NEWSPAGE 07 March
2011

(Photos: Pacific Dance New Zealand)

NEW ZEALAND: Pacific pioneer New Zealand dance industry

(Photo: UN Women)

SAMOA: UN promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide
Source: United Nations Development Programme / UN Women Joint Press Release

In the run-up to the 8 March International Women’s Day, the new United Nations entity, UN Women, celebrated its creation on 24 February. In Samoa, the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) commemorated both the International Women’s Day and the global launch of the UN Women. Honourable Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Minister for Women, Community and Social Development, delivered the keynote address for this event. She noted the commemoration of International Women’s Day as an opportunity to reflect on the important contribution that women make towards development. This calls for appropriate institutional mechanisms, such as UN Women, to ensure that women are able to make this contribution.

The Honourable Prime Minister of Samoa Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Naioti Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, and Cabinet Ministers were in attendance to show their support for the advancement of women. Members of the diplomatic corps, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Charge d’affairs of the US Embassy, representative from the AusAID were also in attendance. Heads of government ministries, members of the NGO community and village women representatives from both Upolu and Savaii were also present to be part of this celebration.

For the first time, the UN has now an agency with both normative and operational functions solely dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. In her opening speech, Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa of MWCSD, noted that “the establishment of the new UN entity was a strategic move that would support MWCSD’s ground efforts and also provide a platform for the voice of women at the regional and international level”.

Despite the significant progress made in advancing gender equality during the last centuries and despite the work of UNIFEM, UN Women’s predecessor, around the world there are still far too many women and children who are trafficked; too many domestic workers who left their families to live in new places, unprotected by labor laws or policies; too many girls forced to leave school or married too early and too many women and girls who lack access to service. And, worldwide, there are too few women who are at decision-making tables when peace, trade or climate change agreements are being negotiated and who could can address the needs of women and girls and protect them through these legal instruments.

In Samoa, women are doing well on a global scale in terms of the education of women and their participation in paid employment, including employment at executive levels. Samoa is doing less well in other areas, however: Samoa shares the problem of violence against women with many other countries. According to a 2005 WHO Multi-Country study, Samoa had one of the highest levels of physical and sexual violence by non partners on women after the age of 15, with a prevalence rate of 65 percent.

Samoa is among the lowest ranked in the world in terms of women in government; women currently hold four of 49 seats in parliament (12.2%), and three of ministerial posts in Cabinet (23.0%) Of 162 candidates standing for the 2011 elections, only nine are women. Although over the last decade, there has been a noticeable 10% increase from 2001 to 2006 in the number of women bestowed with chiefly titles. There are however, a few villages who maintain a ban on female matai (chief) participating in local governance.

Speaking at the event, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Officer-in-Charge, Mr Sanaka Samarasinha, praised progresses made in gender equality in Samoa during the last ten years, but also recognized the need for greater women’s involvement in government, highlighting both a continued gender imbalance in parliament, as well as the lack of female candidates (only eight) in the upcoming elections. He added, “Violence against women unfortunately continues to be an issue in this country and when a new government is in place I hope that we can recommit all of us towards eradicating gender-based violence once for all.”

In addressing these issues, UN Women will focus on five thematic priorities in its operational activities in partnership with governments and different sectors of the society:

1) Expanding women’s voice, leadership and participation to close the gaps in women’s leadership and participation in different sectors and to demonstrate the benefits for society as a whole;

2) Ending violence against women by enabling states to set up the mechanisms needed to formulate and enforce laws, policies and services;

3) Strengthening implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, through women’s full participation in conflict resolution and peace processes, gender-responsive early warning, protection from sexual violence and redress for its survivors in accordance with UN resolutions;
 
4) Enhancing women’s economic empowerment including in the context of global economic and environmental crises through the full realization of women’s economic security and rights; and

5) Making gender equality priorities central to national, local and sectoral planning and budgeting through supporting national capacities in evidence-based planning, budgeting and statistics.

