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BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:1351-2579@www.brot-fuer-die-welt.de
CLASS: PUBLIC
SUMMARY:Bougainville: The Next Independent State? Self-Determination, Extra
 ctivism, and Geopolitics in the South Pacific
DESCRIPTION:venue: Brot für die Welt, Caroline-Michaelis-Straße 1, 10115 Be
 rlin\n\nin cooperation with United Nations Association Germany and Pacific 
 Network\n\nThe South Pacific island of Bougainville could emerge as a new s
 tate within the next few years. In a referendum in 2019, 97.7 percent of vo
 ters in the Autonomous Region voted for the separation from Papua New Guine
 a (PNG). The Autonomous Bougainville Government and the PNG Government have
  agreed on a transition period during which substantial governmental powers
  will be transferred from the central to the sub state, eventually leading 
 to Bougainville’s full independence. While many issues remain unresolved, s
 uch an outcome would mark the culmination of a remarkably successful peace 
 process. International actors are now called upon to support this developme
 nt and accompany Bougainville’s quest to become the world’s next independen
 t state and 194th member of the United Nations.\n\nThe history of Bougainvi
 lle is closely tied to Germany's colonial past: from 1886 to 1914, the isla
 nd was part of German New Guinea. Bougainville’s incorporation into the Ger
 man colonial empire constituted the root cause of the independence conflict
  that would erupt decades later. In 1949, it became part of the Australian 
 colony of Papua New Guinea, which gained independence in 1975. Between 1989
  and 1997, a violent conflict broke out, claiming the lives of around 20,00
 0 people. The roots of the crisis lay in disputes over the operation of the
  Panguna mine, the world's largest copper and gold mine at the time. The Fe
 deral Republic of Germany was among the mine’s largest importers of copper.
  Due to the fighting, the mine was abandoned in 1989.\n\nWith this event, w
 e want to examine the key factors contributing to the success of Bougainvil
 le’s peace and independence process, highlight Germany's historical respons
 ibility, foster political dialogue with key actors, and encourage the Germa
 n government to engage more actively and responsibly in Bougainville. We in
 vite representatives from politics, civil society, and academia, as well as
  the interested wider public, along with high-ranking guests from Bougainvi
 lle, to discuss these crucial issues.\n\nWe will begin with several present
 ations on the history and current situation in Bougainville, as well as on 
 PaCSIA’s project work on the ground, and after a short break at 6:15 p.m., 
 we will move on to a panel discussion titled “Bougainville: Between Depende
 nce and Self-Determination.” The event will conclude with a reception start
 ing at approximately 7:45 p.m. \n\nThe event will feature simultaneous Germ
 an-English interpretation.\n\nPlease rsvp here. A detailed program will be 
 available shortly. \n\n\n\nWith:\n\nJames Tanis, President’s Legate for Int
 ernational Relations, Autonomous Government Bougainville\n\nBarbara Tanne, 
 President of the Bougainville Women's Federation (tbc)\n\nDr. Serge Loode, 
 Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Institute Australia (PaCSIA)\n\n
 Ellen Demuth MP, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee\n\nProf. Dr. Rafae
 l Biermann, Chair International Relations, University of Jena\n\nDr. Andrea
 s Prothmann, Former German Ambassador in Fiji and special envoy for the Pac
 ific Islands\n\nMartin Krieg, Brot für die Welt\n\nChristopher Brucker, Cha
 ir of International Relations, University of Jena\n\nCorinna Broeckmann, Re
 gional Officer for Oceania, Misereor\n\nAmelie Overmann, Advisor Peace and 
 Security, Brot für die Welt\n\nOliver Hasenkamp, United Nations Association
  Germany\n\nEckart Garbe, Pacific Network
DTSTAMP:20260821T055434Z
DTSTART:20261005T140000Z
DTEND:20261005T180000Z
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