NEWSPAGE 14 October
2011

(Photo: spacific pr)

(Photo: Savali News)

SAMOA: Living off the land
Source: Savali News
 
One of the biggest vegetable sellers at the Fugalei market is encouraging others to go into farming. Tupuimatagi Peni Fereti and his wife Oka (nee Westerlund) have been in the vegetable business for over 30 years.

“Our family has been doing this for a very long time,” said Tupuimatagi.

“We began when the market was at Savalalo and then we moved to Fugalei. This is how we managed to raise our kids, put them in school.”

After years of farming on leased land at Tanumalala, the Fereti family moved onto ten acres of Westerlund land at inland Aleisa ten years ago. “Every inch of this land, as you can see, is developed, cultivated,” said Tupuimatagi.

There are sprawling pumpkins, head cabbage and pea fields and tomato rows.”

“At the moment we have six blocks at the Fugalei market. Most Fridays and Saturdays we earn over a thousand tala. It’s good money.

“We also have a flower business that provides a good income.”

The vegetable gardens are complimented by bushes of begonia, wild orchids, philodendron and teuila groves of all colours.

The couple have hired a couple to look after their stalls while they concentrate on the farm.

“The couple came to us from Falealili looking for a job to raise their kids. We hired them to look after the stalls to get by.”

The farm has since become self-sustaining for the Fereti family.

“We grow and make our own coffee and the lemons for lemonade. No need for SPRIM.”

The only problem, Tupuimatagi said, was water.

“There is no water up here. The Water Authority come and make lots of promises but there has never been any water in this part of Aleisa.

We have to cart water from the main road. We are keen and willing to farm and government should prioritize us when it comes to water access.

I’m often envious of people and homes which have running water and don’t make any productive use of it. We need water up here especially in this very dry season.”

Tupuimatagi - who is also pulenuu of Aleisa - says he has to pay SWA $40 for a water truck to make it up there.

“It’s not fair because that is their job. To provide people with water.”


Vaitele Market

Tupuimatagi said he is not concerned with the planned relocation of stall owners to the Vaitele market when reconstruction work at Fugalei gets underway.

“We already have three blocks reserved at Vaitele. It’s like everything else, once people get used to it, they’ll go buy their veges at Vaitele. The same concerns I here now was said when they started the Fugalei market. It will be slow at the start but when the buses start going there and people get used to it, business will pick up.”


Daylight Savings?

As for daylight savings, Tupuimatagi said it doesn’t make much difference up at Aleisa.

“We have the same routine every day. Take the vegetables and flowers down to the market before dawn and return to work in the gardens all day till dusk.

I guess a benefit is that the shops will close earlier than usual and we can do our shopping and return home when there is still plenty of daylight left to work.

“I’m very supportive of any changes government makes. As far as I’m concerned, they haven’t made a bad change yet.”

Two of the couple’s older sons now work full time on the farm.

Photo Caption: Tupuimatagi working on his head-cabbage garden at Aleisa.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC Phi Theta Kappa holds Fall 2011 induction

The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society held its fall 2011 induction ceremony this past Thursday evening, during which 17 new members took the oath of allegiance into the nationwide organization. Family and friends of new and existing PTK members joined members of the ASCC administration for this prestigious event.

For each induction, the PTK invites a distinguished member of the community to give special remarks, and for this semester’s induction, Veterans Affairs Psychologist Apelu Manuleleua provided the keynote speech. Manuleleua, himself a former PTK member, described himself as an “overachieving student” who focused on achieving his goals and encouraged the inductees to do the same. The evening also featured welcoming remarks from PTK President Sophia A’asa and a performance of the song “Go Light Your World” by memer Tonya Tuigamala.

At each induction ceremony, the new inductees take the oath to uphold the values of the PTK, and perform the ceremonial lighting of candles representing the mythical Greek “flame of knowledge”. Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages excellence in scholarship among associate degree students. The Greek words Phi Theta Kappa mean wisdom (Phi), aspiration (Theta) and purity (Kappa). The society bases its programs on its four hallmarks: scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship. “The theme for the induction was unity,” said PTK press officer Elisa Ongosia, “and how alone we can do so little but together we can do so much. We wanted to share the idea that it takes unity to build a strong foundation. It takes one person to speak up and make a difference, but it takes a group of people to strengthen that foundation.”

