NEWSPAGE 08 December
2010

(Photos: MoneyPACIFIC)

(Photos: National University of Samoa)

SAMOA: JICA sponsors Attache training for NUS finance staff
Source: National University of Samoa

The Japanese aid organization, JICA, is funding the training of staff members of the finance department of the National University of Samoa.

The training began Monday, 6 December, and is primarily in the area of computer software, such as the Attache software for accounting purposes. It focuses particularly on the subject of asset management.

A university source said this was an area of much interest to the Japanese government because it was they who funded the construction of both the new campus of the National University, as well as that of the Institute of Technology.

“Naturally the Japanese are interested in what is happening to the assets they donated to us,” he said. These assets amounted to at least 40 million tala.

The principal trainer is Ms Sue Robb, who has wide experience in similar training programmes.

Subjects to be covered include, day one, upgrading the existing system, setting up fixed assets users and rights.

Day 2, understanding the general ledger and bank reconciliations.

Day 3, accounts receivables, products and services.

Day 4, purchasing, fixed assets setups and interactions with other modules.

Day 5, Fixed assets creating, altering, deleting assets; problem solving; month end procedures; year end procedures.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - (L-R) Foluena Laina Wilson, Lupeoletalalelei Tipi, Denise S. Sakaria and Nua Pula.

Photo 2 - (L-R) Sagato Sagato, Motootua Siaki, Fuaselela Iupeli and Gladys Esoto.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Students create ornaments for National Christmas Tree Lighting
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

Students in Art 160/170 at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) have created unique tree ornaments representing American Samoa that will be included as part of this year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting event hosted by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. The National Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on Thursday, December 9, at 5:00 p.m., on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.

ASCC Head Artist Regina Meredith said that she was pleased to be called upon for this special project, and commended her Art 160/170 students for their dedication in producing over a dozen individual ornaments based on a unique design by Meredith. Each ornament is made up of a clear plastic circle which contains a cube; each of the cube’s six surfaces features different Polynesian-style art motifs. Meredith and her students added a further dimension by placing a small battery powered light within each decorated square, which lights up the whole ornament. Each of the ornaments is topped with a bow of yellow ribbon, in honour of all US military personnel, as well as thin strands of u’a or mulberry to provide an island touch.

“Each ornament is one of a kind,” said Meredith. “The students in Art 160/170 were thrilled to take part in this project, knowing that for many of the folks in Washington, D.C., their first awareness our Territory will be based on these unique works of art.”

This year, the National Park Foundation selected one artist and youth group from each US state, territory and the District of Columbia to design and create 26 ornaments. Twenty-five of the ornaments will be hung from the state or territorial tree as part of the National Christmas Tree display on the Ellipse. One of the ornaments will decorate the White House Visitor Center Christmas tree which showcases each state/territory ornament. “We are delighted to have Regina Meredith and the Art 160/170 Artists participating in this year’s National Christmas tree display,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. “This event is a wonderful example of how our national parks connect us as a nation.”

One of our country’s oldest holiday traditions, the National Christmas Tree Lighting began on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse. Since 1923, each succeeding President has carried on the tradition of what now has become a month-long event presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. In addition to the National Christmas Tree display, the Ellipse hosts a variety of family-oriented holiday attractions, such as the Santa’s Workshop, nightly holiday performances, a Yule log, nativity scene, and model train display.

Photo Caption: ASCC Head Artist Regina Meredith (front, centre) is seen here with her students
who created special one-of-a-kind ornaments for this year's National Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington D.C.
 

FIJI: SPC and FAO collaborate on plant genetic resources
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

The International Year of Biodiversity, celebrating our rich heritage on the land, and in the sea, is coming to an end this month, and it is fitting that FAO and SPC are collaborating to hold the first ever Regional Consultation for the Strengthening, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Pacific Island Countries in Suva, Fiji, 7-10 December, 2010.

Agro-biodiversity is providing the range of genetic material necessary to ensure we have food and nutritional security, and therefore supporting our survival in an uncertain environment. The Pacific islands needs to embrace this diversity, and protect it from disappearing.

Through Australian government funding, 27 participants will be attending the meeting from 14 countries.

The aim of the meeting is to support the preparatory process of the updated Global Plan of Action (GPA) for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Global Plan of Action).

Since 1996, the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Global Plan of Action) has provided a coherent framework for the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), including institutional strengthening and capacity-building. As a strategic framework, the Global Plan of Action needs to be periodically reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that it continues to best serve country needs.

The consultation provides the Pacific region with an excellent opportunity to input into this important document and to highlight the needs of the region with regards to PGRFA. The Pacific region has for the last seven years, had a very active Plant Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN) which has been coordinated by SPC Land Resources Division. The majority of the participants at this consultation are members of this network and as such are well placed to comment on the status of PGRFA in the region in relation to the four thematic areas of the GPA.
 

