NEWSPAGE 31 August
2011

(Photo: Grey Lynn Business Association)

(Photo: Tim Rasmussen)

SAMOA: Galu Afi author to launch first fiction novel
Source: Lani Wendt Young

Take one Manu Samoa rugby player, one talented photographer, some liberally applied coconut oil, a bone carving necklace and a piece of elei - and what do you have? A dazzling selection of photographs taken for the cover of the next book by author, Lani Wendt Young.

In November, Lani will launch her first fiction novel, “TELESA - THE COVENANT KEEPER” - an urban fantasy romance set in modern day Samoa that draws on the legends of teine Sa but with a huge amount of creative license and imagination. She explains, “After working on the tsunami book project for a year, I really wanted to immerse myself in light, fun, and exciting fiction. TELESA is the first book in a Young Adult series. It’s got action, intrigue, elements of the supernatural and of course, it’s got romance with a gorgeous male lead character! His name is Daniel and he happens to be Headboy at Samoa College and Captain of the First XV.”

On Wednesday 24th August, elite rugby player Ezra Taylor took a few hours off training to do a photo-shoot with local photographer Tim Rasmussen. Lani said, “I wanted someone for the book cover who was also a positive role model for our Pacific Island youth and so I was thrilled when Ezra agreed to ‘be’ Daniel. It helps that Ezra totally looks the part. I’m sure his fans will love the photos that Tim has taken.”

Ezra said of his first experience at being a cover model, “I felt a bit awkward at first since I’m not used to this kind of thing. I’m more comfortable on the rugby field. But once we got into it, it was a lot of fun. I’m not sure how the photos will turn out though - I’ve been enjoying the great Samoan food since I’ve been here and I’m sure that it shows!”

The photoshoot took place at the Hotel Amanaki and the RLS Museum gardens, under the creative direction of media and marketing expert Henry Tunupopo, who is assisting with the upcoming TELESA book launch along with Renate Rivers. Henry commented, “ Ezra was great to work with. He knew what we wanted from the creative brief supplied by the author, so he eased into it pretty well. I think he had a bit of fun too.” Most of the photoshoot required that Ezra pose as a ‘Polynesian Warrior’ so not much clothing was required but what wardrobe he did need was provided by design store Plantation House.

The photos will be used in a wide range of TELESA book launch activities which will include an international book ‘tour’ of twenty-five different online media sites as well as book launches in Apia and Auckland, NZ. Initial reviews of TELESA have called it, “a breathtaking love story, intertwined with culture, complete with a contemporary feel” and “a gripping page-turner”. Lani Wendt Young is also the author of ‘Pacific Tsunami Galu Afi’ which was published in 2010.

You can read more about the TELESA book and Lani's writing at the following links: http://sleeplessinsamoa.blogspot.com and http://coconutqueen.blogspot.com

Photo Caption: Manu Samoa rugby player Ezra Taylor during the photoshoot for the cover of Lani Wendt Young's first fiction novel 'Telesa - The Covenant Keeper'.
 

(Photo: Australia Broadcasting Corporation)

AUSTRALIA: Growing support for Pacific Workers Scheme
Source: Radio Australia News

Australian farmers are being encouraged to reconsider the Pacific Workers Scheme, after a successful placement in northern New South Wales.

A group of Tongan and Papua New Guinean workers will arrive in the district this week to pick citrus.

The scheme was piloted in Griffith in 2009 but had a smaller than expected take-up.

Robert Cameron, a project manager on the scheme, says Pacific workers are more expensive to hire but often have added benefits for employers.

"These guys have proven to be very productive and they're at work everyday so you don't have any downtime as far as that's concerned," he said.

"They're here to make money so they're very keen to work. They'll work long, hard and productive."

Photo Caption: PNG seasonal workers celebrating at a community lunch in Robinvale, northern Victoria.

HAWAII: Researchers working on early detection of liver cancer
Source: The Hawaii Independent
 

Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Its incidence is rising in the United States, particularly in Hawaii where incidence and death rates are the highest nationally.

In an effort to improve early detection, two scientists from the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and The Queen’s Medical Center were given a five-year, $2.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop new methods that can better detect liver cancer.

Co-leaders of the study are Gordon Okimoto, Ph.D., a research scientist at the UH Cancer Center, and Sandy Kwee, M.D., director of positron emission tomography (PET) research at The Queen’s Medical Center.

The detection process involves joint analysis of gene expression and imaging data of the liver. Researchers will utilize positron emission tomography, or PET, to measure the levels of specific molecules in the body that have the potential to detect the presence of liver cancer. Additionally, they will profile global gene expression patterns in cancer-prone and normal tissue samples obtained from the imaged liver and create a catalog of novel cancer-related molecules that may aid in the early detection of liver cancer and serve as drug targets for the personalized treatment of the disease.

“By improving our ability to detect liver disease and cancer at an earlier stage, we can greatly reduce deaths and improve patient outcomes,” Kwee said.

