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The challenges we face today are

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not confined to national borders.

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Pacific Islands
is taking a critical step to establish

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an Academy
of Sciences and Humanities.

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- The
Pacific Islands is the one region in

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the world
that does not have an Academy.

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- It's really
important for the Pacific Islands,

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particularly
in support of young scientists.

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- The Baivatu is one of
the traditional means of protecting

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shorelines.
So, it is like the first line of defence.

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So,

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establishing the Pacific Academy of

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Sciences is like the Baivatu.

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- Our local scientists
can come to a common place,

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discuss about the problems

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and work
together to meet those challenges.

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- Their advice,
their knowledge, their wisdom,

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their experience is key to finding

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solutions that work for them.

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- Now more than ever before,

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the Pacific
Islands has a mechanism to draw on

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its rich
and unique knowledge of our region.

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- You have a great
opportunity to steer this Academy,

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to be able to not
only serve the Pacific Island nations,

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but also the global community.

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- I have seen
first-hand how transformational

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it can be when
decisions are informed by evidence.

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- I'm really delighted
that this new Academy is going to

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join the
international society and is going

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to be a voice for and from the Pacific.

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- On behalf
of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation,

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I would like to
congratulate Pacific Islands scholars

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on the launch
of the Pacific Academy of Sciences.

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This is a momentous occasion.

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- I offer my warmest
congratulations to the newly elected

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Foundation Fellows
who have the important and historic

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opportunity to advance
the Pacific Academy of Sciences and

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give voice to science
in and from the Pacific Islands.

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- We share the same ocean.

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The moana is our home.

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We are its custodians.