NEWSROOM 11 March
2009

(Photo: New Zealand Government)

NEW ZEALAND: Fiji gets 'passport to poverty': NZ PM
Source: China Post
 

(Photo: Ministry of Women, Community & Social Development)

SAMOA: Samoa says partnerships are key to addressing CSW theme
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), New York, Thursday 5 March 2009 - Forming practical partnerships between government and civil society and faith-based organisations to build on local expertise and knowledge was the strategy offered by the Government of Samoa in addressing the theme for the 53rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Tuesday (March 03, 2009):

“From Samoa’s perspective, combating HIV/AIDS requires the use of local knowledge, particularly local strengths, and networking between government, CSOs and the church sector to bring about positive change in sharing responsibilities. Mainstreaming of gender issues will help achieve better outcomes for women and children,” said Luagalau Foisaga Eteuati-Shon, Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Women, who highlighted Samoa’s efforts to put in place practical initiatives to mainstream gender equality. She said this was happening not only at the national policy level but at the village and community level too, including in the implementation of programmes to address HIV/AIDS.

“Gender mainstreaming requires strong and genuine community engagement and partnerships. Engaging and involving communities is the way to facilitate ownership and sustainability of programmes. Our communities need to be convinced of such concepts if change is to occur. In saying that, we strongly believe that the practical application of national policies and interventions at community level is essential to bring about change that will benefit our women and children.”

According to the UN Secretary General’s report for CSW (www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw53/OfficialDocuments.html), the unequal sharing of responsibilities between women and men is closely linked to the persistence of gender inequality and discrimination, which remain deeply entrenched in societies, including in legislation, political structures, sociocultural norms, and local and national economies.

Samoa is working systematically to develop and implement national action plans to ensure state compliance with international conventions and commitments through practical and strategic policies and action plans, said Shon:

“Through Samoa’s national policies for women, children, HIV/AIDS and people with disabilities, HIV/AIDS and gender mainstreaming issues are being addressed in line with our country context and the international instruments that Samoa is party to.”

A recently adopted Men against Violence programme, for example, is one strategy through which men are being encouraged to assist in the advancement of gender equality commitments.

She also stressed that many Pacific Island states need technical and financial support to transform gender equality commitments not only into national policy but into practical community-level programmes: “We wish to remind our regional and international partners that programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of gender mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS initiatives require your financial and technical support so Samoa as a nation can contribute to the global cause of pushing for shared responsibility for men and women, and so we may achieve gender equality for all.”

For more information please contact Treva Braun, SPC Human Development Adviser (Gender Equality) by e-mail [email protected] or Tione Chinula, Human Development Programme Advocacy and Communications Officer by phone: +687 26 01 57 or e-mail [email protected]

Background notes:

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women. It is the principal global policy-making body. Every year, representatives of member states gather at United Nations headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide.

This year is the 53rd session of CSW. It runs from 2 to 13 March with the theme “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS”

For more information on CSW 53 visit http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/53sess.htm

Photo Caption: Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Women, Community & Social Development, Luagalau Foisaga Eteuati-Shon.
 

(Photos: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC Phi Theta Kappa to Induct New Members for Spring 2009
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

The Alpha Epsilon Mu Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) will hold its Spring 2009 induction ceremony this Friday evening to induct 17 new members. The Society invites family and friends of the new and current PTK members to join the college’s administrators and faculty for the ceremony in the ASCC Lecture Hall, beginning at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 6th.

For each induction, the PTK invites a distinguished member of the community to give special remarks, and at this Friday’s ceremony, former ASCC counselor and current member of the House of Representatives Galu Satele Jr., will provide words of inspiration. Next, the new inductees will 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 society 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.

Every semester, PTK advisors Tafa Tupuola, Mark Mageo, Randall Baker, Elvis Zodiacal and Jim Sutherland review the ASCC Dean’s List 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 Tikeri Noel Afalava, Charlene Afu, Lawrence Fernandez, Amber Fuaga, Leiema Hunt, Akenese Lealamanua, Latisha Olo, Julia Pereira, Tracey Sene, Luatimu Toilolo, Tamara Toilolo and Galo Tuiolosega.

The Spring 2009 Inductees are Leotina Aetonu, Mac L. Aveina, Bodonirina P. Crook, Talalelau Fanene, Philip A. Iosefo, Yeje Lee, Fatuoaiga Lokeni, Tolufale M. Loi-On, Noelle T. Potoa’e, Czarina S. Rogue, Sondar A. Satila, Noemi L. Suisala, Faagata s. Tagoai, Lysandra K. Thomas, Kenneth E. Thompson, Siniva Tuileto’a, and Taua P. Tuiono’ula.

