Life has continued for thousands of years, in a simplistic form, in the tropical islands of the South Pacific. Culture and tradition have been the rule of the village, where the people live very much hand to mouth, as the necessity arises.

However, these ancient indigenous communities are not protected from the abuse of International Property Rights, in the ever expanding cut throat scene of global commerce. The only way to stop the highway robbery is to look urgently and seriously to the educational needs of the next generation.

The very simplistic way of life of these people has preserved unique pockets of areas, untouched by modern civilization, that are a unique experience for the tourist  and a delight to the scientist.

A library of genetic markers, which will be used as a unique resource for ecologists and evolutionary biologists around the world, is currently being produced through an ambitious research program, on the picturesque tropical island of French Polynesia. It is a combined program between a United States Californian university and a French research institute.

Once such projects turn into profit, it is usually very little profit that finds its way down to the islanders, whose homes have been violated. One has only to look at the large diamond fields of the world to ascertain this.

Co-editor of the book, 'Pacific Genes and Life Patents', speaks of a high profile situation  where medical anthropologist, Carol Jenkins, who allegedly stole leukemia curing genes from the Hagahai people in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The United States, through its National Health Institute, patented the DNA cells, stamping ownership, without permission, upon something that belonged to a group of people and their unborn generations, with little recompense to the local people.

Neither the individuals, their communities, nor their government were informed of the project. When the Hagahai people objected, the US government said their claims were inconsequential.

The question, which is as old as commerce itself, is who should gain from the benefits of such projects? The company who found and researched the product, or the original owners of the source of the raw material?

History proves that such projects have not shown any kindness to Pacific islanders.

Mead says the indigenous people of the Pacific nations don't own anything, because property is owned by everyone in the group.  Culturally, individuals own nothing. To start to claim Intellectual Property Rights is to deny what is owned by everyone. "They don't own their bodies, the words they speak, their mind, the music they sing, or the myths and traditions they pass from generation. All these things form part of their heritage. Gifts and creativity belong to the next generation".

If money is owed to a nephew, the uncle has full right to claim some of it. Let a Pacific islander borrow a shirt and it is usually not returned. Not because they are trying to steal the shirt, but because of their simplistic inherent belief that wealth is defined by what they can give away. Their ability to play host, to be generous and give to others is a measure of their riches.

The idea of amassing wealth is foreign to these people. When the price of local grown commodities rise, due to rising food prices globally, the local people produce less. Once a villager has earned enough money to pay the school fees, buy clothing and a few basic supplies, there is no need to sell any more of their crop. When they are able to earn the same amount of money for less effort, why do anything more? They have no lasting dependence on a cash economy, though they do enjoy the limited benefits it gives them.

The majority of the population, particularly in rural areas, are unable to recognize potential commercial opportunities within their culture and capitalize on them. From metaphysics to blood cells, cultural expression to mineral rich volcanic ash, unique flora or fauna, unknowingly the Pacific islanders sit on a gold mine.

Education is an absolute necessity, if the younger generation of island people, who stand as a link to the richness of their traditional culture and partaking of the benefits of the 21st century. Only through education will they come to an understanding of how to protect their custom rights and privileges as well as maintain their island way of life, before their tropical island paradise is lost forever.

The message is clear for countries like the still underdeveloped tropical island nation of Vanuatu. The days of poorly educated politicians leaping on the Government gravy train and blundering their way through a few years of pocket-lining public office are over. There is a rising swell of opinion, demanding better education and health facilities, for all members of the community.