Babasiga

Building on sand or rocks

2012-01-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

from w
I read that the wharf being built on Bua to ship out the bauxite is in trouble because it's being built on soft sand and rocks have to be shoved down to give some steady ground! Reminds me of the kids song 'The wise man built his house upon the rock' and so on! (Go to a youtube site as follows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDhaAWHjVRM ) The barge is already in Vanua Levu to pick up the bauxite - it's at Malau, near Labasa.
From Fiji Sun today:

Bauxite jetty contruction delay
January 28, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By SHRATIKA NAIDU

The construction work of the 800-metre wharf including the jetty in the district of Navakasiga, in Bua has been put on hold. The work was supposed to be completed by end of this month and the first shipment was expected to take place next month. However, this work has been delayed not because of bad weather, but other problems.

Acting Roko Tui Bua Jale Sigarara said the local contractor Jaduram Industries Limited has reached the final stage of the construction which needs lots of materials. “The company constructed the jetty from the mainland into the deep sea and only 20 meters is left,” Mr Sigarara said. He said the work was delayed because the company was facing problems. “The company is carrying out the work right into the deep waters and they need to get lot of stones to fill up the jetty,” Mr Sigarara said.

He said the seabed was so soft that the company for many days has been stacking so many stones but it did not seem to settle at one position. “The company has to stock piles of stones because the mud on the seabed is too soft,” Mr Sigarara said.

He said the company has already resorted other means to get the work done. He said the landowners had been informed by the officials that the construction of the jetty would be completed next month. “We have been informed that the work would be done sometimes in February,” Mr Sigarara said. He said the first shipment of bauxite mine to China was expected to take place next month after the completion of the jetty.

Meanwhile, mined bauxite dug out from Naiwailevu has been stockpiled at Baravi, an area near the jetty.

---------
And a couple of weeks ago:

Barge arrives for first soil shipment
Serafina Silaitoga
Tuesday, January 10, 2012

A BARGE from China arrived in the country yesterday to take back soil from a bauxite mine in Bua. The barge which anchored at Malau, outside Labasa Town, will take to China the soil already stockpiled at Nawailevu in Bua.

Director of Mineral Resources Malakai Finau confirmed that soil from the bauxite mine had already been piled up awaiting the arrival of the barge. "There is a certain amount of soil that needs to be dug and piled up before the barge can make its way down to Navakasiga in Bua to load the first shipment of soil," he said. "Right now the work at the bauxite mine is well underway with the soil being stockpiled for the first shipment."

Mr Finau said construction work at the new wharf in Navakasiga was almost complete.
A team of government officials is expected to visit the bauxite mining area and the wharf site this week.

Regarding mining in Fiji

2012-01-25T02:48:00.000-08:00

from w
I was interested to read one article in the Fiji Sun which is not biased towards a spin view pro mining, so it's worth publishing here. Though it's not about babasiga land, it is relevant to any place in Fiji where a mining company comes into Fiji to make money in this way.

Namosi EIA terms
January 25, 2012 | Filed under: Business | Posted by: newsroom

What Namosi landowers say are drill sumps dug by the Namosi Joint Venture to try and contain the overflow. Photo: Courtesy of TIKINA NAMOSI LANDOWNERS COMMITTEE
By RACHNA LAL

While tension continues to build up over the proposed multi-billion dollar Namosi copper and gold mine, the terms of reference for the environmental impact assessment has been finalised.

This has been confirmed to the Fiji Sun by the director of the Department of Environment Jope Davetanivalu.

Mr Davetanivalu, while not revealing the contents of the terms of reference, said the final version has been handed over to the relevant authorities.

The Tikina Namosi Landowners Committee, however, yesterday expressed their concerns about the contents of the terms of reference. Committee spokesman Sipiriano Nariva said they had not expected to receive the final draft until some form of feedback had been sought from the landowners. “We made just one submission and the next thing we were informed was that this is the final terms of reference. We are major stakeholders in this who will be affected should mining go ahead. We need to have our voice taken into consideration,” he said.

Exploration works by the Australian mining company, Newcrest Mining which leads the Namosi Joint Venture in partnership with Japanese interests, have been stopped by the landowners.

Mr Nariva said the reason for their concern was, since their submission for the terms of reference last year, the landowners had gained a better understanding of mining.
He said this was why it was important for the landowners to give more feedback in terms of what more was needed to be included in the terms of reference. Pointing out some of the things believed to be vague in the terms of reference, Mr Nariva said one such line was where it said: ‘Prediction of environmental, social and economic impacts are based on scientifically supported studies’.

Mr Nariva stressed that scientifically supported studies have been proven worldwide to have failed in certain areas. “So why is it that we have to depend on scientifically proven studies,” he said. Another loophole he pointed out in the terms of reference was: ‘A description of the possible environmental and resource management impact of the project’. Mr Nariva said environmental impact cannot and should not be based on possibilities; it has to be precise.

Another section in the terms of reference says there should be a description of all historical and project-related public consultation activities.

To this, Mr Nariva questioned: “For consultations, have they consulted people in the Province of Naitasiri, Rewa and Tailevu? “These are the people who rely on the Waidina River which comes through Namosi and joins the Rewa River. These people use the river for their living and would surely be affected,” he said.

The committee gave as an example of their early concerns how during exploration work the Namosi Joint Venture had dug a sump to dispose toxic waste in and carried on until the landowners pointed it out it was overflowing. They said the Namosi Joint Venture then dug another sump to dispose from the initial one. This led to more spill, the landowners claimed. They said the Namosi Joint Venture then had to bring in waste recyclers to clean up the mess.

To support their views on this the Tikina Namosi Landowners Committee provided a series of photos of what they said is the negative impact of exploration work on their land.

Meanwhile, the Namosi Joint Venture has so far been reluctant to enter into a public debate with the landowners. Instead it has consistently maintained that it is consulting directly with the landowners and Government through a jointly agreed process. It stressed there was an environmental impact assessment process underway.
The assessment process includes extensive consultation with nearby villages and other impacted or interested stakeholders, it said. Proper studies will decide whether a mine can be developed safely and economically and in an environmentally sustainable manner, the Namosi Joint Venture said.

Floods in Labasa, Nadi, Ba regions

2012-01-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

from w
While we were enjoying the sunshine with the athletes from Fiji, it was really a large tropical depression in Fiji hitting Vanua Levu with much rain. Our family said that bridges were cut and cars couldn't get through yesterday. Here's one report from the FBC radio:

Residents claim biggest flood ever in Bulileka

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Taken from / By: Faiyaz Khan

Residents in Bulileka Labasa are claiming that the heavy rain in the north has caused the biggest flood ever in their area since three years ago. Torrential rain has been hitting the north since this morning and as Anen Prasad explains, floodwaters have spread across Bulileka and nearby areas. "There's a big flood here in Bulileka. For the last three years, this has to be the largest flood. From Boca Road to Dreketi Lailai, Boubale and Soasoa are all under water and all motorists are stuck. It's a really big flood."

Residents have also been without electricity since early this afternoon.

"Right now where I am sitting I can see the whole of Bulileka, Batinikama there's no power at all in this area. It's all been without power from 4.30pm today."

Pacific Sun was forced to cancel some of its flights to and from the North due to adverse weather conditions experienced there.

Airline spokesman Shane Hussein says some flights to Savusavu, Taveuni and Labasa were cancelled and affected passengers will be accommodated on subsequently scheduled flights to these destinations once weather permits.

One evacuation center has been activated in Labasa as heavy torrential rain and strong winds continue to batter the northern town causing floodwaters to displace a number of residents.

Although no official word has been received from the Disaster Management office, FBC News understands that Daku Bhartiya School is now home to close to 60 people.

We have also received information that Bulileka Secondary School is on standby should residents in surrounding low lying areas need temporary shelter.

But many are hoping conditions will clear up.

FBC Labasa correspondent Mahesh Chand files this report:

"It started raining yesterday and it became heavy and in the afternoon and the wind started blowing and it was very strong. This morning it was raining again and has been like this the whole day and it is still raining now and we experiencing strong winds at the moment. I haven't been out of town but according to my friends there is flood at Suasua Road leading up to Naqiqi side and the the Bulileka near the Army barracks, it is flooded at the moment. Looking at Labasa town there is nothing so far but if it rains heavily whole night, we will probably have floods in Labasa town."

Meanwhile the heavy rain, flooding and landslides have resulted in road closures in the northern division.

The latest update from the Ministry of Works and Transport say that the Vunivesi/Nukubolu road in Savusavu is totally washed away and closed to all traffic, North Coastal Road in Taveuni was hit by a tidal wave however it has been cleared and open to all traffic and the road from Wairiki to Balili was hit by big waves and is closed to all traffic.

In Wainikoro - the road from Mandir Temple to Soasoa flat is under water and close to all traffic.

Urata and Baubale crossing, Dreketilailai crossing and Boca Bridge, Wainidrua in Nakelikoso, Vatunibale junction in Bulileka are all under water and closed to all traffic.

The Siberia low section towards Emily, the Wairiki crossing, Nakama crossing in Naduna, Taganiwaqa crossing in Delaikoro, the Bucalevu crossing, Nakorotari, Waidamudamu, Wailevu Tiri rd and Qaloyaga are all under water and closed to traffic.

A major landslide at the Vesidrua section in Nabouwalu has closed off half the road and the same has happened at the Transinsular Road due to a slip at the Saivou hill.

A landslide has also closed off the Batiri section of the Nabouwalu Road.

The low level crossing at Wailevu West Coast in Savusavu is under water and closed to all traffic and so is the Savudrodro Road.

It is also understood that the new government boat the MV Rogovoka, is stranded in Lomaloma, Vanuabalavu in Lau. The vessel was due to unload cargo in Lakeba today but had to return to Lomaloma because of rough seas and heavy rains.

Report by : Apisalome Coka; Ritika Pratap; Roland Koroi; Indra Singh
----------
a few days later:
the western side of Viti Levu really had severe storm and flood damage - even Tavua, Rakiraki, Ba, Lautoka and Nadi. Once again the onslaught of nature intrudes into the lives of people - often damaging property, frightening people, causing electricity and weater failure and later some associated sickness. Isa, Fiji. Photos are from Ba and Nadi areas.

fiji team last day of Australian Deaf Games

2012-01-22T02:57:00.000-08:00

from w
We had a lovely afternoon hosting a barbecue party in our back yard - as the Eastern Beach park was really overcrowded so our backyard had to do. Many members of the Fiji team here in Geelong for the Australian Deaf Games came along and communication went very well with sign language, some speech and a lot of laughs. The visiting young men did most of the barbecue cooking so that was fine. There was kava flowing, prayers using hand signs, and the visitors performed a few mekes. They left our house about 9.30 p.m. and will fly back to Fiji tomorrow.

planes to Vanua Levu

2012-01-20T01:53:00.001-08:00

from w
Here's a recent letter from Savusavu complaining about the problem with transport to Vanua levu - planes reliability and so on. Good point that so much money is being used for purchasing new planes for international trips, but what about the local traffic? And the promise of tourists going North! Here is the Letter to the Editor of the Fiji Times.

Look North

I WRITE with great concern for tourism up North, especially Savusavu and Taveuni.

The Look North Policy seems to have taken a 180 degree turn to the South, specifically with regards to tourism.

The situation is so alarming that wholesalers are keeping away from booking tourists up our end.

Tourism here is slowly being crippled and if this trend continues I will not be surprised to see several tourism operators closing their doors. All simply because we do not have a reliable domestic airline service. The current domestic airline service has got to be addressed immediately with instant tangible solutions.

What I find strange is that our national airline has gone about spending $US600million to buy three A330-200 Airbus aircraft.

I'm no expert nor am I an airline executive but doesn't it make sense to first sort out our domestic airline services before even thinking international?

There is something amiss here. I know of a few good reasons but that's for another letter.

By the way this purchase was helped through funding from FNPF to the amount of $200million.

Now why couldn't they simply use $20m of our money to buy five brand new Twin-Otters to keep the domestic service rolling?

What is disturbing most of all is the disregard of the amount of effort and money spent by tourism operators of the north and Tourism Fiji to promote the Northern Tourism Brand. Our promising north is now tarnished by it.

The state of our domestic airline service is at its lowest ever and it seems to be deteriorating by the day.

With all due respect Mr Prime Minister Sir, we have a situation up north that needs your urgent attention. SOS, please, Look North consistently for we have a lot to offer that'll make Fiji prosper.

SIMON J HAZELMAN
Savusavu

Fiji athletes at the Deaf Games

2012-01-16T21:06:00.000-08:00

from w
The Australian Deaf Games are on this week and there are competitors from Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand as well as Australia. We met some of the Fiji team yesterday when our grandson accidentally met up with them in town wearing their distinctive Fiji Tk-shirts. Despite the different kind of communications required, Epa was able to get them on a local bus and bring them to our home for an hour or so - just a small welcome kava, and then take them to their motel in Newtown. Later some of our family took some food to them and to meet the rest of the Fiji team. This is a good story for Fiji - when a nation looks after and gives opportunities to people who are deaf or with disabilities, then it is on track. At least in a few ways.

From the Geelong Advertiser is the welcome editorial.

EDITORIAL: Perfect setting for Deaf Games
| January 17th, 2012

THE capacity for sport to provide purpose and bring people together is being illustrated in an inspiring fashion in Geelong this week.

Eight hundred athletes are here to participate in the Australian Deaf Games.

Among their number are participants from Fiji, Samoa and New Zealand, which are being represented for the first time in these Games, held every four years.

In addition to the variety of sports being contested, the Games are also a social and cultural event for the deaf community.

Participants and their supporters have picked a delightful week to enjoy the best of Geelong and, more importantly, the pick of our sporting facilities.

From the organising hub of the Games at Deakin University's spectacular Waterfront campus to first-class venues for tennis, cricket, netball, surfing, beach volleyball, lawn bowls and golf, to name but a few, our visitors will want for very little.

Indeed, it is easy to overlook how well this city is served by sports facilities.

We hope they help inspire outstanding performances and top competition.

In return, Games participants can be assured they are an inspiration to us.

Through sport, these athletes show they are not defined by their deafness.

The Games are a celebration of their talents and their ability to adapt when faced with adversity and get on with life.

It is a privilege to host all who are associated with the Games and we hope this is a week they will look back on fondly for many a year.

The Fiji Methodist Church today

2012-01-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

from w
Dribs and drabs of news emerge from the Methodist Church office in Suva or interviews but they certainly need a better PR to get their viewpoint out - and not just from the men at the top. What do the Methodist women think? What do the Methodist young people think? Here are a few things to consider. I don't think the title of the first copy and paste job from the Fiji Sun is very accurate. Change in the church - I don't think so. Old men dreaming dreams perhaps! The bits in italics are my comments.

CHANGE IN CHURCH
January 15, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By ARIETA VAKASUKAWAQA

A new president of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma is expected to be appointed in August. This is when the church holds its annual general meeting after a lapse of four years. The election of a new president was revealed by the church’s general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra yesterday.

He said sitting president Reverend Ame Tugaue had exceeded his term after the church meetings were suspended by Government under the Public Emergency Regulations (PER). The church’s constitution demands an elected president can serve for three consecutive years. The president cannot be re-elected after serving a term. The election of the president of the church could not take place last year due to the ban on the church’s annual conference. It resulted in the suspension of the annual conference in the last few years.

During this time, Government had called for a change in the church leadership, but this failed because the Methodist Church’s constitution stipulated that any change in leadership must be through election. Government has said the church must concentrate on being a church and stay out of politics.

“We need a new president. The appointment of a new president was to have been done last year but our president has carried on although his term has expired,” Reverend Nawadra said.

“The annual conference (Bose ko Viti) is significant in the church because it is where all decisions are made including the election of office bearers.”

Government has given the green light to the Church to apply for a permit after the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulations (PER) on January 7. The ban imposed on the church’s monthly, quarterly meetings and annual conference was because of the alleged involvement of senior members of the church in politics.

Meanwhile, the Church is trying to organise a meeting between two former church presidents, Reverend Josateki Koroi and Reverend Manasa Lasaro. Reverend Koroi, in an interview with Radio Australia, called on the Methodist Church to heal its internal rifts. His leadership ended in 1989 when he was succeeded by Reverend Lasaro. “We have contacted Reverend Koroi and he is prepared to come in. We are waiting for a reply from Reverend Lasaro,” he said. He said they hoped the two would reconcile before the annual general meeting in August.

(Is the journalist referring to something said way back in August or something said just this week. It could be an old story. This is the one I think it refers to: Methinks it’s time the old guys – over seventy or eighty - to stop talking and let the middle-aged and young talatalas speak instead. The future is not for the oldies who hark back to a Fiji twenty two years ago. Today life is difficult for many people and the focus needs to be not on leadership but grass roots living for the ordinary Methodist families. And they certainly need better PR so should they hire a vavalagi from USA or Australia, pay him or her big bucks to get good stories out there!!!. Have they even got a website, a facebook page, a blog site. I don’t think so.)

Call for Fiji Methodist church unity
Updated August 25, 2011 16:23:59

There's been a call for the Fiji Methodist Church to heal its internal rifts.

It comes from a former church President, Reverend Josateki Koroi, who was forced out of the leadership in 1989 by Reverend Manasa Lasaro.

He says Reverend Lasaro is part of the wing of the church which believes in ethnic Fijian nationalism, while he says there are others like himself who are more moderate.

Reverend Koroi says this week's cancellation of the Methodist conference by the interim Fiji government won't help heal the church's divisions, as that's something only the church can do.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Reverend Josateki Koroi, former Fiji Methodist Church President

KOROI: I think the government is putting the pressure now but the question of reconciliation within the church has been long overdue. In my last year as President of the church, the General Secretary of the Church at the time take over the church, close the door of the church for me for almost 12 months.

HILL: Would it be fair to say that the Fiji Methodist Church has two main factions; one which is a very strongly Fijian ethnic nationalist side, and the other which you're identified with, much more religiously oriented and moderate?

KOROI: Yes this is my stand and when I was against this breakaway, led by Lasaro, they were really a nationalist group and I stood against that and that was the main cause of the split within the church.

HILL: Well given that do you think that the government might have perhaps had a point when it said that it didn't want these churchmen who were identified with that branch of the church speaking at the conference?

KOROI: Well I cannot say, both of them have their own agenda of taking over the power, the army has gone off its proper role in the government and that's how it took over the government. I think a power struggle guided by some selfish motivation.

HILL: Can these two factions within the church, the ethnic Fijian nationalists and the moderates reconcile? Can the church achieve unity given these divisions?

KOROI: Yes the church should unite and stand on its proper foundation, then it can be the proper church. At the moment it's the cause of the weakness in the church, they have no conviction or mission, no vision as a church.

HILL: Do you think that the government's action in cancelling the church conference will help or hinder this process of the two wings of the church reconciling?

KOROI: I don't think it would help or hinder really, I can't see how the church would unite just because of the pressure from the government. The church ought to stand on its own and unite without any pressure or anything from the government. The church has been misled for the last few years now, starting from the year 1989.

(This story in the Fiji Sun is more recent.)

Fiji Methodist Church’s Reverend Tevita Banivanua speaks to Pacific Beat
Created: Thu, 12 Jan 15:41:33 UTC+1300 2012

Last Updated: 19 hours 57 minutes ago
Fiji’s Methodist Church has been told that despite the lifting of Public Emergency Regulations it will still need permits to hold meetings.
Since the draconian regulations were lifted on Saturday, a revamped Public Order Decree has come into force.

Fiji’s interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, says the Decree brings the former Public Order Act up-to-date but many are concerned it is a way of continuing the controls that had been in place under the Emergency Regulations.

The Methodist Church’s assistant general-secretary, Reverend Tevita Banivanua, told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat, the police have rejected his request to make permit applications on behalf of his congregations.

“We were really overjoyed when we heard of the lifting of the PER (Public Emergency Regulations) but then when the actual thing came, it was almost a cut and paste thing,” he said.

“They have moved the PER, the one that affects us, to the revised Public Order Act 2012 so we are still caught in the middle.”

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201201/3406975.htm?desktop
--
and another article - the point of view of a very capable and excellent talatala.

Methodists losing faith in Fiji

DYLAN WELCH, SUVA
12 Jan, 2012 03:00 AM
METHODIST minister Reverend Tevita Nawadra Banivanua had every reason to hope that 2012 was to be the beginning of a new period of rapprochement between his church and Fiji's military regime.

Banned from holding meetings since 2009 and with its two most senior office holders facing charges of holding an illegal meeting, the church has been at the centre of a repressive regime of emergency regulations enacted by the unelected government of Voreqe ''Frank'' Bainimarama.

When Commodore Bainimarama announced the lifting of the public emergency regulations, known as the PER, the Reverend was thrilled. But since then, Reverend Banivanua has watched a new and permanent law be enacted, which essentially ''cuts and pastes'' the worst excesses of the regulations.

The decision by Commodore Bainimarama to retain the repressive laws has frustrated many in Fiji, who had hoped the government was finally beginning to move towards a more democratic style.

