(Photos: Claire Hooton)

NEW ZEALAND: Tattoo artists converge on Tahiti
Source: STAR Public Relations Ltd Press Release

Two New Zealand tattoo artists joined tattooists from all over the globe as they converged on Tahiti yesterday (November 06, 2008) for one of the world’s largest tattoo festivals.

Kiwis Netane Singh-Lagah and Dwayne Maihi will compete against tattoo artists from countries as far afield as Belgium, Poland, Croatia, France and Canada through to the Easter Islands, Guam, Solomon Islands and Hawaii at the fourth annual International Tattoo Festival, Tattoonesia.

“Tattoonesia is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors over the four days of the festival,” says Robert Thompson, Regional Director, Tahiti Tourisme. “This level of interest reflects the high regard in which Polynesian tattooing as an art form is held and provides a great forum for some of the world’s best tattoo artists to demonstrate their skills and promote their art.”

Polynesian tattooing is one of the seven main tattoo styles along with Japanese, American, European, African, Arabic and tribal tattooing. According to the event organizers, there are more than 200,000 tattooists around the world and it is estimated that in excess of 200 million people have tattoos.

Events at the four day festival include tattoo beauty awards, exhibitions and documentary films and promotion of French Polynesian culture.

The Festival Tatau I Tahiti – Tattoonesia is held from November 6th to 9th at the Aorai Tini Hau Centre in Tahiti.

Further information on Tattoonesia is available from: vai@tahiti-tourisme.co.nz
or telephone: 09 368 5262.

Photo Captions: Some of the traditional Tahitian designs that you are likely to see at Tattoonesia.
 

(Photos: eventpolynesia.com)

SAMOA: Fetu Samoa to face Tonga in their first match
Source: Tuilagi MS Saipele Esera / Liz Anderson / Tagaloa Fa’afouina Su’a

Fetu Samoa hopes to repeat the win by Toa Samoa over Tonga in their first match this evening
(November 06, 2008) at Stockland Park, Lake Kawana, Sunshine Coast in Australia.

The Samoa national women’s rugby league team comes out of the shadow of Toa Samoa who failed to progress through to the semi final qualifier and will now play France for their last game on Sunday, November 9 at CUA Stadium.

Samoa coach John Ackland believes the Pacific Island nation has established credibility through the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, despite a heartbreaking loss in their final pool match against Ireland.

Perhaps the most shattering element of Samoa’s loss was the injury to captain Nigel Vagana.

The former Warrior, Bulldog, Shark and Rabbitoh has spearheaded Samoa’s World Cup campaign for the past two years, recruiting top class players with Samoan background to play for blue and white that represents their heritage.

Vagana left the field in the 56th minute and did not return after injuring his ankle and knee. Samoa seemed to lose direction without their captain, with Ireland’s lead stretching to 18 without Vagana on the field.

In the first 20 minutes the luck was with the Irish, skipping out to a 14-0 lead while Samoa were denied a couple of tries.

They pulled Ireland’s lead back to two just before halftime but a Pat Richards penalty goal stretched it once more.

In the second half Samoa failed to score until it was too late, with forward Dave Solomona crashing over with just six minutes remaining.

“That’s been a positive for the game though. We had 12,000 people out there last Friday night at Penrith (against Tonga) and another 8,000 or 9,000 out here tonight just five days later so there is potential there for the game to grow,” said Ackland.

“That means we’re a side that can play Test matches every year and people like Ben Roberts, Smith Samau, Terence Seuseu and Lagi Setu can play 50 or 60 games for Samoa.

“We think that would be great for the international game and great for the rugby league game in general.”

The Fetu Samoa game against Tonga kicks off at 5pm tonight (November 06, 2008) which is 6pm NZ time and Samoan time. Feel free to fax support messages for FETU SAMOA to fax (0617) 5448-4913.

For further information contact:
• Fetu Samoa – Tour Manager: Tagaloa Fa’afouina Su’a (0451) 383-405 .

Photo Captions: Fetu Samoa members at Auckland launch; Captain and team management in Apia.
 

