| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo:
Foundation for Research Science & Technology) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
NEW ZEALAND: Sustainable eel fisheries—the long
and the short of it
Growing a New Zealand eel industry that is both
commercially beneficial and ecologically
sustainable is at the heart of a hui bringing
together iwi, fishery and Māori fishery
representatives.
Starting tomorrow in Whakatane, the two-day
National Eel Fisheries Workshop will be hosted
by Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa Customary Fisheries
Authority and is sponsored by the Foundation for
Research, Science and Technology.
Ngāti Awa representative John Hohapata-Oke says
the hui aims to identify research that will help
iwi achieve sustainable eel management and
customary fishing goals, and identify the
barriers to commercial farming.
“Despite a decade’s worth of research by the
best of our nation’s scientists, longfin eels
are now an endangered species, Māori are crying
out for enhanced customary take and there is
limited commercial farming of eels in New
Zealand, ” Mr Hohapata-Oke says.
Reece Moors, an Investment Director with the
Foundation’s Industry and Environment Group,
says Mr Hohapata-Oke and Ngāti Awa (Whakatane-based)
are to be congratulated for taking the lead.
“Iwi want to be engaged in discussions and
future-planning for a taonga species that needs
to be protected and that also has huge
commercial possibility. The global demand for
eels far exceeds supply, with 80 per cent of the
harvest currently sold to Japan.
“The Foundation supports this hui as part of our
initiatives under the Vision Mātauranga policy.
Under this policy we aim to ensure that our
investment strategies respond to the distinctive
needs of the Māori community and for all New
Zealand,” Mr Moors says.
New Zealand is home to two species of native
eel—the longfin and the shortfin.
The National Eel Fisheries Workshop, 27-28 May,
is also being held in association with Te Whare
Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and Mai Nga Kuri a Wharei
ki Tihirau (a Bay of Plenty iwi forum).
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
SAMOA: ALA scholarships closing soon
Source:
Australian High Commission Press Release
Applications for the prestigious Australian
Leadership Awards (ALA) scholarship for
postgraduate study in Australia closes next
month and
Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Matt
Anderson is encouraging Samoans to act early to
avoid missing the cut off.
“Please don’t leave your application to the last
minute as there are a number of mandatory
requirements that need to be met and time is
running out,” he said.
“Passing an English language proficiency test (IELTS)
is one of the mandatory requirements of an ALA
scholarship and because some applicants may need
to sit the IELTS, AusAID has arranged for this
test to be held here in Samoa on 17 June 2010,
at no cost to the applicant.”
Prospective applicants are advised that
eligibility to sit the IELTS will be subject to
an assessment of their application. All
interested applicants should to submit the
following information to AusAID at the
Australian High Commission by 12pm on Thursday,
3 June 2010 for review:
- Completed ALA application with proposal for
area of study
- Evidence of offer for study in 2011 from an
Australian university
For further information on the ALA scholarships,
please visit the AusAID website on
www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/ala.cfm or contact
AusAID on Phone 23411 x719.
ALA Scholarships are open to high achievers in
Samoa to undertake postgraduate study in
Australia. A unique leadership development
program is also offered to ALA scholars to
develop their full leadership potential.
ALA Scholarship applications for the 2011
academic year close on 30 June 2010. The
scholarships, valued at up to $300,000 each, are
funded by the Australian Government through
AusAID.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photos:
J. Kneubuhl) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC/SSS students successfully
complete Grant Aid Project
Source:
American
Samoa Community College Press Release
As the spring 2010 semester at the American
Samoa Community College drew to a close, 49
students under the auspices of the Student
Support Services (SSS) division celebrated a job
well done when they received their Grant Aid
Awards after successfully participating in the
Grant Aid Project. The project took the form of
an extended garden on College property, in which
the students planted a number of food crops with
the assistants of experts from CNR/Land Grant.
At the semester’s end, ASCC administration and
faculty joined the SSS students for a special
ceremony during which each participant received
a substantial monetary award to help with their
education expenses.
SSS Director Repeka Ala’imoana-Nuusa explained
that Grant Aid is a financial award made
available to SSS participants through the US
Department of Education, intended to improve
student retention by supplementing financial
assistance for low-income students who have
unmet financial needs. SSS made available the
opportunity for its students to participate in
the Grant Aid Project of transforming a section
of brush on ASCC property into a garden. Working
on Saturdays as well as during free periods in
their class schedules, the students cleared the
designated area, and with guidance from CNR/Land
Grant personnel, planted local crops such as
bananas, taamu, taro, sweet potatoes, cucumbers,
egg plants, tomatoes, tapioca, oranges, mangoes,
and papaya.
“This project enabled students to work in a
nurturing setting, using collaborative efforts
to accomplish the Project goals and objectives,”
said Ala’imoana-Nuusa. “The learning experience
taught them decision making, planning and
organization, problem solving, team building,
how to meet deadlines, and the rewards of hard
work.”
To be eligible to participate, each student was
attending the English Language Institute at ASCC;
was a Pell Grant recipient; was in their first
or second year of postsecondary education; had
an unmet need exceeding $800 as determined by
the Financial Aid Office; was in good academic
standing as determined by SSS standards; and was
active in the SSS program. Upon completion of
the Grant Aid Project, participants received a
minimum award of $800 and up to a maximum of
$3,000 in awards.
According to Ala’imoana-Nuusa, this is the last
Grant Aid Award available in the current SSS
cycle of funding from the federal government.
Future projects may take place depending on
available resources.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - Under the auspices of Student
Support Services, ASCC students take part in the
Grant Aid Project of transforming a vacant
section of the campus into a thriving garden. At
the end of the semester, the participants
received their Grant Aid Awards to help them
meet their education costs.