For more information about the nationwide activities of Phi Theta Kappa, visit their website at: www.ptk.org

Photo Captions:

Photos 1, 2 & 3 - In these photos from the Fall 2008 ASCC Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony, new members of the honours society prepare to receive the ceremonial “flame of knowledge”.

Photo 4 - In this photo from the Fall 2008 ASCC Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony, PTK member Leiema Hunt prepares to pass the ceremonial “flame of knowledge” to new members of the prestigious honours society.
 

(Photo: Paddy Aryan, BirdLife International)

FIJI: Communities protect Fijian forests
Source: BirdLife International Press Release

A conservation initiative on the beautiful and remote Natewa Peninsular in Fiji is being used as a demonstration project for community conservation, to train conservationists from other Pacific Island countries.

The project to develop a community managed protected area was initiated in 2005, after the peninsular, on the Northern Fijian Island of Vanua Levu, was identified as the Natewa and Tunaloa Important Bird Area (IBA). This IBA contains untouched old growth forest, and is home to the subspecies kleinschmidti of the endemic Silktail Lamprolia victoriae (Near Threatened), Shy Ground-dove Gallicolumba stairi and Black-faced Shrikebill Clytorhynchus nigrogularis (both Vulnerable), and many other Fijian endemics.

In 2005, a Site Support Group made up of landowning clans was formed, and agreed to protect their forest from degrading activities including commercial logging and agriculture.

Recently, a workshop was held in Navetau Village on the Natewa Peninsular. The meeting was attended by over 30 local people, and during the meeting 11 landowning clans or mataqali agreed to sustainably manage over 6000ha of land for ten years. They also agreed an interim management plan.

“This is a really exciting grassroots initiative”, said Tuverea Tuamoto, Conservation Officer with the Birdlife Fiji Programme. “The landowners are taking the initiative by developing the protected area, and we are working in partnership with government departments to support them.”

The workshop was also a training course for conservationists from other Pacific islands. Participants from Société Calédonienne d'Ornithologie (SCO, BirdLife in New Caledonia), the New Caledonian community conservation initiative Dayu Biik, the Provincial Government of New Caledonia’s South Province (Province Sud), and La Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie (MANU, BirdLife in French Polynesia) attended lectures and took part in the community workshops.

James Millett, Senior Technical Advisor with the Birdlife International Pacific Partnership, explained: “Working with communities is central to every conservation project in Fiji, and Fijian conservationists are well practiced at traditional protocols, as well as the modern social tools for assessing community needs, such as Participatory Rural Appraisal. However, community conservation needs more support in most Pacific countries and territories.”

He added, “Our partners have been very enthusiastic over this workshop, and have been impressed by the knowledge and skills of young Fijian conservationists, and equally impressed by the commitment of landowners to manage forest sustainably. The best way to appreciate how important it is for communities and traditional landowners to lead conservation projects is to see a Site Support Group at work.”

The workshop was funded by the British Government’s Darwin Initiative, and by the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation, which has been funding the development of conservation groups at several important forest sites in Fiji.

Photo Caption: Landowning clans agreed to protect their forest from degrading activities including commercial logging and agriculture.
 

TUVALU: French environmentalist appointed Tuvalu Honorary Consul in France
Source: Alofa Tuvalu Press Release

A French environmentalist appointed Tuvalu Honorary Consul in France Tuvalu’s Cabinet endorses Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia’s proposal to appoint Gilliane Le Gallic -- journalist, film director and president of the NGO Alofa Tuvalu -- Tuvalu’s Honorary Consul in France.

The relationship of trust between Tuvalu and Ms.Le Gallic began in 2003 while she was shooting the documentary « Trouble in Paradise » about climate change effects on the archipelago. Moved by the imminent threat hanging over the tiny, low-lying nation, Ms. Le Gallic created the « Small is Beautiful » (SiB) assistance plan with the objective of helping Tuvalu survive as a nation via a range of concrete actions to address global warming. These are designed to be immediately useful to Tuvalu and replicable elsewhere in places with similar challenges.

In 2005, on behalf of the Tuvalu Government and with the support of France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its renewable energy agency, ADEME, Ms. Le Gallic coordinated a national energy audit whose recommendations have now been integrated in the country energy policy. One of them, the building of a national renewable energy demonstration and training centre begin in 2006, is becoming a reality thanks to many supporters, including Unesco who made SiB one of its « Education Decade for Sustainable Development Remarquable Actions »*.

Ms. Le Gallic is presently in Tuvalu preparing a 4-month mission for the Alofa Tuvalu team who`ll follow up on last year’s public demonstrations made by Gilles Vaitilingom (CIRAD) : coprah biodiesel production to fuel unmodified engines ; biogas from husk and shell carbonisation ; and ethanol from sweet coconut sap (Todi) production, a first. The mission also forsees the continuation of study of appropriate on-site adaptation solutions and plans for « worst case scenario evacuation » by lobbying for the establishment of an official climate refugee status for Tuvalu’s citizens and by identifying a suitable new homeland where the nation can be resettled and where its culture and traditions may live on.