While gender equality is a fundamental human right, and a necessary goal on that ground alone, it will also serve as the catalyst for immense socio-economic development and will help to advance the ideals of democracy and freedom around the world. The success of UN Women depends now on all of us, to continue the momentum and to ensure its integration into the organizations and governments working towards the global empowerment of Women.

The event also marked the establishment of UN Women office in Apia to enhance the delivery of UN Women’s services to the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.

UN Women is working closely with the UNDP Samoa - Multi-Country Office and will hold a series of consultations with the governments, the civil society and the donor community throughout the week of 7 - 12 March to align their priorities.

For more information about UN Women, visit www.unwomen.org
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: Department of Labor supports Career Pathways Innovation Fund
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega recently announced that the U.S. Department of Labor this week released a Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA), making available approximately $122 million through the Career Pathways Innovation Fund (CPIF).

According to the DOL, this fund supports career pathway programs at community colleges that will help individuals of varying skill levels enter and pursue rewarding careers in emerging industries and in-demand occupations.

Career pathway programs are a relatively new strategy for community colleges in which students are presented with clear sequences of coursework and credentials, each leading to a better job in a particular field, such as health care, law enforcement, and clean energy. The programs have multiple entry and exit points suited to the students’ need for further education in a particular field. The programs are also linked to services such as basic adult education and English as a Second Language classes, making them accessible to individuals who are not yet prepared for college courses.

The DOL will award 40 to 50 grants ranging from $1 million to $5 million to eligible entities: local workforce investment boards, individual community and technical colleges, community college districts, state community college systems, and designated two-year colleges. At least $65 million of the total funding will be reserved for projects that focus on training for health care fields. Furthermore, $6.25 million is intended to support grantee efforts to conduct third-party evaluations of their activities. Complete details on the SGA can be found online at: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm. The closing date for the SGA is March 31, 2011.

“I thank my former colleague, Secretary Hilda Solis, and her team at the U.S. Department of Labor for their hard work in making available these funding opportunities to help young people across our nation. I am pleased that the career pathway programs are one step towards improving the economic status of our country. It will help keep our workforce equipped with the skills and tools that will serve them well in their desired careers,” Faleomavaega stated.

“It is my hope that our territory will take advantage of these types of innovative grant opportunities to enhance the admirable efforts in American Samoa to better serve our college students through counseling and academic support services. I also thank and commend our local educators and mentors who make it their priority to prepare the next generation for academic and career success,” the Congressman concluded.
 

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: Club ventures into productive development
Source: Fiji Times

The Buno Ga E Rawata Boys Club from Laucala in Cakaudrove has started a dalo farming project to buy a chainsaw.

Club leader Nasei Motonicocoka said the club project would help developments in the village.

"The name of the village Laucala means aiming for something and missing," Mr Motonicocoka said.

He said they wanted to prove that the village name would not stop them from reaching their goal.

"There are six boys in our club and each member has to plant 315 dalo plants a day."

"Each member has to do his task so that we can reach our goal."

Mr Motonicocoka said the name of their club meant 'nothing could be achieved without sweat'.

"At the end of the two months, a member should have planted 2520 dalo plants," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Motonicocoka said they did not have any evacuation spots during flooding in the past.

He said they planned to relocate to relocate to a safe place.

"Building the village hall will cost us $50,000 and with that kind of money, we cannot just sit and expect the elders to struggle to build the hall," said Mr Motonicocoka.

He said they would start a cassava farm in the next two months.

Photo Caption: Members of the Tua Rewa women's club of Laucala in Cakaudrove with their weaving materials. The village's Buno Ga E Rawata Boys Club has ventured into dalo farming.
 

(Photo: Central News Agency)

TUVALU: Taiwan to help Tuvalu take advantage of solar energy
Source: Central News Agency via Taiwan News

President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday Taiwan will help its Pacific ally Tuvalu use solar energy to resolve the problem of a lack of lighting in remote villages.

Ma made the pledge during a meeting at his office with Tuvaluan Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Willy Telavi, who is in Taiwan until March 5.

