NEWSPAGE 07 October
2009

(Photos: 350 / Mark Smith)

NEW ZEALAND: Pacific response to climate change to resonate throughout the world

(Photo: Samoa Government)

SAMOA: Government update on the tsunami disaster
Source: Government Press Secretariat Press Release

The Government continues to provide primary health care, food, water and basic household items to those evacuated to established evacuation centers. Financial and in-kind contributions continue to pour in from local church organisations, the business community, schools and individuals. Assistance has been received from the National University of Samoa, Church of Nazareth and the Methodist Church of Samoa. Samoan communities in the United States (Samoan Community in Las Vegas and New Jersey) and New Zealand have indicated their support to the effort and have already started their relief drop off centers.

Prayers for people who were affected one way or another by the tsunami were offered up by Church leaders and congregations of all denominations during the Sunday services yesterday throughout the country. The National Council of Churches also conducted a special service at the Methodist Church, Matafele yesterday Sunday 4th of October 2009 at 1:30 pm. A special Mass by the Catholic Church in Samoa was held at 5:00pm yesterday at Vaoala. Samoan communities in New Zealand and the United States of America have had memorial church services yesterday for the victims of this catastrophic tsunami event.

International agencies and governments continue to provide assistance such as water storage containers, sanitation facilities, shelter, water, food, building tools, and beddings to people affected. The Prime Minister, Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi personally visited the injured people at the hospital yesterday, and was followed by government officials who gave to all people in the various wards such things as beddings, towels, T/Shirts, cloths and food items. Such items were also given to other patients who were not Tsunami victims.

The government of Samoa has set up a special account with the ANZ Bank Samoa Limited to receive financial assistance from abroad and local sources. All organizations, families and individuals are hereby advised to please use either of the two accounts detailed below to ensure all funds are safely kept and utilized specifically for the tsunami relief and recovery efforts:

Treasury Direct Transfer Account
Account Number: 1200033
Bank Swift Code: ANZBWSWW
Bank Address: ANZ (Samoa) Limited, Apia, Samoa

or:

Account Name: 2009 SamoaTsunami Relief and Rehabilitation
Account Number: 3826921.
Bank Swift Code: ANZBWSWW
Bank Address: ANZ (Samoa) Limited, Apia, Samoa

Samoa’s usual and intending development partners are also advised to kindly contact the Acting CEO of the Ministry of Finance (Mr. Ben Pereira) at phone number 0685-7794147 for details of normal bilateral arrangements for assistance.

For more information, contact Ms. Vaosa Epa on 7770633 or 7520136.
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: FEMA continues response efforts in American Samoa
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency Press Release

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today (October 05, 2009) that cleanup and recovery efforts in American Samoa are making significant progress. At the same time, FEMA and other federal partners remain actively involved, bringing food, shelter, medical supplies and other assistance to meet the immediate needs of residents affected by last week’s earthquake and tsunami.

“We continue to work with Governor Tulafono to support the priorities he has identified as the response in American Samoa progresses,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Through the Federal Coordinating Officer, Kenneth Tingman, we are working closely with local leadership as well as our federal partners and non-profits, to meet the needs of survivors and begin the recovery.”

FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kenneth Tingman and American Samoan Governor Togiola Tulafono have already flown over the affected areas to view the damage and to identify any additional areas of immediate need in parts of American Samoa impacted by Tuesday’s tsunami.

“When we arrived last week, our initial efforts were to ensure that the Governor and the people of American Samoa had all the life saving materials they needed. We are now focusing our efforts, under the direction of the Governor, to support their life supporting needs, as they continue to respond and recover,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kenneth Tingman. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the individuals and families that have been impacted by this event, and we will continue working as a team with our territory and federal partners to respond to Tuesday’s tsunami.”

The information below represents the progress of resources and supplies into the island territory in the aftermath of the tsunami:

Federal responders from FEMA, American Red Cross, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies are on the ground in American Samoa. The main priorities of the disaster operations remain focused on restoration of commercial power in the eastern district, and repairs and restoration of the region’s infrastructure. Roughly 65,000 cubic yards of debris has already been identified for removal.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG), National Guard, and United States Navy have provided critical transport of the life-saving and life-sustaining supplies and equipment to meet the immediate needs of the survivors, including more than 26,000 meals, 14,000 liters of water, 1,800 blankets, 800 tents, more than 800 cots, and nine pallets of medical supplies in support of the territory’s mass care operations. More than 20 generators have already been deployed to American Samoa, with several already supplying power to critical infrastructure. More generators are on their way, which will support communities and critical facilities.

FEMA and its federal partners are supporting the local government, which is distributing more than 3,500 meals a day. As FEMA and our federal partners continue to support the territory with a priority focus on life-safety activities, power restoration, and medical and shelter support, the agency is also preparing for recovery efforts. Recovery specialists, including Individual Assistance specialists and a housing planning team are being deployed.

FEMA and our federal partner, the General Services Administration, are in the process of locating and securing a facility where a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will be established. DRCs will connect affected residents with recovery specialists from federal, state and local agencies for personal, one-on-one assistance for those affected by the tsunami.