By this appointment, Tuvalu is officialising Ms. Le Gallic’s NGO Ambassador for Environment’s status, which has already contributed to bringing to light Tuvalu’s circumstances, both real and as a symbol of what awaits us all if we do nothing.

*« Small is Beautiful » will be presented at the Unesco World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development taking place from March 31 to April 2, 2009 in Bonn, Germany.

(Photos: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WORLDWIDE: Pacific Islands meet to save Marine Turtles
Source: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

Marine turtle conservation efforts throughout the Pacific region are driven by the sad fact that all marine turtle species are now experiencing serious threats to their survival. When over 30 Marine turtle conservationists and specialists from the Pacific Islands region came together to “talk turtle” in February, it led to outcomes to enhance the work of saving our marine turtles.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in collaboration with WWF South Pacific Programme and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), coordinated the two-day Pacific islands region marine turtle meeting in Australia prior to the International Sea Turtle Society's 29th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation.

It was an opportunity for members of government, non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) and marine turtle specialists to meet and update on implementation of the regional Marine Turtle Action Plan (MTAP) 2008 - 2012. Bringing everyone together to discuss this, also allowed for opportunities with donor organisations to understand and learn more about the different turtle conservation developments on the ground.

“An important action in the MTAP 2008-2012 concerns reporting and in 2008 a questionnaire was sent to member countries so we could be updated on turtle conservation work in the region. However there are quite a lot of activities that we are not aware of, as the driver behind a lot of the work are NGO’s.” said SPREP’s Marine Species Officer, Lui Bell.

“It was at this meeting we could sit and discuss what is being done for turtle conservation around the region, now that one year has elapsed since the start of the revised MTAP 2008-2012.”

The meeting also stressed the need for more Pacific-wide collaboration and information sharing with research on nesting populations, as well as on other initiatives including collection of turtle tissue samples to help in the identification of turtle stocks in the region. Countries committed to improving data with assistance from SPREP and other collaborators. Important too, was the need to standardise method of monitoring turtle nesting for comparable analysis of data.

“We’ll do a form as a template to share out with all the countries, although some of those who attended were of a policy level. We will also send all presentations to the technical people we normally work with as well so we have a consistency in turtle data collection and analysis.”

Most recent data collected by SPREP involved the Leatherback turtle nest survey in Bouganville with SPREP staff assisting with a ground survey - http://www.sprep.org/article/news_detail.asp?id=610. It was during this survey that 46 nests were found in all with 12 determined to belong to green and hawskbill species.

For the last four years SPREP has been working to initiate the development of a Memorandum of Understanding under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) for marine turtles. Thhis was approved by the CMS Conference of the Parties in 2005 and also by the two subsequent SPREP Annual meetings. However, to date very little progress has been made toward developing the MOU.

At the two-day meeting in Australia, some felt that it might be necessary to conduct an analysis of existing agreements or other form of arrangements to determine whether such an MoU was necessary. It was also recommended that another meeting be held to discuss the matter and encourage further development.

Bell is keen to see an MoU established for marine turtles in the Pacific, under the Convention of Migratory species.

“We perceive there to be a huge gap in the region for marine turtles. The East has the Inter-America Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC) and the West has the Indian Ocean-South-east Asian sea Turtle MoU (IOSEA), but the middle of the Pacific does not have any specific agreement to help conserve marine turtles, despite all the endorsement given for one. We still need to work on it with CMS and CMS Oceania Parties; we just have to move ahead.”

The Pacific regional meeting was scheduled before the International sea turtle symposium in Australia this year. The international event staged by the International Marine Turtle Society was an opportunity to meet, as well as to have a large Pacific islands delegation at the symposium.

Anne Patricia Trevor, SPREP’s Associate Turtles Database Officer believes the symposium was an eye opener for a lot of the Pacific islanders that attended.

“The good thing about this symposium is that it helped Pacific islanders learn more about the different turtle conservation work that is happening around the world. It was a chance for us to see all the many things that are being carried out worldwide; that the endangered marine turtle is not just a Pacific issue - its happening everywhere.”

The Pacific island region marine turtle meeting was held on February 14 and 15, with the International Sea Turtle Symposium held from 17-19 February

Participation of Pacific Island countries and territories was supported by financial assistance from the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, AusAID, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA-Australia), WWF SPP, IFAW and SPREP.

Photo Captions:

Photos 1&2 - Group photos of the Pacific Islands region marine turtle meeting.

Photo 3 - Poster display at the International Sea Turtle Society's 29th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. Northern Mariana Islands.

Photo 4 - Poster display at the International Sea Turtle Society's 29th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. Palau.