The people in the Northwest region need a Center on Weno we can truly call our own, a place that unites the three regions of Pattiw, Pafeng, and Namonweito, and advances our common efforts in educational opportunities, economic development, health care, leadership training, cultural preservation, and other services for our people. Therefore, we call on our political, traditional and religious leadership, sons and daughters of the Northwest region living overseas,...

An educated citizenry is the key to breaking the cycle of disempowerment among the people in the Northwest region in Chuuk. No single issue deserves top priority in the outer islands today than the ensuring of adequate education for our children. It is imperative that our young generations of outer islanders are given all the available resources to survive in a globalized and fast-changing world. Without adequate education, the future of our State and its place in...

“We cannot separate action for justice from the proclamation of the Word of God.” Inspired by the words of the late Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, Jesuit Superior General (1965-1983), we call for a political system that is inspired by faith. Our small island communities with close relationships and deep abiding faith in God have been negatively impacted by the political system. Politics as practiced in Chuuk today has torn our people apart and caused unnecessary...

Protecting Our Natural Resources for Future Generations! The care of our lands, seas, and air is the responsibility of every Chuukese citizen. The government must provide adequate funding, leadership, and programs to educate the public in the proper stewardship of our natural resources. Efforts must be made to empower the NGO’s that are dedicated to environmental issues. The problems predicted by scientists on global warming has already impacted our islands...

Having Access to Information & Resources! The distance of the outer islands from the main centers poses a real challenge of access to resources and valuable information. In a technologically advanced age, there is no reason why these outer islands should not have information readily available to them. But it takes efforts and leadership to prioritize information as necessary component of an effective and actively engaged democratic system of government. It...

Empowering Women’s Leadership Roles! Much like the rest of the world, Chuuk is undergoing a paradigm shift in recognizing the importance of women in leadership roles. Women have traditionally been the backbone of the family, a role that has over time become a cause of injustice in today’s democratic government; today, many Chuukese men expect women to serve in subservient roles in the community.  Clearly there is a need for an attitudinal and cultural ...

Reuniting People On Issues Rather Than Relations! Political campaigns and elections have become a source of divisiveness and corruption in our families, clans, communities, State, and even our nation. On one hand it has become standard practice among many incumbent legislators to use government funds to buy votes. On the other hand, we citizens have readily accepted such handouts with utter disregard for the future of our children. We must advocate for an ...

Bridging Local Needs with Global Resources! Since the Compact of Free Association went into effect, there has been a steady exodus of outer islanders in search of better life for themselves and their families. Many of our outer islanders living overseas in Guam, Hawaii, and the mainland have established their own base of resources. We need to organize each of these associations of outer islanders into a strong body to help the islands in terms of educational...