FEMA continues to coordinate with our federal partners, providing the following support to the region. Additional information on response and recovery efforts can be found below:

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG): National Guard, and United States Navy have completed critical transport of the life-saving and life-sustaining supplies and equipment to meet the immediate needs of the survivors, including meals, water, blankets, tents, cots, and medical supplies.

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD): The Department of Defense has completed 11 missions between Hawaii and American Samoa, transporting federal personnel, vehicles, communications equipment, cots, blankets and generators. The DOD also assisted with survey flights, hazmat and damage assessments.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): USACE reports the water system on American Samoa is functioning. USACE is coordinating the installation and use of more than 20 generators at critical, prioritized life-saving and life-sustaining public facilities like shelters, sewer and water treatment plants or emergency management and response facilities.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): The Department of Energy is part of team working with FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers focused on the restoration, generation, transmission and distribution of electric power. The team is working with local authorities to prioritize areas that remain without power, particularly in the eastern district.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) : HHS has approximately 50 medical personnel deployed to American Samoa, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, public health, and mental health professionals to support public health and medical needs. HHS also provided pharmaceutical and medical supplies.

American Red Cross (ARC): The American Red Cross has more than 70 volunteers on the ground in American Samoa providing food and supplies in affected areas. Using a warehouse on American Samoa stocked with cots, flashlights, cooking supplies and clean-up supplies, trained volunteers are bringing additional supplies including recovery kits that are awaiting transport to American Samoa.

Families that have been in contact with loved ones on American Samoa can share information about their well-being by registering them with Safe and Well at www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). For photos and more information about American Red Cross relief efforts in American Samoa visit http://newsroom.redcross.org

Non-governmental organizations, including the American Red Cross are also providing assistance to the impacted region. Financial contributions to disaster relief organizations in the form of cash donations will allow voluntary organizations to fund response and recovery efforts quickly and provide the needed goods and services to disaster survivors. Your financial support will help the American Red Cross respond quickly to disasters like the Pacific Islands tsunami in American Samoa and Samoa. You can donate by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or (1-800-257-7575 (Spanish), or visiting www.redcross.org, and donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

To see a video message from the Federal Coordinating Officer on recovery efforts to date, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr6kpEryBu4&feature=channel_page

For B-roll of generators arriving on American Samoa please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiYUB2qzxAY&feature=channel_page

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Community)

FIJI: Sustainable forests benefit local communities and climate change adaptation
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

Around 30 forestry professionals and key stakeholders from SPC (Secretariat of the Pacific Community) member countries will meet to discuss formulating and implementing policies for the sustainable management of forest resources in the Pacific at a workshop to be held from 12 to 15 October, 2009, at Novotel Nadi, Fiji. The aim of the workshop is to support regional capacity building in sustainable forest management (SFM).

Deforestation and forest degradation are happening worldwide including in the Pacific region. The result is loss of vital forest goods and services such as storage of carbon, conservation of biodiversity, protection of soil and water, and sources of livelihoods.

Together, deforestation and forest degradation contribute 20% to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Protecting forests therefore has the potential to effectively mitigate levels of GHG emissions and climate change. Similarly, intact forest resources are our best option for supporting adaptation to climate change.

The internationally recognised tool for combating deforestation is SFM, which also helps prevent and remedy degradation, as well as maintain all forest functions with benefits and yields from forests accruing to local communities. There are several instruments, including financing mechanisms, to support the enhancement of SFM at national and regional level.

Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development took place in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, the international forest policy debate has outlined policies and measures to address deforestation and forest degradation, and to achieve SFM as an important contribution towards sustainable development. More prominently, in 2007, the international community adopted a non-legally binding instrument (NLBI) on all types of forests as a common framework for achieving shared global objectives for forests. The implementation of national forest programmes is the internationally agreed process to be used by countries for developing policies and strategies within forests and adjoining sectors.

Because SFM contributes among other things to sustaining forest stocks and, thus, to mitigation of climate change, it offers a workable concept for countries that want to participate in voluntary and/or possible regulatory markets for carbon that may be derived from the international debate on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).

However, to participate in REDD initiatives, all drivers of deforestation must be addressed both to avoid deforestation and ensure permanent solutions.

An important ingredient in the success of REDD processes and achievement of SFM is the improvement of forest governance to combat illegal logging and trade in illegally sourced forest products.

For this purpose, the international community has developed the concept of forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT), which is now being implemented in the Asia-Pacific region, mostly with the emphasis on governance.

The workshop will look at relevant forest policy processes, especially NLBI, FLEGT and REDD, but also the contribution of concrete concepts such as national forest programmes. Participants will look at their interrelations and possible synergies that can be tapped at national and regional level.

The workshop is being organised by SPC’s Forests and Trees Programme in partnership with the SPC/GTZ Pacific German Regional Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change Project, GTZ/IWP (International Forest Policy), and the EU-FAO, ACP FLEGT programme.

For more information, please contact Mr Sairusi Bulai, SPC Forests and Trees/Forest and Agriculture Group Coordinator: [email protected], or [email protected]
 

TUVALU: Apisai Ielemia, Prime Minister without opposition
Source: Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday

Apisai Ielemia is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He has been Prime Minister of Tuvalu since 2006.

