I. CRISIS TO VICTORY
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The people of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands have the same needs and are facing
the same problems as the whole of humanity. The problmes facing the
global community such as economic instability, environmental degradation,
and the extremes of wealth and poverty also face the Marshall Islands.
This circumstance of shared crisis is truly an historic moment that
offers the potential for great victories. The status quo has been
proven inadequate to the quickly changing conditions of the world.
Change is necessary. These problems can only be solved by united action
by all members of society as they offer their own skills and experiences
to this vast project. This unity is the largest and most difficult
step of all. And it is only through unity, not in conformity but in
diversity, that change can be embraced. |
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II. THE PACIFIC GATE
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The Republic of
the Marshall Islands, as one of many Pacific states in crisis, has
an opportunity to lead the way to a lasting prosperity. It can become
a gate in the Pacific through which the others are led to confront
their crises and reach to victories. Because of its relatively small
population it can change quickly, if there is a will to. There are
two major goals for this Pacific Gate Institute. The first goal is
to provide a model for other development pojects through practical
application of the principle of unity. The model must be flexible
enough to be adapted to the needs of diverse circumstances and sustainable
so that the benefits are not cut off suddenly. This model will ensure
lasting benfit beyond the life and scope of any particular project.
The second goal is to provide an arena to develop progressively the
skills of consultationin the Marshallese people. These skills, both
material and spiritual in nature, are necessary for the establishment
of lasting unity. These goals can be addressed by activity in three
major arenas: economic, educational, and entertainment. Large numbers
of opportunities can be discovered and acted upon in each of these
arenas, particularly if a global perspective is used. As an institute
this project is freed from the immediate and cyclical cares of politics
and transcends the limited arena of business, yet it can bring both
disciplines to bear on problems. |
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III. GLOBAL BUSINESS, DIGITAL METHODS
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The most direct
route to economic prosperity is through the economies of the globe.
Huge amounts of human and financial resources are moving in other
nations and between nations. The Marshall Islands can become a magnet
that will attract these resources. In the past, the means to do this
have been limited to various forms of physical transport that tend
to be slow and expensive,putting small Pacific nations at a disadvantage.
In this old model, tourism is the best prospect for attracting these
resources to a small island. But now there is a fantastic explosion
going on. Electronic communications move these resources thousands
of times faster and at a fraction of the cost. This is the digital
method. For a nation whose fastest growing resource is its human
numbers, global business with digital methods is perhaps the most
significant conjuction that fortune can give. This is not to say that
tapping these resources will be easy. This country is in crisis and
part of that crisis is in the education of its youth. Some number
of these youth, however small, must be educated in digital methods
so that the Republic can tap these vast global resources. These youth
will then be empowered to work in this age of information.
Digital methods allow two very significant
forms of global business to form. The first is the world wide partnership.
Using digital methods, collaborations on an undreamed of scale are
possible. More modestly, smaller businesses here on th Marshall Islands
can gain acess to larger markets, better sources of information, and
many other things that are not quickly accessible or are completely
unavailable locally. The second form of global buisness is the digital
cottage industry. The skills, the culture, and the physical environment
are a legacy of the Marshallese people that in various forms can be
sold digitally to the rest of the world. |
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IV. GLOBAL EDUCATION, DIGITAL CLASSES
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One of the foundations of unity is
education (see part VI). Thus, in order to establish a lasting unity
that involves all citizens, they all need to be educated. The Marshall
Islands needs universal education. In order to do well in the global
scene, people need not just any education, but a cosmopolitan, global
education. The Marshallese need to be exposed to the ideas, sciences,
the philosophies and the arts of many different cultures, not just
the current bombardment of advertising and movies that comes from
America. Because not everyone has the same interests, traditional
approaches to education through schools, though they have advantages,
are not capable of supplying this global education. The people of
the Marshall Islands need flixible access to information - the information
that they as individuals want. This can be easily accomplished through
noew digital tools - the digital classroom becomes possible. The
digital classroom is not like the old classrooms. Its most significant
difference is that it does not need a location where a teacher lectures.
Students and teachers are separated, people become students without
knowing it, and teachers without meaning to. Everyone participates
in information production and consumption. It becomes possible to
do effective distance education. A student on a small atoll can
stay there to help the family but at the same time tap into even
degree programs from universities all over the world. Universities
and colleges which are often characterized by a community feeling,
can be moved onto the Internet, maintain that community and at the
same time vastly increase accessibility. In a more limited form,
but again quite effectively, programs can be offered over television
as long as they do not require immediate interaction.
The participants in the initial project
of the Pacific Gate Institute will be aware that their efforts are
subsidizing a more general access to the information flowing through
the internet. This information covers all manner of social, scientific,
religious, artistic, educational, economic, entertainment, and consumer
oriented topics. Access might be provided through the College of
the Marshall Islands or the University of the South Pacific initially,
but could eventually become more public, possibly by funding a public
computer lab or individual public omputer terminals on Majuro and
the outer islands. Other means of serving the public should be considered.
This public service feature is a necessary ingredient to the success
of the project as it will provide a clear expression of the participants
desire for the advancement of the Marshallese people.
The participants need a strong education.
A cooperative program with the College of the Marshall Islands and/or
the University of the South Pacific could be established to provide
the necessary resources for the training of prospective participants.
Such a program of study would likely be very intensive and last
for two years or more. In return, these institutions could be provided
with access to computing and information resources they might otherwise
be lacking. Even if such an agreement is not possible, some formal
education is necessary if the technical training period occurring
once the project is established is to remain of reasonable duration.
