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(Photo:
350 Aotearoa) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Pacific climate change campaigners
call for action
Source:
350 Aotearoa Press Release
Pacific people have called for the world to act
fast on climate change science as they bear the
burden of increasing drought, rising sea levels,
salinated land and food shortages.
“Today we are reminding the world’s leaders that
they can give all the speeches they want, but
that won’t change what the science says,” says
Fiji 350 Coconut Telegraph organiser Linda Blue.
“There are people in the world who have already
begun to suffer from drought, from flood, from
the spread of disease. We will not stand by and
let that happen,” she said.
350 organisers are calling for world leaders to
commit to a firm and binding treaty at
Copenhagen in December based on science,
including the research of leading Nasa scientist
James Hansen.
Fiji
A 350 tea party was also held in ankle-deep
water in Fiji.
Event organiser Noelene Nabulivou says: “Pacific
people live daily with the impacts of climate
change - it is imperative that the world hears
directly from us.”
Churches across Fiji rang church bells and lali
(traditional church gongs) 350 times as a
backdrop for the other events.
350Nesian organiser Subhashni Raj, who
coordinated a festival of events, says: “We are
people…. Not poker chips.”
Niue
Many of the events drew attention to the sea
level rises, an extremely important issue for
the low-lying Pacific Island nations.
Niue is the largest uplifted coral atoll in the
world, with an area of 250 sq km perched high on
top of an extinct volcano with the highest point
at 80 metres. High cliffs protect the villages.
Locals in Niue warmed up for a large tree
planting with group aerobics.
“Greenhouse gases know no boundaries and carbon
dioxide is also building up in the Seven Seas,”
says Niue’s Ira Merrifield.
Micronesia
Micronesian locals made a 350 and a “Save our
Islands” out of coconuts. They then planted the
coconuts.
Solomon Islands
A large public march with 350 coconut giveaways
was held in the streets of Honiara, culuminating
in public speeches from the British Commissioner
and the Minister for the Environment.
The minister’s message said that a sea-level
rise of 0.40cm to 1.2 metres was catastrophic
for the Solomon Islands. He added:
Long-term concentrations of GHG in the
atmosphere must be limited to well below 350ppm
of carbon dioxide equivalent. What does this
mean?
In technical terms this means that:
• Global emissions must be reduced by at least
95 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels,
• Global emissions must be reduced by at least
45 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels,
• Global GHG emissions must peak by 2015,
• Global average surface temperature increase
must be well below 1.5 degree celsius above
pre-industrial levels,
Other events in the Pacific were based around
community exercises:
A 350 canoe paddling event held in the Northern
Marianas brought locals together to celebrate
their community and culture.
Bleaching sites
People gathered at coral bleaching sites in the
Northern Marianas to learn about the impacts of
climate change.
The Marshall Islands held a “Cli350″ basketball
tournament with environmental actions and
education in between games.
Many of the events were based around improving
local environments.
Locals in Papua New Guinea cleaned up a beach
with everyone doing a measurable part - “peg a
metre, clear a metre”, sponsored by local
business.
350 mangrove seedlings were planted in
Bougainville, 350 coconut palms were planted in
Kiribati, and MPs led the planting in Niue.
Plantings in Niue were followed by one of the
more unusual events in the Pacific so far - a
350 cocktail design competition.
There have been festivals with traditional song
and dance in Bougainville, Fiji, Tuvalu and the
Solomon Islands.
Traditional dress formed an important part of
some of the events in Fiji. The day has been
marked with community education and workshops in
Palau, Western Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga.
Locals also stood in the water around the coast
of French Polynesia to highlight the issue of
sea level rise
More actions were taking place over the weekend.
Each country’s call for action will be broadcast
through a global network, including on a huge
screen in Times Square, New York.
Photo Caption: Climate change action
campaigners in Micronesia use coconuts for their
symbolic global message. The coconuts were then
planted.
