NEWSPAGE 22 February
2010

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

NEW ZEALAND: Countdown begins for Pacific Youth and Sports Conference

(Photos: Polynesian Xplorer)

SAMOA: Judo & Aleipata - unexpected surprises
Source: Polynesian Xplorer Press Release

The tsunami that hit Samoa destroyed five schools - directly affecting almost 1,100 children and destroyed or swept away resources in many others.

Many classrooms, toilet blocks and portable water facilities were completely destroyed, with debris such as glass and steel strewn about making it too dangerous for even temporary learning spaces to be run on site.

Members of the judo community around the world donated books, stationery and sports gear to make a contribution into the lives of some of the children affected by this tragedy. On Tuesday 16th of February Toshio Suzuki (Judo Association of Samoa (JAS) Technical Director & Treasurer), Brandon Sefo (JAS member), and Janita Adams (Polynesian Xplorer) had the privilege of gifting these donations to Vailoa and Ulutogia Primary Schools from the district of Aleipata.

The 85 students and 3 teachers based at Vailoa Primary School have new school buildings and despite the fact that they don’t have enough chairs or desks right now, they were very excited to receive the sports gear and books.

Ulutogia Primary is a small school of 67 students with two teachers who were part of a fruit tree planting initiative in November 2009 in association with JAS, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment. Representatives from Judo Federations around the world including the USA, China and Canada planted a selection of local fruit trees leaving a legacy for future generations.

Both schools received a large selection of nearly 600 ‘Ready to Read’ books at various reading levels which were donated by Windsor Primary School in Christchurch. Sports gear kits were made up of tennis balls, frisbees, hoops, bouncing balls and rugby, volley and soccer balls.

The staff and students were all very excited and eager to use their new sports equipment and read their new books as soon as possible.

Our thanks goes out to Moana Petaia ACEO, School Operations Division, MESC, and Fa’asi’i Siatu’u, Aleipata School Review Officer for organising the visit, and of course the generous hearts that donated supplies and finances for this project.

JAS looks forward to being a part of many more projects to support communities in Samoa.
 

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Year 7 & 8 students from Vailoa Primary excited about their new sports gear with SRO, staff, JAS representatives and the school principal, Mrs. Fa’atuiese Uiva.

Photo 2 - Ulutogia students can’t wait to using their new sports gear and read their books with staff, JAS representatives and the school principal, Mrs. Luafiti Tuula.

Photo 3 - Principal of Ulutogia Primary School, Mrs. Luafiti Tuula with one of the thriving fruit trees donated by the Ministry of Agriculture.
 

(Photo: Australian High Commission)

AUSTRALIA: Australia gives $2.3 million to tackle climate change in Samoa
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

Australia has given Samoa $2.3 million (A$1.150 million) as a first tranche of funding to help tackle the impacts of climate change over the next six years.

Australia’s assistance will support Samoa’s coordinated approach to monitor the impacts of climate change on health, agriculture and food security, develop adaptation measures for vulnerable communities, including coastal infrastructure and development of early warning systems and to develop viable options for clean and renewable energy.

The funding is delivered under the Samoa-Australia Partnership for Development. Head of AusAID in Samoa, Ian Bignall, officially handed over the funding to the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Taule’ale’ausumai Tufuisa’a La’avasa Malua today (February 17, 2010).

“Samoa, like many countries in the Pacific, is very vulnerable to the impact of climate change, given the rising sea levels, flooding, coastal erosion and fragile ecosystems. With this support from Australia, we can take positive steps to manage these impacts for the future development of Samoa and improved livelihood of all Samoans.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Samoa, I extend my thanks to Australia for this additional funding and for its ongoing commitment to help Samoa deal with the impacts of climate change.” said Taule’ale’ausumai Tuifuisa’a La’avasa Malua

Mr Bignall said the climate change funding is the first of many of the activities starting this year from the new Samoa-Australia Partnership for Development which will make a difference to all Samoans.

