NEWSPAGE 05 October
2011

(Photos: ATAMIRA - Māori in the City)

(Photo: Savali News)

SAMOA: Life of a real dwarf in Samoa
Source: Savali News
 
Faafiaula Sagote, the leading character in acclaimed independent film The Orator (The Tulafale) says playing a dwarf was not hard.

“Because that’s my life. Saili in the film, and me, Faafiaula, are the same person,” says the 3’10” Savaii resident.

“The disdain shown towards Saili is the same disdain shown me in my village, my family. So it was not hard playing that character. What Saili experiences, I have experienced. I was playing myself.

“What happens in the film also happens in my family, my village.”

According to film protocol agent Manu Asafo, it took them four weeks to find a Faafiaula.

“The script centres on a dwarf and there are not many dwarves in Samoa. We had to advertise on television and radio for someone that fits Saili’s description. We were very lucky we found Faafiaula. He was perfect for the role.”

Tusi Tamasese’s feature film, The Orator, this week was selected as New Zealand’s submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood (28 Feb, 2012). This morning cast and crew fielded questions from the media at press conference hosted by the New Zealand High Commission.

According to Asafo, there will be some criticism from traditional quarters that the film does not adhere to authentic Samoan culture.

“And that some of the dialogue does not correspond with Samoan language. I just like to point out that the film is an art form, about self-expression.”

“But we did make a big effort in ensuring that the film corresponds with the faasamoa that we know.”

The Orator - shot largely in Manunu village - has received several awards and critic acclaim at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival.

Funded by the New Zealand Film Commission with a contribution from the Samoan government, The Orator opens tomorrow evening to a select audience at Magik Cinemas, Saleufi.

Photo Caption: Director Tusi Tamasese and leading man Faafiaula Sagote.

AMERICAN SAMOA: U.S. Department of Education makes available $400,000 to ASCC

Congressman Faleomavaega has announced that the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) last week made available $3.95 million to support colleges and universities serving Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders through the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program. Out of eleven awardees, American Samoa was one of three institutions to receive the highest amount of funding at $400,000. The following institutions also received grants:

• De Anza Community College, $399,951
• California State University, East Bay, $192,798
• California State University, Sacramento, $282,593
• San Jose State University Foundation, $391,697
• Mission College, $400,000
• Mt. San Antonio College, $400,000
• University of Hawaii at Hilo, $399,977
• University of Illinois, $396,002
• Palau Community College, $290,377
• South Seattle Community College, $399,925

The AANAPISI program, originally authorized by Congress in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, seeks to increase participation and academic attainment of all low income, high-need students, and serve communities with high poverty and Limited English Proficiency rates. To qualify for an AANAPISI grant, an institution must have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least ten percent Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students and at least 50% of students must receive federal financial assistance. Similar to other Minority Serving Institutions, AANAPISI grants are not directed to a specific student group but strengthen overall institutional capacity.

ASCC’s grant will fund a five-year project aimed at improving the college’s Developmental Math and English programs. The project includes an intensive three-week “bridge” program prior to the Fall Semester, including focused Math and English instruction, secondary assessment to assure proper Math and English placement, and supporting counseling and planning. Students will also benefit from extended hours of instruction and faculty-directed time in the new Writing Lab and/or Math lab each week.

Currently 92% of new students test into Developmental English and 98% into Developmental Math. This project will increase the pass rate to the next level by 20% and reduce the amount of time in Developmental Studies by at least one semester. Overall, the project will enable students to enter regular college classes faster, provide more effective instruction, assess progress more accurately, and help teachers prepare students for college entry.

“I am pleased to know that the AANAPISI Program will provide much needed assistance to American Samoa Community College to help new college students in their transition to college level studies. Having a solid foundation in Math and English studies is crucial to their future success in postsecondary education and in the workplace,” Faleomavaega stated.

“I thank Secretary Arne Duncan and his team at the U.S. Department of Education, for providing this level of federal support to ASCC and the other AANAPISI institutions who were awarded. As one of the fastest growing populations in the nation, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also experience some of the highest college attrition rates. This grant will assist colleges and universities to address these issues in the AAPI community,” Faleomavaega added.

“Last but not least, I congratulate and commend ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea’i and his leadership team for their efforts to help our students overcome some of the most pressing obstacles in their educational journey. I am thankful that through this program ASCC will be able to make great strides in giving students a head start towards earning their degrees,” Congressman Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat)

FIJI: Inclusive education for persons with disabilities
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release
 

The challenges and a new direction for including persons with disabilities in the Pacific region’s education system will be discussed at a meeting of Pacific Islands Forum Directors of Education in Nadi, Fiji, 19 - 21 October.

“Inclusive education seeks to address the learning needs of all children, with a specific focus on those who are vulnerable to marginalisation and exclusion. The goal is to promote opportunities for all children to participate and be treated equally,” said Ms Andie Fong Toy, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Ms Fong Toy said: “Our schools in the region can only be inclusive when they are working towards full participation and equality through; respect for differences, respect for different learning styles, variation in methods, open and flexible curricula and welcoming each and every child.”

During the 41st Pacific Islands Forum held in Vanuatu last year, Leaders agreed to “promote an inclusive, barrier-free, and rights-based society for people with disabilities.”