''I had hoped that the lifting of the PER would have encouraged us to believe in government. But we have lost trust,'' said Reverend Banivanua, the church's assistant secretary.

The relationship between Fiji's Methodist Church, which preaches to about two-thirds of Fiji's population, has been sour since 2008, when several leaders condemned Commodore Bainimarama.

The Reverend's interview comes the day after The Age revealed that the lifting of emergency rule in Fiji was proving to be a publicity exercise, with the military regime giving itself sweeping powers of arrest, detention and repression.

Senior police told Reverend Banivanua and other religious leaders that every Methodist church in Fiji - of which there are more than 2000 - will have to apply seven days in advance for a permit every time they want to hold a meeting.

A back yard in Namadi

2012-01-10T17:46:00.000-08:00

from w
I found some old drawings I did on a holiday in Fiji - they are all from a backyard in Namadi Heights in Suva. There's a steep gully and no real back yard for planting vegetables at all. But it's very picturesque. At least, Suva has that going for it together with the 90 degrees humidity at times!

From Palmlea

2012-01-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

from w
Read this piece on Fijiguide this morning with some updates on plans to improve transport and infrastructure in the Labasa region. Sounds very good.
News from Labasa way
Posted by Robert F. Kay on December 11, 2011 at 2:00pm

Fijiguide.com members Joe and Julie Smelser, owners of Palmlea Farms Lodge & Bures (located 18 minutes from Labasa Airport on the northern coast of Vanua Levu) were kind enough to give me a pre New Year's report which I will pass on.

The news should be of interest to anyone traveling to the Labasa area or thinking of visiting Palmlea, a working farm and eco tourism resort that has recently received international attention.

Here are their updates:

Blighwater Shipping's “MV Westerland” ferry has been running successfully from Lautoka to Malau/Labasa since last 3.5 months.

A big new commercial wharf will soon be built 4.5 kms west of Palmlea. It will be an International port for bigger ships shipping bauxite to China and Russia. Part of the complex will be a new ferry landing, with customs/immigration.

A new paved road passing 1 kms from Palmlea now connects the main highway to the new wharf.

Palmlea will be on the grid--it will soon have electric service …
Labasa airport will be extended the 440 metres with night landing lights to accommodate early evening night flights.

Air Pacific, which owns Pacific Sun reports they is ordering 2 x ATR 74 passenger aircraft to service Nadi, Suva and Labasa.

Joe reports there may be an opportunity to one Int’l flight a week with a
737 longhaul commercial jet straight into Labasa.

For anyone coming up Labasa way, they will note new and remodeled buildings in mainstreet Labasa, plus a new Jack’s Handicrafts store.

The Bank of the South Pacific (PNG) bank will be be coming into Vanua Levu to service the local population.

Last but not least, Palmlea Lodge & Villas was featured on CNN.com in late September, we along with 4 other International properties. By comparison, Palmlea was a real bargain. The story is here.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/09/21/rustic.retreats/index.html?hpt...

Fiji tops poll on happiness

2012-01-03T02:30:00.000-08:00

from w
Here are some copy and paste bits on the Happiness poll. My view, for what it's worth, is that in Fiji many men and women will say yes to the main question because they perceive that this is the answer wanted. And who's going to report on them if they say they are unhappy! If someone asked me I would say 'Sometimes' - it depends on the time of day, what kind of food I'm eating, the context, what is currently happening in my life. There's no definite answer yes or no! What was the cross-section of people interviewed in Fiji - only urban, what age, what ethnic group, etc. Did they ask the lady begging outside the curry shop I wonder!
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19 Fiji 1020 0.0 89 yes 4 no 7 not sure 0 85%
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Fiji Tim Wilson tim@tebbuttresearch.com Tebbutt Research Face to face Urban Yes 1000 Dec 16-Dec20 Global ‘happiness index’ ranks Fiji at helm
December 31, 2011 04:11:17 PM
---------------
•
• chop_chop2012/01/01
at 3:08 PM ETAnother absolutley ridiculous survey that tells us absolutely nothing when you take in all the variables. Without doing that it pretty renders this obsurd. You can not compare 1 country's feeling of happiness with another. Perspective is completely subjective. Nice waste of time CBC! But i guess it accomplishes some hidden agenda you have.
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•
From Fijilive

Fiji is the happiest country and home to the happiest people, according to the Global Barometer of Happiness.

The “happiness barometer’ is based on responses of nearly 53,000 people in 58 countries who were asked to state whether they perceived themselves as "happy" or "unhappy" in 2011.

The global survey, conducted on the eve of every new year since 1977, was carried out by Canadian pollsters Leger Marketing and its partners, the world’s largest independent network of opinion pollsters, the WIN Association.

And, in a surprise to the people who conducted the polls, Afghanistan recorded higher happiness numbers of 35 per cent than the United States at 33 per cent.

The top five countries for happiness, besides Fiji are Nigeria (84 per cent net happiness), the Netherlands (77 per cent), Switzerland (76 per cent) and Ghana (72 per cent).

The Global Barometer of Happiness has a margin of error of plus or minus three to five per cent. People were surveyed face-to-face and over the phone.
----------------
PERCEPTIONS ON HAPPINESS IN 2012

Question: So far as you are concerned, do you personally feel happy, unhappy or neither
happy nor un-happy about your life? (Reference Q# 3 of the EOY: 2011 Questionnaire, see Methods Section)
Percent of Respondents
Global Average* 52287 100.0 53 13 31 2 40
S # Countries in alphabetical order Sample Size Happy Unhappy Neither
Happy nor
Unhappy
Don’t know/
no response
Net
Happiness
Unweighted
Count
Col%
1 Afghanistan 1031 0.4 52 17 29 1 35
2 Argentina 1002 0.5 67 6 27 0 61
3 Armenia 500 0.1 70 10 18 2 60
4 Australia 1040 0.6 55 17 27 1 38
5 Austria 1003 0.3 59 7 32 2 53
6 Azerbaijan 510 0.1 58 4 36 2 54
7 Belgium 528 0.3 53 7 37 2 46
8 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1000 0.1 53 17 29 1 36
9 Brazil 2002 4.7 76 13 10 0 63
10 Bulgaria 997 0.2 36 7 51 6 29
11 Cameroon 504 0.1 51 9 38 1 42
12 Canada 1003 0.9 60 13 26 2 47
13 China 500 17.0 41 17 41 1 25
14 Colombia 606 0.5 74 3 22 1 71
15 Czech Republic 1000 0.3 41 12 46 1 28
16 Denmark 506 0.2 73 8 18 1 64
17 Ecuador 400 0.1 63 6 30 1 57
18 Egypt 1000 1.4 36 36 20 7 0
19 Fiji 1020 0.0 89 4 7 0 85
20 Finland 984 0.2 72 1 27 0 70
21 France 1671 1.9 48 8 43 0 40
22 Georgia 1000 0.1 0 0 0 0 0
23 Germany 502 2.6 72 4 23 1 68
24 Ghana 1505 0.5 82 10 5 3 72
25 Hong Kong 500 0.2 41 11 48 0 30
26 Iceland 852 0.0 73 7 19 1 66
27 India 1091 28.6 51 14 34 1 37
28 Iraq 1000 0.4 47 28 23 1 19
29 Ireland 1001 0.1 45 25 30 0 20
30 Italy 987 1.9 35 10 53 2 25
31 Japan 1200 3.8 49 2 40 9 47
32 Kenya 1000 0.8 46 26 26 1 20
33 Korea, Rep (South) 1524 1.4 52 8 38 1 44
34 Lebanon 500 0.1 54 31 15 0 24
35 Lithuania 1025 0.1 35 26 37 1 9
36 Macedonia 1209 0.1 48 9 41 1 39
37 Malaysia 520 0.6 65 3 30 3 62
38 Moldova 1086 0.1 43 14 36 7 28
39 Netherlands 505 0.5 81 4 15 0 77
40 Nigeria 1049 2.7 89 6 4 1 84
41 Pakistan 2705 3.0 40 10 46 4 31
42 Palestine 626 0.1 31 25 43 1 7
43 Peru 1207 0.7 63 7 30 1 56
44 Romania 1050 0.8 28 39 30 3 -10
45 Russian Federation 1000 2.6 39 8 42 11 31
46 Saudi Arabia 502 0.5 70 10 20 1 60Global Barometer of
HAPPINESS FOR 2011
The World’s First Global Barometer
1977-2011
Page 8 of 25
47 Serbia 1037 0.2 28 20 47 4 8
48 South Africa 200 0.4 57 23 19 2 35
49 South Sudan 1020 0.2 62 15 21 2 46
50 Spain 1146 1.2 68 13 18 1 55
51 Sweden 501 0.3 58 4 36 2 54
52 Switzerland 507 0.2 81 5 14 1 76
53 Tunisia 503 0.3 58 12 29 1 47
54 Turkey 1031 1.8 44 18 37 1 26
55 Ukraine 1013 1.4 43 14 37 6 30
56 United States 1002 8.7 53 20 26 2 33
57 Uzbekistan 500 0.8 65 3 25 7 62
58 Vietnam 500 2.2 56 19 25 0 37
--------------
We top global joy survey
January 1, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
Source: CBC News
An annual “happiness barometer” ranked Fiji the happiest nation in the world in the lead-up to the New Year.
The survey asked participants to state whether they perceived themselves as “happy” or “unhappy” in 2011.
Fiji was the happiest, according to the Global Barometer of Happiness, with a net happiness of 85 per cent.
A total of 1020 people in Fiji were surveyed.
In the region, Australia had a net happiness score of only 38 per cent. The top five nations for happiness levels were:
1. Fiji 85 per cent
2. Nigeria 84 per cent
3. Netherlands 77 per cent
4. Switzerland 76 per cent
5. Ghana 72 per cent

Amongst the least happy countries were Romania (-10 per cent), Egypt (0 per cent), Palestine (7 per cent) and Serbia (8 per cent).

The global survey was carried out by Canadian pollsters Leger Marketing and its partners, the world’s largest independent network of opinion pollsters, the WIN Association in 58 countries (52,913 interviews). It covered the vast majority of world population.

In one major surprise, Afghanistan, which had a net happiness score of 35 per cent, beat the United States, at 33 per cent.

“That was one that stood out for us,” Leger Marketing said.

“And a big part of it is what’s changed in Afghanistan. In the United States, not much has changed over the past year. The de-escalation of the Afghanistan conflict doesn’t affect the United States the way it does Afghanistan.”

People were surveyed face-to-face and over the phone.

The network has conducted this annual poll on the eve of New Year since 1977. The global poll which had earlier focused on prospects for the economy added a question this year on ‘Happiness’.

The findings turned out to be quite revealing. The attainment of Happiness is aided by economic hopefulness; but often ‘happiness’ refuses to be subdued by economic gloom.

The survey finds that nations which are struggling hard to move up the global economic ladder produce a lot of ‘unhappy’ people. Thus net happiness in China is nearly half of global average and stands at 25 per cent.

In contrast the economically-pressured Spaniards score 55 per cent net happiness. Perhaps the feeling to ‘be happy’ is also a cultural trait!

For the New Year

2011-12-30T16:04:00.000-08:00

from w
One of my facebook friends posted this and I thought it was so good I 'borrowed' it to repost here as our New Year greetings. The picture is of one of my Christmas presents - a mortar and pestle, which requires a bit of elbow grease.

Benedicere

By Ken Sehested (adapted)

May your home always be too small
to hold all your friends.
May your heart remain ever supple,
Fearless in the face of threat,
Jubilant in the grip of grace.
May your hands remain open,
Caressing, never clinched,
Save to pound the doors
Of all who barter justice
To the highest bidder.
May your heroes be earthy
Dusty-shoed and rumpled,
Hallowed but unhaloed,
Guiding you through seasons of tremor and travail,
Apprenticed to the godly art of giggling
Amid haggard news
And portentous circumstance.
May your hankering
Be in rhythm with heaven’s
Whose covenant vows
A dusty intersection with your own:
When creation’s hope and history rhyme.
May Hosannas lilt from your lungs:
Creation is not done
Creation is not yet done.
All flesh,
I am told,
will behold
Will surely behold…

Benedicere (“to bless, to praise”) is based on a prayer by Ken Sehested, author of “In the Land of the Living: Prayers Personal and Public.”

What is there for tourists in Labasa?

2011-12-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

from w
We've been discussing what the Labasa area can offer to tourists, especially the day-trippers from visiting ships and we are trying to assess what would be good programs/locations for just a few hours - besides shopping in the town. There's Wasavulu stones and its cultural history (though now there are houses there and I think stones have been moved about), the Hindu snake temple at Matailabasa with the stories of the growing stone, there's the hot water sites, a picnic on Vorovoro Island, there are working sugar-cane farms, and so on. It has been suggested that a visit to Naduri as a cultural tour - the remains of the old chiefly bure - but Naduri is a bit far away. Certainly the men from Seaqaqa can dance though! The floating island at Nubu is rather far away. Anyway, the Labasa Tourism committee are working on it all. Once upon a time we had a little eco-tourism place at Nukutatava but that was a long time ago. There are Labasa stories on the internet which give a few clues about what is interesting in the Labasa region such as this one - during 2011. http://exploringdreamingdiscoveringfiji.blogspot.com/2011/08/life-in-labasa.html and I think connecting with people is the most important thing for tourists - meet up with a real family or go to a primary school and interact with the children.

from Fiji Sun (they have journos in Labasa often with stories - which is better than the spin and handouts that pepper that particular paper.

Labasa Tourism Association focuses on 2012, cruise boats
December 29, 2011 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By SHRATIKA NAIDU

The Labasa Tourism Association has vouched to focus on pushing for infrastructure improvement for the year 2012 in order to attract more cruise liners to Macuata.
The association believes that Government’s plan to build an international port of entry near Tabia called the Middle Point, which is about 20 minutes drive from Labasa Town would be the major development opening doors for more cruise liners.

Labasa Tourism Association president Paul Jaduram said meanwhile Reef Endeavour, a vessel of Captain Cook Cruises, this year anchored at Malau. “Through this vessel’s four trips to Labasa there was a record of more than 310 tourist arrivals,” Mr Jaduram said. He said during their visits the association found out that there was a need to bring improvement in infrastructure and development of site scene in Macuata.
“During our recent meeting we discussed nine major infrastructure and services that affected our tourism industry in North,” Mr Jaduram said.

1. Very high air fare from Labasa to Suva, Labasa to Nadi and return
2. Lack of international port of entry
3. Construction of bypass road
4. Tarsealing of the road from Dreketi to Nabouwalu
5. Historical sites to be developed with their histories
6. Improvements of side roads in and around Labasa Town
7. Seating facilities around Labasa Town
8. Dredging of the river mouth up to Labasa
9. Upgrading of 'Waiqele Airport terminal building and introducing night landing facilities

He said once these infrastructure falls into place tourists would feel comfortable and would more often choose Labasa as tourist destination. “We have been having continuous discussion with the Commissioner Northern Lieutenant-Colonel Ilai Moceica on developing some site scenes such at the Three Sisters Mountain,” Mr Jaduram said.
He said the association hopes to build an eat-out place for tourists close to the mountain. We have also thought of suggesting tourists to visit Tui Macuata’s chiefly village Naduri where there is still a major historical site scene associated with stories for interest,” Mr Jaduram said.

He said he was also working with the general manager of Fiji Sugar Corporation’s, Labasa Mill Karia Christopher to provide passenger component for tourists to sit in groups and move around Labasa for site scene. “We are very much committed in bringing more tourists to Macuata in particular Labasa to lift the tourism industry,” Mr Jaduram said. He said the association was expecting more than eight tourist vessels and cruise liners to berth in Macuata next year.
-------
Now, put yourself in the shoes of a visitor to Labasa with a few hours only. Some things they would expect - a place to have good food at reasonable cost, a clean toilet, some culture, some photo opportunities, not get too far away and miss the boat! That means drinks and snacks available at each location visited and a good toilet! So I hope the committee are not just thinking about opportunities to make money - some things are free - smiles, relationships even if just beginning, good will.

Dreamcatchers and American Indians

2011-12-27T15:54:00.000-08:00

from w
There's talk about building a casino in Nadi and a mini-one in Suva. I'm sure the Methodist church and traditionalists do not approve at all. Poker machines and gaming tables cause a lot of mischief, not only false belief in winning, but aspects of crime as well. Do we want this kind of scene in Fiji?

Turtles and a boy from Nakalo

2011-12-27T15:47:00.000-08:00

from w
They have good publicity officers, these greenies who love turtles and good luck to them, getting story after story about conservation and saving the Fiji turtles. Here is another story about a boy from Nakalo village in Macuata. From today's Fiji Times.

The turtle is my friend
Theresa Ralogaivau
Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Josua Muakula is the youngest dau ni vonu in Fiji. Picture: SUPPLIED
AT just 18 years old, Josua Muakula is the youngest dau ni vonu in Fiji. The dau ni vonu or turtle monitor are those few men, just 25 in all, who have taken on the massive challenge of protecting turtles and boosting their numbers, by advocating for sustainable harvesting.

Why would a teenager get so involved in a bid to protect the one creature he has been feeding on for most of his young life?

He answered simply "The turtle is my friend!" It's been around two years since Muakula last gorged on turtle meat.

Transformation hit him like a storm when one day sitting in a turtle monitors' training organised by WWF South Pacific Office at Nakalou village in Macuata, he realised just how defenseless the 'vonu' was.

"This is one animal that doesn't put up a fight, from when we catch it to when we kill it for the pot. It's a sad creature, the way it just quietly waits to die," he said. For a boy who has hunted turtles for game and food, the realisation stirred deep regret in him and he wanted to make a difference for turtles.

"I wanted to stand up for them because I found out how their numbers kept on going down. I know that if we don't do something about it, future generations will never get to see a turtle and knowing the important role the turtle plays in our marine environment helped cement my decision."

On the modest end, Muakula said he has consumed between 70-80 kilogrammes of turtle meat in his life. Growing up at Denimanu village on Yadua island in Bua, his life has been closely intertwined with the sea. Ever since he can remember, he has been out fishing or diving for turtles.

He caught even more when he dropped out of school in Form Four and took up beche-de-mer diving as a career. Muakula said it was always a proud, egoistical moment to walk home with a turtle in tow.

"Everyone on the island loves turtle meat, it's so tasty so if you came with one, then you would truly make people happy because island tradition is such that the meat is shared out equally," he said.

"And all the young boys competed, so if you caught a turtle it was like a stamp of approval for manhood, or you were seen as having the potential of becoming a great diver one day!

"That training changed my life, I saw a turtle cry after that, and the tears moved me. It wanted my protection so I decided to leave behind my once favorite dish."

These days, Muakula actively rallies behind turtles, sharing the turtle gospel wherever and whenever he can especially with his worst critics his peers.

In the first few months of his new journey, they often taunted him, teasing him with mouth watering turtle meat dishes, challenging his knowledge about the decline in numbers of the marine reptile.

"It was hard even to watch them kill one so I just stayed away from where these occurred. But I kept on telling them about the need to protect turtles and eventually some of them started changing too.

"Now several want to sign up as turtle monitors and have decided to also make a stand for turtles. They know me and they see the change and they wonder about it so I work hard to impress upon them the importance of turtles, not just as a source of food, but also the role it plays in the sea.

"We wouldn't enjoy a lot of the other fishes that we earn an income from if we didn't have turtles. We need them so I show them how serious it is by not eating turtle meat and they see I mean business. Now like me they want to be turtle friends for life."

* Theresa Ralogaivau is the communications officer at the WWF South Pacific Program, Suva, Fiji. Email: tralogaivau@wwfpacific.org.fj

Solar lighting for Udu villages?

2011-12-26T18:00:00.000-08:00

from w
There's an interesting idea - to train four grandmothers from Udu villages in solar engineering to go back to their villages to install electricity. Will the men take notice of the older women when they come back? Story from the Fiji Sun today. will they be taught in English, Hindi or Fijian? The reference is to 'illiterate women' which is rather a put-down as the women of Fiji are not illiterate at all. Also, the idea is for the village to become motivated to do many other things. Perhaps this is a nice dream but hey, it's not easy doing development in the rural areas.

North 4 to India stint
December 27, 2011 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By SHRATIKA NAIDU

Four women, each from four different villages in the Northern Division, will be going to Rajasthaan, India next year. They will attend six-month training as solar engineers. This is a collaborative initiative between the United Nations Women and the Ministry of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation to empower women in Fiji.
The founder of Barefoot College in India, Bunker Roy, accompanied by the Commissioner Northern Lieutenant-Colonel Ilai Moceica and United Nations Women regional programme director, Lena Lindberg selected the women last week. Mr Roy said his selection was based on four important criteria. “The village should not be connected to any electricity grid. There should not be any electricity generator. Less wealthy village and without outside help,” Mr Roy said. He said the selection looked at the poorest of the poor villages without power supply.