AUSTRALIA: Conference hears nutrition biggest Pacific killer
Source: Radio Australia

A conference under way in Australia has heard that undernutrition and overnutrition are now the biggest killers in the Pacific.

Representatives from 22 Pacific island states and territories are attending the Sydney gathering, along with international agencies and multinational food companies to look at ways of addressing the problem.

One of the key initiatives under discussion is how to fortifying staple foods like flour, rice and cooking oil with essential vitamins and minerals missing from many Pacific diets.

Speaking to Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program, Professor Glen Maberley, from the Global Health Institute says this could make a big difference.

"When you have iron deficiency, as has been documented in Papau New Guinea and Fiji and other places, you can reduce the intelligence of kids by about 15 per cent, so the kids could be 15 per cent smarter," he said

"About half the maternal deaths due to women dying in childbirth could be reduced by getting iron into the diet to make sure they're not anaemic before they get into their pregnancy and into trouble."
 

(Photos: Sina Solomona)

USA: Sene Polu: “God is good! All the time!”
Source: Sina Solomona

He is still known widely as “the Miracle” in the Samoan DC Church of the Beltway area and despite what’s happening in the nation’s capital the day before elections, Tuesday, November 4th, SFC Senetenari “Sene” Polu, remains endeared in the hearts and minds of many for all the pain and suffering he has endured, and the powerful testimony he has been delivering.

A little known evangelist in his own right, claiming his brush with death in the battle fields of Iraq was just God’s way to use him to spread the Word of the Lord’s goodness, he will be honoured with another injured soldier on the Monday Night Football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the capital team of Washington, Redskins in Washington, DC.

A recipient of the military’s prestigious Purple Heart and was pinned by Congressman Faleomavaega in his DC office earlier this year, Sene was chosen by the NFL to appear and be honoured on national TV for his bravery and service to his country.

Recently, he and his devoted wife Rosalind (Rosie) Tualatai-Polu have been doing a lot of travelling beginning with the return of their children, Charley and Chaztity to their hometown of Seattle , Washington during Labour Day weekend. The children live with relatives while Rosie helps Sene recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Bethesda , Maryland .

It was a homecoming filled with immense joy and a sigh of relief to his mother and family and many of his loved ones, who have prayed and looked forward to a full recovery of one of Samoa ’s bravest warriors. Seriously wounded on the right side of his body, Sene has gone through many surgeries to repair what was damaged of his physical being but his spiritual resolve has remained steadfast and positive, he has made an impact on many lives with his encouraging words and stamina to return “back to normal”.

Following their return from the state of Washington in the end of September, the Polus received royal treatment along with several other injured soldiers around the country basked in a time of rest and relaxation at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas , Nevada . With billionaire owner Sheldon Adelson making personal appearances with his wife to thank them for their service, the Polus gave testimony of what God can do to His people when they remain faithful in prayer and trust Him. Mr. Adelson with a net worth said to be 30-billion dollars, footed the bill for three such trips for injured soldiers costing him 2-million for each group.

In that experience Sene said these moving words, "Imagine all the gold and glitter we saw at the Venetian Hotel, the wealth and beauty that this world knows to mark a person rich and well-off. But we, Christians, those who believe in Jesus Christ have a home that is far greater than anything the eye can see here on earth. Our mansions awaiting us are incomparable to what we have here now and impossible for the mind to comprehend." To anyone listening, the notion was clear that only a person who had faced his Creator near death could expound on life's mysteries in those terms. Sene Polu seemed absolutely nonchalant about what he experienced but was deeply focused on the Cross and what it means to his life. In his native tongue he made this declaration, "O le fa'amaoni ma le agalelei ole Alii e le fa'amatalatalaina. O Lona alofa tunoa foi mo i tatou, e le mafai e upu ona talatalaina."

This past weekend, in a remote resort in the state of Maryland , the foundation for Wounded Soldiers again treated them to a weekend of R&R with horseback riding and Halloween treat for families with children. Then Monday night’s honorary recognition by the NFL Steelers-Redskins’ game and they travel again this weekend of the 7th, to New York’s Ground Zero for another special recognition ceremony of soldiers injured from the war in Iraq. Again, one can clearly hear Sene Polu proclaim, “God is good! All the time! And all the time, God is good!”

