NEWSPAGE 02 June
2010

(Photo: Massey University)

SAMOA: East Asia Pacific Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program launched
Source: Embassy of the United States of America Press Release

The Embassy of the United States in Apia is pleased to announce the launch of the 2010 U.S. Department of State’s East Asia Pacific Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program (EAP/PD). This competitive program offers grants of up to USD$20,000 to indigenous non-government organizations to strengthen democracy, increase respect for civil society and the rule of law, advance human rights and women’s rights, combat extremism, climate change, renewable energy and science and technology. Guidelines on the program are provided below. Proposals are due to US Embassy Apia by June 25, 2010. Final selections will be announced by July 31, 2010.

General Guidelines:

• Project proposals may be submitted for up to USD$20,000. (On average amount of approved grants has been USD$15,000)

• Grants may be made to non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations based the Independent State of Samoa. Grants cannot be made to individuals, but only to non-governmental organizations that demonstrate long-term sustainability beyond the proposed program activity. Third-country organizations and individuals are not eligible.

• Priority is given to grants that advance democratic practices, including development of civil society; foster freedom of information and independent media; increase transparency in government; support NGO capacity building; advance rule of law and judicial reform; promote civic education; encourage conflict resolution; prioritize human rights; and advocate for equal rights for ethnic minorities or women.

• Priority will be given to proposals from new organizations and new projects. Grants will not normally be approved for multi-year projects, but past recipients of EAP/PD Small Grants will be considered for new one-year projects.

• Proposals for non-partisan election education and related public information activities are eligible for consideration, but grants may not be used for any form of partisan political activity.

• Small Grant proposals may include modest administrative expenses, including honoraria/partial salaries of grant implementers, but only when they are directly linked to the conduct of the specific grant program. General operating expenses, long-term infrastructure costs and undefined miscellaneous or “overhead” expenses are not acceptable.

• Grant funds may not be used to fund travel to international conferences, nor may they be used primarily for food and drink expenses.

• Grant funds may be used to train trainers, but they may not be used to provide direct social services.

• Grant funds may be used for seminars and workshops, but proposals must describe the expected audience, content, and timeframe, and justify the activity in terms of outcome and benefits to U.S. national interests.

• Grant funds may be used for the publication of materials, but proposals must describe the audience, content and means of distribution.

• Successful applicants are required to submit a brief, formal evaluation at the conclusion of each project, describing the outcomes each produced.

• Proposals should be submitted via email to George Carter at [email protected] or hand deliver to U.S. Embassy Apia Office, 5th Floor ACC Building, Matafele, Apia Samoa no later than Friday, June 25, 2010 at 3:00pm.
 

(Photos:  J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Academic Excellence Recognised at ASCC Graduate Banquet
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

Each semester, the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) hosts a Graduate Banquet several days prior to its regular Commencement Ceremony. The banquet gives students an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments in a relaxed social setting, and also to recognize the highest scholastic achievements among their peers when the various departments and organizations at ASCC present their awards for academic excellence.

The Spring 2010 Graduate Banquet took place on Wednesday, May 12th at Hong Kong House, with most of the semester’s graduates in attendance along with family, friends, and members of the ASCC administration, faculty and staff. The awards presentation got underway with the ASCC Matai Alumni Association, represented by Peteru Lam Yuen and Amio Levu, presenting plaques to Ashley Ah Loo for her achievements in Math, Lysandra Thomas in Science, Daniel Schoolenberg in English, Joyce Auau in Samoan, and Alexandra Banse in Business.

Next, Pauline T. McFall of CNR/Land Grant announced the division’s award winners as Marie Faatala in General Agriculture, Talimatagi Isaako in Consumer Science, Suemalo Leatioa in AgriBusiness, Pearl Talamoa in Gen Agriculture, and Seeseei Toa in Natural Resources. Institute of Trades and Technology Dean Moefa’auo William Emmsley took to the podium next to recognize Latisha Olo in Architecture Drafting Technology and Alex Kim in Electronics Technology as the institute’s award recipients.

