12 June 2012: The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) announced the theme for this year’s Forum, “Large Ocean Island States – the Pacific Challenge.” Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, noted that Pacific countries are often described as small island developing States (SIDS) but that Pacific peoples also “are the stewards of the largest ocean on the planet,” and encouraged a shift away from the “small island mentality,” which does not portray the connection between people and the environment.

The Secretariat also launched the 43rd Pacific Islands Logo competition, organized around the same theme. The winning logo will be used to promote the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum, which will take place in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, the Cook Islands, from 27-31 August 2012. The competition is open to all residents of the Cook Islands and to all Cook Islanders living elsewhere. The competition will close on 22 June 2012, and the designer of the winning logo will receive a prize of NZ$500. [PIFS Press Release]