Lieutenant-Colonel Moceica said the four women who were grandmothers were from Udu Point, Kubulau, Lutukina and Vunidogoloa. “Grandmothers were chosen from these villages so that they can come back from India with the training to install solar lights to light up their village without seeking help from outside,” Lieutenant-Colonel Moceica said.
He thanked the Ministry of Women and United Nation Women for this initiative and creating opportunities for women. “Very soon these four villages will be the model of a modernised setup in the North and it would help encourage other villagers to make changes,” Lieutenant-Colonel Moceica said. He said this set-up would bring improvement in the lives of women and their households. “The fear to cook food early in the morning in the outside kitchen under the small kerosene lantern would soon f He said poor families would then not need to worry about spending money on buying kerosene.

“Once these solar lights will be installed in the villages, I believe men would begin to build toilets, bathrooms and kitchens attached to their houses, under one roof, to provide security for and peace of mind to women,” Lieutenant-Colonel Moceica said. He believes that in the next three years, the landscape, housing, business and education in rural villages in the North would be lifted to a better standard.

UN Women regional programme director Lena Lindberg said she was glad that the husbands of the chosen trainees were so supportive by allowing them to travel to India to be trained.

“India, through its Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) programme, will fund the training and when these trainees return to their villages they will, in turn, train people in the installation and maintenance of the solar electricity system,” Ms Lindberg said. She said UN Women would be providing all the necessary equipment for the solar setup and the village would be responsible for the maintenance.

When asked why he chose grandmothers to be trainees Mr Roy replied that grandmothers would not run away from their villages for greener pastures like youths. “We chose illiterate grandmothers to be trained because they understand the important basic need in life, like electricity. They would share the knowledge and lift the standard of their village without having any intention to run away to overseas or to Suva to earn an income,” Mr Roy said.

He said this would be big challenge for the grandmothers but not for him.

“We have trained more than three million people around the world for jobs as solar engineers, teachers, midwives, architects and doctors,” Mr Roy said.

He said he had trained more than 300 grandmothers from Africa to become solar engineers and now he wanted to provide the same opportunity for women in Fiji.Mr Roy said 10 women in Fiji had been selected to be trained in India and they would leave by next March.

Mo marau ni Siga ni Sucu

2011-12-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

from w
Happy Christmas for today and everyday - as we have everything we need - every day. Here's a photo of children at Nukutatava beach, the picture jazzed up by one of the young relatives with a mix of cultural references about Christmas in other places than babasiga.

Labasa Mill

2011-12-21T02:49:00.000-08:00

from w
Noticed a story about Labasa Mill which shows the difficulties of the sugar industry in Fiji.

Labasa Mill closes with dismal performance
Crushing at the Labasa Mill ends tonight with this season’s crush of around 570,000 tonnes of cane.

FSC estimates a standover crop of 40,000 tonnes which brings the crop total to 610,000 tonnes compared to pre-crush estimates of 654,000 tonnes, a shortfall of 44,000 tonnes.

The mill made about 44,000 tonnes of sugar returning a high TCTS of 13:1 (13 tonnes of cane to make a tonne of sugar) due to frequent breakdowns. Milling inefficiencies resulted in an estimated loss of 13,000 tonnes of sugar calculated at a TCTS ratio of 10:1.

In monetary terms, this loss equates to $13 million of which the growers will bear $9 million or $15.78 per tonne of cane.

The loss is huge. Somewhat similar results are expected from the other three mills which have also been plagued by milling problems. Bad news for the industry and its future sustainability.

S. Lal

Christmas party in Tuatua

2011-12-20T00:32:00.000-08:00

from Peceli
We have started the Christmas parties in Tuatua, Labasa, lots of girls in the household and me, lovely food and a decorated Christmas tree.
from Wendy
Well, we haven't eaten yet tonight as ten of us have all been active in cleaning the garden and back yard, green house, shed, and moving the rabbit and guinea pig from the front verandah to their hutch inside the back shed, all nice now. It took a while to catch the rabbit though, running all around the back yard until we put both Izzy and Ozzie in the gaol cage to take to the new clean hutch.

More than a story about an iguana

2011-12-19T13:46:00.001-08:00

from w
I thought the writer was going to talk about lizards of the many-legged variety, but then she goes on to talk about society. Good on you girl!
From the Fiji Times Features:
Dance like the matadors
Fay Volatabu
Monday, December 19, 2011

Picture: Asinate Bakabaka with a crested iguana at Kula Eco Park in Sigatoka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH/ THE FIJI TIMES FILE

RECENTLY, a German national was prosecuted for trying to smuggle a crested iguana out of our country. I wondered why would anyone want to pack such a creature in their bag and literally share the ride with it. As you would have guessed, I have a special negative relationship with the reptile specie and though the size may not matter, a reptile is a reptile whether it be minute, pretty, or priceless, I would literally run a mile when I see one.

Despite my fear and utter dislike of reptiles, a particular type has been my nemesis for life. Wherever I turn I see one, the chameleon to be exact. I have been living with them all my life and often it is quite difficult to distinguish the animal from the surrounds.

The chameleon is a small lizard that changes colour according to its surroundings. Have you seen any in your neighbourhood lately?

They are the ones that go to church on Sunday, speak about eliminating violence but beat up their wives every other day, go to work in a reputable office dressed in a suit, talk about transparency but are secretly involved in corruption; speak words of edification and honour but secretly defame characters; appear to be a saint, go to all the church meetings and are great givers but secretly venomous pythons? I'll ask again, have you seen any lately?

These chameleons change colours depending on the surroundings and often you cannot even tell them apart.

These reptiles have the tendency to change colour, change character and are very unreliable as they change with the wind, the backdrop or circumstance. Today, the backdrop would be green and they would be also, but tomorrow when it is orange, you will not see them as they will also be orange. They will say anything or in some cases, do anything to be invisible and we must commend them for their versatility as they would be good spies for any secret service.

But, in the real world where real people with real problems and real challenges exist, they are sometimes the deadliest people around as they will save their own skins or shed their skins to be alive.

It is now getting to the end of the year and as business winds up, it is also a time to reflect on the year. Have all the commitments we made been carried out? Did we stop victimising our wives or children and family members? Did we improve our fiscal policies?

Did we honour the commitments made in secret or did we just say words in haste to suit the situation but reneged on our agreements or on our word because we did not feel like it, or because the circumstances changed and with it our responses, like the chameleon.

Our nation has evolved in that unlike before when things were solved by the war club or bare knuckles. We have refined our skills and become more dialogue-prone.

What this means is that unlike before when all a warrior had to do was to reaffirm his power with a wield of his club to show people how he felt, now it is through 'dialogues', 'conferences', 'conventions', and we cook up so many eloquent expressions and academic endeavours such as chat cafes, chat rooms, roundtable, square table and whatever else to describe our attempt at finding solutions to some mundane and trivial issue which could easily be solved through action. Wouldn't it be better just to say meeting or discussions and call a spade a spade?

Need we become chameleons and join the crowd crying out for dialogues, panels, conferences, conventions in the bid to be relevant, yet, risk being more irrelevant in the process?

We have conventions, we have laws such as the Universal Declarations of Human Rights, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Domestic Violence Decree, Family Law and many other international and local legal instruments.

Why do we need to keep on discussing or dialoguing the obvious when we need to go the next step up, which is, action.

Is it necessary to have cafe discussions, virtual chats , roundtables, conventions, conferences or spend more time and money or whatever new form of pow wow is yet to be cooked up?

Shouldn't we just cut to the chase and just start acting on previous discussions and recommendations?.

If you asked me, dialogue is just a fancy way of saying detour, or roundabout or maybe red lights ahead. We have legal instruments, we have our commitments, we have our honour and integrity to live for and live by.

Must we keep on dialoguing and say what needs to be said in a given situation and keep on changing our tune and risk being like the chameleon who will change colour to suit the backdrop?

Or can we be like the German national who saw the value in a crested iguana (even though I cannot comprehend such fascination neither do I condone his method) and decided to act on his impulse and gut feeling regardless of the consequences.

Don't get me wrong, I am not condoning the illegal act but the spirit which prompted the act and that was urgency and action in seeing something of value.

Maybe it is like that with the matadors of Spain, where they dance with the bulls and try and coax them into a corner.

The matador dances with the bulls but at the end of the day, he gets the results. Can we start dancing like the matadors and take the bull by the horn, move a step up from the dialogues and start the actions now?

Can we not tolerate violence in all our homes anymore?

Can we stop beating and neglecting our children?

Can we have shelters for our rural women selling at the markets? Can we have more businesses for women supported and set up?

Can we ensure that women are taken into consideration whenever a policy, a development or even a prayer is said?

If we can truly do that instead of just saying it, then we have truly evolved from being a versatile and scared chameleon to being a priceless crested iguana that the world would die for, or in some case go to jail for.

So what are you? Chameleon or crested iguana? If you are a true native of Fiji, then remember that you are a critically endangered specie and more importantly, we need you to chase out all the chameleons. God Bless Fiji and all its habitats, great or small.

* Fay Volatabu is the general secretary for the National Council of Women Fiji. Email: secretary@ncwfiji.org or ncwfgs1@gmail.com.

Santa in Labasa?

2011-12-19T13:32:00.000-08:00

from w
It's hard to believe a replica of an ancient Middle Eastern bishop, St Nicholas, has melded into a character walking around the steamy wet and hot streets of Labasa! But there he was yesterday - in town, aka Satish Chand from Tuatua, a suburb of Labasa where Peceli is staying at present. Maybe Peceli saw him. It's a pity that these days Santa Claus has often got prime spot, instead of the baby Jesus.

Santa zooms into town
writer : LOSIRENE CHAND

12/20/2011

People on the main street of Labasa Town got a pleasant surprise when Santa Claus or Father Christmas zoomed into town on his motor bike yesterday. His appearance was a source of delight on the many faces in Labasa Town yesterday. He greeted people, both young and old, with his trademark greeting of Ho! Ho! Ho!

With Christmas only five days away and Santa Claus very busy with last minute gifts for children who have been good, he has sent some of his helpers to bring Christmas cheer.

And Satish Chand of Tuatua in Labasa is one of Santa’s helpers. For the past four years Mr Chand dons his Santa suit and jumps on his bike to bring a smile to children’s faces. Mr Chand said to him such a practice was a way of sharing Christmas spirit with the people of Labasa.

“Children read in books and watch cartoons about Christmas and see Santa Claus. So every year I try to make it real for them,” Mr Chand said.

The 39-year-old man said he wished to make people feel the joy of Christmas in these hard times and know that Christmas was a time of sharing love and receiving blessings. He said he was happy doing this because he brought smiles on children’s faces even though some little ones were scared to see such a huge man in a red suit.

His message to young children this Christmas: “Do not worry because Santa Claus is already in town.”

A study on silence

2011-12-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

from w
I came across an interesting post and followed up with a couple of links about 'Silence' in the Fijian way of life. It looks like an interesting book but it is hard to track down and buy. The topic is intriguing and I came across the issue of the importance of awesome silence when I researched music and the vanua in Labasa. Here's the piece I found on a blog:

A CALL FOR SILENCE IN THE PACIFIC

The Pacific has been the scene of much important thinking. Recent Pacific publications present ideas that are not only relevant to Pacific societies, but have important implications for the other cultures around it. One of these is a project to recover the meaning of silence.

As Unaisi Nabobo-Baba argues in her book *Knowing and Learning: An indigenous Fijian approach *(Suva: IPS Publications, 2006), the silent child in a Western classroom is seen as a problem. By contrast in many traditional Pacific communities, silence is seen as a culturally appropriate mode of behaviour. Nabobo-Baba goes further and develops a taxonomy of silence, which includes 18 different ways of being quiet, including ?silence and the elements? and ?silence when in awe of custom?

(see herefor
an extract of her book).

The cultural meaning of silence poses some challenging questions:

- What is the positive expression of silence?
- How can silence be reconciled with modern democracy?
- What is the role of silence in modern Western countries like
Australia?
- How can silence speak?
- What is the constructive role of silence in the classroom?
- What are the creative dimensions of silence?

Would you be interested in being part of a further discussion about this issue? If you would like to be involved in the development of a colloquium on silence, you are invited to send in your details. This includes:

- Name
- Role
- Area of interest
- What you would like to contribute to this development

Contributions can include research, a specific perspective, a performance, a venue or a program context. Please send an email tosilence@southernperspectives.net. Responses are due 21 January 2012. We will then follow up your interest and keep you in the loop about events where silence will be heard over the next two years.

Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, University of Guam http://www.uog.edu/ Kevin Murray, Southern Perspectives http://www.southernperspectives.net/

Fiji migrants

2011-12-17T17:26:00.000-08:00

from w
It was interesting to read that Australia is the main choice of destination to settle for Fiji people wanting to leave their homeland. Australia, then New Zealand before others. I suppose it is because they are not too far away and also they are both lands of excellent opportunities (hopefully) and they will be welcome. Immigration matters of course may be difficult and painfully slow but perseverence and patience gets you there in the end for applications.

from the Fiji Times:
Destination Aussie
Serelisoni Moceica
Sunday, December 18, 2011
A tall 28-percent of Fiji's total migration numbers are reported to have picked Australia as their destination of choice.

A report released at the University of the South Pacific earlier this week showed Australia received the largest share of Fiji's migrants compared to other overseas destinations.

"Our study shows the three main destination countries for Fijian emigrants are Australia, New Zealand and the United States, which is consistent with the findings of a 2006 World Bank report," the Development on the Move report on Fiji said.

The report said 22 percent moved to New Zealand, 18 percent for he US while 10 percent migrated to the United Kingdom.

Other destinations quoted in the book were Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Afghanistan, South Africa, Japan, India, Philippines and other Pacific Island countries.

The report said largely ethnic Fijian teachers and nurses have migrated to work in Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Australia's regional de' attache, Judith Robinson said Australia has benefited from Fiji migrants over the years.

"In return, the Australian government is doing a number of things that we hope will be part of the migration scheme and we hope will be ultimately beneficial not only for officials but countries as well,"

Nukutatava

2011-12-17T02:33:00.001-08:00

from Peceli
Yesterday I took some of the children down to Nukutatava beach for a swim and a picnic and a good time was had by all. This is the place where my family lived in the 70s when the boys were very young. We had three bures near the sea then, constant running water, and it was a delightful place with many coconut trees near the shore. Erosion has since taken away some of the beach. Today I visited Paul Jaduram in Labasa and we both went to Nukutatava. Our neighbours have vacated their property - the Christian Fellowship Training Centre - because they wanted to relocate to a site nearer to the larger population such as Suva.

Visit to Nabalebale

2011-12-14T11:22:00.001-08:00

from Peceli
Yesterday we went across Vanua Levu towards Savusavu to visit the village of Nabalebale so here are some photos we took. Two of my grandchildren accompanied me and we met up with some friends and also with Ilisoni Ligairi who I knew many many years ago when he was a Lelean student and I was in the Vulitalatala at Davuilevu.

Visit to Vorovoro

2011-12-13T01:36:00.000-08:00

from Peceli
Today we went by Degei's boat to Vorovoro Island. It was an excellent visit to see Tui Mali. The tribewanted gang have left so it is quiet these days but still beautiful. We passed Nakawaqa village on the way, so here are some photos. Talei was the boat girl in one of the photos - it's school holidays now.

Eco-friendly cane farming?

2011-12-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

from w
Is it possible to have eco-friendly cane farming. Well, they are trying in Labasa. Here's Kate's view on things there.
from Fiji Times today:
Sights on a green future
Kate Findlay
Tuesday, December 13, 2011

WALKING though the fields of a Waiqele sector farm, Shambu Lal the manager is impressed with the results of the Labasa Cane Producers Association's new push towards green sugar.

In a flurry of press, the association signed an agreement with WWF committing to collaborate towards the goal of growing more sustainable, eco-friendly sugar. The association was the first in Fiji to become Fairtrade certified: a hard-earned achievement other producers are still working toward that will see continuing improvement for farmers lives and the environment.

Back home in the UK and in North America, the Fairtrade symbol is a household brand, a big deal. At the other end of the spectrum from the producers, whole universities, towns, and cities are becoming Fairtrade certified, meaning all the produce possible: from sugar and bananas to cocoa and coffee are sourced from producers like the Labasa Cane Producers Association who give workers a fair wage and strive to work in harmony with the environment.

It's gratifying to see the extra money people spend back home translates to a premium here, which finances projects like the one I see now. Back on the Waiqele farm, WWF's sugar man Ryan Collins guides us through the plantation to where it meets the Wailevu River.

The river flows directly onto the Great Sea Reef, a globally important reef for its turtles, dolphins, sharks and rays and the third longest reef in the southern hemisphere. Protecting the biodiversity of the Great Sea Reef is the reason WWF are in Fiji, even though we seem to be the only people who know it exists.

Pollution from sugarcane farms can damage the reef; particles of loose soil can wash off farms smothering the kaleidoscopic of coral beneath, as can algal blooms caused by fertilisation runoff.

The good news is that solutions are simple and low-cost: for one terracing or contouring the gradient of the slope prevents topsoil getting lost, and soil-sampling to determine which blend of fertiliser is required not only saves money on their purchase but improves yields.

Trash-mulching' is another technique, where instead of burning the parts of the plants which remain after harvesting, they are used to line the fields, acting both as natural fertiliser and weed-controlling agent that prevents soil erosion.

Just watching the labourers on the farm harvesting cane is tiring, and once again we set off on our merry way.

* Kate Findlay is a staff member of WWF South Pacific Program's communications department. Email: kfindlay@wwfpacific.org.fj

Another tour group to Labasa

2011-12-12T03:20:00.000-08:00

from w
It does surprise me that tourist boats come to Labasa but hopefully there'll be more than the shops to interest them. There's potential for tourist sites but most of them haven't been set up for the comfort of visitors. One is the Wasavulu stones but there needs to be a signifying marker to explain the stories. Tourists don't want a repetition of just shopping do they? They want something to remember. Anyway the Labasa journo has been busy writing up about the visit. I think Naduri is too far from Malau. A better idea would be short boat ride to Vorovoro Island. And rather than the Sugar mill, why not a visit to a working cane-farm with a cup of lemon-leaf tea and gulagulas?

Chief's home a possible tour site
Maneesha Karan
Monday, December 12, 2011

MORE sites have been identified by the Labasa and Macuata Tourism Association for tourism development. Among the potential sites are the home village of the Tui Macuata at Naduri, says association president Paul Jaduram. "We are looking at developing historical sites in the province which can benefit the tourism sector," he said. "One of the sites identified for development is the village of the Tui Macuata because it is the home of one of our leaders."

Mr Jaduram said other sites planned for development include the Three Sisters Mountain at Batinikama. "These three mountains are very popular and they also have a cave and a Fijian myth behind it which makes the site captivating for tourists and sightseers. We are working with the Native Land Trust Board and the government to develop this mountain site and we plan to build some bure at the foot of the hill for visitor use."

Another site being eyed for development is the Waiqele hot springs.

"We need to create many more sites to attract tourists - it will create a sense of adventure and thrill for visitors," he said.

Survey to uplift tourism activity in the North
Maneesha Karan
Monday, December 12, 2011

AN academic has shown interest in boosting the tourism industry in the Northern Division by carrying out a survey of tourists visiting Labasa. The survey is being conducted by the USP's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management lecturer Dr Stephen Pratt, who was among the members of Labasa and Macuata Tourism Association to welcome tourists from Captain Cook Cruises at Malau on Friday.

Dr Pratt said the survey was a measure undertaken by the USP to help the various economies in Fiji. "USP is trying to help local economies by providing its expertise and through education," he said. "Labasa has lots of tourism resources and this place has a lot of potential to grow and expand in terms of tourism. We would not like to just participate in the tourism activities but also help develop and expand it in the North."

A questionnaire will be distributed to tourists on Captain Cook Cruises, which they would be expected to fill out during their tour of the North and have it returned to Dr Pratt. The data from the questionnaire will then be analysed and results distributed to the Labasa and Macuata Tourism Association.

"The survey would help ensure tourists to the North get an authentic and enjoyable trip of the North," said Dr Pratt.

Association president Paul Jaduram applauded the academic's interest.

Weather station Labasa

2011-12-09T22:38:00.000-08:00

from Peceli
I wanted to see for myself the new weather station up on the Vatudamu hill overlooking the sea so we came up here and took a couple of photos. Meanwhile I am enjoying being with the village families at Vatuadova.

wedding in Labasa

2011-12-08T11:44:00.001-08:00

from Peceli,
The wedding in Wailevu village was very fine. Samisoni is from Bameti's Wailevu clan and the bride came from a village in Cakaudrove. The other photo is of the children of Vatuadova who sang songs for me and we gave them biscuits and chocolates! School has broken up now for the year so the children are playing. I'm getting back into the rhythm of Fijian village life with visitors, functions, parties going on for the Christmas season. God blesses us indeed.

