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(Photo:
Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Major meeting on disaster reduction
for the Pacific region to be held
Source:
Pacific
Islands Applied GeoScience Commission Press
Release
In one of the most important regional meetings
of the year, top officials from 22 Pacific
island countries and territories will meet with
experts from around the world to address growing
concerns relating to reducing the risks of
disasters and the impacts of climate change that
are affecting development in the Pacific Region.
The meeting, the 3rd Session of the Pacific
Platform for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) will
be held in New Zealand at the Auckland Airport
Holiday Inn from August 1-5.
Mr. Mosese Sikivou, Deputy Director of the SPC/SOPAC
Disaster Reduction Programme, said “essentially
the meeting is to provide Pacific island
countries and territories with a way forward in
terms of developing an integrated regional
strategy for DRM and Climate Change by 2015.
“It will allow the opportunity for sharing of
experiences to date and for using the lessons
learned to help shape how the Pacific moves
forward.
“A range of serious challenges face Pacific
island countries and territories. We need to be
prepared to respond to and recover from
disasters. And just as important, we need plans
and programmes so we can reduce the risks posed
by natural hazard. We need to do things to
reduce vulnerability and increase the resilience
of our communities,” said Mr. Sikivou.
He said that there are constant reminders of how
vulnerable the region is citing cyclones,
flooding, earthquakes, tsunamis and droughts,
all recent events that are constant reminders of
the urgent need to be prepared.
Mr. Sikivou said that the meeting will allow for
better risk management training and capacity
building programmes that target the heads of
disaster offices and the disaster management
support structures in the Pacific.
“In addition to the heads of national disaster
officers, CEOs of Finance and Planning are once
again joining the Platform to help raise the
profile of disaster risk within our Pacific
government systems and in particular to take the
lead role in the mainstreaming efforts that are
already underway.
“It is important that there is a clear picture
by decision makers of the linkages between
disasters and development; that they understand
the urgency of mainstreaming disaster and
climate risk considerations into national plans
and budgets.”
The Pacific Platform, launched in 2008, is
comprised of three major components, an annual
meeting of Pacific Regional Disaster Managers,
an annual meeting of the Pacific Disaster Risk
Management Partnerships Network, and a biennial
meeting of Pacific CEOs for DRM and
Finance/Planning from within Pacific
governments.
The Platform has proven to be “invaluable” as a
forum in exchanging information on disaster risk
reduction and related issues across the region.
A major objective of this years Platform is to
endorse a “roadmap” for the integration of a
regional policy framework for disaster risk
management and climate change adaptation.
“Pacific Island countries are at various stages
of introducing National Action Plans as policy
to address Disaster Risk Management issues, but
they have also become aware of the threat posed
by climate change and have begun the process of
integrating their efforts on these issues.”
Tonga is the first island nation to develop a
Joint National Action Plan for Climate Change
and Disaster Risk Management.
The Pacific Platform is being organized by the
SOPAC Division of the SPC and a number of
development partner and donors organisations: UN
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,
NZ Ministry of Civil Defense & Emergency
Management, The Asia Foundation/USAID Office of
US Foreign Disaster Assistance, UN Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNDP
Pacific Centre, International Federation of Red
Cross & Red Crescent Societies, World Bank
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction &
Recovery, AusAID, European Union and French
Pacific Fund.
Photo Caption: Deputy Director for SPC/SOPAC
Disaster Reduction Programme, Mr. Mosese Sikivou.
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(Photo:
Savali News) |
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SAMOA:
Samoa's first employment
agency launched
Source:
Savali News
The Apia Employment Company has a couple of
firsts to its name. The first employment firm to
be set up here and, if you are a job-seeker, it
should be the first place you head to.
Opening the new firm at the Sanalele Complex,
Taufusi yesterday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa
Sailele Malielegaoi highlighted the headaches
government goes through in the process of hiring
and firing.
“There have been several instances where people
present false qualifications when applying for
jobs. In this age, computers can easily generate
PhD degrees from Harvard, Oxford or Cambridge
University. It is only when the applicants start
working that their employers find out that they
know absolutely nothing about what they are
supposed to do.
“At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve had
middle-management people trying to stir up
controversy over their bosses’ qualifications to
take the heat off some wrongdoing they’ve done.
“The biggest benefit of outfits such as the AEC
is that it will be able to comprehensively
screen and interview applicants before they are
recommended for a job. Employers - both public
and private sector - on the other hand will be
comfortable if the service provided is top
notch.
