IMOA: Fostering Collaboration For Climate Security

IMOA (Imagine Pacific Original Article)

Fostering Collaboration: Matson and PREL's Crucial Role in Establishing the KASL Climate Security Research Station

BY Dr. Gregg Nakano, Ed.D, MALD, MGeo

8/9/2023 

We overcame significant logistical challenges to build the first KASL (1) Climate Security Research Station on Ebadon, a small island on the other side of the Kwajalein Atoll system.

What you may not know is the critical role that Matson and PREL played in that success. 

 

PREL has been working on a four-track education program to help Pacific Island youth based on: 

1-college prep, 

2-vocational skills, 

3-military prep, and 

4-traditional knowledge. 

Since 2017, PREL CEO Paul Hadik has supported the development of Pacific Allies, an experiential service learning program that helps students, cadets and midshipmen understand the climate impact on national security by transforming Kwajalein Atoll into a living sustainability laboratory.

With the support of PREL, Mayor Kabua, KALGOV, Dr. Eric Rasmussen, ONR and all of you - the Pacific Allies effort has slowly grown into KASL (Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory), which was officially launched this Summer. 

Only one hiccup... 

Because all of this is done organically and out of hide, our outcomes are always "potluck" and only accomplished through trust, goodwill and sweat equity.

This Spring, as we prepared to build the Irene Paul KASL Climate Security Research Station, we were at a loss, because while the cost of the building materials was only around $8,000, the cost of the shipping would exceed $10,000. 

CEO Paul Hadik reached out to Matson Senior Vice President Vic Angoco to explain the purpose of KASL and how KALGOV was building a whole-of-society approach to strengthen climate security throughout the Pacific.

SVP Angoco immediately reached out to SVP Ku'uhaku Park, Director Government, Community Relations and Matson Giving. 

Working together with Dan Kenney, the KASL Climate Security Research Station designer and Gay Mathews, the Director of Philanthropy for Applied Hope, the non-profit partner to Infinitum Humanitarian Systems (IHS), Matson generously donated their expertise, networks and services to get our building materials from the mainland USA to Ebeye City on Kwajalein. 

As the Marshallese say - Jepilpilin ke ejukaan -

"Accomplishment through Joint Effort." 

Thanks to all of you for your blood, sweat, and tears in bringing KASL into existence. 

Special thanks to Matson for picking up the cost of transporting our equipment and construction materials - which provided us the tools to start.

Editors Note: This article celebrates the successful establishment of the KASL Climate Security Research Station on Ebadon, a small island within the Kwajalein Atoll system and the evolution of the Pacific Allies initiative, supported by PREL, Mayor Kabua, KALGOV, Dr. Eric Rasmussen, ONR, and collaborators, culminated in the launch of KASL. Dr. Nakano is a driving force behind many developmental and climate resiliency efforts in Kwajalein. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, a USMC Veteran, and Alumni of the University of Hawaii-Manoa.

                                            Ref: 

(1) Rasmussen, E., Nakano, G., Kabua, S., & Hatoum, A. (2022). Climate-Focused Field Research within the Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory.

💥IMEA COFA SUPPORT NOW! - (VIDEO)💥

🌍 IMEA: Imagine Pacific Envisioned Analysis | To Pay the Price: The Case for Investing in the Future of COFA Now! 💼

In this video episode of Imagine Pacific Envisioned Analysis (IMEA), we explore the pressing challenges faced by the Compact of Free Association (COFA) Nations and advocate for transformative investments in their future. 🏝️ 🤝 Join us as we envision a brighter future for the Pacific region through cultivating sustainable partnerships with entities like the Hawaii National Guard, State of Hawaii Department of Health, DOD, University of Hawaii, and the VA. 🌐 💡 IMAGINE a future where Micronesians have access to essential healthcare services and a supportive system that recognizes and maximizes their community assets. By fostering strategic engagements, research, and community-based initiatives, we aim to empower the COFA region to thrive and build resiliency. 🌱 💥 Learn about the critical case for investing in the COFA nations, facing an existential climate crisis, economic disparities, and challenges in providing healthcare to Micronesian veterans. Despite their rich heritage, they rank among the world's poorest nations. 🏞️ 🔍 EXPLORE the challenges faced by Micronesian veterans in accessing healthcare, the impacts of climate change on vulnerable island states, and the urgent need to address health disparities in Hawaii. 🏥 📚 FURTHER RESEARCH is essential in advancing economic cooperation, leveraging the State Partnership Program, addressing healthcare disparities, and engaging in climate-focused field research. 📝 🌏 DISCOVER the potential impact of strategic partnerships, including Pacific region stability, climate change adaptation, infrastructural development, and the reduction of healthcare disparities. 🌊 📊 Participate in our QR Reader Survey to share your insights on the challenges faced by Micronesian veterans and help us work towards viable solutions. 📲 📢 Join us in advocating for justice and equal access to healthcare for Micronesian veterans by leaving comments, writing letters, and raising awareness about this critical issue. 📝 🎬 Watch this thought-provoking IMEA episode and support a thriving COFA future, accessible resources, and a model of sustainability for the world. Don't forget to like and subscribe! 🎥