Virgin Australia

2011-12-07T03:16:00.001-08:00

from w
Pacific Blue has many flights to Fiji and from all accounts passengers seem happy with travelling by Pacific Blue. Rebranding Pacific Blue as Virgin Australia could be a bit confusing - already some of the airport screens don't always come up with all the plane arrivals. Okay, but why is Polynesian Blue now named as Virgin Samoa? Tell that to Margaret Mead!
Virgin Australia name now across airline
December 7, 2011 - 5:54PM
AAP

New Zealand-based Pacific Blue and long-haul offshoot V Australia are now operating under the Virgin Australia banner, the airline said on Wednesday. The rebranding, which was flagged earlier this year and went live on Wednesday.

It features new airport signs and travel documents,as well as a revamped Virgin Australia website that covers all of the airline group's domestic and international services.

The 17 Pacific Blue Boeing 737 aircraft, primarily based in New Zealand, will have their interiors refurbished in the first half of calendar 2012.

There are plans also for an update of the cabin interiors on the five V Australia Boeing 777-300ERs thatfly to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi.

"Now that our international airlines are all operating under the Virgin brand, our focus is on redesigning the product in the air to ensure a first-rate travel experience across all of our airlines," Virgin chief executive John Borghetti said in a statement.

Painting of the aircraft into the new livery was expected to occur when they went into service, to minimise disruption to schedules.

The one part of the airline group that does not fall under the Virgin Australia umbrella has also received a revamp, with Polynesian Blue renamed Virgin Samoa.

Virgin Samoa, which operates one Boeing 737 and flies from Apia to Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland, is a joint venture between Virgin Australia and Samoan government, which both own 49 per cent of the airline. Aggie Grey's Resort and Hotel holds the remaining shareholding.

Virgin closed steady at 35.5 cents.

A super blog about Vanua Levu

2011-12-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

from w
By chance I discovered an excellent blog An American couple spent five months mainly house-sitting in Savusavu with some visits to Labasa and Taveuni. Their blog postings describe their life and insights and with many lovely photographs. From their perspective about the ups and downs of living in rural Fiji. There are some nice postings and photos of Naseakula village.

Nukutatava Bible school closes

2011-12-05T20:14:00.001-08:00

from w
I'd been told about the move to Suva for the Christian youth training centre at Nukutatava then I saw a reference to it in one of the Fiji papers. Students winding up for the year. Suva is more accessible in many ways, though to have a Christian youth education centre in Macuata was an excellent idea. They had turned grassland into a park and built rows of fine bungalows and developed the place very well. Now I wonder how the land will be used by a new owner!

Last time for Labasa
writer : SHRATIKA NAIDU
12/5/2011

Graduates of the Labasa World Harvest Institute (WHI) bade their final farewells to each other during their graduation on Saturday. Many shed tears of joy after completing a year of study while some had to let go of the place they called home. The institute which was established in the 2001 to provide biblical education to students all over the world will be closed from next year. A total of 70 students enrolled in three different courses were awarded with certificates.

The first year students were awarded with certificate of discipleship, the second year students were awarded with leadership and the third year students were awarded certificate in church planning.

Christian Mission Fellowship international president Reverend Suliasi Kurulo, who was the chief guest at the graduation, said he felt inner peace seeing students graduating. He said after the completion of three years course, students qualified to become missionaries, Bible college teachers, pastors and in other related Christian professions.

Now students would have to move to Suva and get enrolled at the main centre because the institute in Labasa would be closed.

“The reason we are closing down and bringing students to the main centre is to make bible study courses available for everyone,” Reverend Kurulo said. “The change of venue would also help students get access to modern technology such as computers and library to do research, prepare assignment and listen to international speakers.”

Proposal for port of entry

2011-12-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

from w
This is certainly an interesting development proposal for the Macuata coastline, not only for the moving of containers but also for the numerous yachties who find this part of Fiji excellent for cruising and needing a port of entry. It's not far from our mataqali land so that is a plus for our families.

From today's Fiji Times:
$5m jetty for north
Maneesha Karan
Tuesday, December 06, 2011

GROUND work on the construction of an international seaport at Middle Point in Vanua Levu is expected to begin soon following the visit by a group of Canadian consultants to the site last week.

Commissioner Northern Lieutenant Colonel Ilai Moceica told The Fiji Times the Canadian consultants visited the construction site at Yalava Village along the Naduri coastal road last Monday.

Divisional Engineer Roads (Northern) Jone Luveniyali said technical inspections were carried out at the construction site.

"The consultants made a field visit last week to check out the place," Mr Luveniyali said.

"The Department of Mineral Resources will be carrying out soil inspection and the necessary technical investigation and details of the investigations will be provided to the consultants."

The government has allocated $5 million for the construction of Middle Point - the port of entry at Naduri in Macuata province.

Tui Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere in an earlier report told The Fiji Times the Middle Point port would boost investment opportunities and activities in the Northern economy.

He said the port of entry was no longer an 'illusion'.

"The Look North Policy is now turning into reality following the allocation of needed funds for the construction of a port of entry on this island," Ratu Aisea said.

He said the Middle Point in the North would bring about competition and would encourage exporters to produce up to potential.

He said export and import activities would become timely with low freight costs.
---------

When I tried to find out the location for this project it seems that it is in the Nabala area maybe near Palmlea Lodge eco-tourist place, and on one website the Labasa -Macuata area offers excellent potential for tourists when they suggest the following places to see:

The Great Sea Reef – the third longest continuous barrier reef system in the world
Hiking, snorkelling, fishing, swim in our 25m lap swimming pool, laze in a hammock, kayaking, exploring, sightseeing, surfing November to May, GT fishing, bird watching and learn native handicrafts
Visit Yalava’s famous “Lions Head” Rock landmark
The Spiritual “Naag Mandir” Cobra Rock Hindu Temple
Explore the huge protected Lagoon behind the Great Sea Reef
Adventure hiking the mountain hinterlands
The large fruit, vegetable, handicraft market in Labasa town
Waisale Rainforest Reserve
Diving, fishing and snorkelling
Breathtaking Open Road trips with driver /guide or Drive Yourself by rental car
See traditional weaving done the Old Fashioned Way in Naduri
Visit and learn about Healthy Noni Juice, Noni Honey, Noni Leaf Tea at Dreketi
See the world’s largest meat goats the “Boer Goats” at Palmlea Farms, Yalava
Learn Fijan bamboo craft
Surf the Great Sea Reef—November to May
Go night crabbing for Mangrove Crab with a local guide
Vanua Levu has many kilometres of unspoilt country roads for hiking and trekking
Non-commercial traditional village visits, participate in a Sevusevu Ceremony
Visit the Pearl Farm at Savusavu
The Mountainous Spine (3000ft elevation) divides the island into the wet rainforest of the South and the sunny hillsides of the north
Explore the north shoreline and offshore islands by Kayak
Wasavula Ceremonial Site to see the sacred monolith and head chopping stone for cannibalistic ceremonies just south of Labasa

Not for diabetics

2011-12-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

from w
I've been browsing through recent Fiji Times and Fiji Sun and noticed they are full of advertisements about madly shopping for Christmas, particularly about food. Far far away from the true meaning of Christmas which was about the birth of a special child in an ordinary family. Not about extravagance. Also I wonder how many Fiji people on $2 an hour could afford such luxuries!

Flying to Fiji

2011-12-03T19:47:00.001-08:00

from w
Two 'babasiga kids' were on their way to Fiji yesterday - one a grandfather, the other a grand-daughter. At the international departure at Tullamarine airport Melbourne. Linlay has spent nearly three months in Australia, going to a local primary school and she certainly enjoyed the experience and did well in her lessons.

Food Security in Fiji

2011-12-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

from w
With such rich soil and so much arable land, Fiji should have abundant food to supply even more than local needs, yet Fiji imports a lot of food which is very costly at the supermarkets and shops, especially these days when many people are poor in cities and rural areas. The budget has one good idea here - about food security which is going to be a crucial factor in the future for many countries. Fiji ought to be an excellent breadbasket to feed the world.
the article above is from Fiji Times last Friday.

Hard working student

2011-12-02T15:56:00.001-08:00

from w
Many students in Fiji work really hard to achieve good results and congratulations to those who do very well. The motivation to look into the future for a good job is there for some, but alas, not all boys and girls. (I've been reading my grand-daughter's school reports and am delighted that her teacher has given her an 'excellent' for many aspects of her studies as well as in social skills. It was good to read a report that gives weight to aspects of social behaviour/interaction with other students, etc. as well as test results for English, Maths, etc.) Best wishes to Fiji's students who are now taking a break from their studies - have a good holiday!
North land lease loss spurs dux

writer : SHRATIKA NAIDU
12/3/2011

Being a victim of land eviction 11 years ago was the motivation behind 18-year-old Atinesh Prasad’s success in school this year. Mr Prasad scooped the Best Science Dux Award at the Labasa Sangam College prizegiving ceremony on Wednesday. The memory of his family losing out after their sugarcane farm lease in Labasa was not renewed was still fresh in his mind.

His parents had to start afresh to provide for him and his siblings. All the struggles faced over the years challenged Mr Prasad to work hard in school to fulfill his parent’s dream.

“My family dreams of establishing a construction company in Labasa and I want to be part of it,” Mr Prasad said. He said that was one of the reasons he studied diligently to achieve his dream to become a civil engineer. “My father is a carpenter, my elder brother is a primary school teacher and an electrician, my second eldest brother is a school teacher and a plumber and my brother after him is a joiner,” Mr Prasad said.

The youngest of four siblings believes that knowledge and construction skills run in the family. “I have seen my brothers working very hard to make my parents dream come true. I also desperately want to do my share of work,” Mr Prasad said.

The Namara, Labasa, lad hopes he will get a Government scholarship to purse civil engineering studies at Fiji National University next year. He scored 327 out of 400 marks in the annual examination. He was also given a special award from the school for scoring the highest marks in introduction to technology, best designer in technology, deputy head boy, national winner of 2011 SPICTEX LEGO Robotics competition, first prize in Form 702 and overall third position in the national titration competition.

Would a back-hoe really stop the floods?

2011-12-02T15:49:00.001-08:00

from w
It's a nice gesture/gift to Labasa but as the township area is really built on swamp-land I wonder if a back-hoe is sufficient to really stop the water rising when the rivers become flooded AS THEY DO most summer seasons. Anyway, vina'a va'alevu for the gift as it certainly will be useful as in-effective drainage is part of the situation. This item from Fiji FBC.

Japanese grant to ease flooding in Labasa

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Flash flooding in the town of Labasa will now be a worry of the past with the $220,000 grant by the Embassy of Japan for a backhoe loader machine. Flash flooding has been prevalent in the northern town in the past and Labasa Town’s special administrator Vijay Chand says the timely grant will be used to look into the issue of drainage.

Hiring such machines would normally cost around $0.25m.

Chand says the fund will also be diverted to other areas including the expansion of the Labasa market and the upgrade of Subrail Park.

Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Yoshizawa says the assistance from Japan was timely and appropriate for promoting a sustainable environment within the vicinity of Labasa Town.

Never too old to go to school

2011-11-30T16:56:00.000-08:00

from w
There's a movie on at present set in Africa with an old grandpa going to school, someone told us. And in Fiji you don't have to finish high school at eighteen or nineteen any more. Here's a nice heart-warming story of a young father going back to school in Labasa. From the Fiji Sun - a newspaper that does some stories well, other stories, okay, a bit of a spin.

Father of 3 is Dux

writer : SHRATIKA NAIDU
11/1/2011
Who says that a drop-out student cannot return to school to complete secondary school education? Father of three, Jiuwa Tawake, 25, of Yacata Island in Cakaudrove, was yesterday awarded the Dux of Labasa Arya Secondary School.

Mr Tawake returned to complete his education after seven years.

He is the eldest of five siblings. He dropped out of Sigatoka Methodist Secondary School in the west of Fiji after failing Fiji School Leaving Certificate examination. He returned to his island, got married and worked on the farm to support his family.

However, he still wasn’t satisfied with life on the island, knowing that he is capable of succeeding in school if he puts his mind and heart to it. After hearing on the news that the Ministry of Education has allowed school dropouts to resume studies despite their age limits, Mr Tawake took it as a challenge. After seven years, he returned to Labasa and enrolled at Labasa Arya Secondary School to complete his Form Six and Seven studies.

Holding onto the Dux Award during the annual prizegiving, Mr Tawake said he was the happiest man in the world.

“I did not imagine in life that I would be able to complete my secondary school education,” Mr Tawake said. Dressed neatly in his school uniform and holding onto his son on his lap during the awards, Mr Tawake said it was through family support and love of God that enabled him to succeed.

“During these seven years, I faced a lot of challenges but one thing I have learned in life is that getting educated is very important.” He said while working under the hot sun on his farm, he used to cry at times and humbly pleaded to God to give him another chance to study. “I will prove what I’m worth,” Mr Tawake said was among lines of his prayers.

He studied day and night and worked hard during weekends to support his family.

Mr Tawake was chosen among the 13 Form Seven students to get the Dux Award. He scored 309 out of 400 in his annual examination.

“I thank my school teachers for their support and my colleagues for treating me just like their own family member,” Mr Tawake said. He wants to become a secondary school teacher and hopes to get a scholarship to study at the Fiji National University next year.

Chief guest at the prizegiving day Ministry of Education director of Secondary Education Basundra Kumar. He commended the school for giving opportunities to school dropouts. “Such kinds of initiative is in line with the People’s Charter Pillar number nine which highlights the need of having a knowledge-based society,” Mrs Kumar said. She said everyone had the right to education regardless of age, colour and race.

More from Kate

2011-11-29T18:07:00.001-08:00

from w
A blend of western science
Kate Findlay
Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The photo is of Kate Findlay, right, with Qoliqoli Cakovata Management Committee member Jonasa Suvatu from Korotubu village.

I BEGIN to see the attraction of 'the simple life' on Tuesday morning after waking up refreshed from a well-deserved sleep in Navakasobu village outside of Labasa, the home of the traditional life.

It's an idyllic place with a calm pace: children frolic on the grass as their mothers meander past like steamboats on the horizon, in no more of a rush than the clock in the living room whose hands are set permanently to 14:04:30.

Today, my WWF colleagues and I are meeting the QCMC ù the Qoliqoli Cakovata Management Committee ù to discuss the successes and challenges of managing their epic 1349 km squared fishing grounds which spans Macuata, Sasa, Mali and Dreketi districts.

The qoliqoli contains special 'tabu' areas, often breeding grounds, where fish stocks are allowed to replenish and fishing is banned.

The idea of blending western science with traditional Fijian fishing rights has been a massive success since the marine protected areas were launched in 2004, with fishers reporting that fish are now larger and closer to the shore.

The qoliqoli have become so successful in fact that they are becoming victims of their own success; I discovered talking to two QCMC members Jonasa Suvatu (Korotubu village) and Savenaca Koliniwai (Mali island).

Poachers have become attracted to their plentiful fishing grounds; Jonasa tells me with sadness that each time he goes fishing he sees two or three pirate fishing vessels. Even when the QCMC manage to catch the poachers, they have no power to prosecute them.

I even hear rumours that a poacher had successfully prosecuted someone who had caught them, although Jonasa and Savenaca are tight-lipped on the subject.

Together, my bosses and the QCMC set out a new direction for WWF's work in the area, to improve compliance and enforcement in qoliqoli waters in collaboration with its owners.

Fending off the flies ù those intensely black, fuzzy ones ù I think it's time for a nap.

* Kate Findlay is a staff member of WWF South Pacific Program's communications department. Email: kfindlay@wwfpacific.org.fj

Flashmob dance in Fiji

2011-11-27T15:34:00.000-08:00

from w
There's a nice video of what appears to be a spontaneous improvised dance in a restaurant, but when you see the red T-shirts and co-ordination of movements you realize it's not spontaneous at all. Just an advertising ploy.
Pity, it would have been fun if it was for everybody to watch or join in. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiEDfCsA85c Sorry, I don't know how to do this link directly!
One comment was interesting -
We should do the CIBI next.... at the BUS STAND!!!! since Fiji won the 7s!! :D

tuimabualau 16 hours ago
-----------
And later - The Fiji media caught up with the blogs, facebook and youtube. The new media is of course social networking rather than the corporations! In Fiji Sun -
Flash mobs surprise shoppers

writer : JYOTI PRATIBHA

11/28/2011

Vodafone has done it again. This time, they introduced the concept of flash mobs in the country. A flash mob is a large group of people who gather at a public location to perform a pre-defined action, typically a brief dance, and disperse rapidly after the event has concluded.

Flash mobs are an internet phenomenon of the 21st century. Although flash mobs don’t happen online, in general they are organised using social media, viral e-mails, or websites.

The event caught people enjoying lunch at the MHCC Foodcourt on Saturday off guard. Vodafone Fiji media liaison and event management officer Lenora Qereqeretabua said the idea was suggested to them by a customer who had seen one done overseas.

“We wanted to be the first to bring it to Fiji. Response was fantastic, everyone was taken by surprise and some even joined in. Definitely more are coming to locations around Fiji,” Ms Qereqeretabua said. “We did it because we wanted to be first, because it’s fun and refreshingly different. We are very grateful to MHCC for letting us use their premises.”

Flash mobs have been around since 2003, mainly in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Europe, where it received a lot of attention from the media. Subsequently, companies picked it up to use it for viral marketing and even advertisements. The T-Mobile Dance is a famous example.

Flash mobs are out of the ordinary and simply fun. People can catch Vodafone Fiji’s flash mob on YouTube and Vodafone Fiji’s Facebook page.

Kava exporter from Labasa

2011-11-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

from Fijilive
Award brings joy to Labasa couple
November 27, 2011 04:42:01 PMA+ A-|||
A Labasa couple was among the big winners at the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards in Nadi last night. Nelesh Kamal and his wife Lalita Wati won the Medium Exporter of the Year Award. The couple operating as Nelesh Kamal Company in Siberia, Labasa exports around 1 container Kava every 2-3 months.

Specialising in the export of Kava chips, Pounded kava and Kava roots to New Zealand and United States of America, the two-year-old business has come a long way. For Nelesh the award which is an honor came as a surprise as he was not expecting to win.

“I wasn’t really expecting to win but this award is truly a motivation to both me and my wife to strive for better things in future,” he said.

The 35-year-old who has no business training is thankful to Investment Fiji for its support and cooperation. “I completed high school education at All Saints College and moved straight into business without much training but the support and assistance I have been gaining from Investment Fiji has really made me and my business grow.”

“I operate from home with two labourers at the moment but have plans of expanding my business and employing more people in the near future,” he added.

Meanwhile, Biscuits Fiji Limited walked away with the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award while Tropik Wood Industries Limited won the Large Exporter of the Year and the Small Exporter of the Year award went to Standss South Pacific Limited.

Visit to Mali Island

2011-11-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

More of Kate's adventures in Fiji as from Fiji Times

Rocky wade to Mali
Kate Findlay
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

THE heavens open as we wait to cross the short straight between mainland Vanua Levu and tiny Mali Island. We arrive at low tide and we had to wade through the rocky passage though mangroves to reach Vesi Village, one of three villages on the island.
As I clamber and slide like a fool, breaking my flip-flops and subsequently being half-carried, our two community representatives, who must be in their early 50s, stride through the water in their bare feet pulling the weight of the boats over the sharp ground beneath as if it were soft sand.

After the presentation of our sevusevu, I eat what I can in what is an apparently delicious but definitely not a vegetarian-friendly meal. As my boss digs into the brains of a massive fish, I thankfully take my leave to wander through the village. It is beautiful and well looked after. Copra dries by the creek, which, you can tell is healthy from the abundance of mudskippers and tiny crabs that dash away as I approach.

Distracted by the beauty around me I miss the introduction to the project and scramble to catch up. Much of Mali Island is actually quite damaged by deforestation. Uncontrolled fires originating from gardens have swept through the island.
Without the trees there was nothing to keep the water in the ground.
Rain simply evaporated and the island frequently fell into drought.
WWF set up a marine protected area on Mali in 2005.
Working in collaboration with WWF, the islanders of Mali decided to diversify their livelihood away from the ocean.

In the past, most of the time the people of Mali went to the sea to find food and less time was spent on planting root crops and selling them at the market. However, things have changed as I saw that day - I came across a community nursery where the seedlings of indigenous tree species were being raised. The seedlings will be transferred and planted in the hills on the island when they reach the required growth stage in a bid to restore Mali Island back to its natural landscape.

In the larger scale of things, what is happening here is not just about Mali.
Land care, as it is called, is a model the WWF is hoping will be rolled out across Fiji.

As we head back to Vanua Levu we stop to investigate a lonely mangrove all on its own at least two kilometres from the island. There were some things tangled on the roots - black-and-white banded sea snakes. One of the snakes gave me a slight heart attack as it swam toward the boat to check us out.

Speeding home, we were treated to a spectacular double rainbow.They seemed to say ù no rain, no rainbows.

The next day, we made our way to Nabavatu Village in the district of Dreketi in the province of Macuata. I sat in a large village hall at Nabavatu. My two bosses, Kesa and Isabelle, sat at the head. Apart from the WWF staff the hall was full mostly of males. There were about 30 of them for our sevusevu and the presentation which would unfold.