“It is important for Apia Employment to maintain
a high level of professionalism to maintain that
level of trust with their clients. This business
is all about credibility and trust, and once you
lose it, it’s very hard to win it back.
“I urge you to screen your clients diligently.”
And the Prime Minister also had another piece of
advice;
“A degree is not everything. In my experience,
I’ve seen people without the proper
qualifications do very good work, and those with
the relevant qualifications turning out to be
the most dishonest and laziest of employees.
Experience, honesty and common sense is worth a
lot.”
AEC chief executive Manu Taialofa Naseri said
that the company already has 30 employers - both
private and public sector - on their register.
“There are over 500 registered companies and 35
SOEs including mutual public bodies operating in
the country. That is our employer market.”
“We now have a database of over 200 job seekers.
There are a lot of young people out there
looking for jobs and they’ve just been coming in
seeking our services. We estimate that there are
about 30,000 unemployed - but employable -
people in Samoa at the moment.”
AEC caters for both professional people seeking
job opportunities and those with minimal
education qualifications seeking domestic or
labour work. AEC chairman Tuiaopo Faamausili
Andrew Ah Liki said the new company is an
“exciting business venture.”
Photo Caption: Ulu Vaomalo Ulu Kini, AEC
CEO Manu Taialofa Naseri and AEC Chairman
Tuiaopo Faamausili Andrew Ah Liki at the opening
of the Apia Employment Company.
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(Photo:
Australia-Pacific Technical College) |
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AUSTRALIA: Voluntary service leads to teaching
career for APTC graduate
Source:
Australia-Pacific Technical College
For ten years Ms. Inise Ravatudei Delai of Fiji
was closely involved in the children's ministry
at her local church, providing voluntary service
for preschoolers.
Ms. Delai felt that this was the only
"significant happening" in her life, until she
was persuaded by a friend to apply for the APTC
Certificate III in Children's Services course.
After her successful application and then
completion of the APTC course, like all
finishing students, Ms Delai was asked to answer
an end of course survey. Ms. Delai said that to
do so would be an understatement for her.
As part of her response, Ms. Delai said that no
amount of words could ever surpass the great
deed that both APTC and the nation of Australia
had performed in her life, as a week after
completing her studies with APTC, Ms. Delai was
employed by the school where she had gained her
practical work experience.
Ms. Delai said that originally she had been
hesitant to apply for APTC, as she believed that
her previous qualification "was probably not
enough to qualify me for such a highly esteemed
institution."
"I finally applied and was relieved to know that
my experience in the field carried weight. I
fasted and prayed about my application; seeking
divine intervention because I didn't have much
faith in the qualification I had to offer on
paper."
When Ms. Delai received a telephone call
informing her of her successful application to
become a student of APTC, she was overwhelmed,
"…because it was an opportunity to bring about a
change for the better in my life professionally,
academically and financially.
"The inspirational lecturers like our very own
Cheryl Payne, who not only taught the students,
but also inspired the individual to live up to
their full potential, poured out her all to
better equip the students she was serving."
In conclusion, Ms. Delai said that not only had
APTC trained and touched people, but the College
had also " changed lives for the better;
believing in ordinary citizens like myself to
live out our fullest potential and become
extraordinary individuals."
"The APTC course changed my life. I did the
one-year part-time course with much
satisfaction. The statement that APTC is
committed to providing high quality training and
services is true in every sense of the word. I
also made lifetime friends whose lives were also
changed in a similar manner.
Photo Caption: Ms. Inise Ravatudei Delai.
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KIRIBATI: Kiribati President congratulates
Bainimarama on successful meeting
Source:
Xinhua News Agency via People's Daily Online
The atmosphere and tone of the first ever
Engaging with the Pacific Meeting which was held
in Fiji last week, is what needs to be restored
in the Pacific Islands Forum, said Kiribati
President Anote Tong on Wednesday.
Anote Tong made these comments to Fiji Prime
Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Wednesday during
their meeting, the Fiji Ministry of Information
said in a media statement.
Tong also congratulated Bainimarama for hosting
such a successful meeting with Pacific Leaders
in a truly Pacific way through frank and open
talanoa sessions (dialogue).
Bainimarama acknowledged Tong's presence and
comments, adding that whilst critics had their
say on the meeting, the Fiji government was open
and transparent about its intention of the
meeting, which is to inform the Pacific leaders
of the progresses that the country was
undergoing.
This especially through the implementation of
the current reforms programs as espoused in the
Roadmap to Democracy and Sustainable
Socio-economic development, Fiji's Strategic
Framework for Change and Peoples Charter for
Change, Peace and Progress.
