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NEW ZEALAND: Forum SIS Leaders want urgent
action on climate change
Forum Smaller Island States (SIS) Leaders have
called for more urgent action by the global
community to curb the rate of climate change
through more meaningful emissions reduction
targets and immediate release of global Fast
Start funding commitments made in Copenhagen.
In a joint SIS Leaders Statement on Climate
Change adopted at the SIS Leaders’ meeting held
in Auckland, New Zealand today, grave concern
was expressed that much has been promised by the
global community to support countries adversely
affected by current and future impacts of
climate change, yet, very little has been seen
in terms of fulfilling international commitment.
“We need adequate, sustainable and timely
resources to support adaptation and mitigation
measures. This should not however, take away
from existing development assistance nor should
it add to what are already heavy administrative
requirements in its management,” the SIS Leaders
said.
An issue gathering much momentum amongst SIS
Leaders is the implications associated with the
survival of State as an impending consequence of
climate change. Leaders felt careful
consideration was needed to better understand
what the loss of physical State might mean for
countries’ right to exist while maintaining
their sovereignty as nations and their right to
manage their collective resources.
The SIS Leaders concluded their meeting with a
range of outcomes and actions on a number of
issues including, sub regional transport,
climate change, labour mobility, education,
health, in particular non-communicable diseases
and energy.
SIS Leaders from the Cook Islands, Kiribati,
Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall
Islands and Tuvalu attended the half-day
meeting. The SIS Leaders meeting is the first in
the series of Pacific Islands Forum meetings
held in Auckland this week.
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(Photo:
Voxy News) |
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SAMOA:
Neemia Tialata on relief
trip to Samoa
Source:
Voxy News
Wellington rugby star Neemia Tialata has propped
up thousands of scrums during his time with the
Lions, Hurricanes and the All Blacks and now he
is helping to support his Samoan homeland as his
time in the Southern Hemisphere draws to a close
with his imminent departure to Bayonne. This
week he will visit Samoa for the first time
since departing those shores as a 10 year-old in
1992.
Neemia's home village of Lalomanu was devastated
by the 2009 Tsunami and he is now heading home
to assess which areas still require relief in
the rebuild of the islands.
Not only is Neemia a world class rugby player,
he devotes much of his spare time looking at
ways to help charities, including his
involvement in the Hoops for Christchurch event
following the devastating Canterbury earthquake
in February.
Always quick to react in times of need,
immediately following the 2009 Tsunami the
Wellington-based prop put his graphic design
skills to work and created an inspirational
motif to assist with fundraising. Printed onto
limited edition t-shirts donated by Canterbury
of New Zealand, and sold for charity via the
Wellington Rugby Football Union, fans have
amassed nearly $25,000 for Neemia's cause.
Neemia has confirmed that a percentage of the
funds will be donated to Project Heal and
Protect, to purchase rugby equipment for the
Poutasi Community Centre. Another portion of the
funds will be used to equip the village of
Lalomanu with supplies needed to further
progress the rebuild of the infrastructure.
Neemia wishes to thank the rugby supporters who
snapped up over 1,000 t-shirts that have
resulted in this sizeable donation. He is also
grateful to partners of this trip, Air New
Zealand, Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa and
Wellington Rugby, for their support.
You can follow Neemia's visit home on twitter
and also via the Wellington Rugby Facebook.
Photo Caption: Neemia Tialata.
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(Photo:
Savali News) |
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AMERICAN SAMOA: Gov. Togiola travels to NZ to
attend PIF Leaders' Meeting
Source:
American Samoa Government
Governor Togiola Tulafono arrived in Auckland on
Sunday (September 4, 2011), New Zealand from the
Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia to attend
the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting
on the invitation of conference host Prime
Minister John Key.
The formal session of the Pacific Islands Forum
(PIF) Leaders' Meeting began today and Governor
Togiola has been invited to address the Pacific
Leaders.