Ielemia was elected to serve in the Parliament of Tuvalu by the constituency of Vaitupu on a non-partisan basis: his lack of alignment is not unusual in the politics of Tuvalu, since political parties have not emerged in the country.

In general elections held on August 3, 2006 prime minister Maatia Toafa’s government was defeated and opposition MP Ielemia was approved by the new parliament on August 14 to become the new prime minister. He also became foreign minister.

The prime minister of Tuvalu is the head of government of Tuvalu. According to Tuvalu’s constitution, the prime minister must always be a member of parliament, and is elected by parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of parliament can be nominated for the role. The governor-general of Tuvalu is responsible for conducting the election, and for proclaiming the winner.

The office of prime minister was established when Tuvalu gained independence in 1978, although the post is sometimes considered to be a continuation of the earlier office of Chief Minister, which was created in 1975. The prime minister also always serves as the foreign minister of Tuvalu. If the Prime Minister dies, as has happened on one occasion, the deputy prime minister becomes acting prime minister until a new one is elected by parliament. The prime minister can lose his office by resigning, being defeated in a no confidence vote by parliament, or losing his seat in a parliamentary election. Several former prime ministers have become governors-general of Tuvalu.

Ielemia has continued Tuvalu’s pursuit of close relations with Republic of China, and in December 2007 visited that country, when various bilateral issued were addressed.

The Head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Filoimea Telito.

Tuvalu has no political parties. Allegiances revolve around personalities and geography.

Media freedom is respected in Tuvalu but the market is very small. The government operates Radio Tuvalu. Many islanders use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV stations.

The government publishes the fortnightly newspaper Tuvalu Echoes in the Tuvalu language and in English.

There were around 4,000 internet users by March 2008 (ITU).

Tuvalu is a group of nine tiny islands in the South Pacific which won independence from the United Kingdom in 1978. Five of the islands are coral atolls, the other four consist of land rising from the sea bed.

All are low-lying, with no point on Tuvalu being higher than 4.5 metres above sea level. Local politicians have campaigned against global warming, arguing that climate change could see the islands swamped by rising sea levels.

Life on the islands is simple and often harsh. There are no streams or rivers, so the collection of rain is essential.

Coconut palms cover most of the islands, and copra — dried coconut kernel — is practically the only export commodity. Increasing salination of the soil threatens traditional subsistence farming.

Tuvalu depends on foreign aid, the income from the sale of tuna fishing licences and the interest from a trust fund set up in 1987. The sale of postage stamps also brings in revenues.

It is one of a handful of countries to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which has funded the construction of Tuvalu’s largest building — a three-storey administrative headquarters.

Tuvalu has shown ingenuity by exploiting another source of income. It has sold its internet suffix — tv — to a Californian company for several million dollars a year in continuing revenue. The company sells the suffix on to television broadcasters.

Some of the money has been used to pave roads — which were formerly made of crushed coral — and to build schools.
 

(Photo: International Union for Conservation of Nature)

WORLDWIDE: New professional body for the Pacific
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature Press Release

A new professional network, the Pacific Resource and Environmental Economics Network (PREEN), was established at a technical workshop in Suva last week (October 01, 2009).

The 2-day workshop held at the IUCN Oceania office in Suva was co-sponsored by IUCN, SOPAC and SPC. This technical workshop was the first of its kind in the region, bringing together practicing resource and environmental economists to discuss and share experiences and ideas in using economics to manage resources.

Talks and presentations covered a variety of topics, including the feasibility of biofuel, costs of climate change and disaster, and how to protect the coasts and fisheries. The participants also discussed ways to improve the way decisions are made about natural resources drawing on not only scientific but also economic information.

“Economic information helps us work out how to use our scarce resources and how and where to invest in their management” said Mr Taholo Kami, Director of the IUCN-Oceania which hosted the workshop. “Governments can use economic analysis, for instance, to decide whether it is better to declare a protected area over a forest or to sustainably manage the area for timber and non-timber products and other services valued by humans. Or they can use economic analysis to work out why people, say, choose to overfish so that we can then work out how best to control that”.

“One of the challenges” said Ms Cristelle Pratt, Director of SOPAC, when opening the workshop, “is to make the use of economic information about resource use part of normal decision making, especially when there are so few people who understand its role”. The workshop participants therefore also talked about options to target improved capacity for economic analysis in the Pacific, and how to ‘mainstream’ the analysis to normal decision making, as well as how to provide peer support for future work.

The proceedings of the PREEN workshop including copies of papers presented to the workshop are now to be reviewed and collated in a compendium to be published early next year. A website containing case study examples from the region and other useful reference material will also soon be online. “Making this information public is important to demonstrate how economic analysis can improve decision making in the Pacific”, noted Dr Padma Narsey Lal, IUCN’s Chief Technical Adviser. “There are a few great examples from the region about how economic information is helping to improve sustainable development. These also gives us”, she said, “a lot to think about for how we can continue to improve in the future”.

Photo Caption: Director of SOPAC, Cristelle Pratt addressing participants at the meeting.