NEWSPAGE 20 August
2010

(Photo: TVNZ ONE Sport)

SAMOA: Samoan rower to take on the world's best
Source: TVNZ ONE Sport

72 days out from the rowing World Championships at Karapiro and World champion Mahe Drysdale has an unexpected rival in Samoan architect Brad Jowitt.

Brad Jowitt rows for Auckland's West-end club - the same club as Drysdale and will become Samoa's first representative rower.

"It's a great honour for me... Its the first time Samoa have ever had anyone competing at any level so I really want to do them proud be an ambassador for the country and just do the best I can" Jowitt said.

Jowitt is juggling full-time work around training in a bid to get fit for the world Championships at Lake Karapiro in November - including drawing up plans for Drysdale's house.

While he concedes he may not get anywhere near the World champ come November, the focus is on becoming the first rower to represent Samoa at the Olympic games.

Photo Caption: Samoan rower Brad Jowitt.
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC receives $290,517 under Student Services Support program
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega announced on Wednesday (August 18, 2010) that American Samoa Community College (ASCC) has been selected to receive $290,517.00 under the Student Support Services (SSS) Program.

In a recent announcement from the U.S Department of Education (USDOE), Assistant Secretary at the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Gabriella Gomez, stated that the funding will cover the period of one year, starting on September 1, 2010. Upon successful completion and submission of their Annual Performance Report to the USDOE, ASCC may renew the grant for a total of five consecutive years.

Through the SSS Program, ASCC will serve a minimum of 200 students in the English Language Institute (ELI) over the next year. In support of its overall goal of increasing the college retention and graduation rates of its participants, the grant will also fund the following services:

- Instruction in basic English and Math skills

- Tutorial services, academic, financial, and personal counseling

- Assistance in securing admission and financial aid for enrollment in four year Educational institutions, graduate and professional programs

- Mentoring and cultural activities not usually available to SSS students

- Guidance on career options

One of the original three Federal TRIO Programs to be funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act initially passed by Congress in 1965, the SSS Program dates back to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty as part of a larger effort to provide educational opportunities for all Americans, regardless of their race, ethnic background or economic circumstances.

The SSS Program at ASCC has provided support services to students for over 15 years. Currently under the leadership of Director, Dr. Repeka Alaimoana-Nuusa, the SSS team also includes Mr. Hipa Neria (Counselor), Mrs. Lea Fotualii (Retention Specialist), Miss Victory “Vickie” Tualatai (Administrative Assistant), and Miss Hope Ropeti (Tutor). Starting this year, SSS will utilize a portion of grant funds on annual trips to expose students to colleges and universities off-island.

“I am pleased to share with everyone the continued success of this historic and nationally renowned program in American Samoa. The intent of the original three TRIO Programs - including Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services - was to assist students who would otherwise face social, economic, or cultural barriers to education in America. This program reflects the America spirit of providing opportunities to all, and I am very thankful that American Samoa’s students will continue to benefit from these exceptional support services.”

“I would like to congratulate and thank Student Support Services Director, Dr. Repeka Alaimoana-Nuusa, for her determination in continuing this wonderful program, and for her persistence in securing the funding needed to continuously improve the quality of services to ASCC’s students. I also thank the entire SSS Program team for their faithful service and passion for helping our students succeed,” Congressman Faleomavaega stated.

“I would also like to express my gratitude to ASCC President, Dr. Seth Galea’i, for his visionary leadership and for making higher education more accessible in American Samoa,” Faleomavaega added.

“Last but not least, I also thank and commend all of our ASCC students for their motivation and pursuit of higher education. These programs exist in part because you have voiced your desires to aim high and succeed in your studies and future plans. I thank you for making this admirable commitment, and I also thank your families and mentors for their support in your educational journey. I look forward to the continued success of the SSS Program, ASCC, and the current and future students of American Samoa,” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photo: Communications Fiji Limited)

FIJI: Fiji, Bahrain to establish relations
Source: Indian Weekender

The Kingdom of Bahrain has agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations with Fiji and the signing of the Joint Communiqué will be held between the Foreign Ministers of the two respective countries at the margins of the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola confirmed that he has received formal communication from the Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson conveying Bahrain’s wishes to formalize formal recognitions with Fiji.

