28 May 2025, Apia - “Voices of the Pacific”, a film which spotlights the profound impact of plastic waste, sourced from foreign countries and choking our Ocean's arteries, earned widespread applause from Pacific countries following its world premiere at Apollo Cinemas in Samoa, Wednesday night.
Directed by Paul Donnelly and produced by April Howard of Rollingball Productions, with support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) through the European Union (EU) funded-PacWastePlus project, the film brings to the forefront the voices of the people of the Pacific, focusing on their community and village leaders who confront the daily realities of environmental degradation.
Every year, an estimated 8-10 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the Ocean, harming marine life, ecosystems, and human health. Despite Pacific countries contributing less than 1.3% to global plastic pollution, our Ocean is inundated with the bulk of the world’s transboundary washed-away plastics, which has serious negative consequences for our people.
The story behind “Voices of the Pacific” unfolds through the eyes of the children, who are the future custodians of their lands and waters. From the pristine shores of Fiji to the atolls of Kiribati, the film tells the story of how the plastic waste crisis threatens the Pacific’s way of life, contrary to the pictures of the region’s pristine waters, vibrant cultures and lush green landscape.
“Voices of the Pacific is our story,” said Acting Director General of SPREP, Ms Easter Chu Shing. “It is our demand to the international community to be seen, it is our clarion cry through the international halls of power ahead of confirming the Plastics Treaty about the truth of the crisis facing the planet – and the reality that the Pacific is at the frontline on this war for our future.”
The world premiere of “Voices of the Pacific” takes place on the margins of the inaugural Circularity, Innovation, Recovery, Culture, Learning, and Environment (CIRCLE) EXPO 2025 held in Samoa this week.
More than 120 delegates from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Tuvalu are taking part, showcasing activities and outcomes from SPREP-implemented waste management and pollution control projects.
On Wednesday night, the delegates put away their tools of trade at Taumeasina for a celebrity walk on the “red carpet of plastic” set up at the Apollo Cinemas for the world premiere.
The European Union (EU) funded-PacWastePlus project supported the creation of the film as part of their communication and visibility activities.
Head of Unit for the European Union Delegation to the Pacific, Mr. Maurizio Cian, said the EU was proud to support the development and release of the documentary, especially as Pacific countries prepare join the rest of the world at the next session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop a plastic treaty in Geneva.
“The European Union stands with the Pacific in its demands for an ambitious Treaty, that makes meaningful change, reduces plastic production, reduces plastic toxicity, and increases direct support to the Pacific recognising your Special Circumstances as Small Island Developing States,” said Mr Cian.
“With final negotiations occurring in August this year, the release of this documentary will help put a face to the issues, will show, beyond doubt, the real impacts of plastic waste on communities and frontline environments.
“On behalf of my Ambassador, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert, and my colleagues at the Pacific Delegation, we are grateful for the opportunity to support your voices being heard, your story being seen, and your experience being understood, by everyone, globally.”
For more information on the film, visit: https://www.voicesofthepacific.org/
The Circularity, Innovation, Recovery, Culture, Learning, and Environment EXPO 2025 also known as the CIRCLE EXPO 2025 is held in Apia, Samoa from 26 to 30 May.
It will showcase activities and outcomes from across our Pacific Islands achieved through the support of the Pacific – European Union (EU) PacWastePlus Programme, Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) project, GEF ISLANDS Project and JPRISM III.
The CIRCLE EXPO 2025 is attended by America Samoa, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Tuvalu.
It is funded by the Pacific – European Union (EU) Waste Management Programme, PacWastePlus, POLP, the Programme for Capacity Building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP MEA Phase 3), and SWAP.
For further information please contact: bradleyn@sprep.org