Photo 2 - ASCC Student Support Services
Director Repeka Ala'imoana-Nuusa (second right)
congratulates students receiving their Grant Aid
Awards after successfully participating in this
semester's Grant Aid Project.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
FIJI: Pacific Avian & Pandemic Influenza
Taskforce to review 2009 H1N1 experience
Source:
Secretariat of
the Pacific Community Press Release
The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic showed how
important it is for Pacific Island countries and
territories (PICTs) to have preparedness and
response plans in place along with resources to
implement them.
A three-day meeting of the Pacific Avian and
Pandemic Influenza Taskforce (PAPITaF) concluded
on Wednesday (May 26, 2010) in Nadi, Fiji
Islands, to examine the region’s responses to
H1N1 and identify how pandemic preparedness and
response plans can be improved.
Almost all PICTs were affected by the H1N1
pandemic influenza last year. Only Niue, Tokelau
and Pitcairn Islands had no cases recorded.
‘Fortunately the disease was moderate in
severity,’ says Mrs Jennie Fischer, coordinator
of the Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic
Preparedness Project (PRIPPP) at the Secretariat
of the Pacific Community (SPC). ‘Its impact in
the region was mitigated by the plans that PICTs
have been preparing in recent years with support
from PRIPPP and other partners, but the pandemic
also revealed some weak points.’
At this major regional forum, PICTs were able to
make recommendations on the medium and longer
term support they need to strengthen their
capacities to respond to a possible second wave
of H1N1 or other pandemics.
Around 60 health professionals, involved in both
human and animal health, from 22 Pacific
governments and international/regional
organisations took part in the discussions.
‘It’s important for professionals from animal
and human health sectors to meet at forums like
this because we know that approximately 75 per
cent of human emerging diseases are ‘zoonoses’
(animal-based diseases),’ adds Mrs Fischer.
‘The region remains vulnerable to the
introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza A/H5N1 virus, which has killed 60 per
cent of the people who have contracted it so
far. We must stay vigilant.’
The meeting also looked at ongoing activities to
improve the region’s ability to respond to any
other emerging diseases. This is in line with
the World Health Organization’s (WHO)
International Health Regulations and the aims of
the PRIPP project.
The PAPITaF meeting was organised by SPC under
the PRIPP project, with financial assistance
from the Australian (AusAID) and New Zealand (NZAID)
agencies for international development.
PRIPPP is a four-year project (2006-2010)
designed to build the capacity of PICTs to deal
with the potential threat of emerging infectious
diseases, in particular avian influenza and
pandemic influenza. It is implemented by SPC in
collaboration with WHO, the World Organisation
for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO). It covers 22
Pacific Island countries and territories.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo: Rik Royall) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
KIRIBATI: Taiwan to extend loan to Kiribati to
improve airport
Source:
Focus
Taiwan
Taiwan's International Cooperation and
Development Fund will extend a loan of 14
million Australian dollars (US$11.7 million) to
South Pacific ally Kiribati to improve an
airport in its capital, Tarawa.
Tao Wen-lung, secretary-general of the fund,
said that Bonriki International Airport is
Kiribati's only international airport and the
hub for domestic flights.
With only one airstrip that is riddled with pits
and cracks, the airport is often closed during
downpours that immerse it in water and is in
need of immediate repair, Tao said.
The loan agreement will be signed in Taipei on
June 8 when Kiribati President Anote Tong is
expected for an official visit, Tao said.
The International Cooperation and Development
Fund was set up by the Taiwan government to
supervise the country's overseas cooperative
development programs.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo: World Health Organization) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
WORLDWIDE:
WHO urges Pacific to give up tobacco on World No
Tobacco Day
Source:
World Health
Organization Press Release
Dr Chen Ken, World Health Organization (WHO)
Representative in the South Pacific, is calling
on Fiji and other Pacific island countries and
areas to protect women and girls from efforts by
the tobacco industry to induce them to start
smoking, in the lead up to World No Tobacco Day,
on next Monday, 31 May.
The theme of World No Tobacco Day, 2010 is
Gender and Tobacco, with Emphasis on Marketing
to Women.
Women who smoke are more likely to experience
infertility and delays in conceiving, maternal
smoking during pregnancy also increases risk of
premature delivery, stillbirth and newborn death
and may cause a reduction in breast milk.
Smoking also increases women’s risks for many
cancers, including cancers of the mouth,
pharynx, oesophagus, larynx, bladder, pancreas
and cancer. Having a tobacco-free environment is
also woman’s right.
Dr Chen Ken said: “Tobacco use is the second
cause of death globally, after hypertension, and
is currently responsible for killing one in 10
adults worldwide. This year we want to draw
particular attention to the harmful effects of
tobacco marketing and smoke on women and girls.
Tobacco use is the number one preventable
epidemic that the health community faces and we
want to encourage everyone to reduce tobacco use
in Fiji and other Pacific island countries and
areas.”
Dr Chen Ken also calls policy makers, civil
society and nongovernmental organizations and
the public to work together to protect women
from tobacco marketing and smoke.
The WHO and the Ministry of Health, Fiji, will
launch World No Tobacco Day on Monday, May 31st,
2010 at Nabukaluka Village, Naitasiri, which
will be also declared the third Tobacco-Free
Village in Fiji. The first Tobacco-Free Village,
Nabila Village, Fiji received the WHO World No
Tobacco Day Award in 2006.
Photo Caption: World Health Organization
(WHO) Representative in the South Pacific,
Dr Chen Ken.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