IMEA - COFA VETS - REEL 2

IMEA: To Pay the Price: The Case for Investing in the Future of COFA Now!

 IMEA: To Pay the Price: The Case for Investing in the Future of COFA Now!

💭 I. Imagine...

Cultivating new and vibrant sustainment partnerships via stakeholder collaborations in the Compact of Free Association (COFA) Nations with entities such as the Hawaii National Guard, the State of Hawaii Department of Health, DOD, the University of Hawaii, and the VA 🌍

II. Imagined Endstate:

Imagine a future where Micronesians have access to essential healthcare services and a supportive system that recognizes and maximizes their organic community assets. Through strategic engagements, research, and developing community-based assets collaborative partnerships and engagements could empower the region to further its resiliency and thrive.

III.💥 What's the Case:

The COFA nations are facing a convergence of critical challenges, and an international transformative and all-encompassing approach to investing in their future becomes imperative. These nations find themselves at the crossroads of an existential climate crisis, grappling with extreme vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Despite their rich cultural heritage and resilience, they rank among the poorest per capita nations in the world, confronting economic disparities that hinder their growth and development. Furthermore, the geographic separation from the United States has left many Micronesian veterans unseen, and deprived of the care they are entitled to as US veterans. Finally, there is a historical indebtedness by the countries who conducted atomic testing for over a decade, they hold some accountability for the aftermath effect on the region's vulnerable population.

🔎 IV. Consider This:

⏳ Challenges Faced by Micronesian Veterans: Micronesian veterans encounter numerous obstacles in accessing healthcare despite their dedicated service. The limited capacity in U.S. military hospitals in Hawaii often leaves many veterans without the medical attention they deserve. Additionally, the high cost of healthcare and complexities surrounding health insurance further hinder their access to essential medications and treatments, adding to the burden they bear after serving their nation. (Blair, 2017)

🌊 Impacts of Climate Change: The adverse impacts of climate change pose significant threats to vulnerable island states like the COFA nations. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and environmental degradation are some of the challenges these nations face, putting their very existence at risk. (Rasmussen, 2022)

⏰ Health Disparities in Hawaii: A study by the East-West Center showed that Micronesians had significantly worse Severity of Illness (SOI) for various health-related hospitalizations, emphasizing the need for support to address disparities (Hagiwara, 2016)

📈 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights reported more than $1 billion in costs associated with providing service to Micronesians for Hawaii and adjoining Pacific U.S. Territories (Rights, 2019)

💪 SPP's Role in Theater Security: The State Partnership Program (SPP) plays a crucial role in bolstering theater security and stability in the Pacific region. The SPP's efforts in building partnerships can serve as a strategic counterbalance to their growing influence and help ensure the long-term stability and development of the COFA nations (Rimando, 2023).

📚 V. Research This:

1. Garamone, J. (2023). Economic Cooperation and the State Partnership Program.
2. Blair, C. (March 1, 2017). Lawmakers Urge Medical Help For Micronesian Veterans. Civil Beat.
3. Brewington, L., Kokame, K., & Lewis, N. (2021). Global Health Engagement in the Pacific Region.
4. Hagiwara, M. K. (2016). Healthcare Disparities Among Micronesian Veterans.
5. United States Commission on Civil Rights. (2019).
6. Rasmussen, E., Nakano, G., Kabua, S., & Hatoum, A. (2022). Climate-Focused Field Research within the Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory.
7. IMSPARK: Communities Combat Climate Crisis, July 25, 2023, Imagine Pacific Pulse
8. IMEA: Imagine Pacific Envision Analysis - Healthcare for Micronesian Veterans, June 30, 2023, Imagine Pacific Pulse
9. IMSPARK: Imagine Equal Care for COFA, June 26, 2023, Imagine Pacific Pulse
10. IMOA: SPP and COFA, Match Made in the Pacific, July 24, 2023, Rimando, M., Imagine Pacific Pulse

🌍 VI. Impact on Pacific:

