Pacific Islands Society

PO Box 632 | Ebensburg, PA 15931 | USA

843.271.6891 ph pacificislandssociety.org web
Domestic Non-Profit Organization
Pacific Islands Society
Celebrates Second Anniversary -
Online user base continues to
grow as operations expand
Media Contact: Mr. Mohammad Tahboub
Published: September 1, 2014
Honolulu: Today, the Pacific Islands Society
(PacSoc) reached a major milestone reaching
over 2,000 followers on Facebook. The
grassroots nonprofit achieved this goal on the
very same day that it celebrated its second
anniversary. In less than two years, the
organization has grown into one of the largest
nonprofit communities serving the Pacific
Islands Region. In the year ahead, the
organization plans to dramatically expand its
operations, which requires strategic
partnerships with trusts, foundations,
corporations, and nonprofits committed to a
world that respects, inspires, and empowers
Pacific Islanders.
According to Michael Edward Walsh, the
President of the Pacific Islands Society, the
organization attributes its success to its
decision to focus on the next generation of
leaders on the Pacific Islands Region, When
we look at our online user engagement, it is
clear that three things really motivate our
community. The first are insights and analysis
provided by leading experts on political,
economic, environmental, strategic, social, and
cultural issues. On this account, we are no
different than a traditional think tank. It is our
young leaders programs and social media
outreach that really differentiate our
organization from others. Thankfully, we
continue to see a positive response to these
initiatives. This is what is helping to establish
PacSoc as one of the leading nonprofits
dedicated to the Pacific Islands.
Looking back on the last two years, three
initiatives stand out as major success stories.
The first is the launch of the organizations
annual ambassador speaking series. In 2013,
the event was held at SOAS, University of
London. Ambassadors and senior diplomatic
representatives from the United States, China,
New Zealand, Philippines, Fiji, Papua New
Guinea, Kiribati, and Taiwan provided their
insights and analysis on the theme of traditional
and non-traditional issues in the Pacific Islands.
The series attracted hundreds of students and
faculty. And, experts from around the world
continue to download and cite the remarks.
The second is the launch of the next generation
leader programs. So far, the organization has
developed three such programs. They include
the Pacific Young Leaders on Disarmament
(PYL-D), NexGen Security Scholars, and
NexGen Pacific Artists programs. To date, these
programs have featured young leaders from
American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Micronesia, New Zealand, Japan, and France
(New Caledonia). They have led to partnerships
with other organizations, including the
Federation of American Scientists, School of
Foreign Service (Georgetown University), and
Emerging Science and Technology Policy
Centre. And, they have provided young leaders
with the opportunity to be mentored by senior
leaders, including diplomats from the
Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva, United
States Mission Geneva, and United Kingdom
Mission at the United Nations Geneva.
The third is the organizations social media
outreach. Earlier on, PacSoc decided to
emphasize social media, specifically Facebook,
in its communications strategy. Through regular
updates about issues related to the Pacific
Islands Region, PacSoc has subsequently
nurtured one of the most active Facebook user
communities on the Pacific Islands. This has
helped the organization grow its user base in
the Pacific Island Countries. Whereas most of its
website users are from Australia, France,
Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Switzerland,
Taiwan, the United Kingdom, or the United
States, the vast majority of its Facebook users
are from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and other
Pacific Island Countries.
Press Release

Pacific Islands Society | Press Release | September 1, 2014
Pacific Islands Society
PO Box 632 | Ebensburg, PA 15931 | USA
843.271.6891 ph pacificislandssociety.org web
Domestic Non-Profit Organization
In the year ahead, the Pacific Islands Society
plans to significantly expand its operations.
Later this month, PacSoc will announce a fourth
next generation leaders program to provide
high school students with a platform to provide
their perspectives on non-traditional security
issues. PacSoc will also announce the 2014
ambassador speaking series scheduled for
December in London. And, PacSoc will start
providing regular policy briefs and commentary
from its staff and guest experts on a select set
of topics, including art and culture, climate
change, disasters, education, food security,
global powers, maritime security, natural
resources, public health, social inequity, and
trade and development.

To realize the goals outlined in its 5-Year
Strategic Plan, PacSoc will need to
development strategic partnerships with major
donors, including trusts, foundations,
corporations, nonprofits, and governments. To
do so, PacSoc recently appointed Keiko Ono as
its first Director of Development.

Paci fi c Isl ands Soci ety

The Pacific Islands Society is an independent,
non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated
to promoting stronger people-people relations
between the Pacific Island Countries and
beyond. Through its speaking series, cultural
events, and annual campaigns, PacSoc brings
together some of the regions most influential
minds to discuss major political, economic,
environmental, and social issues facing the
Pacific Islands all while celebrating the vibrant
cultures that make the region so unique and
valuable to the global community. For additional
information, visit www.pacificislandssoicety.org
and
http://www.facebook.com/PacificIslandsSociety.


Paci fi c Young Leaders on Di sarmament

The Pacific Young Leaders on Disarmament
Program provides the next generation of foreign
policy experts in the Pacific Islands with an
opportunity to make their voice heard on
disarmament. Participants work with mentors to
learn about how the Conference on
Disarmament (CD). The participants then draft
their own Statement to the Conference on
Disarmament. These statements provide their
personal views on how the CD could, in the
words of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,
better live up to expectations. For additional
information, visit
http://pacificislandssociety.org/programs/young
-leaders-on-disarmament/ and
http://pacificislandssociety.org/publication/horiz
ons/.

NexGen Securi ty Schol ars

The NexGen Security Scholars Program
provides post-graduate and research degree
students from the Pacific Islands Region with an
opportunity to make their voice heard on the
important issue of International Security and
the Pacific Islands. Selected scholars
contribute to the ongoing debate of international
security by producing policy briefs on a range
of traditional and non-traditional security topics.
For additional information, visit
http://pacificislandssociety.org/programs/pacific
-security-scholars/ and
http://pacificislandssociety.org/publication/secu
rity-scholars/.


NexGen Paci fi c Arti sts

The NexGen Pacific Artists program provides
young artists from the Pacific Islands Region
with a global platform to generate interest in
their work. From carving, painting, textile arts,
body ornamentation, ceremonial dress, music,
dance, to spoken word, the program aims to
celebrate all of the aspects that make this
regions art and culture so unique and
profoundly moving. For additional information,
visit
http://pacificislandssociety.org/programs/emerg
ing-artists/ and
http://pacificislandssociety.org/programs/emerg
ing-artists/virtual-galleries/.