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(Photos:
Pacific Water and Wastes Association) |
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SAMOA: Donations received via the HMNZS
Canterbury
Source:
Pacific
Water and Wastes Association Press Release
Samoa received a shipment of PVC pipes, faucet
tees, valves, pressure cement, couplings and
other fittings carried by the HMNZS Canterbury
on October 15, 2009. These supplies have been
donated by Marley NZ and Hynds Ltd, NZ. These
items and other donations are part of the joint
efforts of the Pacific Water and Wastes
Association (PWWA) and Engineers without
Borders, NZ.
The CEO of Engineers without Borders, NZ and
Sustainability Manager of Mainzeal Property and
Construction Ltd, NZ, Ross Copland is joined by
two commercial plumbers Sean Walker and Troy
Rayner of DL Good Ltd, NZ. The volunteers
arrived in Samoa on October 7 and will leave on
October 21, 2009.
The key objective of the joint effort was to aid
in the reconnection of houses to water supply as
well as repairs to the water networks. These
goals were attained during this visit by working
in collaboration with the Samoa Water Authority
to connect around 30 houses and repair 5 water
mains. Engineers were also able to investigate
new water sources for the tsunami affected area.
A design report for the possible use of Lake
Lanoto in Saleapaga was completed. The Ministry
of Education, Sports and Culture also benefited
from the expertise with the team assessing and
repairing the sanitation system at Palalaua
College in Siumu and also at the Aleipata
Secondary School.
The Pacific Water & Wastes Association will
continue joint efforts with its partners and
sponsors to assist their water utility members
in Tonga, American Samoa and Samoa. It is also
hoped that PWWA will work again with Engineers
without borders for future projects throughout
the Pacific region
PWWA would like to thank the sponsors, Mainzeal
Property and Construction Ltd and also D.L. Good
Ltd and the donors of supplies, Marley NZ and
Hynds Ltd, NZ for their wonderful and prompt
contribution to the tsunami recovery efforts.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - (L-R) Tainau MFVT Titimaea,
Managing Director SWA, Sean Walker, Ross
Copland & Troy Rayner.
Photo 2 - Lake Lanoto.
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(Photo:
Office of Congressman Faleomavaega) |
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AMERICAN SAMOA: Faleomavaega thanks Senator
Akaka for his steadfast support
Source:
Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release
Congressman Faleomavaega today expressed his
greatest appreciation to Senator Daniel Akaka of
Hawaii for making time to join the Samoan
community in the Washington, DC area during last
Sunday’s memorial service at Fort Myer,
Virginia.
Last Sunday, the Samoan Congregation of
Washington, DC who holds worship services at
Fort Myer, near Arlington National Cemetery,
held a special Memorial Service to honor the
victims of the earthquake and tsunami which
devastated the Samoa islands on September 29,
2009. The service was well attended by members
of the local Samoan community. In attendance
were also representatives of the National
Conference of State Societies, the American
Samoa Society, and friends of the Samoan
community from Fiji, Guam and Ghana.
Reverend Dr. Tapaautasi Erika Puni, who led the
service, called upon Senator Akaka to say a few
words. Senator Akaka offered words of
encouragement and his condolences to all the
families and friends of those who died in the
tsunami. He acknowledged his close working
relations with Congressman Faleomavaega over so
many years and pledged his full support as
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’
Affairs to help American Samoa and especially
the Veterans.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude and
appreciation to my good friend, Senator Akaka,”
Faleomavaega said. “While attending to the
relief efforts in American Samoa, I was unable
to attend this important service and greet the
good Senator from Hawaii. Nonetheless, I was
deeply touched after learning from my staff that
Senator Akaka came to attend the special
memorial service to honor those in American
Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga whose lives were lost
due to the recent earthquake and tsunami
disaster. The Senator’s attendance and words
speak loudly of his spirit as a Polynesian
brother and a member of our Ohana or Aiga and I
want him to know how meaningful that was to me
and our whole Samoan community in Washington, DC
and throughout the country, especially in our
homeland.”