Dr. Otto Hansell and Dr. Kenneth Belle of the ASCC Science Department both joined in the festivities, with Dr. Belle presenting the department’s award to Sean Felise for his achievements in Marine Science. Service Learning Coordinator Elisapeta Faalafi-Jones and Business Department chairperson Dr. Faofua Faatoafe teamed up to present the Service Learning awards to Alexander Banse and Crystal Bernal, both for their outstanding achievements in Business, and to Joyce Auau for her excellence in Music.

Counselor Annie Panama presented awards to Kolumane Meredith, Esther Malauulu, and Saisamoa Grey Price for their exemplary work as Peer Mentors. Meredith and Price returned to the podium to receive additional awards as outgoing members of the Student Government Association, which the organization’s advisor Maxine Tuiolemotu also presented to Latisha Olo, Lysandra Thomas, Christian Saalea, Gafoa Holi, Dorecca Leota, Cinta Tupu Ching Sam, and Faith Enelikio.

The College’s Division of Student Services organized the event, and Music instructor Kuki Tuiasosopo served as MC while the ASCC Ukulele Ensemble and members of the MUS 296-L class, under Tuiasosopo’s direction, provided lively entertainment between award presentations.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - ASCC Spring 2010 graduate Joyce Auau receives a Service Learning award for excellence in Music from Service Learning Coordinator Elisapeta Faalafi-Jones duirng the College's Graduate Banquet.

Photo 2 - ASCC Spring 2010 graduate Alexandra Banse displays her Matai Alumni award for excellence in Business studies during the College's Graduate Banquet.

Photo 3 - ASCC Spring 2010 graduate Saisamoa Grey Price, along with her mother, displays the awards she received during the College's Graduate Banquet.
 

(Photo: Fiji Foreign Affairs Ministry)

FIJI: Invitation extended to Pacific Islands Forum MSG
Source: Fiji Times

Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has extended an invitation to the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group to visit Fiji.

Ratu Inoke, who heads the Foreign Affairs Ministry, issued the invitation in Auckland yesterday during a Forum MCG meeting.

Ratu Inoke also expressed a commitment to maintaining engagement with the Forum, describing it as an important regional partner for Fiji's return to parliamentary democracy.

A Forum statement yesterday welcomed the invitation "at a time to be determined by mutual agreement".

"Although suspended by leaders from the Forum for reasons which remain entirely valid, Fiji continues to be an important regional partner and it is essential for all of us, including Fiji, to seek constructive engagement in the broader interests of all the people of the Pacific," the MCG chair Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele said.

"While significant differences remain between Fiji and the rest of the Forum membership, the MCG provides an important mechanism to pursue a constructive two-way dialogue with Fiji aimed at resolving our differences and assisting its return to full parliamentary democracy."

The statement said the MCG would report to Forum Leaders in advance of their next meeting in Port Vila from August 3 to 6 as mandated by the Leaders' January 2009 Port Moresby Special Retreat meeting.

The MCG was chaired by Mr Sevele, and consists of the foreign ministers of Australia Stephen Smith, New Zealand's Murray McCully, Papua New Guinea's Samuel Abal, Samoa's Works Minister Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau and Tuvalu Home Affairs Minister Willy Telavi.

Mr Sevele said he was pleased with the constructive and cordial nature of the MCG discussions, where presentations included that of Ratu Inoke as well as the Forum secretary general.

Photo Caption: Fiji Foreign Affairs Ministry head, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
 

(Photos: Oh! Editions / Little Island Press)

TAHITI: Epic South Pacific survival story translated into English
Source: Little Island Press Ltd. Press Release

When his boat engine failed him in March 2002, Tahitian fisherman Tava‘e Raioaoa was cast adrift in the currents and winds of the Pacific Ocean. He traveled over 1,200 kilometres in his small open vessel for more than 100 days until landing on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.

Tava'e Raioaoa told his story to French journalist Lionel Duroy. The French language book was first published in 2003 by Oh Publishing and went on to win the Document category of the Prix des Maisons de la Presse Award in 2003.

So Far the World has been translated into English by Dr Jean Anderson Senior Lecturer, School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Victoria, Wellington. Dr Anderson was Programme Director for French, 2002 - 2008 and she is the founding Director of the New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation / Te Tumu Whakawhiti Tuhinga o Aotearoa.

