Tropical Islands of the South Pacific Ripped Off
Life has continued for thousands of years, in a simplistic form, in the tropical islands of the South Pacific. Culture and tradition have been the rule of the village, where the people live very much hand to mouth, as the necessity arises.
However, these ancient indigenous communities are not protected from the abuse of International Property Rights, in the ever expanding cut throat scene of global commerce. The only way to stop the highway robbery is to look urgently and seriously to the educational needs of the next generation.
The very simplistic way of life of these people has preserved unique pockets of areas, untouched by modern civilization, that are a unique experience for the tourist and a delight to the scientist.
A library of genetic markers, which will be used as a unique resource for ecologists and evolutionary biologists around the world, is currently being produced through an ambitious research program, on the picturesque tropical island of French Polynesia. It is a combined program between a United States Californian university and a French research institute.
Once such projects turn into profit, it is usually very little profit that finds its way down to the islanders, whose homes have been violated. One has only to look at the large diamond fields of the world to ascertain this.
Co-editor of the book, ‘Pacific Genes and Life Patents’, speaks of a high profile situation where medical anthropologist, Carol Jenkins, who allegedly stole leukemia curing genes from the Hagahai people in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The United States, through its National Health Institute, patented the DNA cells, stamping ownership, without permission, upon something that