NEWSPAGE 05 March
2010

(Photos: Auckland City Council)

(Photo: Australian High Commission)

SAMOA: Australian High Commission launch Clean Up Day and poster competition
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Australian High Commission and volunteers from the village of Poutasi and surrounds will join forces this Saturday to clean up the reefs and lagoons damaged by the tsunami.

More than 100 people are expected to roll up their sleeves to clean up the waterways and beaches at Poutasi, which was hit particularly hard by the 29 September tsunami.

The cleanup is the first in a series of “Clean Up Samoa” events focused on tsunami-devastated areas to be sponsored by the Australian High Commission and led by the Division of Environment and Conservation, within MNRE.

The MNRE, in partnership with the Australian High Commission, will soon announce a poster competition for school students, in which the total prize pool is 2000 Tala.

“The village and people of Poutasi suffered greatly in the tsunami,” Australian High Commissioner Matt Anderson said.

“Australia wants to continue supporting the recovery and reconstruction in Samoa and I’m looking forward to helping restore the natural beauty of this part of the country’s coastline.”

Anybody is welcome to attend Poutasi on Saturday to participate in the cleanup. The day will begin at 8am with a safety briefing and will finish with a BBQ lunch at 12pm.

“We want Samoans to help keep Samoa clean,” MNRE Chief Executive Officer Taule’ale’ausumai T. Laavasa Malua said.
“We live in a beautiful country but it won’t stay that way unless we clean up our rubbish and stop littering. If we all picked up just one piece of rubbish it could make a huge difference.”

This Saturday’s cleanup coincides with Clean Up Australia Day - a popular annual event in Australia at which community groups clean up the local environment.

“I call on all those Australians here in Samoa to come along on Saturday and help clean up this beautiful part of Upolu,’’ Mr Anderson said.
“My family and I will be there to do our bit.”

The winning poster design, for primary school students to promote the Government of Samoa’s mission of keeping Samoa clean, will be used by the MNRE to promote future events.

First prize will be stationery to the value of 500 Tala for the school. Second prize will be stationery to the value of 300 Tala and third prize will be stationery to the value of 200 Tala. There will also be ten prizes of 100 Tala each.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC Phi Theta Kappa inducts new members for Spring 2010
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

The Alpha Epsilon Mu Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honour Society at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) held its spring 2010 induction ceremony yesterday evening to welcome its new members for this semester. Family and friends of the new and current PTK members joined ASCC administrators and faculty for an intimate ceremony in the College’s lecture hall to induct 21 of the “best and brightest” into the prestigious Honour Society.

The guest speaker for the ceremony was Peteru Lam Yuen, an ASCC alumnus who recently completed a Master of Liberal Studies in Social Sciences degree from Fort Hays State University. As part of the ceremony, the 21 inductees took the oath to uphold the values of the PTK, and perform the ceremonial lighting of candles representing the mythical Greek “flame of knowledge”.

Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages excellence in scholarship among associate degree students. The Greek words Phi Theta Kappa mean wisdom (Phi), aspiration (Theta) and purity (Kappa). The society bases its programs on its four hallmarks: scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship. The society provides more than $35 million worth of scholarships annually to students nationwide. Each member is automatically nominated for inclusion in the prestigious National Dean’s List, and is also enrolled in the PTK Transfer Database, which links senior institutions across the nation offering scholarships to PTK members.

Every semester, PTK advisors Elvis Zodiacal, Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola, Randall Baker, Mark Mageo, Toaiva Fiametago, Athena Mauga, Evile Feleti and Jim Sutherland review the ASCC Dean’s List and other relevant data to determine which students qualify for the membership in the Society. Candidates must have taken at least 12 credits, passed their English 150, English 151 and Math 90 classes, and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Qualifying students receive an invitation to join PTK, and most of those invited readily accept the offer.

CURRENT PTK MEMBERS: Sophia A’asa, Isaako Amosa, Radhika Anandan, Joyce Auau, Susie Casem, Bodonirina Crook, Estefania Duterte , Fa’aloua Fa’aloua Amber Fuaga, Chrystabel Lin, Judy Matautia, Latisha Olo, Farahola Ongosia, Lysandra K.Thomas, Natalie Tuiletufuga, Ramiah Vaoali’I and Salome Vole

SPRING 2010 INDUCTEES: Ashley Ah Loo, Rani Anandan, Kristina Vailolo, Meletaumoe Elisara, Faith Eneliko, Sean Felise, Maria Felix, Saisamoa Grey Price, Gaoa Iuta, So’onafai Lagai, Imeleta Lilo, Gemmir Luardo, Nolita Motu, Athena Puni, Ruby Tapuai, Seeseei Toa, Siupu Tupua, Marx Ulimasao, Lalomoana Vaeao, Motusaga Vaeaso, and Samuelu Vaina.