Every semester, PTK advisors Jim Sutherland, To’aiva Fiame-Tago, Evile Feleti, Elvis Zodiacal, Athena Mauga and Evelyn Fruean review student’s transcripts, reference letters, application forms and essays, and other relevant data to determine which students qualify for the membership in the Society. Candidates must have taken at least 12 credits, passed their English 150, English 151 and Math 90 classes, and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Qualifying students receive an invitation to join PTK, and most of those invited readily accept the offer.

Present PTK Members include Leotina A’etonu, Jacob Afoa, Josephine Afoa, Magic Aumoeualogo, Peleimatua Betham, Eterei Fanolua, June Fuifatu, Esther Kim, Pelenatete Leilua, Teuila Lemisio, Bambridge Lin, Fa’apopo Liua, July Matautia, Samuel Meleisea, Meto Meredith, Sweetheart Nua, Diana Pereira, Elisa Onogosia, Denis Sene, Miracle Sene, Toefuatai’ina Ta’ai, Carly Toia, Tonya Tuigamala, Taua Tuionolua, Mato’otua Tuli, and Atene Ulimasao.

Spring 2011 inductees include Leli’a Chang, Togilau Galea’i, Marietta Lafaele, Tofagaoali’I La’a, Dona Maifala, Peleiupu Pe’a, Eric Roe, Amy Rebelukeg, Lythie Samifua, Pearl Sheck, Judy Su’a, Elaine Tago, Saipele Tofiga, Adelila Toussaint, David Tupua, Angel Vaimauga, and Betty Wells.
The PTK provides more than $35 million worth of scholarships annually to students nationwide. Each member is automatically nominated for inclusion in the prestigious National Dean’s List, and is also enrolled in the PTK Transfer Database, which links senior institutions across the nation offering scholarships to PTK members. For more information about the nationwide activities of Phi Theta Kappa, visit their website at: www.ptk.org.

Photo Caption: Members of the ASCC Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and their advisors relax following last Thursday's induction ceremony for the fall 201 semester.

(Photo: Fiji Sun)

FIJI: UNDP promotes MDGs and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release

The 2011 Miss Sugar, Renee Duguivalu partnered with the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Pacific Centre to conduct a schools outreach in the Western Division in the lead up to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

On Wednesday 12 October, Miss Duguivalu, accompanied by two UNDP staff members, visited seven schools and advocated to students to have an active role in helping work towards the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG), to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

“We can start by working hard; take school seriously, we should work hard at honing our natural talents and skills because the means to make a living nowadays is wide open to all trades and talents, provided you have the motivation and organization to be successful,” said Miss Duguivalu, speaking to students at Ratu Navula College in Nadi, from where she started her tour.

The reigning Miss Sugar who was also selected as the Best MDG Speaker during the Sugar Festival, presented on the MDGs as well as conducted pop quizzes in the schools visited which included Natabua High School, Ba Provincial Freebird Institute, Lautoka Central Primary School, Drasa Avenue School, Lautoka Andhra Sangam School and Saint Thomas High School. All schools visited were presented with MDG literature for the school library and for student research purposes.

“This visit was useful because most of our students come from remote areas and the information shared today can help them uplift their lives at home. Education is the only means of changing lives of students and their communities,” said the Principal of the Ba Provincial Freebird Institute, Beniamino Tawake.

Students were also empowered by hearing Miss Duguivalu speak.

“I came to know about the MDGs during the Sugar Festival earlier this year, but I really understood what they meant at the presentation today. We are facing hard times in Fiji. Achieving the MDGs and alleviating poverty will benefit the country as a whole,” said Dorian Samuel, a Form 5 student at Natabua High School.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty which falls on 17 October provides a great opportunity for raising awareness on this goal. MDG reports of Pacific Island countries indicate that poverty is generally viewed as hardship due to lack of services, like transport, water, primary health care, and education.

Miss Sugar will also be one of the speakers at the Laucala Campus of the University of the South Pacific (USP) on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Day during an event organised by UNDP in partnership with the USP Students Association to raise awareness on MDGs and poverty alleviation initiatives in the Pacific.

