NEWSPAGE 24 March
2010

(Photos: Duco Events)

(Photo: United States Embassy)

SAMOA: USAID assists post tsunami recovery with early warning system
Source: United States Embassy Press Release

The United States Government’s commitment to Samoa’s post-September 2009 Tsunami recovery efforts continue this week through its National Tsunami Early Warning—Air Horns and Radio Project. The much anticipated Project will take place Wednesday, March 24 and Thursday March 25, 2010 through its distribution and training phase.

After an assessment by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and recommendation of local officials in October 2009, a project was drawn up for a National Tsunami Early Warning System—that would complement the national tsunami plan already in place. The project identified the basic warning system of air horns which were durable, portable and easily maintained to be set up immediately while waiting for an assessment for a more advanced national warning system. The USAID purchased 362 air horns. The project later expanded to also include the purchase of 362 hand wound radios/torches to be carried out by the U.S. NGO Samaritan’s Purse which was already working in Samoa on USAID projects distributing household goods. This portion of the USAID funded work, the purchase and distribution of the National Tsunami Early Warning System—Air Horns and Radio Project is worth WST $138,500 (USD $55,000).

Samaritan’s Purse, in close partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Disaster Management Office and the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development’s Internal Affairs Division will carry out the distribution and training phase. On Wednesday, March 24, 2010 the air horn and radio distribution workshop will take place for Pulenuu and Sui o Malo o le Tamaita’i in Upolu at the Pulenuu House, Apia at 9:00am. Similarly the same workshop will take place for the Pulenuu and Sui o Malo Tamaita’i in Savaii on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at the Fale Fono o Tina ma Tamaita’i at 9:00am. The Upolu program will include community leaders from 100 villages, including representatives from Manono and Apolima Islands. 62 villages will be trained at the Savaii program. In some cases large villages that are comprised of several small villages will receive multiple horns and radios.

The Wednesday program will also be the official handover of the warning system from the U.S. Government through the visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Ms. Frankie Reed and U.S. Embassy Apia Chargé d’Affaires Ms. Robin L. Yeager to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of National Resources and Environment Mr. Taulealeausumai Laavasa Malua. Members of the Disaster Management Office and Samaritan’s Purse will conduct a demonstration of the air horns and radios on its safety procedures, installation, maintenance, location and mostly importantly When the System should be used. The community leaders will then take the warning system to their villages for installation. Members of the Samaritan’s Purse and the Internal Affairs Division will travel to each village one week later for further training and follow up.

Photo Caption: Attending the official handover ceremony, special guest of honour from U.S. Government, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Ms. Frankie Reed.
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: Faleomavaega urges full participation in upcoming census
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega calls on all residents of American Samoa to make their voices heard and urge them to get counted in the upcoming 2010 Census.

“When you fill out the Census form, you’re making a statement about what resources American Samoa needs,” Faleomavaega stated. “Identifying our needs is a crucial step towards gaining access to federal programs and an overall improved well-being for our people. By participating in the Census, you’re securing our place at the policy-making table.”

“Census data affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state and local governments. We need an accurate count of our population to get our fair share of resources for health, education, transportation, and more. Full participation is necessary for our future success.” the Congressman added.

“At the end of March, each P.O. Box in American Samoa will receive an Advance Census Report. Residents will be instructed to complete the form and hold on to it until a Census Enumerator or Census Taker comes to their home to pick up the questionnaire. If the family has not completed the questionnaire or if they did not receive one, the Census Enumerator will be able to assist. Enumerators will be your key resource in filling out the census form; they have been trained to assist with any questions you may have about any part of the Census questionnaire. They will also have extra forms on hand.”

“I commend Alex Zodiacal, our Local Census Office Manager, and his staff in American Samoa who have labored especially hard in publicizing the Census to our communities and in hiring and training staff in preparation for the data collection. I also want to acknowledge Mr. Douglas Lee, the Census Advisor and Liaison to ASG from Census headquarters for his assistance and advice to ensure that we have a complete and accurate Census in American Samoa. Their attention to detail and organization further emphasizes the extreme importance of an accurate count and I commend their efforts,” Faleomavaega added.

“As your representative in Congress, this data also helps me advocate for resources and policies to benefit our people. When you fill out the census form, you are putting the numbers in to back up our needs. It will also help maintain successful programs and give credence for additional programs that we know we need.”

“Your participation will help determine the amount of aid we receive from formula grants and help score proposals for competitive grants in the future. Through an accurate count, we will also have the necessary information to help the private sector and local organizations in determining better strategies for serving our people. In short, we need your help to move forward.”

“I also know that there is a concern or fear of government intrusion. I assure you that your personal information is safe and kept confidential by law. Under Title 13, Section 9 of the U.S. Code, the Census Bureau is prohibited from sharing your answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of your information. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. If we plan to move forward as one, we cannot let any false fears keep us from making our voices heard.”

“Once again I strongly urge all residents of American Samoa to make our voices heard in this year’s Census. Our participation today will have a lasting impact in decisions that affect our future over the next ten years. When you receive your form, know that your role will make a difference. Your participation will help secure American Samoa’s place at the table,” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photo: Nilesh Kumar / TVNZ ONE News)

FIJI: Fiji struggles following Cyclone Tomas
Source: TVNZ ONE News

Fiji is struggling to get back on its feet a week after Cyclone Tomas barrelled through the islands.

Aid supplies have finally reached the low lying Lau islands with Unicef estimating that Tomas has affected as many as 130,000 Fijians.

There have been two confirmed deaths following the Category 4 storm, including one man with relatives in New Zealand.