The day was a big celebration for WWF and the district of Dreketi because it is the official launch of the Dreketi Land Care Group which will promote sustainable land use practices and halt destructive ones in the district. The land care group representatives have been trained and were about to be awarded their certificates.
Delegates from the seven villages in Dreketi awaited us in the hall. It was also a celebration of WWF's 50th anniversary, so everyone was in good spirits. Unused to sevusevu on such a large scale, I was confused when a man presented us with a bush until I realised it was a fully matured yaqona plant.

Preoccupied with this, my mind was not focussed enough to conceal a very audible gasp - a man, who I thought to be carrying a baby, just unceremoniously dropped it on the floor. There was something in the way it moved though that was not quite right. Was it dead? The gasp came when I realised it was a roasted pig, presumably our lunch.

After the ceremony, we were shown around one of the new project sites, which at first glance appeared rather the opposite of WWF's image. In a steep valley leading to a river the trees had not only been cut, but it appeared they had been burned.

What happened here, I asked.

The story of land use in Dreketi goes like this - yaqona is the major source of income and once it is harvested after three to six years, the communities simply move into a new area and clear the forest to the point where farms are now so far away from the village that the men must go and camp there between Monday and Friday. Today in Dreketi, only 30 per cent of forests remained untouched by logging. On closer examination of the logged tree roots which dot the hills like stubble, I see thoughtfully planted crops ù along contour lines to keep the topsoil in place. While the trees will take a long time to grow again, plants such as cabbage, eggplant and a low palmy-looking bush are now being planted to rejuvenate the land while generating food and income in the short-term. This is only at the very start of the project. In the long-term, nurseries will provide trees to repopulate the hills of Dreketi.

What are the low bushes all about, I ask.

Pineapples, apparently.

I laugh sheepishly as my Fijian colleague, Francis, jokes of other Europeans he knew who thought that pineapples grew on trees.

Of course, I never thought that.

* Kate Findlay works at the Communications Department, WWF South Pacific Program in Suva.

Women from Vanuatu visit Australia

2011-11-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

from w
We were happy to welcome and host a group of Vanuatu women to our Australian city when they had a tour to thank missionaries who had been working in their islands over 150 years. They visited the grave of John and Charlotte Geddie who were missionaries on Aneityum from 1848 to 1872, then had lunch at East Geelong Uniting Church (our home church) and then visited Narana Aboriginal centre before catching a train back to Melbourne. I took a few photos of their visit today including one of Loloma Tukei, who was once a Fijian deaconess before she went to Vanuatu and married Tom there. We had a really lovely day together. Tom and Loloma minister to the people of the town of Cobram up near the Murray River.

November 11th 1969

2011-11-10T22:41:00.000-08:00

from w
Today is November 11th and it's Remembrance Day, but for our family it's not about soldiers but about our second son, Robin. Isa, our precious son who died in an accident at Lakomai Resort, Fiji, eleven years ago.

The parrot mango was unexpectedly tart, not yet ripe, but I sliced into it anyway, the rhythmic gut pain started and I did not know - was it the parrot mango or the onset of the hard task ahead? I was waiting near Ba hospital at the Indian minister’s house and I was already two day’s overdue. It was early summer, already 30 degrees with 80 per cent humidity, the crimson tulip trees in blossom. I would bide my time though, my first son had taken all of ten hours. I packed my bag and threw in a James Bond novel Diamonds are Forever, for good measure. Sushma had cooked roti and a hot curry and dhal bhat for tea and I joined their family, just slowly breathing at ever well-spaced contraction, still well apart but I knew what I was in for this time…

‘We’re going to John and Bev’s for supper tonight, like to come?’

‘Sure,’ I knew I would be in good company, two nurses, two doctors, both of them Australian, a clergyman - Fiji Indian. I didn’t tell them my condition though until about 9.30 p.m. when I said to Bev, ‘I’d better get moving Bev. I’m going along really well now.’

She checked me in the bedroom and I clenched my jaw.

‘Lord Wendy! You’d better get moving now.’

It was moonlight and frangipani and I waddled over to the wooden bungalows of the Mission hospital, breathing deeply. There was little time for much more than a brief prep, knees up. James Bond got pulled out for not more than ten minute and Robin Iliesa Tupou was born, a gorgeous big baby. John was the doctor on duty with a Fijian nurse who was very encouraging. 11 p.m. on the 11th month 11th day. It was Remembrance Day, I realized, a holiday back home in Australia.

Where was my husband? Only fifteen miles away in Rakiraki. John the doctor said he’d better phone him.

‘I suppose so,’ I said. I’d forgotten him. After all this was women’s business.

One little piggy went to market

2011-11-08T13:20:00.001-08:00

from w
Here's a cute Levuka pig story that is in the features of the Fiji Times. A pig that refused to go to an ordination in Namosi and be cooked. Good story from our tauvu from Levuka.
If this pig could fly
Paula Tagivetaua
Tuesday, November 08, 2011

The photo - Levuka parishioner Pita Lomani at Laucala Bay Parish in Suva and the pig that got away on its way to Namosi. Picture: PAULA TAGIVETAUA

THIS is the story of a pig that escaped the lovo. It was told by Pita Lomani from the Catholic parish in Levuka, Ovalau. He called me yesterday from Laucala Bay Parish in Suva as he and members of the parish from Levuka were about to go back home. They had come in last week and travelled to Namosi for the ordination of Father Ioane Simione on Saturday.

After the ordination, about 6pm, they left Namosi to return to Laucala Bay where they were billeted.

"At Namosi, the big story was about the pig that escaped," Pita said. "The delegation from Solevu in Bua had come with a pig which was to be their magiti at the ordination and Ra man Fr Toni, Fr Veremo's assistant in Solevu, was in charge of the pig."

On the way to Namosi, they burst a tyre and stopped at a bridge to change it and when they got on again, they told Fr Toni "Father, sa leva 'a vuaka" ù Father, the pig is missing.

The Ra priest did something priests normally do not do ù swear in the Bua dialect. They searched, could not find the pig and continued to Namosi minus their magiti.

After the ordination, the party from Levuka returned to Laucala Bay parish where they were billeted and along the way, their parish priest, Fr Emeri of Bua, said to stop and eat the food they brought from the ceremony.

They stopped by the bridge and were eating when Fr Emeri saw the pig under the bridge. "We waded across the river, sulu and all and caught the pig," said Pita. "While we were there, a carrier arrived with Bua people who were still in Namosi. Some people had seen the pig on the way up and came back with men to catch the pig but when they came, Fr Emeri told them sorry, they were taking the pig to Levuka because they had caught it."

The men could not do anything and returned to Namosi empty-handed.

On Sunday, the Levuka delegation went back to Namosi for Fr Ioane's first Mass.

"The news of the missing pig was all over the place and was a joke," said Pita. "The Tui Namosi said the missing pig was the highlight of the ordination ù sa yawa na vuaka qori, kau mai wai ki vanua ki wai tale ù mai Solevu ki Nabukebuke i vanua ki Nabukebuke i wai."

Pita said Fr Aston from Bougainville in PNG was part of their delegation.

"When we left Namosi on Saturday, they loaded some dalo into our van and Fr Aston commented that they did not include something to go with the dalo. When we caught the pig, Fr Aston said it was probably meant to be because they had only given us dalo."

The delegation from Levuka left Suva at midday yesterday.

Pita said their parish priest had not decided what they would do with the pig but one thing is sure ù the pig will be wishing it could fly.

From Scotland to Babasiga land

2011-11-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

from w
There are plenty of adventurous young expats in Fiji, many in non-government organisations, many idealists wanting the world to be a better place. Such a one is Kate from Scotland who writes in the Fiji Times about the beginning of her adventures in Fiji, going to Vanua Levu particularly interested in the Great Sea Reef off Macuata.

From kilts to kava
Kate Findlay
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
IT'S three months into my adventure interning with WWF-South Pacific and I'm living the dream - tagging along with our inspirational boss Kesaia Tabunakawai (the office's first female and indigenous head) and Dr Isabelle Louis, WWF's director of the Asia-Pacific, as they tour our field sites in the Macuata province in honour of WWF's 50th anniversary.

Coming from Scotland, I feel tiny and pallid in this land of giants. I flew to Fiji in July a day after graduating with Honours in Zoology in a whirlwind that took me from kilts and whisky to sulu and grog to start my new life as what I call a 'real person' - with a career and flat of my own in Suva.

On Monday, I'm up at 4am. My taxi leaves at half past to take me to the ferry bus stop and I haven't even packed!

I run out the door half-dressed and half-packed only to run back in when I miss the ordered taxi.

Next, a frantic scramble to tear out taxi numbers in the Yellow Pages and back outside my apartment to wait.

On a wing and a prayer, I manage to successfully catch a taxi to the bus, seconds to spare. Oi lei, how very un-Fijian of me, I need to relax!

Arriving in Labasa at 4pm, I join my two crisp and fresh-looking bosses who took the 45-minute flight from Suva, rather than what amounted for me to a 12-hour taxi-bus-ferry-bus-taxi 'adventure'.

While I enjoyed the journey, noticeably starting to fall asleep in a meeting with two eminent figures in my field is something I do look back on with embarrassment.

Fiji's most biologically significant marine site lies just offshore of Labasa.

Under cover of the ocean where few get to see, lies a massive 200km long reef, called Cakaulevu or the Great Sea Reef, which is longer than Vanua Levu itself. Home to myriad coral species, the humphead wrasse (varivoce), migratory and resident sea turtles, spinner dolphins, manta rays and sharks, it's a zoologist's dream to see and a conservationist's challenge to protect.

Join me on my travels in this column as I transverse Vanua Levu on a mission to see the great things WWF has achieved in its 15 years of marine work in Fiji; and what we're doing today to achieve our mission: ensuring the richness and resilience of Pacific Island ecosystems are managed and conserved in harmony with the sustainable development needs of its people.

* To be continued next Tuesday

Fijians in Geelong

2011-11-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

from w
Yesterday we had a Fijian church service at East Geelong Uniting Church and some of our friends from Wyndam Vale came down. Afterwards everyone came to our house for drinking kava, telling stories, and eating a shared meal. About 25 or more people came so it was rather busy. Luckily we have a large backyard so the kids played there including two Japanese students over for a week at the local TAFE to do some electronics program. There are sixty Japanese students doing this at present and they are billeted by local families. The conversations must be intriguing. We have a Fiji Geelong Friendship Club here and we meet mostly on a Friday night once a fortnight but this time we met on a Sunday afternoon and included a family from the Altona Meadows/Laverton Fijian congregation. Here are a few photos taken yesterday.

Also, recently we had a gig where the Diversitat Hub was launched in Geelong, with hundreds of people, lots of fine food, speeches by politicians and jazz music. It was all about a multicultural Geelong. I posted about it on the other blog, Geelong Visual Diary. A photo from the local Geelong Advertiser is at the top of this post.

Nubunikavula village

2011-11-05T02:21:00.000-07:00

from w
I remember a time when we went by van to Nubunikavula village, a lovely village with a river great for swimming. The people were hospitable and that day they were working on a hillside cleaning and planting. We ate mussels in coconut cream at a picnic before an elderly gentleman told me some of the old chants they used to sing, and then I collected lullabies from one of the younger women when I walked into the village. So I was interested to read a story in today's Fiji Times with reference to this village. It is quite far from Labasa town as it's really on the border of Macuata and Cakaudrove. The villagers and nearby farmers have to use buses to get to work or the market or to school. It would be good if the feeder road was improved however I don't think that walking three kilometres is such a problem. Makes them fit. The early morning start though seems really too early though. Kids aren't what they used to be it seems as walking ten k was usual at one time.
Students walk 3miles to school
Salaseini Vosamana
Saturday, November 05, 2011
THE dreadful road conditions at Nubunikavula Village in Macuata has left a group of students with no choice but to walk for three miles to the main road every morning to catch the only school bus in the area.

Concerned parents have requested for maintenance of the feeder access road that links the village to the main road to allow public service vehicles through and service the area.

Village headman Timoci Kalouvou said students had to wake up as early as 4am to prepare for school and walk three miles to catch the bus on the main road.

"The road condition has raised a lot of concerns because our students are being affected in their school work as they leave home early in the morning," Mr Kalouvou said.

"If they (students) miss the 7am bus, they will have to walk another six miles in order to catch the 9am bus which is very late.

"It is not only the students in our village that are affected but students from nearby settlements and we are worried it will affect their school work because they will doze off in school," he said.

Mr Kalouvou said they desperately needed assistance to ensure the safety of road users.

"The safety and security of our children can be assured if they have ample space on the roadside," he said. Works Ministry spokesman Iliesa Sokia said they had not received any report. "Their letter of request will have to follow the proper channel before we can make any decision."

article from New Zealand

2011-11-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

from w
A post on facebook was an article from the Gisborne newspaper in New Zealand. Plenty of food for thought in the face of the world economic situation.

Column
Growth with Maori worldview
Tuesday, November 01, 2011 • Peter Jones
IT seems that at no time in recent history have people had as many questions as they do today.

How can we live in harmony with nature? How do we stop climate change and the destruction of ecosystems? How can we provide security and create sufficiency for all? How do we restore an ethic of care for people and for the Earth? In short, how can we put human and planetary well-being at the heart of all our decision-making?

Modernist culture values economic growth above all else. Such growth “works” in the sense that it brings short-term material wealth to small groups. It creates jobs too but the emphasis on economic growth at all costs has encouraged us to deny the consequences of always using resources and never giving back to the communities and eco-systems from where they come.

We tend to equate happiness with success, and in turn define success as material possessions and external achievement. We emphasise constant activity and visible, measurable wealth over experience and reflection.

Maori culture recognises the value of having “enough” and using it gracefully. It is about being economical with what we have, without wasting resources or effort, but without being stingy either.

Many of us recognise the value of “enough” but also receive strong messages to keep growing. In the contradiction between these messages lies the potential for wisdom.

All societies today need a fundamental shift in values and worldview. We need to converge around the idea of deep security based on equity and justice: sufficiency for all, without excess for some and misery for others.

It would be easy to dismiss Maori Sovereignty as an attempt to halt progress or reclaim the past. It’s really about different kinds of human growth. It’s about creating “a culture of enough” that would judge human progress in diverse ways, not just by GDP numbers.

Such a culture would always attempt to balance our scientific achievements with an increase in our moral, ecological, spiritual and emotional development.

Markets, money, trade, technology, competition and profit — all the elements of modern growth economies — are good, creative activities that can be harnessed for the people and the planet, if kept within moral and ecological boundaries.

Our indigenous Maori culture can be adapted for this purpose. Part of acting responsibly is to look within and ask how we can promote other ways of knowing the world and acting in it.

We cannot know all the aspects of “Maori Sovereignty” without actually doing it. It is a way of being in the world, not a simple set of rules for living.

We can use “Maori Sovereignty” to create the conditions that will allow a critique of growth. Human behaviour can be adapted to give at least some of the earth’s ecosystems a chance to renew themselves and at the same time allow social justice to emerge.

We need to rid ourselves of the idea that only experts can lead us. A leader is anyone who wants to help and leadership is an everyday thing. It’s not confined to those who have decision-making power in institutions or states.

Irrespective of age, occupation or role, we can all regularly ask how we should live, what is good, how we can achieve well-being for all, how we can respect the Earth and how we can take the long-term view and try to see the whole picture. We can engage in conversation with others about these issues.

A society that does not cultivate the art of asking questions cannot count on finding answers to its most pressing issues.

Care of the ocean

2011-10-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

from w
It's good to see a young person committed to something so important as keeping the ocean safe and clean. Duncan is such a person and showing us the way to care for more than just putting bread and butter on the table for a family.
from the Fiji Times today:
Duncan fights for the Pacific
Geraldine Panapasa
Thursday, October 27, 2011

Greenpeace activist Duncan Williams inspects sharks fins onboard Taiwanese longliner, Yi Feng no 816, on October 14. Picture: PAUL HILTON/ GREENPEACE
DUNCAN Williams continues to fight alongside his Greenpeace colleague Apisalome Waqanisau on the Esperanza to prevent the plunder of Pacific tuna during the Defending our Pacific expedition.

Out at sea for the past two months, Duncan says their journey started in Tahiti and he has since visited the waters of 10 Pacific island countries. The 30-year-old Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans campaigner says his passion for marine conservation is driven by his fondness of the ocean.

"Not the abstract sense of ocean, but the very ocean itself. There's nothing quite as powerful nor as humbling. When you spend enough time in the water, you develop a sense of connection," he said from the environmental organisation's largest ship.

"You are literally able to feel the ocean as a living, breathing entity. Full of life.

"I was born in Suva and have lived here for the better part of my life. I attended Marist Brothers' High School and later studied at the University of the South Pacific where I majored in marine affairs and geography/land management. I went on to complete graduate studies in marine affairs and development studies before completing a Masters in Governance. I've also undertaken a fair bit of diplomacy and marine policy training at Dalhousie University in Canada and the ANU in Canberra. I later worked at USP and Fiji National University before joining Greenpeace."

The sports addict says he has a natural affinity for anything that involves water. And when he's not trying to save our oceans, he usually found playing in it; either surfing the waves at the Suva harbour entrance or outrigger paddling around the islands and reefs of Laucala Bay. Duncan also represented Fiji in outrigger paddling (Va'a) at the 2007 South Pacific Games in Samoa.

"It was during my years in tertiary studies that I discovered the oceans were in a bad way," he said.

"I was always of the assumption that if anything, our seas, in all its immensity and power, is unyielding. I would never have believed the sea to be inexhaustible or that fish were being pushed beyond the brink of extinction in various parts of the world. Who would have thought? After all, we've always held firm to the belief of our oceans and seas as never ending and always giving. But in a changing and developing world, there are a myriad of threats and issues facing all our oceans. It is amazing to see the number of foreign vessels encountered out in the high seas. Most of these vessels do not have licences to fish in the waters of Pacific island countries. They are thousands of miles from home taking tuna from Pacific waters and adding to the destruction of overfishing. It raises a lot of emotions when faced with a long-liner for example and seeing fishermen pulling up sharks, marlin and a handful of tuna."

Equipped with an unwavering passion for the ocean, newfound knowledge and some good old fashion luck, Duncan decided to take up a career in marine conservation.

He joined Greenpeace a few years ago as an oceans campaigner. His main role is keeping abreast of oceans policy issues particularly on (tuna) fisheries in the Pacific and engaging with fisheries specific political forums (international/regional), countries and various international agencies toward sustainable fishing practices.

"It also means being involved in large-scale projects such as the current defending our Pacific tour, which involves several international Greenpeace offices and personnel from all over the world," he said.

"It's quite hectic and involves a lot of travel to meetings that takes me away from home, my wife and family for extended periods of time, but I guess these are the small sacrifices that are needed to ensure a sustainable future for all. It's also quite an adventure. There's never a dull day in Greenpeace. At a personal level, I've been changing my lifestyle ever since I realised that environmental destruction is the sum of our actions and behaviours. I try my best to leave a small environmental footprint each day. I walk or ride a bike to work every day. I try to use recycled bags and bottles instead of plastics, and I eat sustainably caught fish."

So what does he miss about being on land?

"Curry. Vegetable curry!" he exclaimed.

The soon-to-be father who's expecting his first child later in the year says his experiences so far have been part and parcel of life as a member of Greenpeace.

"In terms of our actions to prevent illegal anglers and overfishing we have removed by-catch from lines; protested against several fishing vessels on the high seas and documented fishing activities and vessels. We pass on any information on illegal fishing to the authorities to handle. In 2009, we found a Japanese long-line vessel fishing in the high seas near Cook Islands that had laid its line into the Cook Islands waters. Based on the information supplied to authorities by Greenpeace, the Cook Islands government received a settlement of $NZ1million ($F1.42m)."

He said the ship expedition aims to always ensure the fight continues to help Pacific Island countries from illegal fishing particularly in the high seas pockets.

Volunteer nurse at Wasavulu

2011-10-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

from w
Here's an unusual story from Labasa about a 'volunteer nurse' at Wasavula, the place where the ancient stones stand or fall, a reminder of Fijian history. Though he has not done the formal training of a nurse, this man helps people who live nearby with their ailments. I do hope that the medical people in Labasa give him some fine first aid books and equipment and that he knows to send on serious cases to the hospital which is actually not far away! St Johns Ambulance, Red Cross and others can train interested people to do first aid, but still need to recognize which sicknesses they cannot treat. Every village needs to have at least one first-aider on hand. However, Laisiasa should not be called a nurse but a first-aider.
from Fiji Times today:
Laisiasa follows his dreams
Salaseini Vosamana
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The photo is labelled - Village nurse at work. Laisiasa Maduanavanua, offers medical treatment to a child in Wasavulu Village. Picture: SALASEINI VOSAMANA

BEING a volunteer health worker for more than five years in a village is not an easy task, considering the amount of extra effort and time spent without receiving proper wages.