Tava‘e’s reflections on his family and his community offer a poignant counterpoint to his beautiful and terrible adventure. So Far the World is a true story of survival - a tale of hardship, tenacity and tradition.

This is a modest and moving memory of a man in tune with the rhythms of nature and of his community. So Far the World will appeal to adventurers, sailors and those interested in Polynesian culture.

So Far the World was formally launched at an event at the Beehive in Wellington on Tuesday 1 June.

Tava'e Raioaoa

Tava'e is now being cared for by his family in Faa'a, Tahiti as he is very ill. Apart from a brief visit to the Cook Islands in October 2009, he did not re-turn to the Cook Islands but instead remained in Faa'a, fishing with a new boat that was gifted to him until the onset of his illness a year ago.

The boat in which he drifted for 118 days is still in Aitutaki, where a commemorative site is planned.

Tava'e has been supported by the Mayor of Faa'a and former President of French Polynesia, Oscar Temaru, a childhood friend. It was partly through him that the project was developed of translating the book, Si Loin du Monde, to make it available to the English-speaking Pacific.

About the book and where to buy it

So Far the World has been published by Little Island Press.
ISBN 978-1-877484-15-5 softcover, 151 pages.
Editing by Gillian Tewsley - Pepperleaf Publishing.
Cover design and typesetting by Words Alive.

So Far the World has been produced using print on demand processes and equipment. Each has been hand-crafted in New Zealand using our own printers, and our small but efficient binder and guillotine. Each copy is date stamped and unique.

So Far the World can be purchased for $30 (GST inclusive) from the Little Island Press website www.littleisland.co.nz or by phoning 09 889 4427.
 

WORLDWIDE: Forum MCG on Fiji concludes meeting in NZ
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The Pacific Islands Forum’s Ministerial Contact Group (MCG) on Fiji met in Auckland, New Zealand Monday, 31 May 2010, to continue Forum efforts to engage with Fiji authorities on addressing the situation in Fiji.

The MCG was chaired by the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Feleti V. Sevele. The other participants were the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Hon. Stephen Smith, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Hon. Murray McCully, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea, Hon. Samuel Abal, the Minister for Works, Transport and Infrastructure of Samoa, Hon Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau and the Minister for Home Affairs and Rural Development of Tuvalu, Hon. Willy Telavi.

The MCG Chair said he was pleased with the constructive and cordial nature of MCG discussions. The MCG received a report on Fiji from the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum. The MCG expressed concern at the political and economic challenges facing Fiji but there was a clear commitment from all Ministers to continue to offer Fiji the Forum's assistance in addressing its challenges. MCG members highlighted the importance of Fiji establishing an inclusive and open political dialogue process in order to advance sustainable progress back to parliamentary democracy.

At the invitation of the Chair, the interim Minister for Foreign Affairs of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, provided a presentation to the MCG outlining the Fiji government's views. He also expressed a commitment to maintaining engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum, describing it as an important regional partner for Fiji's return to parliamentary democracy.

The Chair confirmed the interest of the MCG visiting Fiji to engage the full range of Fiji stakeholders as they had twice in 2008. In this regard, the Chair welcomed the invitation from Fiji's interim Foreign Minister for such a visit at a time to be determined by mutual agreement. The MCG will be reporting to Forum Leaders in advance of their next meeting in Port Vila from 3-6 August 2010 as mandated by the Leaders' January 2009 Port Moresby Special Retreat meeting.

“Although suspended by Leaders from the Forum for reasons which remain entirely valid, Fiji continues to be an important regional partner and it is essential for all of us, including Fiji, to seek constructive engagement in the broader interests of all the people of the Pacific”, the MCG Chair said “While significant differences remain between Fiji and the rest of the Forum membership, the MCG provides an important mechanism to pursue a constructive two-way dialogue with Fiji aimed at resolving our differences and assisting its return to full parliamentary democracy”, Prime Minister Sevele said.

Speaking on behalf of all MCG Ministers, the Chair expressed warm appreciation for the Government of New Zealand for its generous offer to host this meeting of the MCG.