(Photo: Pacific International Documentary Film Festival of Tahiti)

TAHITI: Tahiti’s 2011 FIFO Film Festival features some of New Zealand’s best 
Source: Tahiti Tourisme Press Release

The upcoming Pacific International Documentary Film Festival of Tahiti (FIFO) will have three of New Zealand’s best films vying for the main competition prize and will also feature another Kiwi film as part of the festival.

The New Zealand connection also includes Maori Television Head of Programming, Carol Hirschfeld, as a member of the festival jury.

FIFO is a unique festival and is the annual venue showcasing images of the Pacific. It unites the people of Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia and the West and now has its fans resolutely awaiting its return year after year knowing that new talent and flavour will be discovered. FIFO is the place where the voice and the image of the Pacific people are acknowledged.

The 2011 festival will run from 24 to 30 January 2011 and will feature the following New Zealand films as part of the competition:

• This Way of Life, directed by Thomas Burstyn and produced by Barbara Summer Burstyn, follows a Maori family and their relationship with nature, adversity, their 50 wild horses and society at large.

• Trouble Is My Business, directed by Juliette Veber and produced by NZ Film, is an observational documentary about an assistant principal who strives to keep his students in school and out of trouble. The film follows three Pacific Island and Maori students that have grown up in the low socio-economic area of South Auckland.

• Canvassing the Treaty, directed by Jane Reeves and produced by Tumanako Productions, is a thought provoking and entertaining examination of the Treaty of Waitangi through the artist’s eyes.

Kiri Wai Inner Skin, Directed by Bruce Glglio and produced by Sirocco Productions will be shown outside the competition. It tells the story of a European/American who returns to the South Pacific to complete an Identity quest. This documentary dives deep into the nature of the Maori culture of the moko and its place in other cultures.

The festival, now in its eighth year, is held at the Muriavai Room at the Maison de la Culture in Papeete.
 

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

WORLDWIDE: Instructors learning the ropes
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release

An instructor course for OFC's 'Just Play' grassroots programme successfully kicked off in Auckland on Monday and will run until this evening.

The three-day intensive training is taking place at the Charles J.Dempsey Academy in Penrose and the participants are being equipped with skills they need to expand the initiative even further, following a successful pilot phase.

Through funding support from the Australian Government, the course is benefiting 16 participants from seven Pacific nations - Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

OFC head of social responsibility Franck Castillo and Just Play consultant Vania Kenning are overseeing the course, which is being lead by OFC technical coordinator Colin Tuaa, with assistance from fellow technical department members Emmie Sope, Patrick Jacquemet and Didier Chambaron.

"The objective is to train the member association staff to deliver the Just Play programme in their own countries," Tuaa says.

"I think the first objective is to make sure the member association staff know how to teach the programme themselves. Then the second step is for them to start training new people in about six months' time."

The first day of the course was spent largely in the classroom but the participants will get plenty of chances to put what they have learned into practice over the next two days.

"Today has just been about making sure they understand what Just Play is, the philosophy behind it and why we're implementing the programme. That is the key thing and then we will just run through the programme itself."

One of the participants taking part is Commins Menapi, a Solomon Islands international, who is in charge of making sure Just Play goes smoothly in the football-mad nation.

The programme was launched in the Solomons earlier this year and Menapi says it has been greeted with much enthusiasm by the children.

"One of the things we have found is that if the teachers say to the kids, 'If you don't go to school, no football for you', then everyone goes to school. Everyone has found it really enjoyable - they love it."

Although he is an accomplished footballer himself, Menapi is looking forward to picking up a few more tips this week.

"I have never done a course like this before so I think I will learn a lot," he says.

Just Play has already been launched in most of the countries involved in the coaching course and those who haven't seen it in action first-hand are looking forward to getting in on the act.

The Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) will receive a visit from OFC staff in February to help launch Just Play and technical director Jimmy Katoa is right behind the initiative.

"We have run grassroots programmes in the past but a lot of the teachers relied on us to go and do it. This programme will actually teach them to do it themselves," he says.

"That's good because, at the end of the day, you want to leave a legacy for the schools as well. The teachers need to be able to carry on the programme without us having to visit."

Just Play is a unique grassroots programme which promotes physical activity for primary-aged children while encouraging community involvement and healthy living.

Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play was launched in Vanuatu in April and has since been introduced in Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, Solomon Islands and South Auckland in New Zealand.

Next on the agenda are Fiji and Cook Islands while OFC is also currently working in New Zealand with Special Olympics (NZ) on a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities.

OFC is working closely with the Government of Australia - through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) - and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to roll out the programme across the Pacific. The Australian Government has shown its support to the project by contributing AU$4million.

In South Auckland, Just Play is supported by OFC’s partnership with the Sir John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Counties Manukau Sport and Auckland Football Federation.

Photo Captions: (L-R) Michelle Paiti (Cook Islands), Kilifi Uele (Tonga) and Charles Vatu (Vanuatu) get down to business.