For Laisiasa Maduanavanua, 47, of Naduri Village in Macuata, working as a village nurse without good earnings is a profession he dreamt of when he was young.

The second youngest of seven siblings, Laisiasa grew up in the village with a lot of financial constraints.

At that time, having $2 in his pocket meant everything to him.

In an interview with The Fiji Times last week, Mr Maduanavanua said he did not complete his education because his parents could not afford to pay his school fees. He was one of the brightest students in class but unfortunately, he only reached Form Four level.

"After completing Form Four, I joined Nasoso Lay Training Centre ù a Methodist mission school near my village where I learnt about God and His kingdom," Laisiasa said. "Life was hard during my school days because there were seven of us in the family and my parents found it hard to cater for our education. Enduring the hardships and the pain my parents went through, I decided to leave my family for Vatukoula to work at the Emperor Gold Mine," he said.

While it was difficult for him to leave his family behind, Laisiasa said he had no other option but to look for other means of survival to financially support his family.

"After working in Vatukoula for more than three years, I decided to join the Denarau Resort as a bartender.

"My family's livelihood was at a stable point because I was able to support them financially. All those years, something always triggered my mind telling me that my line of work did not lie in the tourism industry or the goldmine. The idea came about when I remembered that I had always wanted to become a village nurse ù to save rural dwellers especially the children in villages."

In 2005, Laisiasa started his volunteer work in his village. He said a lot of the villagers criticised his work when he first started because they did not have faith in him. He said most injured villagers did not trust him to treat their wounds because they knew he did not have any understanding of being a health worker.

"At times I felt like running away from the village because of the pressure from the villagers but my dreams of becoming a village nurse assured me on the job," he said. "I attended a health workshop in 2006 where I was taught all the necessary steps of becoming a village nurse. I was grateful because I knew the villagers would stop their criticisms of me. It did stop but there was a big problem I continuously encountered when I was empowered as a volunteer village nurse. My first aid kit supply was always short because the villagers kept coming for treatment. I thought that was a very good sign because it meant they recognised my work. I had liaised with health officials and they were able to assist me with my supply. Even though I was not paid for my service, I enjoyed my work because I was able to help the villagers. The hospitals are far from the village and some villagers find it easier to visit me for treatment because I'm always there to help them out. Earlier this year, I moved to Wasavulu Village in Labasa where I was appointed to be the village nurse. The geographical condition has changed a lot but it does not really affect my service. I am enjoying my work every day."

gift to Vatuadova

2011-10-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

from w
Ateca has told us about two wonderful gifts from friends from New Zealand to the village of Vatuadova. A stove and a cement water tank. Ateca says, 'They are our Prayer friends and they funded the 2 Vatudova projects, the cement water tank and home made oven. Ateca told us that the young people are from Youth with a Mission who she had met a year ago at a prayer meeting in Labasa. This time our relatives at Vatuadova gave them lunch and teas while they did their project for two weeks. YWAM is a great organisation for young Christians to travel, take children's programs, and put a generous spirit into today's Christian outreach. The picture taken at Wakanilato(uncle Dakai's house). Dakai is the turaga ni mataqali. A big vina'a va'alevu to our NZ friends.'

Labasa children

2011-10-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

from w
Good to read about the children of Labasa being involved in an inter-school competition. But of course IQ tests are usually culturally geared or a memory test rather than intelligence per se.

Holy Family wins quiz

writer : SHRATIKA NAIDU

10/20/2011
Holy Family Primary School (HFPS) in Labasa is the champion of the Macuata/Bua Head Teachers Association Primary School Zone Four Quiz competition. HFPS, Saint Mary’s Primary School, Bethel Primary School, Muslim Primary School and Shree Gurunanak Primary School competed in the competition.

Shree Gurunanak Khalsa Primary was the first runner-up.

Quiz co-ordinator Sushil Narayan said this was the first time they organised the competition. “This new initiative was implemented by the Ministry of Education,” Mr Narayan said. He said such new plan by the ministry had opened doors of opportunity for students from Classes One to Eight to develop their Intelligent Quotient (IQ). “Such competition will also create awareness among children and encourage them to prepare for the national IQ Active competition when they are in secondary school,” Mr Narayan said. He said such development would help students gain exposure and confidence. “There are eight zones in Macuata participating in this competition,” Mr Narayan said. Holy Family and Saint Mary’s will compete with other zonal winners to decide the Macuata champion.

Five students from each school participated in the competition and they were tested on school curriculum, general knowledge, current affairs, sports, music and arts.

Copyright in Fiji

2011-10-19T16:28:00.001-07:00

from w
An interesting point has been raised about the use of certain Fijian words that are used for marketing purposes - clothing, tourism projects, etc. Should permission be sought to use a certain name that has particular meaning to the Fijian people. Okay, there's Mana Island for a start. The word 'mana' is full of implications - religious connotations for Pacific Islanders so what's that got to do with a tourist resort eh! I really wonder though if you need a decree (law) about it as there seems to be far too many trivialities in decrees. Maybe a polite request is all that is needed and an explanation to the designers of clothes of the meaning of the new label. It's also an opportunity for Fiji actually to promote Fijian values - perhaps. The reference to the next Bose Vanua - is interesting. I wonder when?

From the Fiji Sun today:
LAW FOR iTAUKEI RIGHTS

writer : CAROLINE RATUCADRA

10/20/2011
The use of iTaukei words and names by merchandisers for branding of their products will be protected under a new law on traditional knowledge and expressions of culture.

The iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture under the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs is waiting Cabinet’s decision on the model law.

This draft legislation is to safeguard traditional knowledge and expressions of culture from abuse and commercialisation without consent from traditional owners.

When enacted, the new legislation will ensure that owners and custodians are recognised and that their rights and interests are safeguarded.

Speaking during the Macuata Provincial Council meeting in Labasa yesterday, iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture officer, Keasi Vatanitawake said the objective of the new law was to preserve iTaukei protocol, culture, language and identity.

Ms Vatanitawake said businesses were making money by selling branded items and products that provinces were known for, or identified with.

She said some of the names used and iTaukei words were of traditional values to the iTaukeis.

However, majority cases, the traditional owners have not been consulted or compensated for the use of their rightful identity.

They include the sale of iTaukei-branded clothes and cultural artifacts that are marketed daily and exposed to copyright.

And example relayed to the council members was the sales of bula-shirts with brand name, Aisokula. Ai Sokula is the clan to which the current Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu belongs to. Ratu Naiqama, the paramount chief of Cakaudrove is a member of the Ai Sokula clan.

Ms Vatanitawake said the objective of the new law was to safeguard and oversee that owners and custodians are recognised and were not exploited for commercial gain. She said some form of compensation should be given accordingly for the use of their identity.

Council member, Samuela Nakete applauded the initiative saying that it was an issue that needed to be discussed by their chiefs during the next Bose Vanua meeting.

From little things big things grow

2011-10-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

Human rights activists sing the national anthem at Princess Road in Suva to mark Fiji day. Picture: IVAMERE ROKOVESA
from w
I'm not interested in the hype of most speeches about Fiji Day but here is one small story about a group of activists with a love of Fiji and hope for the future. The journalist says they were singing the Fiji National Anthem, but of course if you really notice the English words of the anthem, there is a great deal of hypocracy/irony/fantasy in the words!

Love and honour our country, activists say

Serelisoni Moceica
Tuesday, October 11, 2011

LOVE and honour our beloved country, Fiji.

The comment was made yesterday by a group of human rights activists who celebrated Independence Day holiday in Tamavua, Suva.

"Fiji Day is a good time to start and as citizens of Fiji we must move forward on a common platform that embraces human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law," said host, Shamima Ali, the executive director of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre.

Ms Ali said the resilience of the people of Fiji through these hard times was to be celebrated including individuals who were genuine in their efforts to move the country forward.

Youth advocate, Tura Lewai said the day was about remembering the tireless work of the people who have Fiji at heart and said youths were starting to take action.

"You don't need big rallies, a march or even a big crown, you just need to start by changing your mindset, and that in itself, is great and will make a difference as change comes from people and change starts from citizens"," said Hibiscus king, Peter Waqavonovono.

The advocates held up banners with lyrics of the national anthem and also sang the anthem as part of the party.
------------------
And here are the words of the Fiji National Anthem, as from wikipedia. Note the Fijian words were written many years ago as a sere ni vanua (national song) and the English words were those of the winner of a competition in 1970 where people were asked to write verses to a set tune which was an old hymn tune called 'Beulah Land'.

English lyrics

Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji

CHORUS:
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom, hope and glory, to endure what ever befall
May God bless Fiji
Forever more!

Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji
Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji.

[edit] Fijian lyrics

Meda dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Biu na i tovo tawa savasava

CHORUS:
Me bula ga ko Viti
Ka me toro ga ki liu
Me ra turaga vinaka ko ira na i liuliu
Me ra liutaki na tamata
E na veika vinaka
Me oti kina na i tovo ca

Me da dau doka ka vinakata na vanua
E ra sa dau tiko kina na savasava
Rawa tu na gauna ni sautu na veilomani
Me sa biu na i tovo tawa yaga

Bale ga vei kemuni na cauravou e Viti
Ni yavala me savasava na vanua
Ni kakua ni vosota na dukadukali
Ka me da sa qai biuta vakadua
[edit] Fijian lyrics- Translated

Let us show pride and honour our nation
Where righteous people reside
Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere
Abandon deeds that are immoral

CHORUS:
Let Fiji live on
And progress onwards
May our leaders be honourable men
Let them lead our people
To great things
And bring an end to all things immoral
Let us show pride and honour our nation
Where righteous people reside
Where prosperity and fellowship may persevere
Abandon deeds that are immoral

The burden of change lie on your shoulders youth of Fiji
Be the strength to cleanse our nation
Be wary and not harbour malice
For we must abandon such sentiments forever
[edit] Hindi Lyrics

आशीर्वाद फिजी
के द्वीपों पर ओह राष्ट्रों के भगवान अनुदान जैसा कि हम महान बैनर तले नीले
एकजुट और हम सम्मान और स्वतंत्रता के कारण बचाव कभी
आगे एक साथ
मार्च भगवान भला करे फिजी

कोरस:
फिजी के लिए, कभी फिजी, चलो हमारी आवाज गर्व
साथ अंगूठी फिजी के लिए, कभी फिजी, उसका नाम जय दूर और चौड़े,
स्वतंत्रता आशा है, और महिमा, का एक भूमि सहना करने के लिए क्या कभी
बीतना भगवान भला करे फिजी
हमेशा के लिए और अधिक!

आशीर्वाद अनुदान, फिजी
के द्वीपों पर राष्ट्रों के भगवान, ओह सुनहरी रेत और धूप, खुशी और गीत
की किनारे एकजुट खड़े हो जाओ, फिजी, प्रसिद्धि और महिमा से हम कभी
आगे एक साथ
मार्च भगवान फिजी भला करे.
[edit] Transliteration

Āśīrvāda phijī
Kē dvīpōṁ para ōha rāṣṭrōṁ kē bhagavāna anudāna jaisā ki hama mahāna bainara talē nīlē
Ēkajuṭa aura hama sam'māna aura svatantratā kē kāraṇa bacāva kabhī
Āgē ēka sātha
Mārca bhagavāna bhalā karē phijī

Kōrasa:
Phijī kē li'ē, kabhī phijī, calō hamārī āvāja garva
Sātha aṅgūṭhī phijī kē li'ē, kabhī phijī, usakā nāma jaya dūra aura cauṛē,
Svatantratā āśā hai, aura mahimā, kā ēka bhūmi sahanā karanē kē li'ē kyā kabhī
Bītanā bhagavāna bhalā karē phijī
Hamēśā kē li'ē aura adhika!

Āśīrvāda anudāna, phijī
Kē dvīpōṁ para rāṣṭrōṁ kē bhagavāna, ōha sunaharī rēta aura dhūpa, khuśī aura gīta
Kī kinārē ēkajuṭa khaṛē hō jā'ō, phijī, prasid'dhi aura mahimā sē hama kabhī
Āgē ēka sātha
Mārca bhagavāna phijī bhalā karē.
[edit] Proposed change

In August 2008, the draft version of the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, a government document intended to supplement the Constitution, recommended a change in the national anthem. It suggested that the national anthem should be in the country's three main languages: Fijian, Hindi and English.[1]

Mali island project

2011-10-11T02:08:00.000-07:00

from w
A few years ago when you say Mali Island is where Nau Levu (Peceli's mother) came from, they say, 'What, where is that?' But since Vorovoro got moving with the Tribewanted eco-tourism project, Mali Island has been in the news occasionally. Of course if you 'google' Mali you might get a country in Africa! Anyway here's a project in Mali that's been noticed and there's an item in the Fiji Times today about it.

First land care project

Salaseini Vosamana
Tuesday, October 11, 2011

THE first-ever land care group in Fiji was officially launched in Mali Island, Macuata on Friday. The 12-member group was formed after a week-long workshop on land care organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Department of Forestry in the Northern Division.

Secretariat of the Pacific Community's acting director land resources Inoke Ratukalou, who was chief guest, said the group was responsible to monitor the new breed of plant species to maintain a greener environment site.

"We aim to develop our idle land into a resourceful place to generate sources of income for our individual families," Mr Ratukalou said.

"This is the first group to be formed in Fiji and we thank the people of Mali for embarking on this initiative. We know it will surely help them in future.

Va's photos from Fiji Day

2011-10-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

from w
Va posted many photos on her facebook page of the Saturday program for Melbourne's Fiji Day so I have reposted them here. Okay? Our special guest, Ro Kepa, the chiefly lady from Rewa, is in some of the photos. Vinaka Va.

Two Aussies, dressed in matching costumes were sitting with the official guests and I thought they could be the sponsors - from Air Pacific or a bank or something. No, Peceli said they were just two people who go to Fiji occasionally as tourists but they give a lot of help to the villages they visit. Okay, that's democracy at work, ordinary people doing good things.

Fiji Day in Melbourne

2011-10-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

from w
Yesterday was Fiji Day celebration in Melbourne at a rugby ground so despite the dark clouds in the sky we did have good weather and it was a nice time for greeting old friends, some going back twenty years or more! From various tents came the aroma of lovo food, roti and curry, vakalolo and other delicacies. Young men played sevens rugby and kids jumped on a castle of some sort. The main event was of course the traditional welcome to Ro Teimumu from Fiji, an intelligent and compassionate lady of high rank. The presentation of tabua, yaqona, magiti yards of colourful cloth and formal speeches were done very well and our guest's speech was in both Fijian and English and full of wisdom. Our Geelong Fiji group hired a minibus to go up to Melbourne for the day and it was really worthwhile as we remember Fiji today with all the difficulties for our friends over there. I took a few photos of the formal part of the day including one dance.

Volunteer doctor from Australia

2011-09-29T19:26:00.001-07:00

from w
It's happening often in Fiji that young professional men and women volunteer to do tasks in Fiji, from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Japan and elsewhere. It's excellent experience for these young people and of course of great assistance in the projects they participate in. Sarah is a young doctor who has spent several weeks at the Labasa Hospital. One photo shows Sara at the hospital and the other photo is of two of Sarah's new friends who wrote her name in the sand! The Labasa Fiji Times journalist wrote up the story as follows:
Medical student commends service

Serafina Silaitoga
Friday, September 30, 2011

AUSTRALIAN medical student Sarah Peek has taken her hat off to local medical workers for their dedication and commitment in what she describes as a challenging working environment. The medical student from Geelong, who graduates as a doctor at the end of this year, is on a five-week attachment at the Labasa Hospital.

"The hospital staff are great and I just admire them for their dedication and commitment," she said. "For me, the working environment is very different from home which is why I admire them so much for working extremely well."

Ms Peek said the experience made her appreciate the hardship faced by both patients and staff. "The way we do things back home is also different, like the tying of tubes done to mothers so they won't have any more babies, and this is being done in Fiji. In Australia, for a very long time now, we've just used clamps on both sides of the tube and not tie them anymore. So this is one of the different methods I've noted, but apart from that, I just love the staff of the hospital."

Ms Peek said being the only Australian trainee doctor in Labasa had not made her feel homesick at all. "The staff have been kind to me and everyone in the hospital just keeps me occupied throughout the day. I think the people here are so lucky to have such good medical workers looking after them."

Macuata-i-wai island

2011-09-29T15:10:00.001-07:00

from w
Evidence once again is there that there are problems for villagers who live close to the water's edge with the sea swells changing the shoreline. Climate change it seems, or just nature's way? This island was once a significant chiefly island offshore from Naduri but these days only a handful of people live there.

from Fiji Sun
Erosion haunts families

writer : CAROLINE RATUCADRA

9/30/2011

Two families who remain living on Macuata-i-Wai Island in the Northern Coast of Vanua Levu fear that one day they may lose their village completely.

The island is under threat as evidence has shown coastal erosion taking place, claiming the beach forefront.

Island chief, Ratu Jone Matanababa said the island belongs to the Yavusa Caumatalevu with links to the paramount chief of Macuata.

Ratu Jone said only two families remain on the island as majority now live on the mainland at Naduri village, home to Tui Macuata, Ratu Aisea Katonivere.

The others have moved to other parts of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu for educational and work purposes.

“There are only nine people living here permanently and we will continue to do so to protect our land. But with the rising sea level in the recent past, we fear that it will one day consume our village,” Ratu Jone said.

The villagers have reported that sea swells have claimed coconut trees that were planted along the shoreline with the beach front moving 50 metres inland.

If not addressed, Ratu Jone said homes along the shoreline would suffer the same fate.

Left behind on the beach where the coastal erosion has taken place are visible foundations of tree trunks.

“We have seen the effects of climate change and we are working with our young people and children in saving our island.”

“This island should be saved because of its historical significance and ties with the province of Macuata,” Ratu Jone said.

According to Fiji’s history, Macuata-i-Wai was home to former Tui Macuata, Ratu Ritova who was killed because he refused to sign the Deed of Cession to hand Fiji to Great Britain.

“We still have the foundation on Ratu Ritova’s home in the centre of the village and where he was tied up days before his death. History states that he was transported to Levuka where he was killed.”

Despite the challenges the islanders are faced with daily, they are hope authorities will look into their plight.

On Saturday, youths and children of Naduri village converged on the island to plant resilient plant species along the island’s foreshore.

“Climate change threatens our futire like nothing else and unless considerable action is taken now, we risk losing our homes, villages and our way of life,” Naduri Youth Club president, Salome Turukawa said.

Villages on Mali Island

2011-09-28T02:17:00.000-07:00

from w
Vinaka vakalevu to Opete for posting these pictures on Facebook of villages on Mali Island. Ligaulevu, Nakawaqa and Vesi. Not the sandy beaches of the resort islands west of Nadi but they are home of a lovely people - well, our relatives of course!

Geelong connexion with Macuata

2011-09-22T12:09:00.001-07:00

from w
Some of my friends once again are supporting local development in Macuata, such as Joy Baxter. Vina'a va'alevu Joy. Geelong, the largest rural town in Victoria, has a committed group of Rotarians that come and go to Fiji such as to Nabavatu village to help with water pipes, building projects and school gifts.

Unfortunately recent new rules mean that containers full of gifts get stuck at Lautoka wharf as customs duty is now expected on second-hand goods. This is surprising but that story doesn't get into the Fiji media.

from Fiji Times
Geelong gives back to Macuata communities

Serafina Silaitoga
Thursday, September 22, 2011

VOLUNTEERS of the Australian Geelong Rotary Club have helped build two houses in a Macuata village. The group gave back to two families at Nabavatu Village, that used to live in tin shacks.

Group leader Joyce Baxter said her team was humbled to have made a difference in people's lives in Vanua Levu. "We have completed another project in Dreketi," Mrs Baxter said. "We have been coming to Fiji for six years to help the community with material we brought from Geelong donors. The families, one of whom is a single mother and another a disabled man, deserved our help. And after doing a survey of the houses, we chose these two as our priority."

Mrs Baxter said the team also inspected the water piping system built last year. "We only need to carry out minor repairs but otherwise the piping system from the reservoir to the homes is in good condition. We plan to return next year but that will depend on our budget. We have another project we want to set up in Dreketi next year, so if all goes well, then the team may return."

The team also gave medical equipment to the Dreketi Health Centre and helped staff conduct clinics.

The sky in Fiji

2011-09-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

from w
The Fiji Meteorological people posted this strange photo on facebook. What is happening to the sun? They wrote: This image was take outside the National Weather Forecasting Centre in around midday. A circular polariser filter was used to tone down the glare that came from shooting directly into the sun, which resulting in a slightly underexposed photo. The white disk seen here is actually the sun. — with Man in the moon.

Babasiga kids in Oz

2011-09-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

from w
Here are two babasiga lads - now kind-of Aussies - who have won trophies after the rugby and Australian Rules footie season for the juniors. Andrew got a trophy for the Best Back in the rugby and Jordan for the Most Improved Player in the Under 14th St Albans team and came fourth in the vote count which was something considering he'd never played Aussie Rules until this year. Congratulations boys.

