NEWSPAGE 19 November
2010

(Photo: Colour Me Fiji)

(Photo: Pazana International English Academy)

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

Lady Naomi departs from Aleipata

Sea travel between Upolu and American Samoa is now made efficient with MV Lady Naomi now departing from the Aleipata Wharf, starting last week Thursday 11th November 2010.

With this new route, three hours have been slashed off the normal travelling time.

To commemorate this milestone, Samoa Shipping Corporation is now offering a Pago special of only $T100 return for the month of November 2010.

This fare has no hidden fees and with less traveling time, SSC continues to strive to bring its customers the most effective means of sea transportation.

Departure is every Thursdays at 10am departing Aleipata wharf and return every Fridays at 9amex Pago Pago wharf.

Advance reservations is highly recommended.

Email Samoa Shipping Corporation on [email protected] or call 20935 for further information.


National Beautification Village Competition Prize Giving date confirmed

The date for the National Beautification Village Competition Prize Giving has been scheduled and confirmed.

The Prize Giving will take place on Tuesday 07thDecember 2010 at the STA Cultural Centre.

The Ceremony is scheduled to start at 10:00am


STA assists new educational and cultural program available in Samoa for foreign students

A new English Academy in Samoa hopes to draw a different kind of traveller to Samoa through an avenue that’s not necessarily focused on sandy beaches and picturesque views.

The Pazana International English Academy aims to be Samoa’s first unique program which caters to Foreign Students who want to learn English as well as experience and learn about Samoan Culture.

Pazana hopes to run a 15 week program that will cover learning the English language and experiencing life in Samoa. For enrolled foreign students, Pazana will offer Curriculum content inclusive of Samoa History, Government, Samoan Arts, Myths and legends, Culture and Traditions, English papers as well as translation and interpretation. Part of the experience will be provided for through excursions to historical sites and venues throughout Samoa. Students will also be expected to participate in cultural festivities such as the Teuila Festival.

To create further exposure for what they have to offer, Pazana has set up a link between their recently launched website http://samoa-international-academy.viviti.com/ and that of STA’s website at http://www.samoa.travel/ThingsToDo/xlxiUPOLUxc16xd107xs/Pazana-International-English-Academy.

Pazana is also looking to possibly working together with STA in providing mentoring and guidance for some of the excursion services for the foreign students.

Pazana aims to make this a reality by utilizing STA’s expertise and contacts in promoting our program.

Pazana is hoping to begin its First Semester in March 2011.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC literature students to stage Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

“Shakespeare is the most influential figure in English literature, and he had his finger on the pulse of the people. He knew what struggles people were experiencing, and this is what has allowed Shakespeare’s work to survive the test of time. Not many writers have had their work survive for 400 years.” American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Language & Literature instructor Lawrence Wilson made these observations while discussing the production of “Romeo & Juliet” that he and his students will bring to the stage this coming Thursday and Friday, November 18th and 19th, at 6 p.m. in the ASCC Lecture Hall.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) probably never imagined an adaption of his classic love story almost 400 years later on an island halfway around the world where no English was even spoken when he first wrote it, but as Wilson points out, Shakespeare’s focus on the human experience resulted in works which transcend any specific language, time or place. For their adaptation of “Romeo & Juliet,” Wilson and his students have set the story in the present day on the ASCC campus. “Rather than a rivalry between two families,” he says, “we’ve made the rivalry between two student clubs.” If this premise sounds preposterous, don’t forget that the same rivalry was previously re-imagined as taking place between white Americans and Puerto Rican immigrants for a musical some might remember called “West Side Story”. The latter premise also sounded preposterous at first, but “West Side Story” went on to earn recognition as an all-time Broadway classic.

While Broadway may one day be on their individual or collective agendas, for the moment the cast of the ASCC “Romeo & Juliet” are concentrating on the College’s Lecture Hall and how to maximize that facility’s potential as a performance space. “Because the Lecture Hall has closed acoustics, we won’t have to use microphones,” said Wilson, recalling the sound challenges of his previous Shakespeare adaptation, “As You Like It”. He and his students also have some fresh concepts about how to use more than just the room’s main stage for the production. “I wanted to create an environment where the audience feels like they’re in the play themselves, Wilson explained, “and the intimate setting of the Lecture Hall will enable the actors to project their voices, just like in Shakespeare's time.”

As he did with “As You Like It,” Wilson collaborated with his students to modernize as well as “Samoan-ize” the script, which has resulted in a version of “Romeo & Juliet” truly unlike any other. “It’s important to make this play relevant to the lifestyles of the present place and time,” Wilson explained. “The more the audience sees themselves in the play, the better.” While some parts of the dialog remain exactly as written by Shakespeare, other portions have been re-worked by the actors, who are mostly Wilson’s students from the classes ENG 150 (Introduction to Literature), ENG 151 (Freshman Composition) and ENG 251 (Sophomore Composition).
“Letting the student actors have a degree of influence over the dialog gives the play a unique sound, and also makes it more personal to them,” Wilson explained. “Otherwise, they’d just be memorizing lines that might not have as much meaning. This way, we have a more genuine engagement between the students and the text. I want the students to gain an appreciation for Shakespeare, and I would like for them to be able to say that they had a great experience performing this play. Having tried this approach with ‘As You Like It’, I’ve learned that you cannot rush the process, but the actors want to do well and will find their own ways to bring their roles to life.”

Prior to the Lecture Hall performance, the cast of “Romeo & Juliet” will give several warm-up performances at several local high schools. Confirmed appearances so far include Marist/Faasao and Leone, with others a possibility if time and actor availability permits. The high school appearances will help the student actors fine tune their stagecraft for the major performances in the ASCC Lecture Hall on the 18th and 19th. Tickets will be available at the door, and the show will start at 6 p.m. Since the Lecture Hall seats a maximum of 150, those who wish to attend the play should arrive early in order to secure a set.

Photo Caption: ASCC students, under the direction of Lawrence Wilson (middle row, third left),
take a break from rehearsing their adaptation of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet", which they will perform this Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. in the ASCC Lecture Hall.
 

FIJI: Reference Group meets to address sexual and gender-based violence
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The first meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Reference Group to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) was held on 16 November 2010 at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva.

The Reference Group to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence was established following a recommendation from the 2010 Forum Regional Security Committee meeting to assist the Forum Secretariat and support national efforts in taking forward a mandate from Forum Leaders in 2009 on this issue.

At their 2009 meeting, Forum Leaders noted that sexual and gender-based violence is a risk to human security and a potential destabilising factor for communities and societies alike. Leaders also acknowledged that SGBV remained pervasive across the Pacific, even though its prevalence often went underreported, and urged the recognition of its prevalence in the Pacific at all levels of community, whether in the domestic context or during conflict and post conflict situations.

The Reference Group extensively discussed issues pertaining to SGBV including existing work to address the issue by the different agencies across the Pacific. The Reference Group discussed and confirmed its Terms of Reference which include identifying, assessing and recommending activities , policies and legislation (including in the long term) to address existing and potential contributing factors to sexual and gender based violence.

Director Teurakai Ukenio of the Community Development and Social Services Division of the Ministry of Internal & Social Affairs, Kiribati, welcomed the initiative saying his participation was “a clear demonstration of the Kiribati Governments commitment to addressing sexual and gender based violence”. The Director also said “the issues highlighted in discussions included the importance of Pacific Islands Forum Governments’ accountability to implement national and international commitments to gender equality and human rights. The Reference Group also noted the importance of tracking and coordinating government budgetary allocations and aid to address SGBV, to ensure the most strategic and effective implementation of efforts to eliminate violence against women and children.”

The Reference Group comprises Ms Ethel Sigimanu, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry for Women, Youth and Children’s Affairs, Solomon Islands; Mr Teurakai Ukenio, Acting Director Community Development & Social Services Division, Ministry of Internal & Social Affairs, Kiribati; Commander Chris Kelley, Commander, Royal Tonga Police, Tonga; Ms Elizabeth Cox, Regional Director, UNIFEM Pacific; Mrs Fekitamoeloa K. ‘Utoikamanu, Deputy Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community; and Ms Shamima Ali, Director, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre.
 

(Photo: Tahitian Noni International)

TAHITI: Tahitian Noni International takes hundreds to Tahiti for outrigger event 
Source: Tahitian Noni International via Marketwire

Last week, Tahitian Noni International (TNI) gathered some of its most dedicated Independent Product Consultants (IPCs), and sent them to the pristine islands of French Polynesia with one goal: to see the origins of Tahitian Noni International and to expand their vision. The Outrigger trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only be rewarded for meeting specific business qualifications, but also to see just how Tahitian Noni International changes lives, and how noni has been changing lives for thousands of years.

For those who qualify, Outrigger is a one week, all-expenses paid trip to the islands of Tahiti -- where guests enjoy exquisite beauty, royal treatment, and loads of fun in the sun. IPCs get to see for themselves the Tahitian Noni processing facility and groves of noni trees -- where noni fruit is picked and harvested. They also get to enjoy time on the beach, exquisite banquets, Polynesian shows, special entertainment, museums, traditional Tahitian storytellers, and more. IPCs are always impressed with the "legend of the noni, or medicine fruit," as told by traditional storytellers -- where native Polynesians express their love of the noni fruit, and demonstrate some traditional healing remedies used in the home.

Jeff Wasden, TNI's vice president of Global Marketing, called the all-expenses paid trip an important investment. "We make this investment in our IPCs, because it changes them," he said. "They forge a stronger connection to our company and our products by being here in Tahiti, and this experience changes their businesses, and their lives." TNI has now taken almost 6,000 people to Tahiti.

For more information about Tahitian Noni Products, please go to www.tni.com.

Photo Caption: While on the Outrigger trip IPCs aren't just treated to luxury and fun in magnificent French Polynesia. Each person who attends Outrigger also gets to see the numerous lives that are affected in the process of picking, processing and selling Tahitian Noni products.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Climate Change Funding in the Pacific - SPREP issues draft report
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has issued a draft report on the future of funding for climate change in the Pacific region. This report is available at: http://www.sprep.org/att/publication/000912_Final_PICCAFReport_2010.pdf and is being circulated for review comments.

This is a major issue in the Pacific region given the commitments at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in 2009 to increase funding for climate change actions in the most vulnerable developing countries.

For example, the Copenhagen Accord commits developed countries to a goal of mobilising $100 billion US$ per year by 2020 for climate change in developing countries.

The draft SPREP report reviews the future of climate change financing in the region. It identifies options for more effective delivery of climate funds to Pacific countries, including a possible Pacific Regional Fund for Climate Change.

The report makes recommendations for a technical backstopping facility in the region to help countries better access funds for climate change.

This report originated from a request to SPREP from the 2009 Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR) meeting in Marshall Islands.

Since then, Pacific Leaders have asked for advice on options for accessing climate change financing at their 2010 meeting in Vanuatu. Environment Ministers at the 2010 SPREP meeting in Madang, PNG noted the importance of this issue and this was also echoed by the recent meeting of Finance and Economic Ministers in Niue.

“This draft study is particularly important for the Pacific region”, notes David Sheppard, Director of SPREP, who further notes “with the expected of climate change funding after Copenhagen we need to look at options to ensure funding commitments are met and are delivered quickly to help Pacific countries adapt to climate change”

Pledges made in Copenhagen for fast-start financing are yet to fully materialize. The most recent reports as well as analysis of the fast-start partnership website (launched by Netherlands and others) clearly show funding currently available is largely a re-packaging of existing funding, and any additional funds are often being pledged through existing mechanisms such as the GEF and other multilateral funds. There is no simplified or uniform application process, as all funds are maintaining their existing procedures.

“While it is hoped and expected that the pledges made will eventually materialize, the sense of urgency in favour of a regional mechanism has perhaps waned a bit, and the key concern rests on having the technical and capacity support mechanism in place even if fast start financing does not happen in the near future,” said Mr. Espen Ronneberg, SPREP’s Climate Change Adviser.

Ronnenberg further notes “Having a key role in negotiations support, with knowledge of the latest developments in the Framework for the Convention on Climate Change process, and with the technical expertise in-house in support, SPREP is in an excellent position to coordinate the element of a regional backstopping mechanism for any financial mechanism that may eventuate at the international or regional levels, in close cooperation with other agencies and national focal points”.

With over two decades of experience in this area, SPREP has extensive knowledge of working with the region on all aspects of climate change. Of most relevance to the current study, in particular in terms of the technical backstopping required, is the experience with technical and capacity support to Members in developing and implementing their climate change projects and programmes.

While the promise of up scaled sources of financing in Copenhagen has provided an impetus to the process of establishing a regional financing mechanism, the most important element at this stage would be to get the technical backstopping aspects in place - to allow better access to existing funds and to support PICs with any new funds becoming available.

The draft report is now being made available to SPREP National Focal Points as well as climate change experts and regional organizations, and was presented to Pacific Finance Ministers at their meeting in October.

It is expected that a wide range of comments will be forthcoming and it’s the intention of SPREP to collect and synthesize these into a new revised report to be discussed in depth at the 2011 Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR) which will be held in Niue in March.

Photo Caption: The Pacific meets with SPREP at COP 15 in Copenhagen.