Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Comhghairdeas, Ben. Found the last episode a bit emotional, as I spotted many of those whose visit coincided with mine. I think Shine was generally pretty fair and balanced in it’s treatment of all, but the conversation you and Lai had on that difficult evening need not have been shown. The point could have been equally well made without identifying anyone. What surprised me was the level of financial pressure the project was under, because it didn’t impinge on any of the members’ enjoyment of the experience during my time there. I think blissfully ignorant tribe members like myself wouldn’t have minded sharing some of the stress involved, perhaps during one of the Wednesday night forums, none of which were shown. Another thing I would have liked to have seen would have been the kava nights where tribe members and Fijiians knitted together pretty seamlessly. While the ‘one community’ aspect of the project was spoken about, I think it could have been shown to much greater effect. Although I must watch it again to give a more complete response. Vinaka for the opportunity.

I have been following the espisodes on tv in the UK, and at the start was really impressed with the concept and forward thinking with regards to the focus being on integrating the fijian community into the project as much as possible; especially from a sustainable eco friendly point of view. However, (and remember I am getting all my information via TV and this site) something really bothered me. This Fijian community has had hardly any contact with the outside world, and to see the tribe boozing it up till the early hours really bothered me. Look I can see that everyone is under huge pressure and the need the realease yourself from the project is needed from time to time, but the repurcussions of your action have, I beleive had a detremental affect on this project. To have the locals confined to “their part of the island” after dark so the Europeans can get on with boozing and partying is absolutley terrible; it looked like a backpackers with people drunk and disorderly, and no the eco-project this is supposed to be. As outsider making use uof the island, you need to control what the community is exposed to. I feel that Alcohol should be banned from the island, if you need to drink, pay one of the locals to take you to the main land, there you can go as crazy as you like. But to exclude the people that your are there to help, for your own pleasure, is not from what i’ve seen, what this project is all about.
These are my thoughts, and this coming from a person who makes his living as a Bartender…

Guy, this topic has been commented on before, but it bears repeating. First of all, despite the claim in the programme that there is some sort of curfew on the Fijians, there isn’t. It’s nonsense. It was suggested (by the Fijians) but it didn’t and couldn’t work. The Fijians and tribe members work togeher, and socialise together – usually around the kava bowl. As for alcohol, the idea that the tribe are regularly boozing it up until the early hours is very far from the truth. People wind down each evening round the campfire or round the kava bowl, and some will have a bottle or two of Fiji Gold or Fiji Bitter. Occasionally – very occasionally – some may have a few more. The same as the Fijians, who – while they may more usually prefer the narcotic high of kava – do drink alcohol. The idea that the Mali islands were some sort of alcohol-free zone before TW turned up is also nonsense. I won’t deny there has been the occasional problem – but no more than two or three times in the year and a half since Tribewanted arrived. It’s hardly an epidemic.
I’m glad you enjoyed the series – I’m just sorry that the impression you have got from it doesn’t bear much realition to the reality. Hopefully, you’ll find out more about the project and what it really is like from reading the forums and blogs on here.

Now what I really wanted to say was that I thought that as a whole the series was an accurate summary of the aims, achievements and obstacles that have faced the tribe over the first year. I do have my reservations about how some of the story was told – Simon from Shine knows this – but that may be me being a fussy BBC journalist. A couple of times, I think wrong impressions were created and assertions left unqualified while the documentary was trying to make a valid point about a particular issue. I personally wouldn’t have done it that way, but a documentary maker has to tell a story and they occasionally need to present that story in a way that fits with the dynamic of the narrative. Which is why episode 4 necessarily emphasised the various challenges and crises facing the tribe, before allowing us our happy “ending” in the last episode. I’m glad TW got Shine in to film the project – I thought that over the whole series, they did us proud.

Ben, is there internet connection now on the Island?

It is indeed most unfourtante that, to outside peeps who have never visited Vorovoro, that there appears to be a divide.
As a veteran (Sept 2006 & Sept 2007) visitor to Vorovoro I can assure you that the at times painfully obvious, in the TV series, divide is just not there.
Yes it is true that there are often separate “gatherings” (parties is too strong a term) – westerners around the camp fire with alcohol, Fijians, just short distance away around the Kava bowl. There would often be a free (and casual) exchange between both “gatherings” over an evening dependent on the personal choice of whomever at any given time.
I personally am a bit annoyed that with the conclusion of the TV series the level of integration between our two cultures was not better illustrated.
To see for yourself go the following:
http://tinyurl.com/2udtnq which is a pic on my last night on island Sept 2006
The full photo set on that amazing 3 weeks in Sept 2006 is here:
http://tinyurl.com/2edyhc

cheers Ben, huge admiration for what you went through, some of which i wasnt completely aware of. good series, stunning project.