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - At recent American-Italian gala in Washington, DC, pictured with NY Yankees famed Yogi Berra.

Photo 2 - With billionaire Sheldon Atherton, owner of Venetial Hotels.

Photo 3 - Welcoming home Sene's unit during fa'afetai service.

Photo 4 - Welcome home at Seatac Airport with Secretary of C.C.C.A.S Rev. Samuelu Tialavea and family with SFC. Sene Polu.
 

VANUATU: Vanuatu re-ignites WTO accession process
Source: Solomon Star

Thirteen years after Vanuatu applied to join the World Trade Organisation, or WTO, it has now decided to resume discussions to accede to the world multilateral trading body.

The PAC NEWS agency reports Vanuatu’s ambassador to the European Union, Roy Mickey Joy, as saying that the country’s cabinet has ’formally agreed to kick-start its accession process.’

Mr Joy says Vanuatu’s Trade Minister, James Bule is expected to be in Geneva next week to begin high level informal consultations with the WTO.

During the informal talks, the trade minister and his high level delegation will meet with WTO director general, Pascal Lamy and expected to request his assistance in the accession process.

Vanuatu began its WTO accession process in 1995.

But in 2001, just before the Doha Ministerial Conference, when Vanuatu was due

to accede, the minister of trade then withdrew a finalised agreement, citing ’technical reasons’.

Mr Joy says the main reason for the suspension of accession was because they felt at that time that they were forced to make huge sacrifices and commitments in a number of sectoral areas.
 

(Photos: Samoa International Cricket Association)

WORLDWIDE: Samoa host region's biggest tournament in history
Source: Samoa International Cricket Association Press Release

The Samoa International Cricket Association (SICA) will be hosting the biggest cricket tournament in the East-Asia-Pacific (EAO) Region within Affiliate and Associate Members in September 2009.

During a recent East-Asia-Pacific Regional conference held at Cricket Australia's office in Melbourne, ten countries had the opportunity to discuss the ICC's future funding policy, ICC-EAP sanctioned tournaments for 2009 & 2010 and present the current state of cricket in each of their
countries.

Boasting the best cricket facilities in the Pacific, Samoa was announced; host of the 2009 Senior Men's EAP Cricket Trophy. This will be the fifth Cricket Trophy held, with a record number of eight teams competing. Those countries are; Samoa, PNG, Fiji, Japan, Vanuatu, Tonga, Cook Islands and Indonesia.

The first round will be played in a 50 over format with two "Pools". Pool A will consist of the Region's top four teams; PNG, Fiji, Japan & Vanuatu and Pool B consisting of the four lower ranked teams; Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands & Indonesia. The second round will be played in a Twenty20 format, with all teams competing against one another.

This is the first time the Twenty20 format has been introduced into an ICC-EAP sanctioned tournament. Samoa's National Coach and former Black Cap, Murphy Su'a has been waiting for Samoa's chance to compete internationally in the Twenty20 style.

"Our boys are much better suited to the fast-action packed game. Given the chance I'm sure we'd give the higher ranked teams a run for their money." Murphy stated.

Samoa currently has two of their most talented players attending the Region's Squad Camp in Brisbane at the Cricket Centre of Excellence this week. Pritchard Pritchard (21 years and second time selection) and Ben Mailata (23 years) have both been selected amongst the Region's elite
players to take part. They will be training under some of Australia's leading coaches and also playing in two 50 over cricket matches. Selected players will then go on to compete in the 2009 Australian Country Cricket Championships, representing the East-Asia-Pacific Region.

SICA's Pre-Season Lightning Cup Twenty20 will be held in February 2009 over four weeks. If you would like to enter a team or do not have a team but would like play in the competition, contact Tina Macumber on 25033 or 759 2867. A women's Lightning Cup 15/15 will be held in March 2009 over four weeks.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Pritchard Pritchard in action against the MCC last month.

Photo 2 - Ben Mailata in hits another boundary.

Photo 3 - Pritchard Pritchard and Ben Mailata batting together against the MCC.