The philosophy of Free on the Internet meshes nearly perfectly with some of the core tenets of community and kastom. Vanuatu, with its natural bounty, has long traded in a gift economy. Traditionally, a person’s rank in the community is measured in terms of the wealth they can bestow on others.

But how do we translate a decidedly rare resource like pigs into Internet terms? Wisdom, insight and information all fit the bill. Specialised knowledge, expert insight and that rarest of rarities, true wisdom will always be in short supply. By developing an online culture where this knowledge is shared and applied responsibly, we can transpose one of the most desirable aspects of real-world Vanuatu onto its virtual counterpart.