Photo Caption: 2011 Miss Sugar, Renee Duguivalu.

(Photo: Solomon Star)

NEW CALEDONIA: New Caledonia makes pre-festival visit to Honiara
Source: Solomon Star
 

With less ten months away before the country hosts the Festival of Pacific Arts, a delegation from New Caledonia is in Honiara on a fact finding mission.

The pre-Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) visit is aimed at gathering information on the festival and to see the progress of preparations which will assist them to organize their participants for the festival in July 2012.

The five member delegation is led by Regis Vendegou, Director of Culture, Gender and Citizenship Services Branch and includes Mahe Jean-Luc, Stephanie Genax-Rabault, Leila Bouchet and Raymond Tyuienon.

The team was given an opportunity to witness the final showdown of the Festival Theme song competition after arrival on Sunday at the Rove Police Grounds.

They will be engaged in a series of meetings with top Government Officials, Officials from the National Organising Committee and Officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

A series of site visits to festival venues and accommodations are also organized for the team during their stay this week.

Yesterday the team held its first meeting with officials from the National Organising Committee and staff of the Festival Secretariat where they were briefed on the progress and requirements of the festival.

Today, the team will meet with Chairpersons of the 10 sub-committees where they will be discussing details of the festival and the work of sub-committees.

Other meetings will be held throughout the week before the team departs on Sunday.

Head of Delegation, Regis Vendegou said the visit is important to assist them prepare their participants who are looking forward to showcase New Caledonia’s Kanaky culture to their pacific neighbours during the festival.

Apart from the Festival, Mr Vendegou said that a lot of tourists and business people from New Caledonia and France will be visiting Solomon Islands during the festival not only to feel the pacific way but to search for investment opportunities that exist in Solomon Islands.

New Caledonia has confirmed its participation at the Festival with a strong 150 delegation of artists, performers, musicians and other cultural practitioners.

Photo Caption: New Caledonia director of Culture, Gender and Citizenship service branch Regis Vendegou (R) and his delegation being welcomed at the Pacific Arts festival secretariat office.

(Photos: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Care for Land, Land for Life
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The 10th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has opened in Korea.

14 Pacific island countries are parties to this Convention that addresses land degradation and sustainable land management, a significant issue of concern for the region.

While productive land becomes scarcer, providing food for the 9 billion people predicted to live on Earth in 2050 will require a 70 per cent increase in global food production.

Over the course of the next two weeks, island nations in the Pacific are at the conference with the 180 parties to the convention to shape the way forward that will help stop land degradation in our region.

“The Earth, once a healthy planet is slowly losing its’ health and vitality,” said the Governor of the Gyeongnam Province, host to the UNCCD COP 10.

The past President of the UNCCD COP asked that parties at these negotiations multiply forces to achieve the objectives under the convention.

“Dont forget the beneficiaries for whom these efforts are being deployed,” asked Jose Cueva, Director of Soil Conservancy of Argentina, before he welcomed the election of Don koo Lee, the Minister of Korea Forest Service as President of COP 10 who asked that countries be bold, ambitious and creative in talking the unresolved methodological and institutional issues.

“At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, desertification, climate change and biodiversity loss were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development, now desertification, drought and land degradation remains with a low profile but these issues are equally important as others.”

The 10th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD Opened in Changwon Korea on 10 October and will end on 21 October, 2011.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has a delegation of three to provide technical and communications support to the 14 Pacific island countries and territories at this Conference.

"We have provided support to the Pacific countries in the months leading up to this international event, providing both a Policy brief for guidance for the Pacific as well as staging a Pacific regional preparatory meeting," said Bruce Jefferies the Terrestrial and Ecosystems Management Officer at SPREP.

"We look forward to seeing what the coming meeting will bring for the Pacific region as we combat land degradation, a vital concern given the livelihoods of our Pacific people depends on our biodiversity and what the land can yield."

Visit: www.bionesian.blogspot.com to keep update with the news.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Opening UNCCD COP 10 Plenary.

Photo 2 - (L-R) Mr. Bruce Jefferies, Mr. Tepa Suaesi.