................Thankyou.

SJ is coming to Vorovoro today and apparently has the whole docu in her hands!

Woohoo! Will be great to get to see it all and join the debate. Grog mat under the stars, computer and the excellent Canadian Tire boombox (big naka again Chris Marino) to boost the sound.

I’m rarely one to wish my days away, but bring on tonight!!!

I enjoyed it although agree there could’ve been a wee bit more balance and sensitivity to the perceptions of the Fijians..especially was interested in the actual sustainability/eco work that James started/improved upon as haven’t managed to find much about that on this site (but that’s mainly down to me not looking for it).

My digi-recorder box managed to miss off the last 5-10 mins. I assume the tax problems were sorted and Ben could actually leave Fiji in the end. Clearly the project is still running. I agree that the TV series (my only real source of info) perhaps tried to play up the “divide and booze” issue. After all, we all like a good drama and tragedy! One thing I never got in the series. Apparently Ben is from Plymouth?? He doesn’t sound like a fellow Janner !

As I saw all 5 episodes back to back all in one day I can only comment overall and now that I’ve seen it I have to say it was a great documentary of a smaller story within greater Tribewanted… but it didn´t tell the definitive story of Tribewanted.

How could it? In 45 minutes over 5 weeks?

They did a remarkable job with the plotline they chose to follow and I recommend them for it (Simon You’ve got a fan in me. You know that.)

But remember (this show) was their story, not “the” story.

This series used snapshots or “our lives” from this past year to convey as much of the scope of this broad project as they possibly could; while the themes were valid and each thing you saw indeed happened, it was not a FACTUAL representation of “how” it happened or “when”.

As you can see from Ben’s hair, images were used out of context and IMHO the ones that are most out of context are the ones that have drawn grossly unfair criticsm.

“Ye that´ve never gone to bed with dishes in the sink, cast the first stone.”

Rational minds will hopefully accept that Vorovoro does not have lights, is very dark at night, and is rocky in many places. What things don’t mix well? Alcohol+darkness+glass+rocks

...and the nearest hospital is an island away!!

The reason there are bottles in the morning from time to time is because that is the safest time to pick them up and bring them to the correct disposal areas. They dont lie there long, as life begins on Vorovoro with sun up.
It’s done purposeful with safety in mind as we don’t want broken glass that someone could get cut on especially when the hospital, church, and indeed the Fijians are ALL on another island.

If critics don’t like that explanation then they should join the tribe and offer a better alternative and then put it into action.

what a fantastic tv series. It left me wanting more and crazy to return as soon as possible. that’s what makes this project so special, you have to go to fully understand why everyone who goes becomes so emotionally attached to the island and the people that they meet there. If the project is at all critisised maybe those people should get off the sofa and go and see what the Island is really about, it’s about community, sustainability and culture not partying westerners and making a quick buck. You have truely created something special, Thank you for letting everyone share your dreams and in doing so become part of the tribewanted legacy itself.

As a newish member, I joined having seen a couple of episodes of the series and just before the episode with all the issues in it (epiode 4?). I think that it needs to be seen from a different perspective. I think if someone started a community like that in a lot of the ‘western world’ they would get none of the warmth, help and dedication shown to this project by the locals, and the fact that the issues were all aired at once, in 60 mins, when they occurred over many months, takes away from the astonishing accomplishment of this project as a whole…one dispute over pay, fairly settled, and one night where a few people drank too much? Thats nothing compared to any other community!! I think that the whole series was fantastic but that the thing that makes it so is the complete brilliance of the project…and anyone who is still cynical about being eco friendly or starting a business with the sole idea of helping people doesn’t belong here! To quote the master himself, “People just think we’re trying to make a quick buck out of them and it should be painfully obvious that we’re not.” I love it!!

Oh Fran Wyld do we love you!

Great series, very inspiring! Couldn’t agree more with Fran. Really looking forward to going to the Island and meeting everyone!

Bula Sia all. Loved the series. As a Fijian (living overseas) I am embarrassed that poor Ben spent the last few days in Fiji desperate to get out of it. Sorry that the crooked lawyer wanted $7K for writing a simple letter. Sorry that the taxmen ruined it for you. It’s obvious that they were misguided. What is not so obvious is why they had it in for this project. I really hope they have come to ‘see the light’ now. I love what this project can do for tourism in Fiji, take it in a new direction. Keep up the good work!