NEWSPAGE 29 June
2011

NEW ZEALAND: Immigration Pacific Quota results are now available

(Photo: Samoa Association of Women Graduates)

SAMOA: Samoa Association of Women Graduates continues its mission
Source: Samoa Association of Women Graduates Press Release

Samoa Association of Women Graduates members had its first executive meeting last Wednesday at Aggie Grey’s Hotel to plan its activities for the next financial year. This is also to formalize and welcome our new executive members after our AGM last month.

SAWG’s vision is to empower young females and encourage members to undertake higher education. They provide sponsorship to young females in non traditional areas of education and last year SAWG sponsored tuition fees of 3 females at the National University of Samoa in their last year of study at IOT.

SAWG also opened the children’s library project at the Paediatric ward at the TTM Hospital Motootua and continues donating dictionary prizes for end of year to all schools around the country.

This organization is of Samoan women graduates who have offered their service voluntarily to help other young females in education.

‘We are supportive of our other sisters especially those struggling financially to pay for their education’ SAWG ex-president Maryann Lameko-Vaai says.

Our last fundraising luncheon was held at the Orator Hotel in May where our guest speaker was Christine Goodman - spouse of NZ High Commissioner to Samoa Hon Nick Hurley. Being a director of several organizations in various countries of the world she gave an interesting presentation about the role of translators in society. More than 50 members turned up to listen and fellowship with each other while at the same time enjoying lunch at the Orator where we raised about $2,370.00.

SAWG wishes to thank all our supporting members and invite more young women graduates to join.

‘We welcome all females graduating from any tertiary institution locally and internationally’ current president Niusila Faamanatu-Eteuati says.

SAWG’s website is www.sawg.ws and its new executive officers are Niusila Famanatu-Eteuati (NUS) as president, Lesina Aleki Filipo (NPF) as vice president, Lenara Tuipoloa (NPF) is secretary, Maryann Lameko-Vaai (CSL) as treasurer and Laura Fepulea’i (Global Consultant) as International Relations Officer.

New members who wish to join can contact any of the executive to pay or renew a sub of $20.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhll)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC-CNR invites public to aquaponics workshops
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

The Division of Community and Natural Resources at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC-CNR) recently held two free workshops for anyone interested in Aquaponics, a farming practice currently growing in popularity here in the Territory. Kiara Sakamoto, a graduate student from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Center for Subtropical and Tropical Agriculture, conducted the workshops.

Combining hydroponics and agriculture, Aquaponics builds on the sound principles of hydroponics and substitutes the use of man-made fertilizers with fish water that is rich in nitrates for the plants. It is a balanced system where the fish and plants live in the same closed recirculating system symbiotically, with the fish providing nutrients for the plants and in turn, the plants purifying the water for the fish. For the farmer, this means less money spent on fertilizer while two products are produced in a relatively small area.

The two workshops were held at ASCC-CNR and in Taputimu, using two existing systems to teach people about Aquaponics, how to build your own system, the maintenance requirements, and the economics of these systems. The first workshop took place on Tuesday, June 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the ASCC-CNR facility in Mapusaga. The second was held today, Wednesday, June 29, in Taputimu on the property of Mr. Apela Afoa, also from 9 to 11 a.m. Both workshops were followed by a tour of the system as well as an open period for questions. There was no fee to attend either of the workshops, and anyone with an interest in Aquaponics was welcomed.

Sakamoto has come to American Samoa on behalf of UHM and ASCC-CNR to build and maintain two Aquaponics systems and share her knowledge with anyone interested on the benefits of Aquaponics. Her thesis involves the development of an Aquaponics system for use in Pacific island and urban environments where space and resources may be limited. She will also be available to visit existing Aquaponics farms both to share her knowledge and to learn about local farming projects and systems.

Photo Caption: CNR Sea Grant Coordinator Ephraim Temple (left) and Aquaculture Extension Agent Francis Leiato inspect the aquaculte facility on the ASCC campus, which includes an Aquaponics system designed by Kiara Sakamoto of UH Manoa.
 

(Photo: Wananavu Kadavu)

FIJI: New boat for health
Source: Fiji Times

A vessel donation signifies the resurrection of support to public health care in maritime communities.

While accepting the MD Vatu Dui Tagi II yesterday, deputy permanent secretary Health, Doctor Joe Koroivueta thanked the Australian government for the boat, saying it was a timely gift to strengthen capacity in the Kadavu subdivision, which has been one of the main centres of support for the ministry in 2011.

