ELCPNG Reaffirming his Voice to protect the environment
Responsibility and accountability in our society focused on communal consciousness. Therefore, individuals in our society were called to be self-conscious in order to uphold and safeguard the image of their families, clans and tribes. An individual’s quality of life depended on the community’s wellbeing.
In the current context, the Melanesian Value System is losing significance and is disintegrating. The effects of colonization and globalization are affecting the way people live, the way they view life and their perspective of who they are. As Melanesians in the 21st century, we are losing our significance. The current dominant contemporary value system is making us believe our ways are primitive and inferior. Globalization situation is setting a false and unrealistic standard for our people to aspire to.
Regardless of the above, over 80% of our people continue to sustain themselves through our traditional mode of existence. Therefore, the natural environment continues to play a vital role in upholding our sense of identity, belonging, strength and hope. A majority of our people still hold onto their wealth of cultural practices, history, relationships and languages.
The country has one of the best constitutions in the world because it was developed based on Melanesian society’s concept of governance. Despite our constitution’s emphasis on upholding our Melanesian Value System to guide the country’s development pathway, this has not been the case.
