Interview with the new volunteer for VEPA

Can you introduce yourself?

I'm Marine Jourdren, I'm a 22 years old girl from France.


Why did you come here?

I wanted to do some volunteer work for the environment in the Pacific. I was interested in the waste management. I heard about VEPA on the internet and I had a good contacts with Don and Karen, so I decided to come to Tonga for a few weeks.

What do you do?

I'm a student in Political Sciences and Environment studies. During the last six months I did an intership for a Non Governmental Organization called OceansWatch, which dealt with Marine Conversation.


What interests you about the environment?

In France I lived near the sea and as I grew up I became more aware and concerned about environmental issues, especially about marine conservation, sea pollution and overfishing.

According to me, the protection of the environment is not only about protecting Earth species, but also and more importantly it is about ensuring the future of the populations who rely on these resources.

I can't help thinking the environment protection has two sides. One is specifically scientific and deals with nature conservation, endangered species, water and waste treatment etc... On the other hand, these scientific results can and must be integrated in human societies and politics to help for a better resources management. I find it really interesting to work in this in between because it drains lots of different stakeholders and when successful, it can help not only the environment but also to strengthen the social cohesion in a given community.

So how long you will be here in Vava'u?

For two weeks.

The First Recycling Bins

On Monday the 27th of June, we have installed the first three recycling bins in the 'Utukalongalu market. Karen's staff from dive Vava'u also put up good signs to make them visible. It is going quite well after a short period of time, people have started to use it.

The total cost for the 3 cages was TOP900, they are strong and robust.

There is a big concern about the market area, because there is a more rubbish being thrown around and there is a need to stop people from dropping litter. Hopefully these recycling bins will help us in minimizing the littering and pollution.

If this project is successful, we are planning to buy more bins and place them on more stations in town and other villages.

'I he 'aho Monite 17 'o Sune, na'e fokotu'u ai e ngaahi fuofua lisaikolo pini fo'ou 'e tolu 'i he 'Utukalongalu maketi. Na'e hanga foki 'e he kau ngaue 'a Karen mei he dive Vava'u 'o fokotu'u moha ngaahi faka'ilonga lelei mo mahino ki he mahino'i 'e he kakai, pea 'oku 'i ai foki 'a e fakalakalaka ke kamata ke ngaue'aki 'e he kakai 'a e ngaahi lisaikolo pini ko eni.

Ko e ngaahi lisaikolo pini foki ko eni 'oku fefeka 'aupito mo tolonga 'a ia ko honau mahu'inga na'e fe'unga faka-katoa moe pa'anga 'e 900.

'Oku 'i ai foki 'a e tokanga lahi ki he feitu'u 'Utukalongalu maketi, koe'uhi koe fakaveve noa'ia ko ia 'a e kakai, 'a ia 'oku 'i ai 'a e fiema'u ke ta'ofi kinautolu mei he fakaveve noa'ia. 'Oku 'i ai foki 'a e 'amanaki 'e tokoni lahi 'a e ngaahi lisaikolo pini ko eni ki hono fakasi'isi'i 'a e laku veve noa'ia pea pehe ki hono 'uliki hotau 'atakai.

'I he lava lelei ko ia 'a e poloseki ko 'eni, 'e 'i ai leva mo e ngaahi palani ke toe 'omai mo ha ngaahi lisaikolo pini fo'ou ki he ngaahi feitu'u loto kolo pea pehe foki ki he ngaahi kolo kehe.