First let me state the issue. The impact of Fiji Christianity on the non-Christians in Fiji has been minimal despite the presence of Hindu and Muslim Indo-Fijians over a period of over 130 years. The picture is the same world wide. Christians often close their minds to people of other faiths yet live alongside them in their daily life. As Hans Ucko says, “Entering the church I leave my neighbor of another faith behind. I enter another world. When leaving the church, I join the other world again and see my neighbor standing outside. We do not really meet because our worlds do not.” (Hans Ucko Common Roots New Horizons, P.43).

Bula and very warm greetings to all WACC members and friends in the Pacific Islands and beyond.

Since our last Newsletter in January 2010, nothing much has taken place at the WACC – Pacific Secretariat here in Suva, Fiji apart from our visits to some organizations here in Suva.

The first round of Project Applications closed at WACC HQ in early April 2010 and it is encouraging to receive some enquiries from members in the Region.

Reception of the draft decree has been mixed. In Fiji, some say the decree is needed to promote a more responsible media. Some are reported to generally accept the decree but are concerned about how its powers may be used when politicians return to the scene in 2014. Others are concerned about how the military-led government will use these powers now. And others consider the decree, however used, is "draconian, oppressive [and] gives the State absolute powers of control.”