NEWSPAGE 20 October
2010

(Photos: Pacific Underground)

(Photo: Samoa Tourism Authority)

SAMOA: Samoa Tourism Authority Updates
Source: Samoa Tourism Authority Press Release

EXPO 2010 SHANGHAI CHINA SAMOA TEAM UPDATE

6th Million Visitor to Pacific Pavillion heading to Samoa

The Samoa Team on the 14th October 2010, welcomed the 6 millionth visitor to the Pacific Pavilion. Mr. Bao Tao of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province was an extra special guest to the Pavillion for the Samoa Team which proceeded to usher the surprised visitor to the stage and present him with the special prize of a return trip to Samoa.

This special prize for the 6 millionth visitor was declared by the Hon. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi at Samoa’s National Day which took place on the 01 August 2010 at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. Mr. Tao’s free return trip to Samoa is courtesy of Air Pacific as part of their assistance to all South Pacific Countries participating at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

Mr. Tao is a construction worker in his province and this was his first visit to the Expo Site. He came with two of his friends and they chose the Pacific Pavilion as their second stop for their tour to the Expo site.

In celebration, the Samoa Team gave a brief performance for Mr. Tao who said he is looking forward to visit Samoa as he has limited knowledge about Samoa. The Samoa Team was able to instill in Mr. Tao an understanding of the friendliness and hospitality of the Samoan people. Aside from the knowledge that Samoa is a small island in the Pacific, Mr. Tao is excitedly hoping to expand his understanding of Samoa upon his visit.

A date of travel for the lucky winner has yet to be decided. Samoa Tourism Authority will be assisting him with all his ground and travel arrangements upon his arrival in Samoa.


Samoa Team provides Destination Promotion outside of Pacific Pavillion

The Samoa Team was invited to perform and carry out promotional activities such as giving out destination brochures, booklets and pamphlets to visitors in the busy streets of Shanghai during the launch of Air Pacific’s promotional campaign in China on Sunday 10th October, 2010. The Samoa Team utilized this opportunity to disseminate information about Samoa to the many visitors who gathered in front of the Shopping Mall.

The team members also provided entertainment for the passers-by in a series of combined performances with the Fiji and Tuvalu Teams. New World Shopping Mall is one of the most popular shopping malls in Shanghai and is located in one of the most famous and flourishing commercial street in Shanghai.

Photo Caption: Jeddah Leavai of the Samoa Team promoting Samoa’s Products in front of the New World Mall.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC/CNR to host hydroponic field day
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

The Community & Natural Resources (CNR) division of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) invites the public to learn about the latest hydroponic growing methods during a field day this Thursday, October 21, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the agriculture extension plot next to the ASCC Gymnasium.

The use of hydroponic technology to grow vegetables has generated much local interest in the last five years. Over the last several decades in American Samoa, several hydroponic enterprises have used expensive greenhouses and Nutrient Film Technology to grow tomatoes and cucumbers, but despite some initial success these enterprises have not lasted. Some farmers have used small hobby hydroponic kits to grow pak choy, lettuce and other leafy vegetables, but these kits used complicated NFT systems that required careful attention to the electro-conductivity (EC), the pH, the nutrient stock solutions, and the potassium nitrogen ratio of the nutrient solution. Most observers attribute the lack of success of hydroponics in American Samoa to complex systems such as this, which require constant attention to the details.

Hydroponics today has taken several leaps and bounds, and has become less much simpler. Beginning in the early nineties, Drs. Bernard A. Kratky and S.C. Furutani of the University of Hawaii at Hilo conducted extensive work on non-circulating hydroponics. In the course they taught, students set up their own demonstrations in 4’x8’ plywood tanks and grew lettuce, pak choy cabbage and other crops. The volume of water was calculated and a specific amount of 8-16-36 fertilizer was added along with the same amount of calcium nitrate. Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) was also added to the water, and 10 - 14 day old seedlings were set in these tanks. This was all the water and nutrients that the plants required until harvest. There was no need to check EC, the nutrient balance or pH on a routine basis. There was also no need to weed the plants. It was a one-time mixing of the nutrient solution and that was it.

Recently Dr. Harry Ako and Adam Baker of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering published SA-2 entitled Small-Scale Lettuce Production with Hydroponics or Aquaponics. The publication details the setup of this hydroponic system in addition to an aquaponics system in an easy to follow step-by-step format. With the cooperation of Drs. Ako and Kratky of the University of Hawaii, CNR has set up a demonstration using this non-circulating hydroponic technology.

CNR Horiculturalist Larry Hirata says the new technology can be adapted by either the professional farmer or casual gardener to grow healthy crops of lettuce and other vegetables. “This new system is much easier to set up and to monitor than previous hydroponic models,” said Hirata. The public is welcome to view this latest hydroponic system during the field day this Thursday. For more information, call CNR at 699-1575 and ask for Larry Hirata.

