NEWSPAGE 01 July
2011

(Photo: Arthouse Cinema)

NEW ZEALAND: There Once Was An Island: Te Henua E Nnoho

SAMOA: Samoa Conference II
Source: National University of Samoa Press Release

The National University of Samoa is hosting the 2nd International Conference on Samoa, known as the Samoa Conference II, from 4th - 8th July. The Samoa Conference II provides a forum to bring together international and local academics, as well as leaders in business, government and nongovernmental organizations that are working to innovate the development of Samoa.

The Keynote address will be given by His Highness Head of State Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi. Well known and respected names such as: Faumuina Professor Albert Wendt, Rev. Dr Upolu Luma Vaai, and Pepe Christian Fruean will be presenting. Participants include academics and practitioners from the United States, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific region as well as local leaders from the government, non-government, local business and cultural communities.

This forum aims to inform the public, debate developmental issues, inspire the youth of Samoa and empower emerging researchers. The conference confirms the National University of Samoa’s role as agent of development and dissemination of knowledge in Samoa.

The First International Conference on Samoa was held in September 2002. Among the presenters in the conference were the late Emeritus Professor Ron Crocombe (formerly of USP), Professor Guy Powles (Monash University), Professor Andrew Pawley (Australian National University), Associate Professor Helene Martison-Wallin (Gotland University, Sweden) to name a few. Most of these papers were published in Volume 1 of the Journal of Samoan Studies.

The theme for the current Conference is "Tracing the footprints of tomorrow: past lessons, present stories, future lives.” It focuses on the oft-cited wisdom that moving forward requires learning from the past.

Thematic areas include:

1. Culture, Religion and Indigenous Knowledge
2. Law, Social Justice and Globalization
3. Science, Technology and the Environment
4. Business and Entrepreneurship
5. Media and the Arts
6. Health and Political Governance
7. Education
 

(Photo: Agence France Presse)

AUSTRALIA: Pacific knowledge key to tsunami planning
Source: Australia Network News

Scientists are aiming to make better use of Pacific Islander knowledge to prepare for future tsunamis, a conference in Australia has heard.

More than 4,000 of the world's top experts in geophysics attended the meeting, which was titled Earth on the Edge.

Professor James Goff, from the Australia Pacific Tsunami Research Centre, says valuable Pacific history has been ignored for too long.

"In countries like Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu there is a deep knowledge of what happened in the past. We are using it and incorporating it into our work so that it is starting to add a richness to our records while we go out and do geological work," Professor Goff said.

Photo Caption: Experts are hoping to use local knowledge to prepare for tsunamis.
 

(Photo: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission)

KIRIBATI: The way forward for sustainable aggregates supplies on Tarawa
Source: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission Press Release

The signing of a contract by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and Heavy Load Singapore is a major milestone for the European Union funded project Environmentally Safe Aggregates for Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati.

The Project is a part of the European Union National Indicative Programme with the Kiribati Government under the 9th European Development Fund assistance to Pacific ACP States.

This development “is truly a milestone in moving forward to demonstrate a safe and sustainably alternate supply of aggregate, not only for Tarawa but also for other atolls,” explained Dr Russell Howorth, SPC/SOPAC Division Director, in his welcoming address.

The contract, signed by Ms Fekita Utoikamanu, the Suva-based Deputy Director General of the SPC, and Mr Miqhaadh (Mick) Moosa, Managing Director Heavy Load Singapore, will see the construction of the barge LC Tekimarawa by Heavy Load Singapore, at the company’s Indonesian ship-yard.

“The overall objective of the Project is to enable Kiribati to manage risks associated with vulnerability and climate change,” said Dr Howorth.

Overseeing the Project is the SOPAC Division’s Mr Nick Harding, Project Manager, based in the Project Office within the Minerals and Oceanographic Unit, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development, in Kiribati.

Also on hand to witness the signing at the SPC/SOPAC Division Headquarters in Suva, Fiji were Her Excellency Reteta Rimon, the Kiribati High Commissioner to Fiji; Mr. Ribanataake Awira, Secretary for Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development, Kiribati; Mr. Teriba Tabe, Technical Advisor to the National Authorising Officer NAO; Mr Thierry Catteau, representing the EU Delegation in Suva; the SPC/Economic Development Division Staff Capt John Rounds.

The Kiribati Government had previously approached SOPAC to act as the implementing agency for the Project. In turn, SOPAC secured the services of a marine surveyor consultant, Mr Dave Martin of Billet Wright Marine Surveyors, for the technical supervision of the shipbuilding contract.

The Tekimarawa will be fully equipped with a crane and clam shell dredging system, and will be delivered to Tarawa in 15 months time, and handed over to the Kiribati Government as a fully certified and operational dredge system.
The Tekimarawa will enable the recovery of aggregate material from water depths of around 10 metres within the Tarawa Lagoon, well away from the beach and reef flat dynamic system of sand and gravel movement.
“The beaches of South Tarawa are vulnerable to change, especially erosion, which will be made worse by climate change and aggregate mining. The Tekimarawa will provide an alternative supply of environmentally sourced material to meet South Tarawa’s growing aggregates demand,” concluded Dr Howorth.