“I also want to acknowledge and thank our
pastor, Reverend Dr. Erika Puni, and our Samoan
church in Washington, DC for creating this
excellent opportunity so our Samoan community
could come together to remember our loved ones
and those who suffered as a result of the
tsunami disaster. I thank him too for
acknowledging Senator Akaka during the service
and allowing him the opportunity to speak to our
Samoan community.” Faleomavaega concluded.
Photo Caption: Rev. Dr. Erika Puni and
Senator Akaka following the Memorial Service.
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COOK ISLANDS: Call for legislation and policy to
empower disabled Pacific people
Source:
Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release
Members of the Pacific Islands Forum have been
urged to pass appropriate laws and regulations
to empower persons with disabilities in the
region.
In his opening remarks at the first ever Forum
Disability Ministers’ Meeting underway in
Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, Deputy Secretary
General of the Forum Secretariat, Feleti Teo
said: “Appropriate legislative and regulatory
frameworks must be enacted and supported to
empower people with disabilities to lead free
and worthwhile lives and to achieve greater
equity for all people.”
An estimated 800,000 people in the Pacific live
with some form of disability. A good number of
these people are the poorest and least able to
cope and the most marginalized members of the
society.
“People with disabilities in the Pacific region
deserve the practical concern of the Pacific
community, both by reason of their numbers and
more especially for their particular human and
social conditions,” Mr Teo told the meeting.
He added: “Despite the number of people with
disabilities in Pacific societies, there is
still a general lack of awareness; not only in
terms of what their special needs are; but also
a local of acknowledgement of their very
existence as an integral part of society. It is
this general lack of disability awareness that
serves as a barrier to developments that are
inclusive of the needs of people with
disabilities.”
Mr Teo explained that the Disability Ministers’
meeting underpins the critical role that States
and governments must play in providing
leadership in the area of disabilities.
The rights of people with disabilities was given
universal and global acknowledgement through the
adoption by the United Nations General Assembly
of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities in 2006. This came into force in
May 2008.
At the Asia-Pacific level, the Biwako Millenium
Framework for Action towards an Inclusive,
Barrier-free and Rights based society in Asia
and the Pacific was adopted in 2002.
Among issues to be discussed at the Forum
Disability Ministerial Meeting is a Pacific
Regional Strategy on Disability.
The Regional Strategy will provide a regional
framework for collaborative efforts to address
the issues of people with disabilities and to
improve their quality of life; in line with
vision of the Forum Leaders espoused in the
Pacific Plan for “the Pacific to be a region of
peace, harmony, security, and economic
prosperity so that all its people can lead free
and worthwhile lives”.
The Forum Disability Ministers’ meeting is
jointly funded by AusAID and ESCAP.
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FIJI: New girl in town's a queen
Source:
Fiji Times
The newly-crowned Digicel Coral Coast queen is
actually a new kid in town.
Fiercely independent, the fresh faced beauty
even lives on her own. Moreen Sharma, is after
all, the epitome of today's modern woman.
Yesterday, the 23-year-old was not alone when
the Fiji Times visited her Olosara abode.
She was just finishing a breakfast of roti and
chicken curry with family and friends.
"Soon they will all be gone and I will be by
myself again. Tomorrow I return to work," she
said with a laugh.
Moreen takes life pretty seriously and is
career-minded.
She has no time for boyfriends and believes that
women should strive to be independent and not
rely wholly on their partners or parents for
support.
"I don't have time for boyfriends or any other
distractions like that. As for getting married,
that's the last thing on my mind."
"I want to grow in my career and get to a
position where I don't have to rely on anyone
and be able to provide for myself before
thinking about settling down with anyone," she
enthused as her parents and only sister listened
in.
