NEWSROOM: 30 September - 06 October 2007

Launch of Australian Human Rights Small Grants Scheme
06 October 2007 - Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

The Australian High Commissioner launched the next round of funding for the Australian Human Rights Small Grants Scheme at 9.00am on Thursday 4th October 2007.

A workshop was held at the Australian High Commission at Mulivai for participants from non-government organisations as well as the public sector.

According to the Australian High Commissioner, Matt Anderson, “the aim of the workshop is to help those organisations interested in applying for grants to understand the application process.”

“We want to encourage the best possible applications from Samoa,” Mr Anderson said.

“By explaining the process including the supporting information required, we hope to make it easier for applicants.”

The workshop covered the background and objectives of the scheme, as well as a detailed discussion of the application form and guidelines.

The grant commenced in 2005 and is a competitive fund accessible by Asia-Pacific countries. It is aimed at promoting and protecting human rights by providing small grants to locally based organisations in developing countries for activities that promote and protect human rights in a direct and tangible way. The scheme complements other often much larger interventions in the area of human rights implemented through the Australian Government’s bilateral and regional aid programs.

Samoa has successfully accessed the fund in the past. Mapusaga o Aiga from Samoa was a successful recipient of the scheme in 2005. The organisation has trained 20 human rights trainers who will carry out educational workshops throughout the country promoting human rights.

The workshop was open to all non government and public sector organisations interested in applying for this year’s grant.
 

Central Bank's second Deputy Governor appointed
05 October 2007 - Source: Central Bank of Samoa

The Central Bank of Samoa's Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Mr. Iosefo Bourne as the Central Bank's second Deputy Governor. The other Deputy Governor is Magele Filipo Penn.

Mr. Bourne has a Masters Degree in Economics and he has been working with the Central Bank of Samoa for a period of 22 years. For the past 13 years, he was the Manager of the Central Bank Research and Statistic Department.

In his new Post of Deputy Governor, Mr. Bourne will be responsible for Financial Markets, Research and Statistics, and the Banking and Corporate Services Departments of Central Bank.

Mr. Bourne is married to Mariana and they have six children.
 

SamoaTel donates $65,000.00 for Samoa Sevens
04 October 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

The Samoa Rugby Football Union (SRFU) got a boost to their bank account yesterday, receiving $65,000.00 from their major supporting partner SamoaTel, at SamoaTel's main building in Maluafou.

The money will go towards the Manu Samoa Seven-a-side rugby team, in preparation for the beginning of the International Rugby Board (IRB) 2007-2008 Sevens circuit, scheduled to start in the United Arab Emirate of Dubai in late November.

SamoaTel Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Johnston said that the cheque is to show their commitment to the development of rugby sevens in Samoa because they are aware of what Samoa sevens players are capable of, not only locally but also overseas.

SRFU General Secretary Wayne Schuster thanked SamoaTel on behalf of the Samoa Rugby Football Union.

"On behalf of the SRFU, I would like to acknowledge the financial assistance from SamoaTel, and for once again pledging their support for the sevens rugby in Samoa." Wayne said.
 

Samoa’s Council of Churches upset by visit from Scientologists
03 October 2007 - Source: Radio New Zealand Inernational

The chairman of the Council of Churches in Samoa, the Reverend Oka Fau’olo, has dismissed reports saying the Curch Concil is supporting a goodwill visit by Scientology representatives currently in the country.

The chairman says there is no need for Scientology ministers to work on behalf of the council, to provide disaster training and seminars for the public because there are other suitable organisations already in place, such as the local medical association.

Reverend Fau’olo’s comments were in response to a media statement issued by Scientology representatives last week who said the government and the council of churches have supported their presence in Samoa.

The chairman says Scientology is a secular organisation and he warns the public to be very cautious about what they teach.

However, the goodwill visit by Scientology ministers was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who met with the organisation’s representatives before he departed for the United Nations Assembly session last week.
 

Maintenance work scheduled for MV Nafanua
02 October 2007 - Source: Government Press Secretariat

The Police Patrol Boat, MV Nafanua, will depart the country for Fiji next week, following Cabinet approval for maintenance work to be carried out on her, scheduled to take place during the period, 01 – 31 October, 2007.