“The announcement by Bahrain to establish formal relations with Fiji is a significant exhibition of trust and respect and demonstrates real aspiration by our two respective countries to show the world of their desire to acknowledge each other’s sovereign existence and wish to enhance bilateral cooperation” Ratu Inoke said.

Earlier this year, Fiji decided a major shift in its Foreign Policy to join the Non Align Movement. Following this pronouncement, Cabinet decided that Fiji commence establishing formal diplomatic relation with all countries and states it has yet to formalize diplomatic relations with.

“With changes and shift in the balance of power from a bi-polar a multi polar world, it is in Fiji’s long term interest that we befriend all nations” said Ratu Inoke.

“As a Small Island Developing States, Fiji needs to cultivate an atmosphere where we are trusted and respected not because of our size but by the firmness and decisiveness of our foreign policies”.

Bahrain now join the increasing number of Middle Eastern countries that have established diplomatic relations with Fiji.

Photo Caption: Fijian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Community)

NEW CALEDONIA: New approach to women's health in the Pacific needed
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

There needs to be a bold new approach to women’s health in the Pacific to tackle persistent problems of violence against women, poor maternal health and high rates of obesity and cancer, the Conference of Pacific Women in Noumea heard.

Some progress has been made in drawing leaders’ attention to the need for action to eliminate violence against women, the meeting was told, with three national studies showing continuing high levels of such violence, including sexual violence.

Held once every three years, the conference at the headquarters of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) called for a regional strategy on women’s health to be tabled at the meeting of Pacific Health Ministers next month. The strategy should then be endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, or for Fiji’s support, by the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

In its final statement today, the conference is expected to call for women’s health to be given the priority, attention and resources needed to address major concerns relating to non-communicable diseases, cancer, violence, reproductive health, infectious diseases including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, and malaria.

Heading a panel on health, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reproductive health adviser, Dr Wame Baravilala, told the conference that women’s access to health services in the Pacific was constrained by social-cultural issues.

Other panel members were Ethel Sigimanu (Solomon Islands), Vaine Wichman (Cook Islands), Edwina Kotoisuva (Fiji) and Rufina Latu (Vanuatu).

Social-cultural issues included ‘low personal health seeking behavior’ by women, who put the health of their family first.

‘The health system has a lot to be blamed for really,’ Dr Baravilala said, adding that the quality of services was variable across the region and there was a lack of sex disaggregated data and information.

Seventy per cent of health budgets were being spent on curative care, and access to health services was affected by the location of services in towns, by high costs and poorly resourced screening services.

In particular, cancer prevention services (detection and management) in the Pacific Islands region were grossly inadequate, he said.

Countries could not afford screening programmes for breast, cervical and ovarian cancers, and when discovered it was often too late - ‘Most die,’ he said.

All of this reflected the general low status of women in the Pacific, Dr Baravilala said.

On violence against women, three or four countries were showing interest in conducting studies similar to the recent national surveys in Kiribati and Solomon Islands. But violence against women was not being catered for by health services and there was low recognition of the problem.

‘A lot of people find it very embarrassing,’ he said.

Fiji’s Edwina Kotoisuva stressed the point that health workers were the ‘front line’, often being the first point of contact for women who had experienced violence. Counseling sensitivity at this point was vital but this service was a weakness in the Pacific.

Dr Baravilala noted that while maternal and reproductive health had improved across the region, in some countries it was regressing.

The Pacific had the highest rate in the world of chlamydia (an STI) for women under the age of 24 years - 40 per cent in one country, and 18 per cent on average among all women receiving antenatal care.

Members of the panel stressed that reproductive health and contraception went beyond the health sector to socio-cultural questions and male behavior. This was something Pacific Island countries and territories needed to urgently address.

Presumptive treatment for chlamydia (women and men take a one-dose antibiotic pill without prior testing) was now being recommended. In Vanuatu, this approach had reduced chlamydia prevalence by 50 per cent Dr Baravilala said.

Unplanned pregnancy was also a serious problem in the Pacific that needed to be discussed at a senior level, he said

Non-communicable diseases have meanwhile reached epidemic proportions. Obesity levels were increasing, often causing diabetes, which could require long-term, expensive treatment such as dialysis, but only some countries had the necessary equipment.

In American Samoa, for example, roughly half the population was diabetic and 30 per cent of the health budget was spent on dialysis.