Born and bred in the capital city, Moreen
attended Indian College and successfully
completed a degree in tourism studies and
management and public administration before
seeking employment in the tourism town of
Sigatoka.
The outspoken queen has changed allegiance from
Suva to the Salad Bowl because it gave her a new
start.
"Sigatoka has given me a lot - a great job, a
fresh start and now being crowned Coral Coast
Queen."
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(Photos:
Samoan Congregation of Washington, DC) |
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WORLDWIDE: Washington Samoan community offers
assistance to tsunami victims
Source:
Samoan Congregation of Washington, DC Press Release
On September 29, 2009, the Samoa Islands was
struck by, not one but three Tsunami waves of up
to 15ft, wreaking havoc and devastation on the
coastal communities and villages, and leaving
behind heavy casualties and damage to
properties. Where was God?
Rev. Dr. Tapaautasi Erika Puni pondered this
hypothetical question last Sunday in a Memorial
Service conducted at the Samoan Congregation of
Washington, DC in Fort Myer, Virginia to
remember the victims, families and villages
ravaged by the tragic Tsunami of September 29.
Juxtaposing the Tsunami tragedy with the
biblical tale of Job, the message was compelling
and intense: God reigns supreme. He gives and He
takes away. He is to be praised no matter the
consequences. Moreover, although tragic in
nature, this is a great opportunity to reflect
on the lack of permanence in the things that we
so long for and pursue in life.
The Memorial Service was well attended by the
Samoan Community in the Washington, DC
metropolitan area. Attending also were several
members of organizations including the American
Samoa Society and the National Conference of
State Societies, as well as representatives from
Fiji, Guam, and Ghana.
Most notably in attendance was the Honorable
Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, who gave a
message of encouragement and support for the
Samoan community and the people of the Samoa
Islands. During his remarks, the good Senator
acknowledged his close working relations with
Congressman Faleomavaega, a longstanding member
of the Samoan Congregation of Washington DC, and
pledged to work together with him to assess what
can be done to help the affected communities
rebuild. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Akaka told the crowd
that after he received the sad news about the
tsunami in American Samoa, he immediately called
Secretary Shinseki of the Veterans’ Affairs to
alert him about the disaster and suggested to do
all he could to assist the Veterans in American
Samoa.
The Memorial Service on October 18, 2009, also
kick-off a month-long campaign by the Samoan
Congregation of Washington DC to assist in the
local efforts to provide assistance and aid to
the families and communities affected by the
Tsunami.
According to Rev. Dr. Puni, “this is a small
church community of all faiths, affiliated with
the United States Army Chaplaincy at Fort Myer,
Virginia. Under strict supervision of the U.S.
Army Chaplaincy at Fort Myer, the Samoan
Congregation of Washington DC has resolved that
the church offerings on October 18, 2009 and
November 15, 2009, be donated to assist those
that were affected by the Tsunami tragedy in
Samoa. Similar church offerings, scheduled for
November 1, and November 29, will go to those
affected in American Samoa.”
Arrangements have been made with the US Army
Chaplaincy at Fort Myer, which collects the
church offerings and donations, to immediately
transmit the funds directly to the local Red
Cross chapters in both American Samoa and the
Independent State of Samoa for disbursement.
The Samoan Congregation of Washington, DC
encourages anyone who wishes to make a
contribution to the Tsunami Relief efforts to
email us at [email protected].
In these trying times, the Samoan Congregation
of Washington, DC reaches out to families and
villages affected by the Tsunami of September
29. In the midst of this tragic event, let us be
comforted by the assurance and knowledge that
God is with us at all times.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - (L-R) Rev. Dr. Tapaautasi Erika
Puni, Senator Daniel Akaka, and Mrs. Maxine Puni.
Photo 2 - Rev. Dr. Tapaautasi Erika Puni
and Senator Daniel Akaka (2nd and 3rd from
left); Mrs. Apaula Brown - President of American
Samoa Society (far right).
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