The Rising Tide: Among the Islands and Atolls of the Pacific Ocean

by Tom Bamforth

Vanuatu. The Cook Islands. Fiji. The names evoke white-sand beaches, swaying palms and lazy holidays. But in reality, these idyllic places are tropical maelstroms of global realpolitik, caught between the world’s superpowers, former colonial masters and tin-pot despots. Collectively the Pacific nations, which form one third of the globe’s surface area, are one of the most strategically important regions in the world – for military might, for energy security and geopolitical borders. Even more importantly, these nations are at the frontline of climate change, as rising sea levels, salinity, cyclones and pollution put their very existence at stake.

Using his extensive personal experience in the Pacific, Tom Bamforth shows us the people of the islands, their cultures and how they live in these remote and increasingly challenging places. From uprisings in New Caledonia to tsunamis in Tonga, this is a book about interaction, race, colonisation, climate change, nuclear testing, resistance, cultural preservation, urban life, the tastiness of well roasted pig, and the pleasures of canoeing at dusk. It is sometimes said that the Pacific is to the contemporary world what the Mediterranean was to the ancients and what the Atlantic was to the twentieth century. The Rising Tide, then, is a journey into the ocean of the future.

With humour and insight, Tom Bamforth presents both an insider's and an outsider's view of life in the Pacific, rendered in vivid detail and colour. Gripping and beautifully written, The Rising Tide masterfully weaves the stories of people at the forefront of global change around a broader narrative of political mismanagement, culture, diplomacy and identity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Current Affairs

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2019

Reviews

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average survey, with little actual insight for those well versed in the Pacific or Pacific issues. Potentially good for those new to the area or merely curious for a few (of the authors self indulgent) stories.

[Aylssa Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lived on Majuro in the Marshall Islands for a year (2010-11) and this book evoked memories of spam, eccentric characters, ridiculous situations and the kindness of Pacific islanders. I loved the details of the interaction between the author and the people who lived on each of the islands he visited and the richness of the detail in which he finds himself. It was also lovely to hear the words of my ex-boss Alson throughout the book. Less of a travel-log than The Happy Isles of Oceania, there is some commentary on climate change and disaster management, but if the latter is what you are after you will be a bit disappointed. Reading it has made me Google jobs in Oceania and long to return.

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5? 4? enjoyed reading this but found it a bit of a slow read/struggled to get into it. it also definitely wasn't what i was expecting, but i don't think that's a bad thing - it was a lot more exploring his day-to-day while being there rather than the info dumping of history/facts/theory i was expecting! having read it, i do like that it was't just facts etc, but i with we'd gotten more of this to provide more context/knowledge. i definitely still learned a lot though and it was a great intro to this area of the world! it was eye-opening to see how people live in these areas, as i knew pretty much nothing about these areas (hadn't even heard of more than half of the countries he visited) before reading this book)

some stuff that stood out to me/were interesting to learn more about:
- the presence of the US military in the marshall islands - recruiting islanders, the segregation in how the islands v americans live
- the nuclear testing done in these islands
- the presence of religion in these areas also e.g., at the psychiatric hospital
- just how different the lives are of these people, in ways that i can't really comprehend, even though i've travelled to remote villages/slums/developing countries etc

[Robert Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book during the first semester of my Masters while studying the unit ‘Climate Change, Justice & Sustainability’ and thought it would make a helpful addition to the prescribed texts, especially given I was (and still am) living and working in the Solomon Islands. This collection of stories from around the island nations of the Pacific is an engaging read, highlighting the impact of climate change, aid and development, political unrest, colonialism, nuclear testing and other sustainability challenges. Other readings and subsequent units left this book half read, until my final unit ‘Community Development’ three years later. I am glad I picked it up again, as the final chapters have serendipitously provided a fitting end to my study of ‘Transformational Development’ through relatable stories that intersect with much of what I have learned and experienced firsthand.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this book quickly rebranded in light of the pacific forum? I had hoped for a concise look into the issues facing the pacific but I suppose it can be summed up in 2 images, rising seas & hurricanes. This is like a travelogue, not a deep dive into what is happening & how Australia can help. It's kind of saying they don't want aussie help with strings attached, as all aid that doesn't have strategic benefits for Australia has been cut. Fair enough but this book meanders around the topic without really nailing it. I also wanted to know how long pacific communities have before enforced migration but I suppose no-one can really answer that. But what plans are in place? This book doesn't really attempt to answer questions like that, it's more of an introduction to the region.

[Lee Belbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started slowly, but the cameo observations of a goodly number of Pacific island communities evolved into an educational (and interesting) story with some common elements (e.g., pollution, diet). A snapshot in time, with some historical context: "But things are changing, and low-lying islands states face an uncertain future. The Pacific is, as traditional navigator Alson Kelen told me, ‘where the nuclear age meets the climate change age’. Now the site of global contestation, the Pacific’s island societies are at once an example and a warning".

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful. Tom Bamforth shared with us his views gathered from interviewing many people during his extensive travel.