New bus Labasa to Savusavu

2011-09-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

from w
The drive Labasa to Savusavu services both local travellers and those who come to Vanua Levu by ferry to Savusavu. It's an interesting trip, a fairly good road, and the scenery is outstanding. Good luck with the bus company who has put another bus on the road because some of those old buses just shake and grind and shriek going up those hills! The photos are by Dave Robinson.
from Fiji Times:
New bus for north
Salaseini Vosamana
Friday, September 16, 2011

PEOPLE travelling between Savusavu and Labasa will be able to catch a better ride beginning this week in the first ever coach bus for the Northern Dvision. This is the latest investment by bus company Dalip Chand and Sons Limited.

"This is the first coach bus for the North, and it features individual bucket seats and television," managing director Roneel Chand said.

The bus began operations two days ago departing Labasa at 9.30am and leaving Savusavu at 1pm.

Mr Chand said it was an investment worth making, especially with good road conditions. "The whole route is tarsealed and passengers will be able to enjoy their journey," he said. Mr Chand said it was important to provide proper and well-maintained buses for the public. "We don't want passengers to be deprived of a safe and comfortable journey," Mr Chand said. He added the coach bus would be available for hire. "The coach has already been reserved by a group for the weekend and its demand has grown within a day. Another call came in for hire for this weekend."

Australian Embassy more offices

2011-09-13T23:15:00.000-07:00

from w
This does sound a good idea - that people on the Western Side of Viti Levu can have a close-by office to put in their applications for visa to go to Australia for a visit, etc. An office in downtown Suva is also a very good idea - out of the rain and sun! The present situation isn't comfortable waiting in a long line along the roadside.
from Fiji Village this afternoon:
Aust High Comm to open visa applications centres in Suva/Lautoka
Publish date/time: 14/09/2011 [17:09]

People will no longer line up outside the Australian High Commission in Suva in the sunny or rainy conditions as the High Commission has now decided to have a new visa application process. A spokesperson at the Australian High Commission said the Australian government has announced the introduction of Australian Visa Application Centres in Fiji.

This system will start from the 26th of this month with the centre in Suva at the Mid City Mall operational from that day. There will be two application centres located in Suva and Lautoka providing more convenient access to immigration and citizenship services. The establishment of a second point in Lautoka will be a first in Fiji, providing greater access to the people in the Western division.

The High Commission said the new application centres will also offer extended operating hours. The opening hours will be 8.30am to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday.

An application service fee of $40 will be applicable.

The High Commission said all applications will continue to be assessed and decided by the immigration section of the Australian High Commission.

Story by: Vijay Narayan

Old pots found on Mali Island

2011-09-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

from w
A good story from Mali Island about carbon dating old pots found there.
from Fiji Times today. Good to get away from politics and rugby! Though it still seems strange to talk about settlements on Vorovoro Island because of the limited water source there.

Early settlers moved to Mali

Serafina Silaitoga
Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Archaeological tests on Lapita pottery found on an island in Macuata last year confirmed that early settlers arrived between 3000 and 3200 years ago.

This is equivalent to those from Bourewa on the Coral Coast in Nadroga, a site presently considered the founder colony for Fiji.

A Canadian team of archaeologists from the Simon Fraser University in Burnaby released a report - Archaeological Excavations on Vorovoro Island - in June.

Headed by Canadian archaeologist David Burley, the report states radiocarbon dating of the undisturbed zone on Vorovoro reveal that first settlement goes far back as 3000 to 3200 years ago.

"These dates are equivalent to those from Bourewa on the Coral Coast of Viti Levu, a site presently considered the founder colony for Fiji," according to the report.

"The early radiocarbon estimate is supported by the style of early Lapita decorated ceramics at Vorovoro, which is similar to decorated ceramics from Bourewa."

The report said Vorovoro sat at the head of Mali island passage and offered direct access to and from the open ocean and was a kilometre from the Vuata and Nalumi reefs which are segments of the Cakaulevu - the Great Sea Reef.

"The Cakaulevu facilitates one of the most resource diverse coastlines in Fiji relative to fish and marine invertebrate species which no doubt was an attractive stimulus for early Lapita exploration and settlement on Vanua Levu."

Tui Mali Ratu Apenisa Bogiso said stories relayed by their forefathers led them to believe that their ancestors first settled on Vorovoro before moving to Mali Island.

He said as the population grew, the elders decided to move to Mali Island. The dates of shifting, however, are not known.

The report supports this story saying: "Traditional history of Tui Mali and the Mali people claim Vorovoro as a founding settlement, following which they relocated to Mali island as population grew.

"This tradition is strikingly correspondent with the archaeological records of Vorovoro in 2010."

A critic of forums

2011-09-07T01:18:00.000-07:00

from w
I was surprised to read an article criticizing forums that are supposed to be fine consultations to help nation-building. Wadam Narsey has noticed five topics that probably won't be on the agenda and is cynical about the whole process.
================================================
Five troublesome ‘real’ challenges for Forum island countries
11:26 September 4, 2011 0 comments

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – Dr Wadan Narsey
A cynical view of these Pacific Islands Forum gatherings is that by and large, they are:
• fully paid carefree holidays for political leaders and their civil servant entourages, in nice places like Auckland, Brisbane, Port Vila, or Nadi (sorry, no more).
• totally funded (and thereby “managed”) by Australia and New Zealand resulting in
• innocuous statements about the Pacific Plan, Pacer Plus, labour mobility, global warming and climate change etc. All resulting in
• no significant change to any Pacific Islanders’ lives, any time soon.
The same may happen again in Auckland this week. Then again, it may not, depending on how independent and genuinely committed are the Pacific Island leaders to the concept of Pacific Islanders’ “unity”.
This particular gathering marking the 40th anniversary of the foundation of PIF will be judged by history on the strength of their statements or progress on the following key issues, where I suggest some alternatives:

1. Liberation of West Papua
It is a sad indictment of the past few years of PIF gatherings that “Big Power Diplomacy” has emasculated the Forum Island Countries (FIC) from expressing their solidarity with the oppressed Melanesian people of West Papua.
They continue to suffer one of the harshest forms of colonialism and exploitation (going on for decades) resulting in a total crushing of basic human rights of the incredibly poverty-stricken Melanesian people, not to mention massive environmental degradation.
Why have the FICs “forgotten” them?
Because the beneficiaries of this colonialism are first and foremost extremely powerful Indonesia, and secondly the largest mining (copper and gold) and petroleum (oil) companies in the world with powerful political connections in United States, Indonesia and Australia.
Australia (and by association, NZ) have historically been intimidated by Indonesia (strong ally of United States) to raise the issue of the independence of West Papua - their most immediate neighbour to the north.
Just as they were intimidated for decades into silence about the murder of the four Australian-based journalists (and a New Zealander) at Balibo in EastTimor.
It does not help the West Papua cause that Australian mining companies are also big beneficiaries of the mining resources in West Papua.
Because of the immense profitability of these mines which pay little heed to the environment, the mining multinationals freely abuse the basic human rights of the West Papua Melanesian people, giving the lie to their glossy advertisements throughout the world about their alleged care for human beings and the environment.
To show their genuine commitment, Pacific Island countries in the Forum, need to
• call for the liberation of their Melanesian brothers and sisters in West Papua;
• call for Observer Status to be given to West Papuan People’s Representative Office;
• agree to wholehearted support their cause in United Nations
• agree to provide scholarships, training and attachments for the Melanesian people of West Papua in Pacific Island countries, and fully funded by the Pacific countries themselves.
It may seem like a “lost cause” at the moment, but it also seemed like that when in the 1970s, when we in the Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific and the Young Women’s Christian Movements in Suva used to support the Fretilin Independence movement and freedom fighters like José Ramos-Horta, for East Timor. Look where Timor-Leste is now.
West Papuan freedom fighters Dr John Ondawame, Rex Rumakiek and Paula Makabory (Pacific Scoop, August 30) likewise need the moral and real support of the free Pacific Island countries and peoples.

2. Labour mobility
Probably the most positive development benefit that most Pacific Island countries could gain is by increasing the access for unskilled labor to Australia which has hesitated for almost a decade on this development, while NZ has gone ahead with a small scheme.
This is a win-win situation which has not materialised because of the lack of vision by Australian politicians, and the power of the trade union movement in Australia which fears the downward pressure that unskilled labour from the Pacific would bring.
Individual Forum Countries should not wait for Pacer Plus (that will take a decade I suspect) to be finalised but should move on this front independently, although it can be incorporated into Pacer Plus once (if ever) that agreement is signed.
Small Forum countries like Tuvalu, Kiribati and Tonga, should move on labour mobility on a bilateral basis with Australia and NZ simply because a wider agreement with Papua New Guinea, Solomons and Vanuatu is too frightening for Australia to countenance.
Regardless of developments on this front with Australia and NZ, FICs should use their grouping to explore enhancing this possibility with United States (which has recently opened up labour access to the Pacific) and with Canada (where there have been major inroads in recent years by many developing countries such as the Philippines and West Indies countries).

3. Defence co-operation
Australia and NZ have had great difficulty in recruiting their citizens for their defence forces, armies and navies. The FICs have a surplus of such people.
Forum Island Countries should pressure Australia and NZ to take reasonable numbers of their FIC defence personnel into special units which can assist Australia and NZ with (a) policing the Pacific against illegal activities through enhanced Australian/NZ navies (especially Tuvaluans and i-Kiritibati) and (b) by forming disciplined land force units, under their management, which can be used in peace-keeping activities though-out the world (and the Pacific).
Such measures ought to seriously reduce such expenditure for FICs, provide employment for young willing FIC personnel, and generate foreign exchange remittances for the FICs.
It may (distant hope) give proper professional training to FIC military personnel, although the counter evidence is that the military coups in Fiji have been carried by officers trained by Australia, NZ and India.

4. Ending rugby colonialism
Despite protests and pleas for more than a decade, Australia and NZ continue their colonialist exploitation of Pacific Island rugby.
While Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have long called for their own team to be included into the Super 12 (then 14, then 15) rugby, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears in Canberra and Wellington.
Sports and politics don’t mix, eh? But Canberra and Wellington do not mind refusing visas to any rugby player related to any one in the Military Regime.
Rugby in the Pacific is not just sports, but also part of the economy, and trade earning valuable foreign exchange.
It could also become a great boost to Pacific tourism.
But with lack of support from Canberra and Wellington, their rugby unions have let a great opportunity fort FICs go begging for more than a decade.
The white-dominated Australian and NZ rugby unions continue their pettiness by refusing to allow Pacific Islanders to play for their home teams if not selected for Australia and NZ, thereby guaranteeing weaker opposition at the Rugby World Cups and other international competition.
It wouldn’t do would it, to have Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga wallop Australia and NZ at the Rugby World Cup, would it? After all, there are not too many “World Cups” left that Australia and NZ have any hope of winning.
Forget the fact that all these rugby restrictions against FIC rugby teams and players are contrary to free trade and World Trade Organisation principles.
FICs should take the opportunity in Auckland to examine whether they should re-orient some of their organised sports (and energy and money) towards American Football, Baseball, Basketball and Athletics.
These are not only huge money spinners in US but, as larger markets, would offer far better opportunities to Pacific sports people, than Australia and NZ currently do through rugby, soccer and netball.
This principle is exactly the same as in trade integration: it is far better for small FIC countries to integrate in sports with large countries like US, than with other small countries like Australia and NZ.
Plus, Americans don’t seem to mind the blacks and browns dominating their sports.

5. PACER Plus
It is guaranteed that PACER Plus negotiations will drag on for years.
Pacific Island politicians and civil servants won’t mind because they are guaranteed endless free trips to meetings and conferences, while endless compromises are sought on every little issue. Some one needs to do a PhD on the endless trivial negotiations over the dead PICTA horse.
With the massive liquid natural gas and mineral developments in Papua New Guinea, you can be sure that Australia and NZ will have opened new bilateral fronts for PNG, totally independent of PACER Plus negotiations with the other FICs. (Expect more and more studies and statements by Australian “think-tanks” on PNG which will have suddenly become “more interesting intellectually”).
The rest of the FICs can be expected to chew the PACER Plus cud endlessly, while legal and technical compromises are sought that please every minor little interest in Fiji (oops, not at the moment), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and all the other small countries, the latter having virtually nothing of economic value to offer Australia and NZ (except control of large areas of sea and air space).
The FICs have already implicitly indicated to Australia and NZ that they would like to continue their “beggar status” by refusing to put any of their own money into the Chief Negotiator’s Office for PACER Plus, to ensure that the their PACER Plus negotiators will be accountable to them only, and not to Australia and NZ.
This way, FICs can always complain that Australia and NZ were controlling the agenda of the Chief Negotiating Office by controlling their financing.
It is not that FICs cannot afford the $10 million dollars that are needed. Look at the wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ funds in PNG, Fiji and Solomon Islands.
Indeed, the FICs, while annually complaining that there is too much control of Forum Secretariat agenda and senior staff appointments by Australia and NZ, have never demanded that they themselves should pay for the budget of Forum Secretariat and therefore have them accountable.
Indeed, how many Pacific Island leaders would themselves pay for their own attendance at the Forum meetings? Sorry, themselves yes of course, but their teams of civil servants? Hmmm.
FIC leaders seem to have never heard of the cliche “he who pays the piper, calls the tune”.
But don’t expect this handout mentality on either PACER Plus or the funding of the Forum Secretariat to change at this forum meeting or any other.

Dr Wadan Narsey is a former professor of economics at the University of the South Pacific and a former Fiji parliamentarian.
Dr Narsey’s writings on regional trade and sports issues may be read in “PICTA, PACER and EPAs: weaknesses in Pacific island countries’ trade policies”. Pacific Economic Bulletin, Vol. 19 No 3. 2004. Many other articles in The Fiji Times and Islands Business, especially on rugby colonialism in the Pacific, can be found at www.econ.fbe.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=7319

Volunteers in Macuata

2011-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

from Peceli
I read this piece this evening in one of the Fiji on-line news items - Fiji Times. I was talking to Joy Baxter yesterday on the phone from Labasa. Joy and her team go to Fiji nearly every year as volunteers to help the villagers in Dreketi area. Vina'a va'alevu. Meanwhile two of our containers full of hospital beds, books, computers, etc. from Geelong have been parked in Lautoka - since February - because somehow the customs procedures are just not working like they used to. Money is now being asked for seonnd-hand goods which are ready to be distributed to schools and hospitals.

Aussies return for fourth year

Serafina Silaitoga
Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Three members of the Rotary Club of Geelong from Australia with two villagers of Nabavatu take a break during the building of a new home at Nabavatu. The group has been coming to Vanua Levu for the past four years. Picture: SERAFINA SILAITOGA+ Enlarge this image

Three members of the Rotary Club of Geelong from Australia with two villagers of Nabavatu take a break during the building of a new home at Nabavatu. The group has been coming to Vanua Levu for the past four years. Picture: SERAFINA SILAITOGA

VOLUNTEERS of the Rotary Club of Geelong have returned to help improve living standards of families in Macuata.

The Australian group who have focussed their help on the village of Nabavatu in Dreketi arrived last week to repair two family houses and survey their water project done two years ago.

Group member Joyce Baxter said the team consisted of carpenters, plumbers, retired nurses and health workers who have also helped the Dreketi Health Centre staff with screening diabetic patients.

"This is our fourth visit to the village and we have helped the people of Nabavatu improve their water supply and building a new reservoir for them.

"So we have returned to also inspect the reservoir we built two years ago and see whether it is working fine and so far all is well," Mrs Baxter said.

Since arriving, the group has built one house and is almost done with the second.

"These houses are in need of desperate repairs so we have rebuilt the homes with new timber and framework.

"We have also brought medical material for the Dreketi Health cCntre which we used to screen patients and we will leave it behind for the staff to use," Mrs Baxter said.

The Rotary Club has worked closely with the people in Vanua Levu over the past four years.

Mrs Baxter and her team have brought clothes and food for poor families and helped improve living standards in the villages.

Climate change and the Pacific

2011-09-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

from w
On the agenda of the South Pacific Forum will be the topic of 'Climate change' and how small atolls in the South Pacific are faring as the sea rises. Here is a discussion on ABC radio on Pacific Beat/
Kiribati issues highlighted to UN Sec General

Updated September 6, 2011 10:20:14
A climate change action group in Kiribati is seeking international help to fund water tanks for outer islands. Many of these communities are only three metres above sea level and get their water from wells which have become contaminated with salt water. And with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on a flying trip around the Pacific, the social and economic impacts of climate change are in the world spotlight again.

Presenter: Cameron Wilson
Speaker: Linda Uan from the Kiribati Climate Change Action Network
Listen: Windows Media
UAN: What's happening is that it's affecting the lives of the most vulnerable, young children as well as the ageing community, so we have people having diarrhoea, vomiting, all the diseases that come with water that's not suitable for drinking.

WILSON: Where is the fresh water coming from then at the moment? Do these people have any access to fresh water?

UAN: At the moment, we have a water lens, it is under the island and this lens collects fresh water with people collecting every day from the wells and also with the water system from the government going in the pipes to other settlements, that water becomes thinner and when it gets thinner, it also becomes salty and brackish.

The alternative is rainwater, of course, but we need to have water tanks to collect them in.

WILSON: So what is it that you're actually asking for to get this program of water tanks up and running?

UAN: Well, fresh water is a need and without water tanks, it is not easy to collect water in quantities. People at the moment are collecting in buckets, 20 litre buckets and coolers, but they are not big enough to sustain them for months. With water tanks 5,000 litres, 10,000 litres, they're very good because they can sustain families over a longer period of time.

WILSON: Is there enough reliable rainfall though to make use of five 10,000 litre water tanks?

UAN: Before we had a drought, now we're in the rainy season and we have rain about two, three, four times a week, so there is a lot of rain coming and we need to have the containers or the water tanks to be able to collect them in.

WILSON: And where do you want these tanks located?

UAN: There are many places that have iron roofing, there are also community centres in all villages who have permanent buildings with iron roofing to collect the water for the communities.

WILSON: Do you know how much money you need for this?

UAN: No, because we're not talking about just one island. We are talking about the whole nation.

WILSON: So where are you or who are you asking to help fund this?

UAN: NZAID has been doing a lot of water work here with the different groups in the government, like the Kiribati adaptation program, so it is one area that has been very active in this research. I suppose NZAID will probably be one that is looking into this, but other donor countries will also be able to look at this real need.

WILSON: Now the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, has just been in Kiribati to talk about climate change and the associated problems like this water shortage we're discussing. How hopeful are you that his discussions internationally will draw more attention to this issue?

UAN: Well, just by his coming here, there was a great moral boost for everybody in the country, there was live broadcasts to all island communities in the whole of Kiribati. He spoke to children, he spoke to everybody and it was really good to hear what he was saying about his own campaign as he said, seeing the problems is also believing. And I suppose that is what we have been trying to get out to them, to the international community, because they don't see and experience the challenges that we're having to live with everyday.

WILSON: So in many ways, someone of his standing I guess helps tell that story?

UAN: Yes, we certainly hope so. We've been doing our bit to raise awareness, but to have such a wise and respected leader in the Secretary-General to the UN adds more weight to what we are saying. We're not pretending, we're not making up things. These are the realities of living in Kiribati.

More on South Pacific Forum

2011-09-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

from w
Fiji to remain excluded from forum

By Tamara McLean in Auckland
From: AAP
September 06, 2011 1:09PM

SMALL Pacific nations have agreed Fiji should remain excluded from the peak regional body until the military-led nation makes solid steps towards democracy.
A meeting of nine countries last week concluded that Fiji, suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum in 2009, should be invited to rejoin.

But New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said today that none of these Melanesian or Micronesian leaders had conveyed these views to him, and instead supported the current hard-line stance of sanctions and exclusion.

"I think the consensus view very much is that the forum's position of excluding Fiji should be maintained," Mr Key told journalists following a meeting with the small island states.

"However, everyone wanted to see democracy restored as quickly as possible."

He said a number of leaders, far from defending Fiji's military regime, were concerned that elections promised by leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama for two years time may not happen.

"There was a view expressed by a number that they're anxious to see Frank Bainimarama will actually carry out his commitment to hold elections in 2014 given that the commodore has let down the forum on a number of occasions," he said.

Fiji was suspended following Bainimarama's failure to restore democracy in the wake of the 2006 coup.

In a meeting in Nadi last week, the commodore appeared to garner support from the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

In a communique, the group endorsed Bainimarama's plan to delay elections until 2014 and indicated it would push Australia and New Zealand to agree.