For more information about the nationwide activities of Phi Theta Kappa, visit their website at: www.ptk.org.
 

Photo Caption: ASCC Phi Theta Kappa honors society advisors (Front, L-R) Athena Mauga, Elvis Zodiacal, and Toaiva Fiametago and current members.
 

FIJI: EU and RAO sign 10th EDF regional projects
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The management of fisheries and mineral resources in the Pacific region will benefit from 22 million Euros that will be injected by the European Union into three projects under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).

This follows the signing today in Suva, Fiji, of the first three Financing Agreements under the Regional Indicative Programme for the Pacific, financed through the 10th EDF. The Agreements were signed by H.E Mr Wiepke van der Goot, Head of Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific in Fiji and Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Regional Authorising Officer.

The three projects include:

• Scientific Support for the Management of Coastal and Oceanic Fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region (SCICOFish)

• Deep Sea Minerals in the Pacific Islands Region: Legal Framework and Resource Management

• Development of sustainable tuna fisheries in Pacific ACP countries phase 2 (DevFish)

A total of 95 million Euros has been committed by the European Commission under the Regional Indicative Programme for the Pacific for 2008 - 2013 to develop new regional projects focusing on strengthening Regional Economic Integration and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Slade thanked the European Union for funding the three projects and its continued support to the Pacific Region in implementing the Pacific Plan and the Forum Leaders determination of the regional development priorities.

Mr Slade congratulated and commended the CROP agencies that put together the three projects.

“The challenge now is for those regional agencies that have been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing these very important regional projects to step up their efforts to ensure that these projects are implemented in an efficient, effective and timely manner where key milestones, outputs and timelines are met.”

Mr Slade added: “The ultimate beneficiaries of these regional projects are the people of the Pacific. Their success will ultimately be determined by the difference they make to the lives of the people of the Pacific.”

He revealed that the RAO is now working with the EU Delegation on the preparation and submission of the next Annual Action Programme for 2010 which will hopefully commit a further 30 million Euros to implement the Regional Aid for Trade Strategy under focal area one of Regional Economic Integration and two million Euros for the Technical Cooperation Facility.

This means that by the end of this year nearly 60 percent of the total allocation of the 10th EDF for the Pacific Regional allocation would have been committed.

PIFS Secretary General Mr Slade said: “I hope to see at least 10 million Euros committed to the regional efforts towards tackling the priority issues of Climate and its impact on the livelihoods of the people especially those living in the Smaller Island States.”
 

(Photo: Radio Australia)

NEW CALEDONIA: New Caledonia-Australia talks
Source: Australia Network News

New Caledonia's President and the senior French representative in the country will visit Australia next week at the invitation of Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith.

Australian authorities say the invitation is aimed at deepening integration with the region and co-operation with Australia in particular.

President Philippe Gomes and Yves Dassonville and their delegation will hold talks with government officials and politicians in the capital of Canberra.

They will also meet academics at the Australian National University and take part in a French-Australian business seminar in Sydney.

Discussions will also include possible institutional changes in the French overseas territory, which under recent accords can hold a referendum on independence after 2014.
 

Photo Caption: Canberra-bound. New Caledonia President Philippe Gomes.

WOLDWIDE: Japan to fund Micronesia fisheries surveillance
Source: Marianas Variety via Pacific Islands Report

Japanese officials during meetings in Tokyo are expected to roll out plans for injecting millions of dollars into a beefed up Micronesian regional coast guard program to combat illegal fishing, according to Marshall Islands officials involved in the talks.

A major Japanese foundation is planning for a ten-year program in support of marine surveillance training, equipment and technology upgrades, said officials in Majuro.

Delegations from the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau are joining officials from the Coast Guards of Japan and the United States, the Australian Defense Department, and the Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Peace Foundation to confirm the plans for Japan’s stepped up marine surveillance support.

The Japanese initiative comes as Pacific islands are making an unprecedented push to conserve dwindling tuna resources and reduce illegal fishing in the region that has one of the world’s last healthy fisheries.

The Sasakawa Foundation, which has funded cultural and media projects in Micronesia since the 1980s, has for the past two years promoted a plan for Sasakawa to support a coordinated marine and fisheries surveillance effort.

The meetings in Tokyo are expected to flesh out the details of the plan that involves Sasakawa and the Nippon Foundation, both of which have long-term ties to the Micronesia region.