"We have done the solar, the RT (radio telephone), built new nursing stations, upgraded some of the health facilities and provided an old ambulance and to top it off we have the boat here going to the subdivision," he said.

The waters in Kadavu were a challenge for health service delivery, Dr Koroivueta said.

"Certain communities can be reached with a reliable boat," he said.

"This vessel will provide quality and safe travel of patients and health staff.

"It is of immense value in reaching mothers, children and people who may not have access to health facilities-based service."

Australian High Commission counsellor for development assistance Sarah Goulding said vessels provided by Australia since 2004 have contributed to local enterprise.

"Commissioned by AusAID, they have provided essential employment for a number of locals with flow on benefits to their families and communities," she said.

"While the vessel will be based at Vunisea Health Centre, it will also be used by medical staff at the Kavala and Daviqele health centres. "It will also benefit five other nursing stations and one self-help health centre around Kadavu."

Photo Caption: Fijian Deputy Permanent Secretary of Health, Doctor Josefa Koroivueta.

(Photo: Tongan Ministry of Information & Communications)

TONGA: Official visit of Assistant Secretary Campbell to Tonga
Source: Tongan Ministry of Information & Communications

On Tuesday June 28, the United States Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell visited Tonga, to underscore the close relationship the U.S. has with the Kingdom.

Assistant Secretary Campbell was accompanied on this visit by U.S. Ambassador to Tonga C. Steven McGann, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, USAID Assistant Administrator Nisha Biswal, and Office of the Secretary of Defense South/Southeast Asia Principal Director Brigadier General Simcock.

This unprecedented high-level trip demonstrates the United States' enduring strategic commitment to the region and underscores the whole-of-government approach to enhancing our bilateral political, economic, and security relations in the Pacific. In addition, the delegation will engage in discussions on enhancing the U.S. role and support for the Pacific Island Forum, and steps that the U.S. can take to enhance opportunities for American businesses seeking to invest in the Pacific.

The delegation met with King George Tupou V, Prime Minister Tui'vakano, and other senior Government officials.

In addition to Tonga, A/S Campbell will visit Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, PNG, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands over a one-week period.

Photo Caption: (L-R) Prime Minister of Tonga; Lord Tui'vakano and the United States Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.

(Photo: University of the South Pacific)

WORLDWIDE: USP contributes to Threatened Island Nations Conference
Source: University of the South Pacific

The University of the South Pacific was part of an international conference jointly hosted by the Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Columbia University’s School of Law in New York, USA.

The conference, titled ‘Threatened Island Nations: the Legal Implications of Rising Seas and a Changing Climate’, was held from 21 - 23 May, 2011.

The conference, which was aimed at addressing the future of the world’s lowest lying island nations in light of current and predicted climate impacts including rising sea levels, brought together more than 250 participants from around the world.

USP was represented at the conference by the University’s School of Law, Environmental Law Programme Coordinator, Dr Justin Rose, accompanied by law students, Mr Efren Jogia of Tuvalu and Mr Jonathan Kawakami of the Marshall Islands.

During the conference, participants discussed a range of important issues such as threats to statehood and sovereignty, the prospects of threats to maritime boundaries and marine resources, as well as the prospect of international litigation in response to inaction on the part of polluting countries to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr Rose addressed the conference plenary on the topic of ‘Domestic Law and Policy Responses to Climate Adaptation’.

Presentations of posters were made by the two USP students who participated at the conference. Mr Jogia presented a poster based on his legal research project on threats to Tuvalu’s sovereignty while Mr Kawakami’s poster was on USP’s current research on the prospect of climate induced migration in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and Tuvalu.

Following his return to Vanuatu, Dr Rose said that the most contentious issue discussed at the conference was the proposal for an international treaty on climate displacement.

This, he explained is viewed by the international environmental law fraternity as a “good idea” but is seen as a “misguided and simplistic solution to a very complex problem” by migration experts.

Dr Rose added that pursuing it would be fraught with substantial practical and political risks.

“The USP School of Law is currently undertaking empirical research on this issue and our early results suggest that it is not a good idea, nor one that the atoll nations themselves prefer,” he pointed out.

Photo Caption: USP student, Mr Efren Jogia with his poster based on his legal research project on threats to Tuvalu’s sovereignty, which he presented at the conference.