In inviting Governor Togiola, Prime Minister Key
said it is an honour for New Zealand to host
this year's PIF meeting and for American Samoa
to officially participate.
"As you may be aware, the Forum Officials
Committee met on 18-19 August 2011 and
considered matters relating to a request for
Forum Observer status for American Samoa, which
was conveyed by United States Secretary of
State, the Honourable Hillary Rodham Clinton,
the General Secretary of the Pacific Islands
Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, on your
behalf. The Committee agreed to recommend to
Forum Leaders that they invite American Samoa to
become a Forum Observer," wrote Prime Minister
Key. "The Government and people of New Zealand
look forward to receiving you and your
delegation to this important gathering of
regional Leaders, and I look forward to
welcoming you to New Zealand."
While in New Zealand, Governor Togiola will also
attend a business and trade show where he plans
to meet with investors who wish to inquire about
establishing businesses in American Samoa.
Governor Togiola and First Lady Mary Ann will
return to Noumea on September 10 in time for the
closing ceremony of the Pacific Games, and then
return to the Territory with the American Samoa
team on September 12.
Photo Caption: American Samoa Governor
Togiola Tulafono.
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(Photo:
University of the South Pacific) |
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FIJI: New art gallery opens at USP
Source:
University of the South Pacific
The Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific
Studies (OCACPS) at USP opened its new art
gallery called ‘Gallery of Oceanian Art’ on 30
August, 2011. More than a hundred supporters
from the university community as well as the
general public attended this event.
A glamorous programme that included speeches,
music, poetry, and even a song composed
especially for the opening of the gallery made
the event memorable.
In opening the gallery (which included unveiling
a commissioned artwork that graces the entrance)
as well as an inaugural art exhibition, the
Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor
Rajesh Chandra, expressed strong support for the
work of the Oceania Centre, both now and in the
future.
The gallery showcases work of the first wave of
artists who started painting at the Centre over
a decade ago as well as art displays from
emerging artists.
In his remarks, Professor Chandra described the
opening of the gallery as a special occasion and
expressed his delight with the permanent
exhibition facility, one of the biggest in
Oceania.
He acknowledged the contributions made by the
late founding Director of OCACPS, Professor
Epeli Hau'ofa towards Pacific arts and culture
at USP.
Professor Chandra spoke about the importance of
Pacific arts and culture and said that it is
part of the University’s major priorities.
“The opening of the gallery reflects the level
of commitment the University has made to Pacific
arts and culture,” he added.
Highlighting the need to encourage new creations
of art, the Director of the OCACPS, Professor
Vilsoni Hereniko, explained that, “they are the
footprints we leave behind for those who come
after us so that we can look back and know where
we were and where we have been in this journey
on Earth that we call life.”
Professor Hereniko thanked the Vice-Chancellor
for his support towards Pacific arts and culture
and also acknowledged Munro Leys for providing
cash prizes worth $6,000.00 for the best work in
the exhibition.
At present, the Oceania Centre is home to eight
painters, most belonging to a new wave of
emerging artists.
Photo Caption: The Vice-Chancellor and
President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra with
guests at the opening of the 'Gallery of
Oceanian Art’. Some of the art displays in the
new gallery can be seen in the background.
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(Photo:
Pacific Islands News Association) |
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TUVALU: Tuvalu thankful for Fijian trade
agreement
Source:
Fiji Times
Tuvalu has acknowledged its new trade
relationship with Fiji.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Willie Telavi said
Tuvaluans counted themselves lucky because the
trade started at a time when they really needed
it. He said it was also a good opportunity for
Tuvalu to open trade to one of its closest
neighbours.
Trade between Fiji and Tuvalu started this year
following months of consultation and dialogue
between the two countries.
"Fiji came on board to trade at a very important
time and we thank Fiji for initiating this
concept and a good opportunity to explore new
friends within the region," Mr Telavi said in a
Ministry of Information statement.
"And on top of that, the Fijian Government's
decision of engaging Rotuma is beneficial to
both countries because it brings down the extra
expenditure," he said.