Here are the following impacts partnerships and engagements could provide if pursued:

1. Pacific Region Stability: As near-peer competitor nations expand their influence in the Pacific, it becomes increasingly vital for the United States to strategically prioritize its engagement with COFA countries. The SPP's proactive efforts in building and strengthening partnerships can serve as an essential counterbalance, preserving the sovereignty and security of the region. By fostering enduring relationships, the SPP facilitates an environment where COFA nations can confidently navigate diplomatic complexities and maintain their independence in a changing geopolitical landscape.
2. Climate Change Adaptation: Vulnerable island states, such as the COFA nations, face unprecedented challenges from the adverse impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and environmental degradation pose significant threats to their very existence. Organizations like the Kwajalein Atoll Sustainment Laboratory (KASL) and the University of Hawaii could foster focus on environmental protection and sustainability, serving as a valuable resource, and facilitating knowledge sharing and technical assistance.
3. Infrastructural Development: The COFA nations' economic vulnerability necessitates international support and cooperation for sustainable development. Through a program like the SPP, the National Guard could offer expertise and resources in critical areas such as disaster response, healthcare, education, and organizational capacity building. In leveraging the resources and experiences of both the National Guard and partner organizations like the Department of Health, and Emergency Management Agency, strategic partnerships become vehicles to unlock potential, facilitate growth, reduce dependence, and foster sustainable progress in the Pacific.
4. Reduce Healthcare Disparities: Global health engagements hold promise for addressing healthcare disparities in the COFA nations. By tapping into the National Guard's and University of Hawaii's expertise in both the medical logistical and telehealth, through medical engagements they could contribute to enhancing Micronesia's preparedness and response mechanisms. Specifically, efforts to mitigate the Severity of Illness (SOI) for various health-related hospitalizations in Micronesia through the SPP can lead to a more equitable and robust healthcare system.

📊 VII. QR Reader Survey: 

To better understand the challenges faced by Micronesian veterans and work towards viable solutions, we invite readers to participate in our QR Reader Survey. Your valuable insights and experiences will help us better understand the issues at hand. Please note that participation in the survey is voluntary and for the purpose of gaining a general assessment of the reader's impression of the IMEA. It is not intended for scientific purposes.

 📢 VII. Call to Action: 

Imagine Pacific is in support of the COFA Veterans and asks that readers who feel the same consider joining us in advocating for justice and equal access to healthcare for Micronesian veterans. You can support this cause by: 

• Leaving a comment on the Imagine Pacific Pulse(www.imagine-pacific.blogspot.com) 

• Sending a letter to the Editor: https://www.staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter/ 

• Reaching out to your local representatives and urging them to support legislation 

• Raising awareness about this issue within your social circles and utilizing the provided QR codes to share this IMEA.

🤝 VIII. Conclusion: 

Investing in the future of COFA nations requires transformative efforts encompassing equitable healthcare access, economic development, climate change resilience, and recognition of historical consequences. Partnerships contribute to Pacific stability amid geopolitical competition, empowering COFA nations to preserve sovereignty. Addressing healthcare disparities, climate change adaptation, and infrastructural development are vital. Collaborative efforts unlock potential, ensuring the well-being of COFA communities and fostering resilience. Let's work towards a thriving COFA future, accessible resources, and a model of sustainability for the world.

🌊 IMSPARK: Communities Combat Climate Crisis 🌊

 

Imagine... Collaboratively Empowering Communities to Combat Climate Crisis.

💡Imagined Endstate:

The Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory (KASL) presents a groundbreaking vision for combating the climate crisis. Led by a diverse team of scientists, educators, and policymakers, KASL aims to address the pressing challenges faced by vulnerable populations in the Pacific.

🔗 Link:

https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC55712.2022.9911040

📚Source:

Rasmussen, Eric & Nakano, Gregg & Kabua, Senator & Hatoum, Alex. (2022). Climate-Focused Field Research within the Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory. 465-468.

💥What's the Big Deal:

KASL's holistic approach incorporates integrative design principles and sustainability frameworks. 💪 Its unique focus on Ebeye Island, within the Republic of the Marshall Islands, addresses urgent climate change impacts in low-elevation coastal zones.

Through collaboration between indigenous Marshallese and international experts, KASL embodies radical inclusion, combining local knowledge with cutting-edge research. "The purpose of the laboratory would be to test, in a site led by the Marshallese, those ideas that might help ensure the physical, cultural, linguistic, and economic survival of the Marshallese and other atoll nations throughout the Pacific Basin (KASL, 2022)."