Primarily a strong background in English and mathematics are required
but computer experience is also essential. It may be possible to
establish long-term measures by including some computer exposure
in high-school and elementary school. Other arrangements with educational
institutions must be considered to establish a long-term, mutually
beneficial relationship between the Pacific Gate Institute and the
community at large.
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V. GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT, DIGITAL DREAMS
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Although it has
not been emphasized yet, one of the most amazing things about the
digital realm is that it blurs the distinction between consumers and
producers. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the realm of entertainment.
On the Internet, entertainment is a high priority. But entertainment
is produced by individuals much more than before: music, art, animation,
stories are all to be found and more. Anyone with access can make
a digital dream that is available to others around the globe. In many
instances this happens spontaneously. Part of the reason people can
do this is because it is very easy to digitally recycle old media.
A short clip from an old television show can become the seed for a
stunning social commentary. A photograph in a magazine can be used
to illustrate part of a story. As well, much of the entertainment
is really "infotainment": real facts being effectively learned
because they are presented as entertainment. The initial project of
teh Pacific Gate Institute will not have to much to do with these
digital dreams. Perhaps the participants will individually delve into
this arena. The real importance of global entertainment is as the
tie between global business and global education. Entertainment is
a profitable means of transmitting information. People learn much
about other cultures from entertainment. This knowledge contributes
significantly to the development of unity in diversity and the elimination
of prejudices. Eventually the Pacific Gate Institute will need to
initiate projects to further develop the participation of the Marshallese
people in the arena of global entertainment. As an example, Marshallese
people could be sponsored to go to various training grounds of the
entertainment business such as Disney Studios or Lucas Film in the
United States. |
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VI. UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY
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Unity depends on
a foundation of justice if it is to avoid the trap of simple conformity.
Justice is the search for truth, not merely a system of prosecution.
The search for truth must be conducted through consultation if it
is to avoid unsatisfactory compromise, fruitless negotiation or the
excesses of egotism. Consultation cannot be conducted without knowledge
and compassion and so it depends upon material and spiritual education
and access to information. And both education and access to information
depend upon economic means. These social and spiritual skills will
be developed in the context of a business enterprise which will provide
the economic means as described above. A new model of business management
must be learned and applied that is different from the obviously deficient
hierarchical model used to benefit only the few richest interests.
This new model is the consultative model with all its implications
of search for truth, idealism, honesty, courtesy, compassion, patience,
and unity. The participants in such a project must be committed. Consultation
is essential to engage a commitment that is not just mercenary, but
heart-felt. Management of this business requires some experience in
regular business management. However, it is critical that this normal
management does not overshadow the application of spiritual principles
to practical modes of operation. |
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VII. MEMBERS AND MEMBER GROUPS
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Having membership
in the Pacific Gate Institute accomplishes two purposes. First, a
wide membership increases the diversity of ideas that can be considered
by the Institute and furthers the goal of united action. Secondly,
the some of the membership will be able to provide financial resources.
Both groups and individuals must have the opportunity to become members,
and membership should not be limited to the Marshall Islands. For
example, member groups could come from: the governments of Pacific
Rim countries, educational institutions, financial institutions, and
various language groups. Individuals who wish to be members could
be the people of the Marshall Islands and accomplished individuals
in business, arts and entertainment, and education. These examples
are not meant to define the limits of membership but to give some
idea of the diversity that is possible.
At its initiation, the first project
of the Pacific Gate Institute should have a participation of six to
ten individuals. This range provides enough human resources to take
on small and medium size projects but not so many that management
through group consultation is impracticable particularly when the
skills have not been fully practiced yet. As the project progresses,
membership may change in both composition and size: participants may
wish to take what they have learned and apply it in a new situation.
This process of "graduation" must not be stifled. In fact, under appropriate
circumstances, it must be encouraged in order that the participants
may take their skills to other parts of the community, and so that
new participants can begin their own educational process. The participants
of this project should not be confused with the members of the Pacific
Gate Institute, though of course they should be welcome to become
members. |
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VIII. PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
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The participation
of women is absolutely essential to the success of this project. As
the first educators of the next generation, women can most easily
pass on the skills of consultation and the model of unity to those
who in the future will be the caretakers of society. The participation
of women is one of the surest means of accomplishing both of the primary
goals of the Pacific Gate Institute. |
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IX. FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS
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Funding is necessary
to bring such a project into being. Financial support may come from
member groups, cultural agencies, foundations, government and revenue.
For the initial project, initial funding is necessary, but funding
is meant to be phased out in three distinct stages approximately four
years after the commencement of the project. In the first stage, the
initial project will be entirely dependent upon this funding while
the final training of the participants is provided for. It may be
necessary to bring in some outside expertise to complete the training.
The second stage involves providing computing services for the local
community. As an example, the project could provide troubleshooting
and training for the computers in the various schools on Majuro. This
second stage is meant to be short and cannot be expected to provide
a large amount of income to the project. It is necessary to go through
this stage to build the confidence and test the skills of the participants.
Providing services to the world at large constitutes the third stage
in its development and is where vast financial opportunity awaits.
After this stage, the project will be financially independent and
the participants will be mature enough to manage it independently. |
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X. VISION
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The Pacific Gate
Institute is a long term project meant to benefit the Marshallese
people, and therefore all of humanity. It should be thought of in
terms of not just months and years, but generations. Of course it
is impossible to forecast what form it will take in the distant future.
But that very uncertainty is one of the strongest reasons that it
must take on a spiritual dimension. Only through unity, justice, consultation,
education and economic activity can it be sustained through the changes
and chances of a tumultuous age. |
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