People infected with hepatitis viruses are more prone to developing liver cancer than the rest of the population, and some of the highest hepatitis rates in the world exist in Asia. Consequently, Asian immigrants who move to Hawaii are more likely to be carriers of the virus.

“Competition for federal funding of cancer research is intense, and we are fortunate to receive this award,” Okimoto said. This grant represents collaborative research at its best and showcases the high level of science that we are conducting here in Hawaii.”

Fellow study investigators include Linda Wong, M.D., Brenda Hernandez, Ph.D., Naoky Tsai, M.D. and Owen Chan, M.D., Ph.D. , from the UH Cancer Center. This is the first funded research project of the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, an entity formed last year to promote collaboration among state partners engaged in translational cancer research. A primary goal of the Hawaii Cancer Consortium is to accelerate the translation of new findings in cancer research to the clinics for the benefit of patients in Hawaii, the Pacific Basin and beyond.
 

(Photo: Taimi Media Network)

TONGA: Prime Minister calls for national support for the ‘Ikale Tahi
Source: Taimi Media Network

Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō called for national unity to support the ‘Ikale Tahi.

Lord Tu’ivakanō informed the Legislative Assembly and the nation of relevant sanctions that the International Rugby Board (IRB) is likely to impose on Tongan Rugby after the Rugby World Cup.

Last year, the IRB gave the former government the mandate to step in and elect an Interim Board including Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in efforts to settle the court disputes in rugby.

However PM says the IRB will call an urgent meeting in October to decide on sanctionary measures for Tonga.

This includes deciding whether the IRB could cut financial support for rugby in Tonga or expel Tonga from various levels of international rugby.

“Tonga will no longer be represented in the IRB October general meeting, an event where two members from TRUA are usually invited to take part in the event,” explained the PM.

PM adds that Tonga will also be removed from countries receiving awards from the IRB as a result of politicising rugby.

“Everything is perfectly fine but the concern rests with benefits that will be lost as a direct result of Tonga being suspend from IRB. Rugby is a livelihood for some of our players and their families,” maintained the PM.

For this reason, Lord Tu’ivakano appealed to the people and the nation to lend their support to the Interim Rugby Board, Coach and the national rugby players.

“Give them our 100 percent support as rugby is one of the national sporting events we loved so dearly…” adds the PM.

Lord Tu’ivakano also reminded law makers that more is needed to settle the rugby dispute but that’s not important for now.

With only two weeks away from the Rugby World Cup, he adds more importantly is that we give them our support.

“The appeal is for the people of Tonga to support our team. No matter who’s been elected into the squad, they are our team and therefore we should give them our support,” said the PM.

Photo Caption: The 'Ikale Tahi team at Sia'atoutai Theological College.

WORLDWIDE: Pacific Heads of Education committed to education development
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

As the 18th Consultation Meeting of the Pacific Heads of Education Systems (PHES) ended in Koror, Republic of Palau on 26th August, there was a general feeling of renewed commitment towards fast-tracking reforms in education in the region for the benefit of all Pacific children.

In her closing remarks, the Chairperson of the meeting, Emeli Pouvalu, the Tonga CEO for Education reminded her fellow colleagues to ensure that no Pacific child ‘misses the boat’ which is carrying children the world over into the future.

“Pacific children will only miss the boat if education systems are not responding appropriately to changes that are evident throughout the region. Those who miss the boat will be left behind adding to the statistics of illiteracy and poverty within the region,” Ms Pouvalu said.

The PHES made a renewed commitment as they concluded their deliberations, to work together in a spirit of true regionalism for their common and individual benefits. They clearly understood the enormous task that they face and the urgency in which they need to act if they are to bring about hope and confidence to children in the Pacific. They were informed of the impact of climate change which is no longer a myth but a reality in the region and is threatening the future of most of the island states.

The meeting discussed the issue of climate change with some serious concerns and how the education sectors in the region should respond through the school curriculum. One of the outcomes of the meeting was the agreement by PHES for a more substantial paper on Climate Change and Education to be tabled at the next Forum Education Ministers Meeting. The paper will be developed through the partnerships between SPC, the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL), USP and UNESCO.

Participants were also reminded of the need to strengthen their commitment to the adoption of regional initiatives as the tools to assess Teacher Performance and Competencies, the Benchmarks for Assessing Literacy, Numeracy and Life Skills, which are regional efforts to make available to education systems in the region tools that will assist in the development of quality in education. The general spirit of the meeting was a true Pacific one and overall the objectives of the consultation meeting have been well achieved.

In his closing remarks, the Director for Education for the Republic of Palau, Emery Wenty echoed the appreciation of their President in his opening remarks in once again thanking the organizers for allowing the meeting to be held in Palau. He thanked the UNESCO Apia Office, PREL, the Forum Secretariat and the Government of Spain for their financial support to the meeting.

The PHES were overwhelmed with the Palau Education System which in certain aspects, differ substantially from that in the countries of the South Pacific. It was a learning experience for everyone and they strongly agreed that bringing the PHES meeting to Palau this year was a truly valuable experience and investment. They expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Palau for hosting the meeting.