Fijian Customs and Culture EBook

 Fijian Customs and Culture – A Brief Guide & Handbook 

by Sai Lealea

Throughout this book the term Fijian refers to the indigenous people of Fiji.

For any one wishing to gain a general understanding of Fijian Culture and Customs, it can be a challenge finding useful information or guide as what to learn in order to be able to conduct oneself when amongst the people of Fiji.

As a Fijian, I know I have always been keen to have an accessible handbook from which I could quickly glean and learn the basics about my Fijian culture, especially those elements that form part of everyday life. 

In my work, I have often been approached to provide advice, deliver language lessons and presentation on Fijian culture or translate Fijian materials. I have been fortunate to have learned and lived my culture all these years and am now keen to share it with those wishing to gain some basic understanding.

That is the aim of this book:

• to show you how to get started in developing a basic and general understanding of key aspects of Fijian culture and customs. It is not intended as a comprehensive guide but enough to be able to gain an appreciation of its importance and significance to Fijians.

In this book I have attempted to bring together and summarised materials that are contained in various publications into one to serve as a guide and handbook.

It is my hope that with the topics covered in this book, those of you interested in learning and understanding Fijian culture and customs will at least have access to material that would come in handy and useful. 

Topics covered include the following:

• I Cavucavu ni Vosa Vakaviti - Pronunciation

• Vula Vakaviti - Fijian Calendar

• Wiliwili Vakaviti - Fijian Numbers

• A I Cavuti – Chiefly Titles for Province and District

• Na I Vosavosa Vakaviti – Fijian Idioms and Proverbs

• Etiquette for Visiting a Fijian Village

• Useful Resources

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How to be a Dictator : The Bainimarama Dictatorship in Fiji

 

A dictator is a job for life. If you retire you will face certain trial for the crime of treason and other related offences

This E-book is about the Bainimarama dictatorship in Fiji. It is a brief attempt to describe and understand it along a number of features consistent with;

• how dictatorships begin
• how they forcefully sustain their rule; and 
• attempt to prolong it, to stay in power illegally and rule over the people and country.

A dictatorship is one of the most harmful types of governments, as it leaves the power in the hands of a very few number of people, who use that power for their own personal motives. 

They often seize power illegally using force and weapons. More often, it is the military that carry out the illegal takeover of power from elected governments by virtue of their possession of weapons and personnel under various pretexts.

This was certainly the case in Fiji on December 5^th 2006, when the military under its commander, Frank Bainimarama, removed the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in a coup. Since then, Fiji and its people have been ruled by a military dictatorship. 

To remain in power, force has been widely used to suppress and curtail personal freedom and the rights of citizens. Physical abuse, torture and deaths have resulted in a number of cases. Significant changes have been carried out in the institutions of government and public service. The rule of law has been eroded and citizens face ongoing restrictions in how they live their lives. It is far cry from the aspirations of Fiji’s population to live and be governed by a government of their choice and where the rule of law applies to all.

When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right.

Victor Hugo 

Bainimarama and his supporters are now attempting to introduce a new constitution that strengthens their position and ability to continue to intervene in the future political affairs of Fiji. A new electoral system is to be developed and to endear themselves to the people, generous social welfare spending and an extensive capital works programme are underway. This has largely been funded with loans from overseas countries further adding to the level of indebtedness.

Anywhere, anytime ordinary people are given the chance to choose, the choice is the same: freedom, not tyranny; democracy, not dictatorship; the rule of law, not the rule of the secret police.  

Tony Blair

In foreign relations, suspension of membership from longstanding associations has necessitated the establishment of new alliances. Relations have been established with nontraditional and far-flung nations, some with unsavoury reputation such as North Korea and Cuba, while China and India have been heavily courted for funding and aid assistance.

No government or civilization will last forever. When the people realise you are the cause of their misery and hardship, you don’t have much longer.

Read about it all in this E-Book!

Price:  $6.99 US 

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WATCH VIDEO OF PROTEST AGAINST BAINIMARAMA DICTATORSHIP IN WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - 15 MARCH 2013.

Doing Business in China - My Personal Experience

"Doing business in China has been for me, always frustrating, generally unprofitable but curiously enjoyable.  Part of this has been the warmth of the Chinese people, but I suspect most of it is due to my own sense of humour, which has been my weapon against low spirits in times of adversity.

But the fact remains that China will be the most important economy in the 21^st century.  Perhaps it will not be the largest (although that seems likely) but it will be the economy that will determine business futures in so many areas.  Once that proposition is accepted, it is almost inevitable that business in China ought to be considered.  But it will represent a challenge.

The starting point of any business challenge is to understand what you are getting yourself into.  But this is a “How to” guide, so once that background on China and the Chinese is delivered my intention is to give some pointers on how to do business there or with them.

This text is based on my personal experience rather than research or the collected stories of others.  Some of the lessons that I have taken on board have been hard learned, at personal cost – always the most indelible rote. " 
by Peter Marriott

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"HOW TO DO BUSINESS IN CHINA"!

PRICE = $2.99US