Photo Caption: ASCC/CNR Horiculturalist Larry Hirata (right), assisted by Americorps Jungle
Buster volunteer Christopher Moi, displays some of the lettuce recently grown using hydroponics. The public can see the new hydroponics method firsthand at a field day taking place this Thursday from 9 - 11 a.m. at CNR.
 

FIJI: Fists of fury for 2011
Source: Fiji Times

There will be a feast of boxing programs next year at the National Gymnasium, says Boxing Commission of Fiji chairman Sakaraia Tuva.

He said they (BCF) have already booked the venue for the whole year unless the month of May.

"This will enable us in solving the promoter's problem in trying to secure a suitable venue to stage their programs, he said.

He added most of them had been complaining about the expensiveness of the Vodafone Arena.

The Arena usually cost $5,000 to hire to stage a boxing promotion.

But with the Gymnasium, he said it costs $4,120 to hire.

and can attract a total of more than 3000 crowd.

"After receiving valuable advice from the Fiji Sports Council I think this will assist promoters in solving their problems," he said.

But at the moment the Commission is looking forward to last fight of the year between Mosese Kavika and Alipate Qica for the heavyweight title of Fiji.

The Narata villager is seriously focus into the fight and has moved to Sigatoka town to prepare for fight of the year in the heavies.

He said most people have criticized him of inclusion in the program because of his age.

"I will prove and put the critics to rest once I'll face Qica.

"Age is no barrier, it's the result that matters," he said.

The fight will be held at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on December 11 and promoted by Abdul Khan under the Wild West Promotion.
 

TUVALU: FFA & SPC assist fisheries management & legal review consultative process
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Press Release via Scoop Independent News

The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the South Pacific Community (SPC) assist Tuvalu to hold stakeholder consultations and develop a National Tuna Fisheries Management and Development Plan this week.

Meetings that are being held at Funafuti week will progress a consultative process to upgrade Tuvalu’s fisheries laws and develop a new tuna fisheries management and development plan.

Tuvalu has recognised the need to update their fisheries law and develop supporting regulations to bring them in line with international obligations and sought assistance. With their previous tuna management plan due to expire in 2006, Tuvalu also requested assistance to develop a new plan to strategise and set out actions to advance fisheries development while sustainably managing fisheries. This week a stakeholder’s consultation was held including the Attorney General’s Office, including the AG herself, Fisheries Department, Maritime Police, Agriculture Department, Tuvalu Fishermen Association, National Fishing Agencies, representatives for the traditional leaders (Kaupule and Falakaupule), Environment Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Marine and Ports Services, Development Bank of Tuvalu, Tuvalu Association of NGOs (TANGO) and Local Consultants.

The reviews and workshop are a coordinated effort of assistance by the FFA and SPC to the Tuvalu Government. This assistance is funded by the UNDP/GEF Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project and the EU funded SciCOFish project.

This week’s is the third and final stakeholder consultation of the Legislative Review and the review of the Tuvalu Tuna Fisheries Management and Development Plan.

Further outcomes and strategic directions of the reviews will be presented through a seminar to the public in an open forum Tuesday next week.

FFA staff will also be running a workshop on Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) issues and Tuvalu.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Palau sharing national biodiversity efforts at international conference
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

Palau is joining the rest of the Pacific Island delegations in showing other nations how far it has gone in meeting its obligation to save the planet’s biodiversity.

Joe Aitaro, Protected Areas Network Coordinator, is part of the Palau delegation at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10) in Nagoya Japan. He will be joined by Palau’s Environment and Tourism Minister Harry Fritz.

“This is one convention the Pacific can really be proud of. Biodiversity is very important to Palau’s cultural heritage and together with the other nations increased support will make it easier for Pacific nations to fulfil its obligations under the convention,” said Aitaro.

The other delegates to the conference from Palau will be part of the negotiations to address issues such as marine and coastal biodiversity, protected areas, sustainable use of biodiversity and climate change.

Bilung Gloria Salii will be making a presentation on importance of pelagic and migratory marine mammals to the people of Palau and the Pacific Communities sponsored by PEW.
Fabian Iyar, CEO of Palau International Coral Reef Center will be making a presentation on the experiences and best policies in Communication and Education and Public awareness on coral reef protection.

“Marine and coastal conservation and protection is very big for Palau,” said Aitaro.

Palau has one of the most diverse coral fauna to be found in all of Micronesia with reef fish and major groups of invertebrate animals are highly diverse in Palau. The number of fish species has been estimated at between about 1300-1450.

The high marine biodiversity found in Palau is due to the fact that the islands contain all major coral reef types and an abundance of diverse marine habitats often associated with rich coral reef ecosystems, including extensive mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows.

The CBD COP 10 is held from 18 - 29 October and is hosted by Nagoya Japan. There are 14 Pacific island countries attending - The Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Photo Caption: Protected Areas Network Coordinator, Joe Aitaro (left), attending the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10) in Nagoya Japan.