Photo Caption: Samples of sand and gravel aggregates collected for analysis from an atoll lagoon.

(Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post)

VANUATU: Reserve Bank of Vanuatu celebrates 30th anniversary
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

“You deserve your Medals; wear them with pride and dignity during all relevant occasions”.

The Head of State gave the instruction to eight members of staff of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu including its Governor Odo Tevi when he awarded them with eight Long Service Medals to mark the Bank’s 30 years of operation yesterday.

While the Governor said he felt he did not qualify for the award, the Selection Committee approved of his name on the grounds that he is the first ni Vanuatu Governor to be appointed to the post for two terms. The other staff members are Deputy Governor Peter Tari, Helen Wai, Sonia Samuel, Luke James, Ernest Kilion, Lynros Stephen and Linda Maniuri.

President Iolu Abbil congratulated the recipients of the General Service Medal saying the RBV is an important institution of the country and encouraged the rest of the staff to strive to one day also receive the award.

The RBV is an organised institution and while the Head of State, who was accompanied by the First Lady, apologised for arriving late for the occasion, the RBV Ladies Club made sure that they were welcomed with a spiritual touch as they sang a sweet song proclaiming unity as the heart of the nation, through Jesus.

Not only that but the RBV Football “boys” also put on a powerful message-in-song with a national call to strive towards prosperity through faith in the Lord Jesus.

In his brief remarks in the absence of the Minister of Finance, the Director General of Finance George Maniuri said the RBV is one of the pillar institutions of the country which continue to push the country forward in line with the vision of its economic prosperity. To staff present he said, “You are going to write the next 30 years of central banking in Vanuatu”.

The Director General of Finance clipped the ribbon to launch its Publication on “30 Years on Central Banking in Vanuatu”.

The Bank staff put on a hearty breakfast for everyone before moving to the Exhibition in the Kere Library.

Finally a clarification that former members of staff of RBV had received their award sometime ago.

Photo Caption: (Front Row L-R) Governor Tevi, Head of State and First Lady and Mr and Mrs Savenaca Narube. (Back Row L-R) Pastor Simon Lovo and Mrs Lovo, Ernest Kilion, Sonia Samuel, James Luke, Linda Maniuri, Helen Wai, Lynros Stephen and Peter Tari (Deputy Governor).

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

WORLDWIDE: Pacific Games no longer part of qualification
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release
 

The roads to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and the Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 have been altered for the top men’s and women’s teams respectively within Oceania.

OFC originally planned to use the football tournaments at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia this August/September as part of the qualification process, as had been the case in Samoa four years earlier. But uncertainty around the participation of Guam, a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in the respective football tournaments has left the OFC Executive Committee with no other option but to scale back its involvement.

The men’s tournament at the XIV Pacific Games 2011 will therefore no longer act as the first stage of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ while the women’s event will likewise not be part of the 2012 Olympic Games qualification process.

OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas admits it is disappointing to not be able to use the Pacific Games as a qualifying stage but says OFC had no other choice.

“FIFA have been very clear that they cannot approve a FIFA qualifying event where non-OFC members are participating,” Nicholas says.

“But the Pacific Games will remain a premier event for the Pacific Island nations. Eleven men’s teams and ten women’s teams are still going to the Games and will use the matches as preparation for the upcoming FIFA qualifying events.”

Nicholas says the confederation has had to look at alternative options for the World Cup qualification process and a new four-stage format has been decided upon and approved by FIFA.

The first stage will see the four lowest-ranked OFC member associations (based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola ranking and other sporting reasons) take part in a tournament based on a league system from 21-26 November 2011. The countries involved will be American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga, and the top finisher will advance to the second stage, joining the remaining seven OFC teams that received a bye in the first stage.

Stage two will see the revival of the OFC Nations Cup where eight countries - namely Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu and the winner of stage one - will take part in a tournament based on a league system with semi-finals and a final. The tournament is scheduled for 1-12 June 2012 and the winner of the final will go on to represent OFC in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The four highest-placed teams from the second stage will then contest stage three - a round-robin, home-and-away play-off series. The matches are foreseen to take place between 7 September 2012 and 26 March 2013 in FIFA windows.

The winner of the third stage will advance to the inter-continental play-off for a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Whether the OFC representative will face an Asian, Central American or South American opponent will become known after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Preliminary Draw on 30 July.

Nicholas is pleased with the format of the new qualification process and says it will provide plenty of excitement for the region’s football followers.

“The withdrawal from the Pacific Games has given us the opportunity to review the qualification pathway and we believe we have developed several events that will cater to the needs of our members and fans across the Pacific,” he says.

An alternative option for women’s Olympic qualifying has also been found. New Zealand will be seeded to the second stage while the eight other OFC member associations who are International Olympic Committee (IOC) members - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu - will play a tournament based on a league system with semi-finals and a final.

The winner of the preliminary stage final will then play New Zealand in a one-off match hosted by the preliminary winner. As was the case for the 2008 Olympics, the winner of this match will qualify for the Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012.