Bainimarama thanked Tong for his openness and
frank discussions on the Fiji situation during
the meeting.
"This was also reflected in the overall position
of the Pacific Island countries in supporting
Fiji's Roadmap," he said.
Bainimarama added that the comments made by Tong
were very good for Fiji.
This, in fact is what the Pacific Islands is
known for and that which is to support each
others development.
Tong said the meeting at Natadola also brought
to the surface the underlying need that the
Pacific Islands Forum needs to reassess its
objectives in as far as the role it is suppose
to play in the development of the Pacific
region.
Ten leaders had attended the meeting which was
snubbed by Australia and New Zealand.
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Somare
said after the meet last week that the presence
of the two countries were not essential as they
did not represent the Pacific people.
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(Photo:
Vanuatu Daily Post) |
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VANUATU: School children get awareness on how to
stop abuse
Source:
Vanuatu Daily Post
To commemorate Children’s Day the Sanma
Counseling Centre carried out a major awareness
on abuse to five schools in Luganville.
Mrs Annie Philemon of the Sanma Counseling
Centre said schools that responded to the
program included Luganville Sarakata Centre
school, Sarakata SDA School, St. Therese school,
St. Michel School and Bombua School.
Philemon reported that she was happy with the
outcome and performance of the students in all
schools following the awareness.
An evaluation and test was carried out at the
end of the program to see that students
understood the message and should be able to
keep away from abuse from any older member of
their family or community.
It has become more apparent that many schools
are now opening their doors to receive such
awareness to keep children safe at all times.
Reports have indicated that the rate of abuse in
homes and the community at large is becoming
very high over the years and Mrs Philemon
emphasized the need to continue such awareness.
As part of the program, participating schools
were awarded with gifts as a learning motivation
to students to keep whatever they have learnt
because it is important for their growth.
Photo Caption: St. Therese students
showing off their sporting equipment as a gift
for their participation in the program.
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(Photo:
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme) |
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WORLDWIDE: SPREP to provide support to the
Pacific for Rio+20
Source:
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment
Programme Press Release
The Pacific meeting to prepare for the Earth
Summit 2012, also known as Rio+20, provided the
opportunity to reflect on the what was achieved
since the first World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Rio de Janeiro, 1992.
Spanning over a period of three days, the Rio+20
preparatory meeting brought together
Governments, NGO’s, development partners, the
church and pacific youth to help forge a way
forward as the world leads towards the next
Earth Summit in June next year.
Acting Director of the Secretariat of the
Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP),
Mr. Kosi Latu says now the preparatory meeting
is over, the next steps must address the
challenges to sustainable development in our
region.
“Some key bottlenecks in the process of
sustainable development need to be urgently
addressed in particular the meeting of existing
commitments by our development partners and the
improvement of access to the financing
mechanisms set up as part of the Rio process.”
“New climate financing arrangements need to be
linked to measures that address accessibility.
Many of the problems that pacific islands face
related to issues such as climate change, the
unsustainable use of resources and the loss of
habitat arise from the actions particularly of
developed countries and we need to continue to
engage them with a view that they set or meet
commitments that will address these problems.”
The two themes of the Earth Summit 2012 are
“Green economy in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication”, as well as
“institutional framework for sustainable
development”. These themes do not replace the
existing initiatives towards sustainable
development but rather serve to focus actions on
greening the economy and strengthening
institutional frameworks.
“It’s the right kind of growth we’re trying to
promote so it’s socio economically balanced
development, taking into account people’s
livelihood, cultures, life styles and reducing
environment degradation,” said Dr Wari Iamo the
Secretary of the Department of Environment and
Conservation, also the current Chair of SPREP.
“It’s really adjusting growth to the well being
of the people, but at the same time taking into
account the resources we affect.”
SPREP will now work with sister agencies in the
region, all committed towards assisting member
states in their preparations towards Rio+20
through either national or joint positions in
groupings such as Pacific Small Island
Developing States (PSIDS) or the Alliance of the
Small Island States (AOSIS).
“We have also noted the special request by the
PSIDS for technical support during the continued
negotiations leading up to Rio+20 and will play
its role in coordinating this through the
Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific
Sustainable Development and Marine Sector
Working Groups,” said Mr. Latu.
The Rio+20 Pacific Preparatory Meeting was held
from 20 - 22 July in Apia, Samoa with the
support of partners including SPREP, the United
Nations and the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment of the Government of Samoa.
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