When Tomas hit, Christchurch resident Ateca Tuisoso's brother-in-law Gogi Batisaresare, a public works employee, was called in to clear the streets of debris.

He never showed up and emergency services believe he was swept away by a river.

About 500 people attended Batisaresare's funeral on Saturday. Tuisoso is now worried that such gatherings will put more people at risk with no water, no power and possible typhoid outbreak.

Aid agencies are currently assessing how many Fijians may have died as well as trying to contain the spread of typhoid and other air or waterborne diseases.

Ului Cyclone

Thousands of people in north Queensland are still without power and face water rationing in the wake of Cyclone Ului.

The cyclone ripped through Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays at the weekend leaving a trail of destruction.

It has also been bad new for the local tourism industry, with many tourists and backpackers moving on because of cancelled sightseeing services.
 

Photo Caption: Cyclone Tomas hits Fiji.
 

(Photo: Tahitian Noni International)

TAHITI: Tahitian Noni Pure is the most concentrated bioactive beverage available
Source: PR Newswire

Tahitian Noni International (TNI) has announced the introduction of Tahitian Noni® Pure™ - a new, concentrated version of our bioactive beverages that is stripped down to nothing but powerful noni iridoids and bioactive compounds that support the heart, joints, immune system, and more. When used as a mixer, Tahitian Noni Pure adds a healthy iridoid boost to shakes, smoothies, or any desired food or drink.

Age, stress, and extreme physical activity take a toll on the body. Tahitian Noni Pure delivers a concentrated blend that provides 72 mg of noni and noni tea leaf iridoids per 60 mL serving. It has more than 150 nutrients including vitamins, minerals, phytosterols, alkaloids, enzymes, and antioxidants that make it a powerful adaptogen. Adaptogens take a personalized approach to safely benefit the health and function of the body's systems, helping living things maintain a natural, healthy balance.

Tahitian Noni Pure is available in 750 mL aluminum bottles or in convenient, easy-to-carry 15 mL pouches.

"Tahitian Noni Pure is a new, concentrated product that can be added to any of your favorite drinks, making them into bioactive beverages," stated Jeff Wasden, vice president of Global Marketing for Tahitian Noni International. "Now you can have the bioactive goodness of noni in any drink you'd like."

About the Company

Tahitian Noni International is a global, research-driven bioactive products company that was the first to introduce the health benefits of the noni plant — a bioactive-rich, adaptogenic plant, containing iridoid compounds — to the world outside of Tahiti. Tahitian Noni International is the leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of noni-based bioactive products including beverages, beauty, and weight loss lines. Headquartered in Provo, Utah, Tahitian Noni International has a presence in over 70 markets around the world, and is the worldwide leader in bioactive beverages.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Community)

WOLDWIDE: Council of Pacific Arts examines efforts to strengthen cultural sector
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

Culture representatives from around the Pacific have gathered this week to discuss ways to enhance the profile of culture in the region.

The 23rd meeting of the Council of Pacific Arts (CPA) began yesterday at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Over the next two and a half days, delegates from 20 Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) as well as Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, will discuss a number of issues related to the strengthening of the cultural sector, including developing a regional cultural strategy; incorporating culture into the education sector; building partnerships nationally, regionally and internationally; and accessing funds for culture.

They will also focus on preparations for the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts, which will be held in Solomon Islands in 2012. Delegates will hear from Solomon Islands on the status of festival preparations. In addition, they will be presented with outcomes and recommendations of an evaluation of the Festival of Pacific Arts that was commissioned last year by SPC’s Human Development Programme (HDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The festival evaluation will assist CPA, SPC and UNESCO to assess the festival’s contribution to the region and determine how to improve the event, says SPC Human Development Adviser (Culture), Dr Elise Huffer. ‘The evaluation was designed to relate to the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Heritage, so as to enable improved safeguarding of intangible heritage through the festival,’ she says.

Another important aspect of the meeting is to strengthen partnerships and networks. A number of regional and international cultural specialists are attending the meeting and will speak of examples and experiences from other regions and networks around the world.

‘Partnerships are important not only for tapping into funding but also for widening horizons and creating opportunities for Pacific artists and cultural practitioners,’ says Dr Huffer. ‘Partnerships with tertiary institutions such as the University of the South Pacific and the Australian National University are also being enhanced in order to build further capacity in the cultural sector.’

The CPA meeting will be followed by a cultural policy workshop (25-27 March), which aims to provide guidelines to the delegates on the cultural mapping, planning and policy process. This stems from a recently initiated €713,474 project aimed at strengthening the cultural sector. The project, entitled ‘Structuring the Cultural Sector’, has been funded by the European Union and will be implemented by SPC.

Side events

A book launch and photo exhibition will be held on Wednesday 24 March (by invitation only). The book, The civilisation of the yam: The yam - an essential part of indigenous traditional knowledge systems in the Pacific, by Raoul Bouacou, is a joint SPC-New Caledonia Customary Senate publication. The photo exhibition, Impressions on the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts, features a selection of photographs of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts, held in American Samoa (20 July-2 August 2008), by SPC photographer Carla Appel and New Caledonia photographer Jules Hmaloko.

A screening of the Pacific International Documentary Film Festival (FIFO) Grand Prize winner for 2010, There once was an island: Te Henua e Noho, directed by Briar March, will take place at SPC on Thursday 24 March. This event will be open to the public.

Meeting participants

PICTs represented at the meeting are: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

Representatives from partner organisations and institutions include: the cultural support programme of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the Pacific Arts Alliance, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), UNESCO, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA).