NEWSPAGE 01 December
2010

(Photos: United Nations Development Programme)

SAMOA: Home gardens going green in South coast villages
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release

Home gardens in the tsunami-struck villages on the southeast coast of Samoa are going green. Women’s Committee members in tsunami-affected areas have received organic compost training as a part of the Tsunami Early Recovery Project working in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/ Government of Samoa-led Community Centered Sustainable Development Program (CCSDP) efforts. UNDP has endeavored to assist tsunami-affected communities to ‘build back better’ and ‘greener’ in order to promote and foster an environmentally responsible development.

The compost training is part of the livelihoods and disaster risk reduction initiatives under the ERP aimed to restore and adapt sources of livelihoods to become more climate-resilient and sustainable.

“We were so happy to learn that we can make fertilizers out of tree leaves, food and animal waste to grow fruits and vegetables” said Lili Lautala while clearing the garden for the village compost to mature. “We hope not only will this produce enough to feed our family but, if we are lucky, we can even sell to the market to help our family and village economy” she added.

Together with representatives from other three villages, Lili Lautala received a one day-long training from compost expert, Matafeo Fou, from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crops Divison, on how to make compost and to farm in a more productive and sustainable way. At the end of the training, the villagers received over $400 SAT of gardening equipment and seeds. In a total of five weeks, trainees can unfold their compost and start using their very own organic fertalizer. Once vegetables have matured they will harvest seeds from their own crops to distribute to other villagers.

As part of the Early Recovery Project, fishing kits have also been provided to the local Women’s Committee in Viloa and Lotopue in order to stimulte economic development in the community. By renting the fishing gear to local fisherman, the Women’s Committee can expect to garner at least $300-400 SAT per month in profit.

The livelihoods for the majority of some 700 households affected by last year’s tsunami include subsistence agriculture, livestock and fisheries. “The tsunami took away from many of these households their livehoods assets and crops in their home gardens. These crops including taro, banana, cassava and other root crops are the base of a nutritionally balanced family diet for many villagers. Restoring livelihoods and ensuring family food security have been our priority concern and areas of UNDP support”, said Nileem Noble, UNDP Resident Representative.

The need for agricultural training was one of the major components in the Lotopue’s Village Sustainable Development Plan. The Project facilitated the process which involved all groups. For many in the village, it was the first time they were given a voice. The Plan is aimed at meeting the recovery and long-term development priorities of the community. The agricultural training has been a popular item among tsunami-struck villages.

To date, 22 out of the 23 tsunami-affected communities assessed have completed similar Village Sustainable Development Plans. The Government of Samoa (GoS) and UNDP are helping to meet the priorities indentified by the communities. Livelihoods inputs such as fishing and agricultural tools will be distributed to all villages.

Led by the Ministry for Women, Community and Social Development, the Early Recovery Project also focuses on supporting communities to restore and expand their livelihoods in the mainstay fishing and tourism sectors. Work is also now underway to take this planning process to the remaining tsunami-affected villages, with the aim of matching recovery and long-term development support directly to communities’ priorities now and for the future.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Lili Lautala (left) and other village women guarding their village compost before it will be ready for use as fertilizers in two weeks time. The compost, made of leaves, food and animal waste, is a critical component in organic farming.

Photo 2 - Village women are eager to put their newly acquired agricultural skills into practice.
 

Photo 3 - Village Lotopue also received four community-managing fishing kits.
 

(Photos: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

AUSTRALIA: APTC brings carpentry course to Vanuatu
Source: Australia-Pacific Technical College

Under the guidance of their Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) Trainer, Mr Tony Blair, a team of Mobile Force Engineers within the Vanuatu Police Force is responsible for the construction of the new, 160 square-metre, Immigration - Passport Office in Port Vila, from digging the site's foundations to the pouring of the concrete floors.

The 18 members of the VPF Engineers team are enrolled in an APTC Certificate III Course in Carpentry, delivered on-site by the APTC School of Automotive, Construction and Electrical, and Manufacturing (ACEM). As soon as the office floors are completed, the students will begin building the timber frames and the block walls of the new office.

New Zealand Defence Force Staff Sergeant and Foreman of Works, John Moore remarked, "It is noticeable that in the few weeks since training commenced that the standards have improved. The guys are all eager to gain qualifications."

To date, APTC course delivery in Vanuatu has centred on Tourism and Hospitality, and Health and Community Services. The carpentry course has been introduced at the request, and with the support, of APTC Advisory Group member for Vanuatu, Mr Pascal Gavotto.

The training is taking place at dedicated sites so that students can continue working while acquiring new skills. As well as the Engineering team, seven employees of Airports Vanuatu Limited are also enrolled, with all students bringing significant work experience to the course. Refurbishment works at the Bauerfield International Airport also are planned as a part of the training delivery.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - (From right) NZ Defence Force Staff Sergeant John Moore looks on as APTC trainer Tony Blair meets VMFE carpenters at the beginning of the course.

Photo 2 - Pouring the concrete floor of the new Immigration-Passport Office in Port Vila.
 

(Photo: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

COOK ISLANDS: Cook Islands, a valuable member in the climate change negotiations
Source: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Cook Islands are committed to the climate change cause. The nation of 15 small islands is a valuable member of the Pacific wide team that works as one in the fight for an agreement crucial to our survival. As time passes and science gives weight to the impacts of climate change - the need for an agreement grows stronger each day.

Over the next two weeks in Cancun, Mexico the world comes together, yet again, at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework for the Convention on Climate Change (COP16).

While expectations are being downplayed at this meeting, the Cook Islands are still working towards an agreement, after all the nation is amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change but is one of the nations that contributes least to this global problem.

"I think they are trying to downplay the ambitions of this meeting, but for the Cook Islands it's important that we keep the pressure on to try and come to some sort of agreement. I mean, we can’t just keep deferring the hard decisions, we've got to make a decision and set a deadline for this process," said Myra Patai the Director, International Organizations & Treaties, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration - the head of the Cook Islands delegation.

The Cook Islands have been actively engaged in the climate change negotiations which have been held more regularly after the formation of the ‘Bali Roadmap’. They have in their team experienced local negotiators who are tasked with leading different working groups for the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS) in addressing the range of agenda items.

“For the Cook Islands we have two key issues; to address problems of rising Greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on us and we’re hoping to put in place an agreement that will capture those countries that aren’t part of the climate change agreement process. We’d also like to see a second commitment period for parties under the Kyoto protocol is established.”

Here at the climate change meetings, it is often commented upon by fellow Pacific delegates that the Cook Islands country team is largely made up of the female gender, however Patai says the strength of their team is more that it reflects the diverse interests from the island nation as the country battles climate change together. In all there are eight delegates in the Cook Islands official team who stem from different government ministries, as well as nongovernmental organisations.

“I think this really reflects what we do back home we have set up a climate change country team which comprises of almost all of government ministries as well as traditional leaders, business people and NGO’s. I think Government understands that to address climate change effectively requires a comprehensive response, that government cannot tackle climate change on its own.”

Photo Caption: Pacific delegates attending the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework for the Convention on Climate Change (COP16).
 

(Photo: Papua New Guinea Volleyball Federation)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Successful year for volleyball in PNG, says Morea 
Source: The National

PNG Volleyball Federation president Turaho Morea has applauded the year as one of federation’s most successful year in implementing their calendar of events.

“In May, we resuscitated the corporate beach volleyball competition which was played under a four-player format, then in June, we ran the national beach volleyball tour, while in July we sent two beach and two indoor teams to the Oceania volleyball championships in Noumea, New Caledonia.

“As the president of the federation, I am extremely pleased with the outcome of the volleyball summit, AGM, U21 and open championships held in Lae recently,” Morea said.

He added that the federation would be revising its organisational and competition structure over the next three years.

Under this review the federation would also include an intensive development programme to prepare for the 2015 Pacific Games in PNG.

He said the men’s and women’s national junior sides for the Arafura Games in Darwin next May and the national men’s and women’s sides for the Pacific Games in New Caledonia next July would be announced soon.

Morea also thanked sponsors of the federation, especially Digicel PNG and the National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop for accepting to be the patron.

“Sponsorship is a vital factor in our development programme and we hope we have done enough to satisfy the investment that our sponsorship partners have undertaken this year,” he said.

Morea also acknowledged the 21 associations who registered with the federation this year and collectively administered volleyball for more than 5,000 members nationwide.

He is also expecting a bigger and better season next year.

Photo Caption: Papua New Guinea Volleyball Federation president Turaho Morea.
 

WORLDWIDE: Pacific rugby gets a yellow card from IRB
Source: The Roar Sports Opinion

So we’ve reached the completion of yet another Northern Hemisphere Spring Tour, with the Southern Hemisphere Tri Nation teams having the measure of their Northern Hemisphere counterparts.

The two teams from the South Pacific, Fiji and Samoa who also toured the Northern Hemisphere, did admirably well against their European Six Nation opponents.

Fiji drew with Wales 16-16 and had a narrow defeat against Italy 24-16.

Samoa did not record a win on their tour. However, they did push Ireland 20-10, England 26-13 very hard with narrow defeats and were very unlucky to lose against Scotland 19-16, who only had beaten the Springboks in the previous week.

Both teams did remarkably well as they are not well resourced as the Tri Nation and the Six Nation teams.

The rugby from the South Sea nations seems to be improving and bodes well for the future in terms of competitiveness against the top tier rugby nations.

However, in the last week, Pacific rugby got dealt a severe blow from the IRB Council Meeting in Cardiff when the New Zealand Rugby Union proposal to offer players with “close and meaningful ties” to another country the chance to represent that nation at Test level after a stand-down period was dismissed.

The NZRU proposed regulation would allow players such as Joe Rokocoko or Sitiveni Siviatu the opportunity to play for the country of birth (Fiji) at the twilight of their careers if not selected by the All Blacks and fulfill a stand down period.

Many of the home nations were against the idea because they feared that Pacific Island sides Samoa, Fiji and Tonga would strengthen themselves before the next rugby World Cup.

NZRU bid was only supported by Australia and England. NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said that England were keen to help Pacific Island rugby.

“They saw the benefits of the Pacific Islands becoming more competitive” Tew said. England played their role around the council table. I couldn’t see half the table, but we got nowhere near the two-thirds majority we needed when there was a show of hands.

“Unfortunately that was resoundingly defeated. Almost everybody voted against. We didn’t get as much support as we did last time and I’m not sure if Fiji drawing with Wales last weekend helped the cause.

“That’s probably the end of that for a few years I’d say which is disappointing. We proposed a few variations to try and smooth it through, but there was not the support,” he said.