Mr Telavi said Rotuma, north of Fiji, which had
been neglected for a long time by previous
governments, was now turning to be a hub for
agricultural activities.
This after Government opened doors for the
people of Rotuma to trade directly with Tuvalu.
Rotuma exports agricultural produce to Tuvalu
and has state-of-the-art facilities to enhance
this bilateral co-operation between the two
Pacific Small Islands Developing States.
Photo Caption: Tuvalu Prime Minister
Willie Telavi.
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(Photo:
Pacific Cooperation Foundation) |
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WORLDWIDE: True Pacific - launch of a regional
brand
Source:
Pacific Cooperation Foundation Press
Release
Demand for Pacific produced products is set to
grow, with the launch of a major initiative
today to strengthen export opportunities for
Pacific Island producers.
True Pacific is a project being driven by the
Pacific Cooperation Foundation to help bring the
best Pacific products to the world. The
programme is underpinned by a quality assurance
programme and is promoted as the True Pacific
mark.
Chief Executive of the Pacific Cooperation
Foundation, Meg Poutasi, says despite being
lands of diversity, many Pacific countries have
unbalanced economic growth. Pacific businesses
can spearhead export led growth by exploring
niche markets for their quality export products.
“In the Pacific, you can find high quality tuna,
noni juice, vanilla and coffee products all for
the international market. Other areas of
competitive advantage include natural spa
products where ingredients are sourced from
local botanicals. These products are currently
going into the European, US and Asian markets.
These products target a premium consumer market
and provide export income for the communities
that produce them. There are also an abundance
of superb products, most of which never leave
their home shores.
The True Pacific mark encourages export demand
for the products from our Pacific neighbourhood
by reassuring consumers that they are buying
high-quality products or ingredients, genuinely
produced in the Pacific.
25 producers from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Tonga and Vanuatu have passed the quality
assurance programme and been issued with
licences to carry the True Pacific mark. A
ceremony was hosted by New Zealand’s Foreign
Affairs Minister, the Hon Murray McCully, to
present True Pacific producers with their
licences on 5 September 2011.
True Pacific licenced producers will be sampling
and selling their gourmet gastronomic treats
such as spices, coffee, chutneys and jams,
honey, noni juice and tropical fruit at the
Pacific Showcase, a free three-day event for the
public, 6-8 September at the Cloud on Queen’s
Wharf.
The Pacific Showcase provides an unprecedented
opportunity for premium Pacific enterprises to
connect with consumers, retailers and potential
suppliers in New Zealand - one of the region’s
important trading partners. It will also bring
them into contact with visitors from around the
world who will be here ahead of the Rugby World
Cup.
Pacific food expert and author of “Me’a Kai; The
Food and Flavours of the South Pacific”, Robert
Oliver, believes the timing for promoting
Pacific sourced products in New Zealand is
ideal.
“Current movements including local food,
organics and fair trade demonstrate that there
is a demand for products grown and produced in
the Pacific way. A Pacific quality mark will
help create a price premium for products that
reflect these values as well as delivering on
quality.
“Many Kiwis also feel a great affinity with the
Pacific. Appreciation of Pacific cuisine and
beautiful artisan food products that support
Pacific communities, can only help to increase
demand even further,” Mr Oliver says.
Some True Pacific products are available in
stores now - Fiji Red Papaya, coconuts and
watermelons from Tonga, sweetcorn from Vanuatu
Direct all in supermarkets. Also Tanna coffee,
Tupuanga coffee, Fiji Friend chutneys, Samoan
Hot Boys Chilli sauce, Heilala Vanilla, Punja
and Sons gourmet wraps are at selected outlets.
New products will be hitting our shelves towards
the end of the year. For more information on
where to purchase products please go to:
www.truepacific.com.
This is a completely not-for-profit initiative.
Many of the producers involved fund community
development initiatives, and help set up growers
cooperatives to help small landholders be able
to run a sustainable commercial operation.
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