By developing climate-resilient solutions for Ebeye and sharing findings with Pacific Island Nations, KASL can create a model for climate adaptation that harnesses the organic assets of Pacific Communities. 🌍

#KASL, #ClimateAdaptation, #PacificCommunities, #Research #Sustainability, #CommunityEmpowerment, #IMSPARK

 

IMOA: SPP and COFA, Match Made in the Pacific

(IMOA) Imagine Pacific Original Article 

SPP and COFA, Match Made in the Pacific

By Lt. Col. Marlon Rimando, MD

Hawaii Air National Guard

Imagine Pacific Pulse    7/24/2023

In recognition of its 30th anniversary, it’s fitting that the United States Department of Defense's State Partnership Program (SPP) is poised more than ever to conduct capacity-building and empowering engagements in the Pacific (United States Department of Defense, n.d.)[1]. One such area where this could occur is between the National Guard and the Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. In fostering relationships and promoting security cooperation, the SPP can play a pivotal role in addressing the unique challenges faced by these Pacific island nations.

One of the primary interests in the region is the increasing influence of near-peer competitor nations (Asian Bureau of Research, 2017)[2]. As they expand their economic and diplomatic ties with the COFA nations, it becomes essential for the United States to prioritize its engagement with these countries. The SPP's efforts in building partnerships can serve as a strategic counterbalance to their growing influence and help ensure the long-term stability and development of the COFA nations.

Climate change is another pressing issue that profoundly affects the COFA nations. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and environmental degradation pose significant threats to these vulnerable island states (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, 2022)[3]. The SPP's focus on environmental protection and sustainability can facilitate knowledge sharing and technical assistance in climate resilience and resource management, empowering the COFA nations to tackle climate-related challenges more effectively.

Moreover, the COFA nations' economic status could benefit from international support and cooperation. Through the SPP, U.S. states can provide expertise and resources in areas such as disaster response, healthcare, education, and economic development (Garamone, 2023)[4]. Working together by utilizing apparatus such as the SPP program, the COFA nations can access critical support to address their economic vulnerabilities and foster stronger, more resilient communities.

Furthermore, the SPP's emphasis on global health engagement offers significant potential for the COFA nations. The National Guard's experience in responding to public health emergencies can be leveraged to help Micronesia prepare for and respond to health crises, enhancing its capacity to address health challenges effectively (Brewington, Kokame, & Lewis, 2021)[5]. A study by the East-West Center showed that Micronesians had significantly worse Severity of Illness (SOI) for various health-related hospitalizations, emphasizing the need for support to address disparities (Hagiwara, 2016)[6]. Here is a perfect example where a program like the SPP could and should make a difference.

In conclusion, the State Partnership Program holds immense promise as a platform for building resilience in the COFA nations and promoting lasting relationships between U.S. states and these Pacific allies. Coincidently, the benefit is mutual with development capacity in COFA nations and preventative measures in the United States, as the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights reported more than $1 billion in costs associated with providing service to Micronesians for Hawaii and adjoining Pacific U.S. Territories (Rights, 2019)[7]. As the region faces growing geopolitical competition and climate change impacts, the SPP's role in fostering enduring partnerships takes on even greater significance. Strengthening ties and promoting shared goals, the SPP can contribute to a more comprehensive and coordinated U.S. approach in the Pacific, ensuring long-term sustainability and development in the region.

Lt Col Rimando is a graduate of the USAF Air War College and served on numerous State Partnership Program and Global Health Engagements with PACAF, the Hawaii Air National Guard, and the Hawaii National Guard. He is a Flight Surgeon, currently serving as the HING Task Force CBRNE Surgeon for the CERFP. He also works as a MEB Physician with Tripler Army Medical Center.

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[1] United States Department of Defense. (n.d.). State Partnership Program.

[2]  National Bureau of Asian Research. (2017). China's Belt and Road Initiative in the Pacific Islands: Assessment of key economic issues and priorities.

[3] Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. (2020). Communiqué of the 51st Pacific Islands Forum.

[4] Garamone, J. (July 19, 2023). Milley Touts Successes of Guard's State Partnership Program. DOD News.

[5] Brewington, L., Kokame, K., & Lewis, N. (2021). A Changing Climate and Its Implications for Health and Migration in the Pacific: Examples from the Marshall Islands. East-West Center.

[6] Hagiwara, M. K. (2016). Health disparities among Micronesians in Hawaii. Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 75(11), 325-329.

[7] United States Commission on Civil Rights. (2019). Separate and Unequal: Federal Protections and Enforcement in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.