NEWSPAGE 10 October
2011

(Photo: ATAMIRA - Māori in the City)

(Photo: United Nations Development Programme)

SAMOA: UN training strengthens Parliamentary response to achievement of MDGs
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release
 
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) became the focus of attention when the Samoa Parliament, gathered on Wednesday October 5th to receive training on how they can engage with the MDG’s. The Post Election MDGs Training for Parliamentarians was a joint initiative between the Legislative Assembly and the UN System and was held at the Tofilau Eti Alesana Building.

Ms Nileema Noble, UN Resident Coordinator stated “This training comes at a time when Samoa is poised well to meet all of its MDGs by 2015, as it has made good progress so far and it has in place, most of the accelerators needed to achieve them. This event is a step towards strengthened commitment from the Government of Samoa to achievement of the MDGs. “

With effective governance being a key underlying mechanism for achieving the MDGs, Parliament has a lead role to play in terms of oversight, legislation and leadership. The training provided many practical ideas for how the Members of Parliament can help ensure that Samoa meets its MDG commitments. The establishment of the MDG Special committee within the Parliament, the use of MDG progress reporting and the examination of national legislation and budgets to ensure an MDG focus are all opportunities for parliament to accelerate progress on the MDG promises.

Samoa’ s 2nd MDG Progress Report 2010 recorded that a good overall progress has been made towards the achievement of most of the MDG targets since 1990. Even though at an aggregate level Samoa is on track to meet the MDGs, progress has been slow over the past five years and in some cases slipped despite the overall good national achievements in development outcomes. In some target areas, Samoa has shown early national achievement, however there are concerns of a possible derailing due to key issues such as declines in immunization completion levels, increase in the population falling below the Basic Needs Poverty Line, low student school retention levels, low representation of women in parliament, low rates of contraceptive usage and low access to safe drinking water.

Ms Noble noted, “The most important lesson learnt is that Samoa can achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We have the resources and knowledge to accelerate progress, what is now required is the increased commitment and strengthened efforts from the Government and development partners including the United Nations System to build on the good work so far and to see through the strategies, policies and interventions.”

Achievement of the MDGs is not an expensive undertaking in most cases but needs commitment and follow-through at all levels in terms of service delivery and putting into effect appropriate policies and systems.

The MDG Training was well attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament, and the sessions were chaired by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Honourable Laauliolemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao.

Photo Caption: Official Group Photo - Samoa Legislative Assembly on Parliamentary Support for Achievement of the MDGs, 5th October 2011.
 

(Photos: Ephraim E. Temple)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC to host aquaponics workshop

The American Samoa Community College Community and Natural Resources Division will be hosting a workshop entitled, “Aquaponics Building Capacity (ABC) Workshop”. It will be held on October 17 from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Center for Sustainable Integrated Agriculture and Aquaculture at the ASCC campus. Glenn Martinez and Natalie Cash of Olomana Gardens in Hawaii and Dr. Benny Ron, the Aquaculture Program Coordinator for the University of Hawaii at Manoa Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, will be instructors at this workshop.

Aquaponics is becoming wildly popular throughout the world and is able to produce both fish and plants in a system of recirculating water. There are many ways to make these systems work and the American Samoa Community College, in close partnership with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, is committed to providing the best information available to the community. The Aquaponics Building Capacity (ABC) Workshop will focus on the use of earthworms to provide micronutrients to plants and the use of cinder-filled grow beds that make growing root crops possible without soil. Participants will learn to construct a system using earthworms and cinders as well as methods for making “earthworm tea”, or a rich nutrient solution using earthworm castings. This is a locally available and organic alternative to using imported chemical fertilizers.

Participants should also plan on assisting with the construction of three new aquaponics systems on October 18, 19 and 20 at locations in Mesepa, Iliili, and Mapusaga Fou.

Up to thirty participants are invited to register to ensure they can participate. Please call Ephraim Temple, an extension agent for the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, at 731-8169 to register. If response surpasses thirty people, a follow-up workshop will be offered. Though lunch will not be offered, refreshments will be available. More information, including a map can be found at the following website:
http://www.aquaculturehub.org/events/aquaculture-building-capacity-workshop.

Photo Captions: Aquaponics systems such as the one seen here can produce both fish and plants in a system of recirculating water. The public can learn more about this exciting new growing method during a free Aquuaponics Workshop coming up on October 17 at ASCC.

COOK ISLANDS: Cook Islander calls for change to Maori name of country
Source: Radio New Zealand International

A prominent Cook Islander is proposing a change of the country’s Maori name.

Businessman, grower and entertainer, Danny Mataroa, attended this month’s international Takitimu Festival in New Zealand and he says it brought home to him that the Maori name for the Cook islands, Kuki ’Airani, is a coined word for the English name.