“Through this new partnership, Australia is providing more long term and effective aid to Samoa to make more rapid progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” Mr Bignall said.

“In addition to tackling climate change, support is also being provided to private sector growth and employment (including agricultural development and regional economic integration) and improving health, education and governance.”
Mr Bignall said the climate change funding follows the $800,000 (A$400,000) grant given in 2008 to the UNDP’s Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program to support community based activities in Samoa to reduce the climate change impacts on ecosystems and livelihoods.

The new agreement supports core activities identified in Samoa's National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), including:

- further development of climate change monitoring early warning systems,
- zoning and strategic planning,
- surface flood adaptation, including a national strategy for surface flood adaptation and pilot to manage surface floods in Apia urban area,
- forest fire prevention including upgrade of national climate system to support early warning in the water, forest and tourism sectors,
- sustainable tourism adaptation including a national strategy, capacity building in tourism infrastructure environmental impact assessment, standards for tourism services and pilot to offset carbon emissions from visitors travelling to Samoa, and
- technical assistance to assess the feasibility and then construction of a biomass gasification plant to produce clean and renewable energy.

The breakdown of the $2.3 million funding includes:
• $1.5 million - for the implementation of the NAPA 4 priorities - Integrating climate change risks into the land-use planning, water, forestry and tourism sectors,
• $500,000 - for implementation of the Biomass Gasification Pilot Project,
• $200,000 - for supporting sustainable and coordinated financing for climate change adaptation, and
• $100,000 - for capacity building and increasing climate change awareness and technical understanding, especially across government.

During the next 12 months, the Samoa-Australia Partnership for Development supports five mutually agreed priority areas to:

• Promote private sector growth and employment with an emphasis on agriculture and fisheries, regional economic integration and trade liberalisation, economic infrastructure and lowering costs of doing business,
• Improve health by supporting the reduction of non-communicable diseases and workforce development in the health sector,
• Improve education by supporting equitable access to and quality of education including disability services,
• Improve governance through public sector improvement, greater public financial management and strengthening statistics and data on development and governance indicators, and
• Provide climate change assistance to support Samoa monitor the impacts of climate change, provide adaptation measures for vulnerable communities and develop viable options for renewable energy.

A sixth priority area, strengthening law and justice, is currently being developed.

Australia is one of the largest development partners to Samoa, providing more than $74 million (A$37 million) every year to support activities that deliver benefits to all Samoans. Australia also provided SAT$24 million (A$12 million) towards the recent tsunami relief and rebuilding efforts.
 

Photo Caption: CEO of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Taulealeausumai Tuifuisaa Laavasa Malua with AusAID's Ian Bignall.
 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Chancery plans under way
Source: Solomon Star via The National

Once the two chanceries in Solomon Islands and PNG are completed, the relationship between the two border-sharing countries would improve markedly.

PNG High Commissioner Aiwa Olmi said the chancery would see officers working with their Solomon Islands counterparts on border related issues.

“We will have officers like police, customs and immigration representatives and border development will also take place,” he said.

Mr Olmi said he was particularly pleased with the Government’s commitment to the issue.

The Government has now expended its border development authority with good funding and it has also received international development partners support.

“While PNG is concentrating on the Indonesia- PNG border, it is equally important to develop the PNG-Solomon Islands border, ” Mr Olmi said.

He said this should pave the way for developments such as domestic flights going from Gizo to as far as Milne Bay province.

“We need to develop these border provinces to avoid illegal movements and activities."

The newly constructed PNG chancery is now in its first phase and should launch into its second phase of construction by April.

The Government committed more than K10 million for the project.

PNG’s chancery in the Solomon Islands is scheduled for completion in November.
 