Maintenance work on MV Nafanua is carried out every two years and is co-funded by the Samoan and Australian governments.
 

Samoa restore world cup honour with win
01 October 2007 - Source: Samoa Rugby Football Union Press Release

Samoa walked away from their final world cup match with pride partially restored after beating the USA 25-21 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Wednesday.

The victory, their only one of the tournament, came as a much-needed tonic after their painful defeat to Tonga and an epic battle with England in Nantes last week.

"We definitely needed that as a team, to finish on a positive note. We didn't reach where we wanted to get to in this competition but at least we can leave on a high note," second row Kane Thompson said.

Samoa said they had viewed the USA as a team on the rise and one to fear, but the Eagles looked like they never really stood a chance in the first 40 minutes, going in 22-3 down at the break.

The USA began strongly in the second half, but Samoa's sheer physicality took its toll before the Eagles cut the deficit with tries by Takudzwa Ngwenya and Louis Stanfill.

"It was a great first half. They (Samoa) showed a glimmer of hope as to what they can achieve. I warned the boys that the US team has come back strong in every game they have played," Samoa coach La’auli Michael Jones said.

The USA's gutsy second-half performance was overshadowed by a serious neck injury to number 8 Fifita Mounga, whose first appearance at this world cup ended with him being taken off the field on a stretcher.

Mounga was taken to hospital for a scan, the outcome of which was not known late on Wednesday evening.

"It's always really scary. Your heart goes out to them. We lifted our game and all the scrums were especially for Fifita. It's hard because then you also have to turn your mind to the job at hand, but it's scary," USA prop Chris Osentowski said.

Samoa were minus the suspended Brian Lima, but the veteran took to the field once the match was over for a farewell tribute from his team-mates at the end of his record-breaking fifth and final world cup, following a 16-year international career.

The match was also Samoa coach La’auli Michael Jones' last.

"There's obviously disappointment that we couldn't get to the high levels of aspiration that we had set our sights on and that I still believe we are capable of," La’auli said.

The team arrived back in Samoa on Saturday, 29 September, 12.45am, aboard Air New Zealand flight NZ860.
 

EPC’s commitment to establishing renewable energy resources
30 September 2007 - Source: Electric Power Corporation Press Release

As part of its mission to provide affordable, safe and reliable electricity, EPC is committed to establishing renewable energy resources in Samoa. In June this year as part of the Upolu Wind Energy Assessment Project, a second wind monitoring station became operational on Upolu.

The Upolu Wind Energy Assessment Project is a collaboration between the Electric Power Corporation (EPC), the Government of Samoa, the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is funded by UNDP as well as the Government of Denmark (via UNEP and SOPAC).

EPC has provided substantial contributions to the project including manpower for project preparations, installation of the two wind monitoring stations and the regular downloading of data and technical site visits

The aim of the project is to assess the potential of wind power as a source of renewable energy. Renewable energy is the energy derived from regenerative sources such as the sun, wind, water and biomass. Employing these sources of energy has environmental, social and economic benefits that in the long term will be enjoyed by both EPC and the wider population.

One wind monitoring post at EPC’s Afulilo dam has been operational since November 2006 and a second post has now been installed at Aleipata. These posts are being used to collect data that will be employed in the assessment of the wind energy potential on Upolu. The first assessment will take place at the end of November 2007 when a year’s worth of data has been collected from Afulilo.

According to Thomas Jensen, Sustainable Energy Advisor for UNDP Samoa, “if the assessment documents a viable wind resource then the next step would be a comprehensive feasibility study assessing technical, institutional, environmental, social, economic and financial issues of wind power utilisation in Samoa”.

The project represents EPC’s continued focus on developing the use of renewable energy in the generation of electricity so to benefit the consumer in the long term. Increasing the uptake of local renewable energy resources will help Samoa to become less reliant on increasingly expensive imported oil and also establish a means of improving national energy security.

For further details and images please contact:
Lauren Cassar
Media, PR & Communications Trainer
Electric Power Corporation
E: lauren.cassar@epc.ws
Ph: +685 65 403
 

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