NEWSPAGE 16 July
2010

(Photo: NZ Spinal Trust)

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

SAMOA: The way forward for Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation calls upon Pacific Island countries to commit to investing in natural solutions to reduce the impacts of environmental and climate change as a matter of urgency.

This was one of the outcomes of the 13th gathering of the Roundtable which met in Samoa last week. The Meeting brought together close to 100 nature conservation practitioners and stakeholders who are committed to working together for effective conservation action in the Pacific region.

“Natural Solutions to Environmental and Climate Change in the Pacific” was the theme of the gathering that resulted in a number of outcomes, one of which is a collective commitment to identifying innovative approaches to finance natural solutions, particularly through climate change adaptation funding.

The conference identified key specific areas which it needs to strengthen such as capacity building, communication mainstreaming climate change and natural resource economics.

Natural solutions which lead to the conservation and sustainable use of our island biodiversity are imperative to preparing the Pacific for the uncertainties of environmental and climate change. The discussions over the week looked at how better managing our environment can help us adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“I think it’s the realisation or the reaffirmation that the work we are doing to conserve biodiversity is important for adaptation,” said Taholo Kami, Chair of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation and IUCN Oceania Regional Director.

“Healthy ecosystems are critical for adaptation in small Pacific Island countries and what we are doing now needs to be done better in terms of investing in biodiversity, investing in conservation and trying to keep relatively intact ecosystems.”

The world is in a biodiversity crisis. Even as the global community celebrates the International Year of Biodiversity it is clear that we have failed to meet the global 2010 target to halt the rate of biodiversity loss.

In the Pacific, the region works together on nature conservation under the guiding principals of the 2008 - 2012 Action Strategy for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in the Pacific Islands Region. The Strategy charts a five year course for concerted action to protect the species and ecosystems that form the foundation of Pacific culture and livelihoods and serves as the guiding framework for member organisations of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation.

Over the course of the past week, the Working Groups of the Roundtable looked at a range of nature conservation issues including Protected Areas, Invasive Species and Marine Conservation. The thematic Working Groups are the implementing mechanism of the Roundtable, ensuring on-ground activities that support national conservation priorities. There were also specific working groups to look at strengthening links with regional initiatives such as the Coral Triangle Initiative, Pacific 2020 as well as a country-specific working group for capacity building in PNG.

Government representatives from Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu were also present at the meeting as part of the peer review learning on the Programme of Work on Protected Areas.

“The Roundtable is a great idea that provides a mechanism for keeping the energy of the Nature Conservation Conference alive,” said David Sheppard, Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), which hosted the 13th Meeting of the Roundtable. ”The meeting nurtures networking and friendships while providing a forum for good technical discussion”.

He added that the involvement of non-government and government in a neutral forum was very positive for building innovative solutions for conservation and adaptation.

“The next steps will be to take some of the key recommendations from this meeting to the SPREP annual general meeting in September and also to link it with other processes. All this will lead up to the next four-yearly Nature Conservation Congress on 2012 and follow through to on the ground actions addressing national priorities and needs”, he said.

The next Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation Meeting will be in 2011 which the French Marine Protected Area Agency has offered to host.

Photo Caption: (L-R) Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, David Sheppard and Chair of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation and IUCN Oceania Regional Director, Taholo Kami.
 

AUSTRALIA: PNG deal a breakthrough for Australia seasonal worker scheme
ource: Radio New Zealand International

An Australian researcher on Pacific labour mobility issues says a new agreement signed by Papua New Guinea to send seasonal employees to pick fruit in Australia is a significant breakthrough.

A memorandum of understanding on the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme has been signed by the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministers of PNG and Australia.

The programme was launched in 2008, when Australia signed deals with Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu to grant up to 2500 temporary work visas over three years.

To date just a few dozen workers have been employed but researcher, Nick Maclellan, says the new deal with PNG is a significant step for Australia.

“I think there’s concern that the Australian scheme has been very slow getting under way. In the first year New Zealand had nearly four thousand people come on RSE visas to work in the horticultural industry. In the first year of Australia’s scheme, only fifty six workers came. It’s obvious there’s a need to look at expanding the programme to meet the targets that have been set.”
 

(Photos: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

KIRIBATI: Kiribati barista gold medalist graduate builds on earlier success
Source: Australia-Pacific Technical College

Miss Tereen Aata who, as an APTC student, was the 2009 Gold Medalist in the International Coffee Barista section of the Origin Culinary Arts Show in Port Vila, Vanuatu, continues to build on her early success.

Tereen recently contacted APTC Tourism and Hospitality Trainer, Mr Marc Warin, to say, "I have very good news… I soon will become a Barista Trainer at the new Hospitality School which is situated inside the Marine Training Centre."

"The school will soon be open in August this year and I'm really looking forward to work and being a trainer for the first time."

Since arriving back home in Kiribati, and graduating in a recent ceremony, Tereen has had part-time employment at Mary's Motel, taking charge of a coffee machine that has sat idle for three years, because no one knew how it worked. Yet, before she travelled to study for her Certificate III in Hospitality Operations as a full-time student with APTC at the Vanuatu college campus, Tereen had never tasted espresso coffee.

Trainer Marc Warin commented on Miss Aata's success saying, "Tereen was eager to take her skills back to Kiribati to promote espresso coffee service and consumption in her country. She is indicative of the calibre of students attending APTC Tourism and Hospitality courses. Now, she is poised to share her commitment and passion with others."

