corals, hydrothermal vent ecosystems and seamounts. The previous government of the Azores, which is run as an autonomous region of Portugal, had set a goal of protecting 15% of the archipelago’s waters. But Bolieiro dreamed bigger: He sought marine protection covering 30% by 2030.

Climate ActionApril 21, 2026

The Pacific is where climate leadership will be made – or lost

Excerpt and Photo Credit: lowyinstitute.org In the lead-up to COP31 this year, global climate diplomacy faces a credibility test – and it is unfolding in the Pacific. Across much of the world, fossil fuel concerns have reasserted themselves. Rising energy costs, security anxieties, and domestic pressures are reshaping national priorities particularly in the context of global energy volatility linked to geopolitical fragmentation and oil market shocks. In recent weeks, climate leadership risks have been framed as conditional – something to be advanced when circumstances allow – raising deeper questions of climate justice. In this context, climate leadership is not judged by ambition alone, but by whether commitments hold under pressure.

Culture & CommunityApril 15, 2026

A discovery in the Pacific redefines the relationship between culture and nature: what the island formed by mollusk remains is like

Excerpt from noticiasambientales.com Off the coast of Vanua Levu, in the Fiji archipelago, a group of scientists identified an island with an unusual origin. Consequently, the discovery provides new insights into the human interaction with the environment. At first glance, the islet seemed like just another piece of land within the coastal ecosystem. However, its composition revealed a different story. The soil is not made up of common sediments. Therefore, it is composed of 90% compacted mollusk shell fragments. A landscape built over 1,200 years The study published in Geoarchaeology indicates that this formation developed over approximately 1,200 years. In this sense, human communities used the site to process shellfish. Furthermore, it was not a permanent settlement. Therefore, it functioned as a specific space for coastal activity. According to the team led by Patrick D. Nunn, the accumulation was constant. Consequently, the waste transformed into a solid structure. Likewise, dating places the origin around the year 760. Thus, it is linked to Pacific cultures associated with the Lapita peoples.

Energy & TransportApril 15, 2026

Stewart Island Solar Farm Could Be Running by Christmas

Excerpt from whatsoninvers.nz Stewart Island could have its long-awaited solar farm operational by Christmas, with construction potentially starting as early as June, officials say. The island's 480 residents currently rely entirely on diesel for electricity and are facing steep price increases due to Middle East conflicts driving up fuel costs. Southland Mayor Rob Scott said the council is exploring ways to fast-track the $15 million government-funded project by classifying it as emergency works under the Resource Management Act.

Connectivity & DigitizationApril 15, 2026

The Gran Canaria train project receives its Environmental Impact Statement and moves towards implementation

Excerpt from maspalomas24h.uk The Gran Canaria Island Council has obtained the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the train project, which allows it to move forward with the administrative procedures for the execution of the railway infrastructure between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Maspalomas. The President of the Gran Canaria Island Council, Antonio Morales, stated that “the development of guided transport is key to moving towards a more sustainable mobility model on the island” and highlighted that during the current term, “the technical projects have been completed and progress has been made on the necessary agreements with the State.” In this regard, he added that “work is also underway on actions related to the future airport station” and pointed out that the approval of the General State Budget will be crucial for securing the project's funding.