‘It’s chronic, it doesn’t go away, it causes major disabilities and it shortens lives.’

‘If we want to do something about obesity in this part of the world, we really need to change the mindset of children. For us it’s too late.’

SPC Healthy Lifestyle section head, Dr Viliami Puloka, said NCDs in the Pacific were of a tsunami magnitude, but unlike tsunamis, they were sticking around. He stressed that SPC’s work with countries on addressing NCDs depended on women.

Photo Caption: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reproductive health adviser Dr Wame Baravilala at the 11th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in Noumea.
 

(Photos: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Palau Green fee hits the 1 million mark in less than a year
Source: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

Tourists holidaying in Palau since November last year have helped raise over a million dollars for the protected areas of the territory. Palau now has 1.3 million USD from a Green fee tax that began on 1 November 2009, all of which will help conservation efforts in Palau.

There are 23 conservation sites to preserve the marine and land based environment of Palau under their protected areas network, which encompass the catchphrase for the Pacific territories’ tourism catchphrase - “Experience the Wonders.” It’s a fitting slogan as the visitors and tourists to Palau now play a role in helping the preservation of the pristine environment.

The Green Fee is part of the 35 USD departure tax for non-Palauan passport holders to pay when leaving the territory. Of this amount 15 USD is the Green Fee that is paid into a national account managed by the Protected Area Network Fund (PANF) board of directors. Community conservation groups are now submitting applications for the 1.3 million USD which has been raised in a nine month period.

Palau has approximately 1,269 species and varieties of plants in Palau, of which 830 species are native. It has 141 species of birds of which 20 different types are endemic and it has 40 species of freshwater fish of which four are endemic.

The territory is a member of the Micronesia Challenge which is a commitment by the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam and the Northern Marians to effectively conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia, by 2020.

6.7 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean is covered by the Micronesia Challenge which represents more than 20% of the Pacific islands region. 1,300 species of fish live in the waters of Micronesia along with 60% of all known corals. On land, Micronesia combined has 85 species of birds, half of them are endemic and 1,400 species of birds for which 200 different types are endemic.’

“We have 1.3 million in a fund, which has come from the Green fee alone. Then we have the endowment which is what we have raised to make the Micronesia Challenge happen. When you combine those two figures together we have close to two million dollars,” said Joe Aitaro, the Protected Area Network Coordinator of Palau.

“It took us almost four years to work with the community and the people, and then we had to work with our government to put this Green fee into effect and raise support for it. Now it’s done and showing good results, I am pleased! It was worth it!”

Palauan communities play a leading role in carrying out the conservation efforts for the protected areas however there are costs. The green fee came about as a solution for ongoing financing to help apply the necessary activities to keep the protected areas in the Palau network going.

Communities are to submit management plans as part of their funding application for the Board of directors to review before awarding amounts for conservation community efforts. During the planning stages it was ensured the funds would be available three months after green fee collection began. To date there are now applications before the board for six of the community conservation areas.

“I’m very happy to see that all the stakeholders have agreed to make concessions to ensure that not only will the future generations benefit from this scheme but the rest of the global community,” said Aitaro. “It’s a true testament that islanders do live in harmony with its limited resources.’”

The board is made up of two representatives from the international community that are The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, the Palau Minster of Natural Resource Environment and Tourism, Minister of Finance as well as five other members.

The regulations that govern the board are specific in that the number of government representatives should not outnumber the other members of the board, and the Minister Representatives are not able to vote as they are ex-officio members.

The Board of Directors are advised by a technical committee, their role is to review the management plan submitted by the community and provide advice to the Board about applications. The technical committee will assess the management plan and whether the community conservation group has the right personnel to carry out the activities. If the capacity is not available, the technical committee will advice other options to help this area and advise projects such as workshops or training.

"We want to make sure that the activities can be implemented properly before awarding the funds because at the end of the day we are accountable to the people who pay the 15 dollars.”

It’s the visitors to Palau over the past nine months to “Experience the Wonder” that have helped the territory succeed in their green fee initiative. If birds could talk, the 141 species in Palau would say thank you.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Protected Area Network Coordinator of Palau, Joe Aitaro.

Photo 2 - Marine Protected Area, Chelbacheb, Palau.