Mr Mataroa says he wants the English name retained but wants a better Maori name and for it to become popular like Aotearoa is in New Zealand.

Mr Mataroa is suggesting the combining of the words Mata and Ariki (Mataariki) which means the King’s eyes and is a shorter version of a term which means the eyes of the king of kings is upon our islands.

He says he is happy to accept alternatives as long there is a change.

“We are intelligent enough to compose our own name. Cook Islands in English... yes. But compose another name in Maori when we talk one to another. We don’t have to register it, we just have to like it.”

Danny Mataroa who says if a new Maori name is accepted he hopes it will become accepted through being used within the community.

Former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Sir Geoffrey Henry, has welcomed Danny's call.

In 1994, Sir Geoffrey approved a referendum to change the Maori name, while retaining the English name.

“Captain Cook was an extraordinary seafarer, and so were our ancestors. So why should we remember one extraordinary seafarer and not give due recognition to the many others that roamed the Pacific hundreds of years before he turned up?”

The majority of Cook Islanders who voted in the referendum rejected the name change.

Sir Geoffrey says in hindsight it would have been better to leave the renaming up to the high chiefs of the House of Ariki alongside the Ministry of Cultural Development.
 

(Photo: Nirmala Nambiar)

FIJI: Cancer Society and Oxfam team up to offer free rural breast screening
Source: Fiji Times
 

Women from rural areas were offered free breast screening services as the Fiji Cancer Society and Oxfam Clinic joined forces to raise awareness on the most common cancer in women.

President of the Fiji Cancer Society Nirmala Nambiar called for stronger network and support for breast cancer as women endured difficulties in accessing medical services for the disease.

Breast screening services were offered at the Westpac Microfinance Expo at Garden City yesterday.

"It's an opportune time for women from rural areas who are here to come not only for business but to optimise on the free screening services we provide," Ms Nambiar said.

Many women diagnosed with breast cancer have failed to turn up for a follow up for a review of their health mainly because of the lack of funds for bus fares or the fact that they rely on their respective husbands, she said.

"We are now taking the service to people instead of waiting for them to come to us," Ms Nambiar said.

The Fiji Cancer Society provides financial support for women diagnosed with cancer, she said.

As part of its month long celebration, the society will focus solely on raising awareness particularly in rural areas, she said.

Photo Caption: President of the Fiji Cancer Society Nirmala Nambiar.
 

(Photos: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

TOKELAU: SPREP provides assistance to Tokelau and Tuvalu
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is taking direct action to assist Tokelau and Tuvalu in dealing with their state of emergency due to lack of water on their islands.

Immediate support is being provided through the SPREP’s Small Grants Scheme. This will support Tokelau and Tuvalu to help provide an urgent response to meet the water shortage in both countries.

“We fully understand the value of water and difficulties these Pacific communities are experiencing,” said Mr David Sheppard the Director-General of SPREP.

“SPREP is pleased to be able to respond quickly to Tokelau and Tuvalu alongside the efforts of regional organisations, institutions and governments leading in disaster response.”

“We see this as reinforcing our on-going and longer term support to members in adapting and managing climate change risks and impacts”

SPREP together with funding and technical support from the Global Environment Facility, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Australian Government (AusAID) will assist Tokelau in long term planning for integrated water resource management including capacity building.

With the completion of the Tokelau National Climate Change Policy and the support through the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC Plus) Tokelau will receive support to improve drought planning, increase water storage capacities, improve water conservation and other related training and awareness linked to maintenance and wise use of water.

This is in addition to SPREP’s support to Tokelau on pollution and solid waste management.

SPREP is also supporting Tuvalu in the water sector through the SPREP/UNDP Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC).

SPREP in partnership with the Pacific Applied GeoScience and Technology Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and UNDP has recently supported Tuvalu in the development of their National Climate Change Policy and the National Strategic Action Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management.

Tuvalu is building a community water reservoir as part of the PACC for the Lofeagai community, the construction of the water reservoir is taking into account the climate forecasts and proximity to the influence of sea water. Planning is underway so this reservoir will be resilient to surges and king tides.

In Tuvalu, the PACC project is implemented by the Public Works Department under the Ministry of Works, Water and Energy.

“These projects are primarily looking at beyond the here and now to provide a sustainable water supply for these Pacific communities,” said Mr. Sheppard.

“It’s also a coming together of partners, the Governments of these island nations, the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility as well as the Australian Government. It’s through working together that we can best help the people of Tokelau and Tuvalu.”

The PACC and PACC + projects help reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to the adverse effects of climate change for 14 Pacific islands countries through on the ground projects in three key areas: coastal management, food production and food security and water resource management.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Tokelau.

Photo 2 - (L-R) SPREP Director-General Mr. David Sheppard, Project Officer PACC Mr Peni Leavai, Mr Jovilisi Suveinakama of Tokelau Affairs.