The president said that after his visit to Tuvalu last March, his government decided to help the island-state take advantage of solar energy in addition to continuing its regular aid programs, which include free medical services, education initiatives and projects to help Tuvalu develop its fishing industry.

Taiwan will promote an illumination-solution program, called "one lamp from Taiwan, to light up the villages in remote areas with solar energy and LEDs, " Ma told Telavi.

Under the program, Taiwan will provide Tuvalu with photovoltaic power-generating systems that satisfy electricity needs in remote areas and save the country the expense of building more power generators.

Taiwan first adopted the project in Burkina Faso, one of its four African allies. It was designed to bring electric light to the homes of disadvantaged Burkina Faso students, who are often forced to study under streetlamps at night because they do not have electric power at home.

Under the program, photovoltaic power-generating systems have been installed in participating schools and each student has been given an LED lighting kit equipped with a rechargeable battery that lasts four and a half hours.

The children can recharge their lamps at school and bring them home to use at night.

Taiwan established diplomatic ties with Tuvalu in 1979, making it Taiwan's oldest ally in the Pacific region.
 

WORLDWIDE: Climate change may halve Pacific Islands’ coastal fish catches
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

Heads of Pacific Islands’ fisheries agencies heard Friday (March 04, 2011) that climate change is predicted to cause big declines in coastal fisheries resources in the region, with potential production cut by as much as 50% by 2100. Higher sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and loss of important habitats like coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves are projected to have a drastic impact on the inshore resources that support many coastal communities, according to Dr Morgan Pratchett who spoke at the SPC Heads of Fisheries meeting on the vulnerability of coastal fisheries to climate change.

Impacts on mariculture - the farming of saltwater fish and shellfish - are also expected to be negative. Pearl culture - the most valuable aquaculture in the region - is expected to suffer as rising levels of carbon dioxide cause the ocean to become more acidic and make it harder for the pearl oysters to form their shells. Seaweed farming is also likely to be hit as higher water temperatures increase the risk of disease.
Some of the expected impacts are positive, however. Freshwater fisheries in countries near the equator could potentially become more productive as a result of increased rainfall. Freshwater aquaculture of fish like tilapia could also benefit from increased freshwater availability and higher temperatures.

For the region’s largest fishery, tuna, the projected impacts of climate change are mixed. Models of the abundance and distribution of skipjack (the most plentiful tuna in the region) were presented by Dr Patrick Lehodey. These suggest some increase in production potential over the next 25 years, but a small reduction in the longer term. The best fishing grounds are also expected to shift generally eastwards, with countries in Polynesia the main winners. For bigeye, the most valuable of the four tunas in the region which is already subject to overfishing, the projections are less promising. Again the population is expected to shift to the east, but climate change is expected to cut production in all Pacific Island countries by 2100.

While there are always great uncertainties in forecasting the impacts of climate change on complex physical and biological systems, these results come from a thorough study of the vulnerability of Pacific Islands fisheries carried out by an international team of experts over the past three years. They represent the best and most up-to-date assessments available.

In looking at these long term impacts, the meeting was urged not to lose sight of the more immediate needs for improved management of fisheries and fisheries habitats. For coastal fish, protection of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass from other causes of damage and avoiding overfishing provide the best chance of these systems being able to adapt to climate change. For freshwater fisheries, the potential positive impact of climate change will rely on good management of the watersheds; and, as WCPFC Executive Director Professor Glenn Hurry reminded the meeting: without effective management to maintain the region’s tuna resources, fisheries will decline well before the time frame used in climate change predictions.

“We need to look for win-win solutions that give both short and longer term benefits” emphasized SPC fisheries and climate change adviser Dr Johann Bell. He pointed out that good management of coastal resources, improving access to tuna for coastal populations, and the development of freshwater aquaculture were steps that produce immediate benefits in terms of food security for a growing population, as well as helping to adapt to climate change. Heads of Fisheries were also reminded that action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at all levels is needed to mitigate climate change impacts.