(Photo: International Union for Conservation of Nature)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Mangroves to the rescue
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature Press Release

Coastal ecosystems in the Pacific region are under severe threat. Increasing population, coastal development, squatter settlements and increasing demand for resources are having a serious impact. Climate change will only make things worse for these vulnerable coastal areas, and urgent action is needed to address the ongoing threats. A new project named “Mangrove Ecosystems for Climate Change and Livelihoods” (MESCAL), will help Pacific islanders protect and conserve their mangroves to improve their livelihoods and build resilience to the impacts of climate change on coastal zones.

Mangroves are trees and shrubs that live in the area between the land and the sea and are one of the vitally important coastal ecosystems of the Pacific. They thrive in mud and salt water where other trees could not survive. Their strong and complex root structures allow them to survive the roughest of weather, and also provide nursery grounds and protection from predators for fish and other marine animals that Pacific Islanders rely on for food security and income. A 2006 report by the United Nations Environment Program estimates that mangroves contribute an annual value of up to US$900,000 per square kilometre in services such as protecting foreshores, fisheries production and supply of building materials (e.g. timber), tourism and recreation and improving water quality.

The first meeting for the MESCAL project was held last week in Honiara, hosted by the Solomon Islands Government. More than 30 participants, including mangrove managers and scientists from Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, met to further define the activities of the project, and develop a clear action strategy. These experts were assisted by resource people from international NGOs, regional environmental organisations, and universities.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Mr Rence Sore, Permanent Secretary of the Environment and Conservation Division of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology in the Solomon Islands, said that the loss of mangrove forests, coastal development, and sea-level rise all contribute to the increase in flooding. He added that the importance of mangroves in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change is often underestimated.

The 3 day meeting highlighted the issues and challenges the region faces in relation to coastal ecosystem management. Participants from participating countries, IUCN, The University of the South Pacific (USP), James Cook University, The University of Tasmania, Wetlands International, and WorldFish, provided valuable inputs into the way forward, in particular by highlighting the issues and challenges that need to be addressed in each country. Participants agreed that project activities will include demonstration projects, governance, economics, carbon sequestration, local capacity development, communication, advocacy and learning. They also agreed that the project should be implemented using a partnership approach where long term engagement is emphasized and where resource people from IUCN and partner organizations will focus on supporting countries with necessary technical support.

MESCAL Project Director, Dr Padma Lal from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), concluded that the meeting was a great success, with participants expressing great enthusiasm and ambition for the project.

The project is implemented by the IUCN Regional Office for Oceania and its partners. Funding was generously made available under the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Pacific meeting to discuss outcomes of regional waste project
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

Pacific waste representatives recently came together for a two day regional meeting in Samoa to focus on the outcomes of the four year regional waste project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Ending in May this year, the outcomes from solid waste management project and the evaluation report, are the focus of discussions for the gathering, along with a stock take of needs for the next possible regional waste project.

At the 20th Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Annual Meeting held in Apia last year, a clear message from SPREP members indicated that solid waste management is an important priority for Pacific countries and that this priority area within SPREP should increase.

“We would urge you to be as clear and specific as possible in outlining your needs and priorities when you give your national reports,” said SPREP Director, David Sheppard during his address to the Pacific representatives at the opening of the two day meeting today.

“Your guidance over the next few days will play a critical role in the shaping of follow up to this project and - in particular - how this project will be designed and implemented.”

The regional solid waste management project has four main elements; the environmental monitoring of the semi aerobic landfill in Samoa, the development of national solid waste management strategies within Pacific islands Forum countries, the development of a waste information network and the fourth element relates to the examination of the bulky waste issue within our region.

The project also saw the development of the Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Pacific Islands Region for 2010-2015 (RS2010). It was developed in 2009 in consultation with SPREP member countries and endorsed at the 20th SPREP meeting.

“We’d like to discuss about the future project of the solid waste management improvement in this region, this is an important field to improve among all Pacific islands countries,” said Mr. Kazuya Suzuki, a Director of JICA’s Global Environment Department which covers the Pacific region.

The workshop ended on Thursday, 18 February and had country participants from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Photo Caption: Group photo of meeting participants.