Following his acclaimed Atlantic and The Men Who United the States, New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester offers an enthralling biography of the Pacific Ocean and its role in the modern world, exploring our relationship with this imposing force of nature.
Simon Chapple argues in a new @APEHR article that current estimates of pre-contact Māori population are too low. Pre-contact population >200K is a distinct possibility implying a more catastrophic pop decline in the Aotearoa NZ colonial era. https://doi.org/10.1111/aehr.12281
"An undersea plateau in the Pacific Ocean that is bigger than Idaho first started forming with volcanic eruptions during the Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago), and it is still growing today."
"Our understanding of early modern empire construction can thus be reshaped through an analysis that looks beyond intellectual, political and administrative origins towards the people who actually undertook the project of colonization. On the colonial frontier, we see European empires adopting military recruitment strategies from Europe — including forced conscription, convict transportation and a reliance on vagabonds and other ‘undesirables’ — yet the unique environment of the frontier changed the nature of this military service."
"Our understanding of early modern empire construction can thus be reshaped through an analysis that looks beyond intellectual, political and administrative origins towards the people who actually undertook the project of colonization. On the colonial frontier, we see European empires adopting military recruitment strategies from Europe — including forced conscription, convict transportation and a reliance on vagabonds and other ‘undesirables’ — yet the unique environment of the frontier changed the nature of this military service."
Evan Hadfield overhearing a Chinese delegate discussing a backroom deal with a Micronesian governor in a rundown restaurant so they can co-opt the island federation in China's upcoming invasion of Taiwan. Yes you read that right. This is the kind of serious, realpolitik entertainment that only the Internet can surface for our viewing pleasure.
"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
The #BashiChannel between those islands and #Taiwan is considered a choke point for vessels moving between the western #Pacific and the contested #SouthChinaSea. The Chinese military regularly sends ships and aircraft through the channel, Taiwan's defence ministry has said. #China#WestPHSea
EU concludes Africa-Pacific treaty after Poland drops veto
More than two years of delay in ratifying the new EU treaty with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries ended on Thursday (20 July) after Poland confirmed its approval of the agreement.