The Leaders also agreed to support the improvement of the lives and status of persons with disabilities in the Pacific region and “affirmed the need for disability inclusive development in all government programmes in Forum Island countries to address the needs of persons with disabilities - accepting such people are among the poorest and most vulnerable and face many barriers to full participation in society.”

With the theme: “Inclusive Education for all in the Pacific Forum Island Countries”, the meeting will discuss:

• The vision, experiences, practices and challenges of Inclusive Education globally and in Pacific countries;
• Identify key strategies needed for wider implementation of inclusive practices, and its implication for children with disabilities in Forum Island Countries;
• Discuss, explore and investigate future national and regional strategies and actions aimed at strengthening Inclusive Education within the framework of the Education for All initiative; and
• Recommend the way forward in regards to charting a new direction for Special Needs Education in the region.

The three-day meeting coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is funded by Australia’s international development assistance agency, AusAID and supported by UNICEF.

Photo Caption: Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Ms Andie Fong Toy.

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Community)

NEW CALEDONIA: Delegation visit Suva to learn about sustainable land management
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release
 

A group of 17 community leaders and chiefs from New Caledonia recently visited the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) office in Nabua, Suva to learn about sustainable land management and conflict minimisation. Antoine Esteban, delegation coordinator, said that this was a fact-finding mission, the aim of which was to use what they learned to improve their own system of land tenure and management.

The Economic and Social Council of New Caledonia delegation was briefed by Acting Director of SPC’s Land Resource Division (LRD) Mr Inoke Ratukalou and his team on issues of land ownership and access to land for development in the Pacific region.

‘It is important to host such a delegation and provide them with the information, as it will encourage sustainable land development in the region,’ Mr Ratukalou said.

‘We get an opportunity to share our expertise with them and at the same time hear their innovative ideas that can be passed on to other SPC member countries.’

He added that the idea of setting aside funds for development of native lands was excellent and could be explored further.

‘We at LRD are more than pleased to assist in any way that contributes to improving the livelihood of our communities, and such an exchange of ideas is an excellent way of doing this.’

Antoine Esteban was pleased with the response from the LRD team and mentioned that their visit to SPC had given the delegates a wealth of ideas on land ownership and leasing arrangements.

‘The land tenure system in New Caledonia is different from that in Fiji but there are certain concepts that can be easily assimilated into our system,’ he said. ‘The existence of land boundaries and the Land Commission in Fiji is of great interest to us.

‘This visit is part of the nation’s preparation for 2014, when the people will decide whether to remain with France or become an independent state.’

The group also met with Fiji’s Itaukei Land Trust Board and Ministry of Lands personnel before leaving Fiji on Saturday 1 October, 2011.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: PACC essay competition raises awareness for college students
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

As part of the awareness component to the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC), students of Mangaia College n the Cook Islands competed in an essay competition to help build their knowledge and awareness on the issue of climate change and how they can adapt.

Mangaia Island is a PACC Project pilot site with the focus to enhance its adaptive capacity in the Coastal Zone Management Sector.

The initiative held at the Mangaia College hall brought together over 20 senior students to share their views on climate change with the PACC Regional and National Project Management Unit.

Students were asked to research three questions to present an essay - what is climate change? What changes are evident on Mangaia over the last 10 years due to climate change? And in your view how do you think we can adapt?

“Dried up swamps on Mangaia today has changed the way people plant taro,” presented Katherine Ruatoe aged 15.

“I am concerned that we are losing time to make a difference, climate change and its effects may be permanent if we do not educate our people today, ” read Grace Matapo aged 16.

Mr Vaipo Mataora the PACC Cook Is Coordinator said he was impressed by the level of understanding from the essays presented.

“The outcome of the competition was very good and evidently very comprehensive research was undertaken by the students.”

Mr Mataora said that PACC Cook Islands has plans to continue working with schoolchildren in the Cook Islands.

Mangaia College Principal, Ms. Sue Ngatokorua said this activity helped reinforce to the students that climate change is a big issue.

“It helped make them aware that climate change is happening, and that we in Mangaia can have a role to play by changing our behaviour in order to help stop climate change and bring a sustainable environment.”

In preparation for the competition, Mangaia College Principal, Ms. Ngatokorua said that students researched news articles from the recent Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Auckland, video footage of Tokelau building seawalls, and through consultation with their older family members who recalled days when seasons on Mangaia Island were predictable and cyclones were not as frequent.

Mr. Taito Nakalevu, the regional PACC Project Manager of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) said that hearing from the students as to what they think climate change is, is a very important initiative.

“This is part of building the capacity of young people and we hope from now on to continue to slowly build that knowledge and awareness on what climate change is and how it is affecting them and their families.”

The PACC project consists of 14 member countries with the focus to enhance adaptive capacity in the areas of Water Resource Management, Food Production and Food Security Sector and the Coastal Zone Management.

It is nationally executed by Cook Islands Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning, regionally implemented by SPREP in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme.

PACC is funded by the Global Environment Facility and the Australian Agency for International Development with support from the United Nations Institute for Technical Assessment Research C3D+ Programme.

Photo Caption: Mangaia College students.