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - The concentration that wins gold medals; Tereen during the Barista
competition in Vanuatu 2009.

Photo 2 - Tereen with Trainer Marc Warin after winning gold.

(Photo: United Nations Development Programme)

VANUATU: Church pillar of independence says President
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

Our national experience has shown that the preparatory work and influence of the church, was instrumental in the laying of the foundation upon which this nation was established”.

This was the statement made by the Head of State, President Iolu Johnson Abbil, during his recent visit to Onesua Presbyterian College on North Efate.

In reminding the students of the constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu, His Excellency Abbil said: “For the benefit of the college, who will become future leaders of this nation, the foundation of this nation that was laid down prior to our independence in 1980 is clearly outlined in the preamble of our national constitution,” he said.

The Head of State told the students that it is now 30 years since Vanuatu became an Independent Republic of Vanuatu and today reaching maturity.

With this in mind, he said, “it should be clear to see from this, the hand of GOD behind all these key events that were connected with the birthing of our nation. Therefore it should not be a surprise that the national motto ‘In God We Stand’ was eventually adopted by the selection committee back in 1980, should fall in line with our preamble,” President told Onesua students.

“It is therefore a top priority that all citizens, and in particular our young generation know and understand in clear terms, the very fabric that comprise our foundation,” President Abbil told the students in no uncertain terms.

Head of State went on to tell the 360 students that, having said so, “it would be an interesting exercise to evaluate as to what percentage of the population, after our 30 years of Independence, really know and embrace the foundation upon which this nation was established. This is an important point to note, after it is the people who are building on that foundation”.

The President’s remarks were made to the Onsua students on the eve of the celebrations up and down the country to mark the 30th anniversary of the political freedom from Britain and France, in 1980.

The Head of State said, “I think it is fair to say that after 30 years we may not have elevated the importance and value of our foundation as a matter of concern. This is something that we must change from this point on.

“You may recall in my speech in the opening of parliament this year, I reminded leaders on the importance of connecting our developments with the foundation that has already been laid down in 1980.

“It is common knowledge that the sustainability of a structural storey building rests entirely on the strength of its foundation. We have a responsibility to strengthen our foundation today, for the well being of our future generations.

“As the president of this nation, I believe the nation has become mature and change must be expected. Whether the nation feels ready for maturity is irrelevant, what matters is that the age of maturity has come, the Head of State pointed out to the Onesua students as well as to the population of Vanuatu.”

On the issue of school drop outs, the head of State said, “the issue of school drop outs is a big concern for our pacific nations, where the number is high. The role of governments to create more employment opportunities is not an easy task, as the number of school leavers continue to increase every year.

“The result being that only a small portion will be able to find employment. For so many years we the majority have been raised to believe that going to school are for the purpose of finding employment.

“However we know that the real world does not cater for this situation. In other words, we must become mature, and change from this line of thinking.

“Based on what I have mentioned earlier, this is an opportune time for us to make a change concerning school drop outs.

“The government and other stakeholders such as the churches, chiefs and community have an important role to play in this change,” concerned Head of State said.

Photo Caption: Head of State, President Iolu Johnson Abbil.
 

WORLDWIDE: Stocktake on achievements of Forum after 40 years
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

As the Pacific Islands Forum prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, a stock take of its achievements will be undertaken to reflect on its current and future directions.

Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade revealed this in his opening remarks at the pre-Forum session of the Forum Officials Committee (FOC) in Suva, Fiji yesterday. FOC is the governing council of the Secretariat.

“Forty years is good vintage. But the value of the Forum and its Secretariat cannot be judged alone by how long it has been around; but, rather, by what difference the Forum has made to the welfare and lives of the people of the region it serves,” Mr Slade said.

“As part of the anniversary celebrations next year, we are hoping to take stock of the achievements and to reflect on some of the lessons learnt over the years to guide the way forward to ensure the continued relevance of the Forum as the premier political regional organization.”

Mr Slade said: “The agenda for this FOC meeting will be part of that stock take, as we seek to reflect on the current and future directions of the Secretariat as they are articulated in our Corporate Plan and the Programme Strategic Plans.

He added: “The Secretariat also needs to take stock of its resources and capacity to deliver on the strategic direction provided by its Members and the regional development priorities as set by the annual Leaders’ meetings.”

Despite the difficult financial times faced by Forum members, especially the Forum island countries (FICs), Mr Slade said, “the Forum Secretariat must have a sustainable resources base in order to provide some certainty in its planning and some predictability in what resources will be available to it to pursue and deliver its core functions as prescribed by you our Members and the governing council.”

Mr Slade assured FOC that “with the institutional and organizational strengthening we have instituted in the last couple of years in terms of planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting, and financial system and organizational reforms, your Secretariat is ready and capable to manage its house and affairs and to continue contributing to the service of the region well beyond 40 years of the Forum.”

The two-day FOC meeting will discuss the Secretariat’s strategic, institutional, staff issues as well as the Work Programme and Budget for 2011. FOC will also discuss regional security and a report by the Forum Secretariat Secretary General on the Secretariat’s activities for 2009/2010.

A report on the decisions of the FOC meeting will be submitted to Forum Leaders when they meet in Port Vila, Vanuatu, 3 - 6 August 2010.

The FOC meeting is one of a series of meetings held at the Forum Secretariat in Suva this week in preparation for the Forum Leaders’ meeting. The others were the SIS Officials meeting and the Pacific Plan Action Committee meeting.