However, history has shown small island states do not necessarily go into bat for Fiji with regional superpowers offering much-needed aid and trade opportunities.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/fiji-to-remain-excluded-from-forum/story-e6frfku0-1226130543271#ixzz1X9W83jLH

South Pacific Forum

2011-09-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

from w
The South Pacific Forum kicks off in New Zealand but Fiji won't be there - not invited, but there are some strange representatives that don't seem particularly relevant to the South Pacific - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, US Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides, and senior representatives of Hungary, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Spain, Finland, Kyrgyzstan and Bhutan. Wkhy is Kyrgyzstan there, why Spain?
The answer - in an article by Fiji casts shadow on Pacific forum
Rowan Callick, Asia-Pacific Editor From: The Australian September 05, 2011 12:00AM:

The latter countries are coming to lobby for seats on the UN Security Council for different terms, including competitors with Australia for the term starting in 2013. Fiji has been campaigning strongly, at regional meetings and in New York, for Luxembourg instead of Australia.

well, that isn't really what the Forum is about is it?

Julie Gillard will be there, cooling her heels and hoping no-one is going to mention asylum seekers and leaky boats crossing the wild seas below Indonesia. She isn't really an expert on Foreign Affairs like Rudd, the PM she replaced. He is much more comfortable with dealing with leaders from many other countries.

The 'problem' of Fiji will haunt the meeting no doubt - what to do with that 'difficult' military regime in the Pacific who according to the grandmas and grandads of the Pacific such as Australia and New Zealand has gone down a path that was never expected by the great man of the Pacifid Ratu Mara.

Money matters will be prominent no doubt. The notes below are from the Australian article.

NZ is planning for a forum focused on the positives, encapsulated in the cliche "sustainable economic development". It is opening the forum processes as never before, to businesspeople to participate.

Canberra has sought for a few years to persuade the UN's top administrator to come to the forum and is especially keen to persuade Ban to commit more resources to helping island countries adjust to climate change.

A free trade agreement between Pacific island countries and the EU, which gives the islands $68 million a year in aid, is in the early stages of discussion.

The extension of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations -- a multilateral free trade deal -- from the 14 forum island countries, who have a loose arrangement in place, to include Australia and NZ, has attracted some controversy, with critics of trade liberalisation claiming Australia has sought to hijack the process.
...
Hayward-Jones thinks Pacific Island countries will likely put pressure on Australia at the forum to explain why the Australian seasonal worker scheme is not delivering on its promise. This issue will attract renewed interest because new PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has offered access to workers from smaller Pacific countries to the enormous construction and resource projects getting under way in PNG.

Hayward-Jones says the debt distress of some countries, notably Tonga and Cook Islands -- which has in part been caused by an over-reliance on soft loans from China -- may be raised.

But, she adds, Fiji is "the proverbial elephant in the room. Bainimarama's actions show he continues to take no notice of the forum or pressures from abroad to relax Fiji's Public Emergency Regulation or make any credible move towards elections." And some island countries exhibit a split personality on the issue.

Satish Chand, an expert in development economics at the University of NSW, based at the Australian Defence Force Academy, says: "The fact the forum is alive and well 40 years after its creation is a mark of success. However, it is time this regional body carried out a stocktake of its achievements."

Three pressing initiatives require political backing in Auckland, he says: labour market integration, management of the Pacific Ocean including innovative seabed mining, and climate change.

Stewart Firth, from the Australian National University's Melanesia program, says China's influence is growing in the Pacific, "strengthened by its truce with Taiwan over competitive aid-giving".

"In response, the US has rediscovered the South Pacific. The American aid program to the region has resumed after a break of 16 years . . . And [the US] seems to be losing faith in Australia and New Zealand's ability to maintain its interests in the region."

Influence in the islands is being contested, he says, with the United Arab Emirates announcing a $US50m ($47m) aid program, in an area "where it appeared to have no obvious interests".

Gillard, though, has up her sleeve an especially attractive tool for maintaining Australia's influence in the region: a bipartisan political deal to double foreign aid to $8 billion a year or more from 2015, with a big slice of it earmarked for the Pacific.

Copeland at the IAAF

2011-09-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

from w
We have been watching the IAAF every night this week and last night we were happy to discover that Leslie Copeland was representing Fiji at the IAAF in Korea this week. He is a champion javelin thrower and threw more than 76 metres yesterday. However this wasn't enough to get into the final cut. Anyway, congratulations Leslie for throwing at this level. Here is his story:

ParticipantLeslie Copeland D.O.B. Apr 23, 1988 Discipline(s) Athletics Various

Barely in his 20s, Fijian javelin thrower Leslie Copeland is well on his way to becoming an international star of field athletics with dreams of striking silver and gold. But to get where he is, he has already had to overcome considerable obstacles, having grown up in relative poverty in a rural part of the remote Pacific island chain.
When Leslie was nine his father died, leaving the young family of six children with no bread winner. Despite having seven children of her own, Leslie’s aunt was able to help and Leslie and his siblings remained in education.

At secondary school, Leslie took up javelin and proved to be a natural. He set new records in every category at school and by age 17, he was a national champion. He then won a scholarship to the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Vanuatu.

Near the end of 2007, the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) offered him the chance to train for nine months in Brisbane, Australia. But while Leslie was able to train, he still needed considerable financial support from home. When he returned to Fiji, he was determined he should have a steady job to fall back in the future so he could look after himself and his extended family. Last year, he enrolled on a civil engineering course.

But Leslie is still totally determined to rise to the very top of his sport and both eyes are focused on reaching the 2012 Olympics in London, where he intends to become the first Fijian to bring home a medal.

“There were times in the past where I had lost all hope,” says Leslie. “But I am looking forward to achieving my academic goals and if possible one day in the near future, my dream of being a top athlete.”

spend time with the turtles

2011-09-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

from w
If it is really law that you can't have youth fellowships, women's meetings, Sunday School, prayer groups, choir practices, circuit meetings, etc. in the Methodist Church of Fiji, perhaps everyone can spend time watching the turtles, caring for the environment, delighting in the beauty of God's creation. There is much to enjoy - and to clean up too.

Islands for turtles

Salaseini Vosamana
Friday, September 02, 2011

TWO islands in the district of Nadogo in Macuata have been identified as nesting sites for turtles. This year, Nukuvadra and Katawaqa near Kavewa Island have so far recorded 50 nesting sites with a total of 5000 hatchings.

Nadogo district conservationist Emosi Time said the two islands were monitored to safeguard the turtles since the Turtle Decree was put in place in June. "Most people were not aware of the Turtle Decree and they consumed a lot of turtles and eggs illegally," Mr Time told The Fiji Times. "After various awareness programs and warnings, the islanders complied with the decree. Sometimes we experience a slight change in climate and we monitor the movements of the turtles because they can't move to higher ground. It is a challenging job being a watchdog for turtles but I always regard them as human beings since they are also living creatures."

Mr Time said more manpower was needed to monitor the nesting sites. "I am the only conservationist and I need more assistance because of the distance and the fuel cost for transportation. I have a passion for turtles and I will do my best to safeguard these creatures."

Tongan Kiwi a winner

2011-08-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Valerie Adams celebrates setting a new championships record 21.24 to win gold in Daegu (Getty Images)

from w
Congratulations to the Tongan/Kiwi lass who won the shotput at the IAAF in Korea yesterday. A great representative of the Pacific. She threw over 21 metres.
Women's Shot Put - Final - Threepeat for Adams, with a 21.14m Area Record
Valerie Adams celebrates setting a new championships record 21.24 to win gold in Daegu

Daegu, Korea - Valerie Adams lived up to her billing as one of the warmest favourites in the World Championships by clinching a hat-trick of World titles and did so in style by equalling the championship record thanks to a humdinger of a final round throw. With the gold medal in her pocket and the pressure lifted the giant New Zealander found the distance she has promised all season to fire the metal ball 21.24m – to match the same distance as Soviet Natalya Lisovskaya achieved when she snared this title in 1987.

Adams then punched the air in delight and sprinted out of the back of the circle mysteriously picking up a piece of paper and pointed at it and bouncing up and down in a jig of joy.

Behind, Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, who struggled to find her absolute best, took a second World silver with a best of 20.05m and 0.03 back in bronze was Jillian Camarena Williams, who plundered the USA’s first ever medal in this event.

Yet really this was all about Adams and it is worth evaluating her success in statistical terms. Besides setting a new personal best and an Area Record it was also the widest winning margin at 1.19m in the history of this event and the longest throw outdoors for 11 years. She also claimed a hat-trick of World titles – to match the achievements of the German great Astrid Kumbernuss - and the Kiwi also became the first woman in history to claim an IAAF World Championship Shot Put medal in four successive editions (she also won a bronze in Helsinki 2005). Given the fact she is still just 26 the potential for more records being broken in future seem imminently possible.

Yet looking back on her 21.24m throw it is hard to imagine that in the first half of the competition she was struggling to find her form and looked vulnerable to defeat.

Adams had opened with a sloppy 19.37m and it was Lijiao Gong of China who held the lead after the first stanza by just 0.01 from Camarena-Williams with 19.64m. Ostapchuk was third (19.58m).

The second round saw Adams and Gong both foul while Ling Li – who is coached by Kirsten Hellier, the woman who formerly guided Adams – catapulted up the leader board into the gold position with 19.71m.

It was in round three, though, the shape of the competition changed as the quality stepped up a notch with two familiar faces and one rising star.

Adams finally found her range with a 20.04m effort to take control and Russia’s Yevgeniya Kolodko, the European Under-23 champion, improved her personal best by a full 0.45m to post 19.78m to briefly move into silver. She was quickly relegated to bronze, though, as Ostapchuk advanced to 19.87m.

Round four saw Camarena-Williams the early leader come back into the medal frame in spectacular fashion as she produced a stunning 20.02m – the second longest throw of her career – within a whisker of the gold.

Yet Adams slammed the door firmly shut on anyone with any pretensions of challenging for gold when she fired the metal ball out to 20.72m with her fourth effort which all but the title.

The penultimate round saw more flip-flopping in the race for the minor medals. Gong briefly usurped Ostapchuk and moved into bronze with 19.97m only for Ostapchuk to respond with 20.05m to leap two places back up to silver.

The final round was all about Adams’ throw and in another nice touch she is now a three-time World Shot Put champion just like her mentor, the Swiss Werner Gunthor, who won the men’s World title in 1987, 1991 and 1993.

Steve Landells for the IAAF

Fiji, Aussie Rules and also SPG

2011-08-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

from w
I've been looking up news on the web about the Opening Day of the South Pacfic Games in Noumea which is today. The Fiji team there has about 150 athletes and staff. Radio Australia has some photos, and a video on the opening ceremony. The flagbearer is Tulo, a weightlifter. Our family are interested in South Pacific athletics as one of the young men in our family has been a champion thrower. We can't watch the SPG though and we are watching the International Athletics meet in Korea which has three hours of TV a day on SBS2. It's a great way to watch the world champions.

From Fiji Times today: Special treat
Emoni Narawa In Noumea
Monday, August 29, 2011
+ Enlarge this image
Team Fiji members at a church service hosted by the Fijian community. Yesterday was rest day at the Pacific Games. Picture: ATU RASEA in Noumea
TEAM Fiji was hosted to a special BBQ lunch by the Fijian community in Noumea yesterday. The athlètes had their church service at the Noumra Assemblies of God Church before enjoying a lovely luch at the Keondo Beach outside Noumea.

Team Karate, Fiji women's rugby, basketball, volleyball and few sevens rugby players were hosted to a lovely reception on the beachside.

Fijian community secretary Mr Damutoro said it was another way of showing their support to Team Fiji.

'We did this to show our support the team. Despite the fact that we are here for a long time, Fiji is always be in our hearts and we cherish all these athletes that will represent Fiji at this Pacific Games,' he said.

Mr Damutoro who is from Nadroga has spent more than 20 years in New Caledonia. His son Tomu is married and also lives in Noumea. Tomu has two daughters who wore Fiji t-shirts to show their support during the Fiji and Tahiti soccer match on Saturday.

------

Thursday, August 25, 2011.

The Fiji team participating at this year’s Pacific Games left our shores this morning for the games venue in New Caledonia.

The first lot of 157 athletes and officials flew to New Caledonia this morning via a chartered flight with Air Pacific.

Sports Minister Filipe Bole who was the Chief Guest for the athlete’s farewell to the games gave some encouraging advice and reminded the athletes of the reason they are chosen to participate in the games for their beloved country Fiji.

“I salute you all for braving cold mornings, hot afternoons and difficult circumstances, to push yourselves to perfect that run, that lift, shot or swim.”

“I trust that you will do Fiji proud whether in victory or defeat. True sportsmanship is about expressing what you have been trained in, to the best of your abilities and within the rules of the game,” Bole said.

Air Pacific is the official airline for Team Fiji and Chief Executive Officer Dave Pflieger was on cloud nine while name three of their staff participants to this years games.

“I would also like to note how proud the Air Pacific family is to have three of our own, be a part of Team Fiji at the Pacific Games.”

“James Lenoa, one of our Logistics Officers and something of a household name in karate circles, is part of Team Fiji.”

“Stanley Ooms, a Second Officer on our B747 aircraft, will be giving his all in the paddling competition, and Captain Henry Stephen, one of our B747 Captains is a Team Fiji official for shooting,” added Pflieger.

The second team will be leaving for New Caledonia this Friday while the third and final contingent will leave for the games venue on the 3rd of next month.

The Pacific games will be staged from the 27th of August to the 27th of September.

SOURCE : THE JET

-----------

Meanwhile there's move afoot to get Pacific people more interested in another football code - Aussie Rules and a Fiji team was in town recently for this sport. Here's a news item from Radio Australia about this.

Australian football looks to Pacific

The Australian Football League is hoping for new recruits from the Pacific region. [ABC]
Last Updated: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:31:00 +1000

The Australian Football League says it hopes investing in the Pacific Islands will help provide a new generation of elite footballers. The AFL has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Australian government to help develop the code overseas, including in the Pacific. Under the deal, the league will hold at least one exhibition game in the region every year and the government will help the league find sponsors for offshore events.

The AFL's international development manager, Tony Woods, says he sees big potential in the Pacific. "We've been investing in the Pacific for some time," he said. "We're investing in development in the code in PNG, all the way round the Pacific through to New Zealand. It's really exciting for us. For us, it's almost an untapped market in terms of the potential for talent.

"Also there's great participation in the Pacific - we find that kids just love playing our game."

The distribution of TLTB money

2011-08-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

from w
Some changes in the distribution of lease money to members of Fijian clans have not been accepted by everyone it seems as at least one group has decided that the leader does require a better share because of the numerous responsibilities he or she has to fulfill. Yet the law is the law, the police are saying. A young man free of all care should get the same amount as the older man who is responsible for numerous obligations. I can see that one rule fits all, does not seem fair in Fijian rural society and that taking away the more generous portion diminishes the opportunity by a chief/leader to serve his or her community wisely. The acronym TLTB is the new title of the older NLTB.
From Fiji Times today:
Clans legally bound

Serafina Silaitoga
Saturday, August 27, 2011

TRADITIONAL clans including its trustees are legally bound to implement the equal distribution formula of lease payments, says the iTaukei Lands Trust Board.

TLTB general manager Alipate Qetaki said the requirement for equal distribution of proceeds of premiums and rents were embedded in law under the Regulation 11 of the iTaukei Land (Leases and Licences) Regulations which became effective on January 1 this year.

"TLTB and all trustees of mataqali and yavusa funds from TLTB are legally bound to implement this distribution formula.

"Funds for community schemes which are approved by the Minister for iTaukei Affairs are first deducted under assignments under Section 14(3) of the TLTB Act.

"However, the balance has to be distributed to all living members of a landowning unit equally."

Mr Qetaki made comments in response to the decision by a yavusa in the district of Seaqaqa to continue to give the yavusa head his share under the old distribution system.

He said the onus to comply with the policy and law rested squarely with the TLTB and trustees of bank accounts.

"There are legal implications associated with non-compliance if and when complained of and detected.

"The consequences are potentially serious as it also amounts to breach of trust responsibilities.

"As for the Tikina Council resolutions, it is most unfortunate.

"The senior staff of the provincial council and government officials present ought to have provided advice, so that any resolutions made are implementable under law and not contrary to law."

A consultation of Fiji Indian Methodists

2011-08-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

photo taken at the last Consultation of some of the delegates:
from w
It's good to hear that the Consultation is taking place in Suva at Dudley Church this week. The last time this international group met was in Dandenong, Melbourne and was a very fine meeting of old and new friends and we really enjoyed meeting friends there. Very best wishes to the delegates from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.

Hindi-speaking Methodists meet in Suva

writer : JAMES BHAGWAN

8/25/2011
One hundred local and international members of a Hindi-speaking Methodist Fellowship will converge at Dudley Church in Suva for three days of worship, sharing and discussion on the topic “The Roots and Fruits of Mission: Revisiting the Legacy of Indian Mission” from tomorrow.

The fellowship meets every two years, providing a forum for members to evaluate and focus on situations in different Hindi-speaking congregations.

The consultations are hosted alternately by the Indian Division in Fiji and member fellowships in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Founder of Hindi-speaking Fellowship Consultations and former president of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Reverend Dr Daniel Mastapha said each consultation was unique and had its own identity.

“These consultations are the celebrations of our faith, in an atmosphere and an environment of worship service, Bible study and fellowship with one another and around the meal table in a cordial and friendly atmosphere,” he said.

He said the gathering was a consultation and not a conference because there was no executive power.

“Minutes are not kept, only reports. There is no Constitution because delegates are the centre of the consultation and celebration.”

Fourteen years after its last gathering at Dudley Church, named after the woman whose legacy of compassion and boldness in mission marked the beginning of a caring mission to the children of the “Girmit,” her spiritual descendants of this mission will meet and catch up. They will join in fellowship and ask themselves the questions “Where to from here?” and “What is the future mission of the Indian Division as the winds of change blow in Fiji?”

The Consultation will also include a Bhajan Festival and welcome dinner, combined worship services and the dedication of “Pauline Campbell House”, named in honour of the founder of the Fiji Methodist Church’s Deaconess Order and champion of the cause for women to be allowed to be ordained ministers.

A welcome and farewell church service

2011-08-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

Methodist Church president Reverend Ame Tugaue, left, and general secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu at last night's church service. Picture: ATU RASEA

from w
It's rather unique, but that's Fiji of course. Last night the Methodist folk in Suva had an interesting evening - a welcome to delegates and a farewell to delegates at the conference that wasn't a conference. And two of the clergy with 'difficulties' were there.
from Fiji Times today:
Padres stay

Timoci Vula And Mary Rauto
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

THE Methodist Church decided to keep its leadership - including president Reverend Ame Tugaue and general secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu - for another three years. After accepting the State's cancellation of the permit for the three-day conference that was scheduled to begin in Suva yesterday, the church was allowed to induct 11 executives in a special service last night. Church acting general secretary Reverend Tevita Banivanua said the church was thankful for permission to have last night's service.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Land Force Commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga, at a press briefing yesterday, revealed why the conference was cancelled following a meeting with Mr Waqairatu, Mr Banivanua and Reverend Apete Toko at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks on Monday night.

He said former church president, Reverend Josateki Koroi, was also personally approached but "said he was not ready to attend that meeting". "We had a lot of give and take, and take all sides of the meeting to make sure no political agenda was brought to the meeting," Col Tikoitoga said.

He said the meeting would allow for a platform to negotiate on the conference proper with a fair range of senior reverends, and also address the continued involvement of Mr Waqairatu and Mr Tugaue.

Col Tikoitoga said the two must step down because they faced charges for breaching the Public Emergency Regulation (PER).

He said the church executives disagreed with that and maintained a person remained innocent until proven guilty.

"Reverend Ame Tugaue was willing to step down but Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu refused.

"We ended the meeting with no clear direction so we cancelled the meeting altogether," Col Tikoitoga said.

"We do sympathise with them (followers) deeply but we have to do this for the sake of the people in Fiji.

"The general public must be made aware that the Government has the right to issue or withdraw a permit. We thought it was the right thing to do.

"I must also say that politics is still very rife in the Methodist Church, some politicians at the helm of the church still haven't recognised the Government or the Prime Minister.

"Some reverends are working very hard to bridge this gap," Col Tikoitoga said, adding it was the politically-motivated few in the hierarchy of the church that were "disrupting the forward movement of the church."

Unless that changed, he said there would be no "forward movement".

Col Tikoitoga said given that it was a church, it was the morality of the position that should have counted more.

"That's where we were coming from, you can't have an accused person leading the conference," he said.

He said Government had "exhausted all its avenues" and now the onus was on the church to decide on its next move.

Suva Circuit Minister Reverend Sakaraia Koli, in his message at the church service last night, apologised to the 1000 delegate members if they were disappointed that things did not turn out as planned.

He thanked them for coming and told them to thank God for whatever difficult situations they faced.
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And on another issue, there's a need for a forgiveness process to take place in regard to something that happened many years ago when there was a kind of coup within the church and much unpleasantness towards Rev Josateki Koroi, who is now aged eighty and standing firm and preaching strongly. One of his sermons is quoted in a blog by Discombulated Bubu. Always an individual thinker, Jo.

Church vows to clean up
Mary Rauto
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
ONE religious denomination has taken it upon themselves to clean their house.
Methodist Church assistant secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said since the overthrow of former church president Reverend Josateki Koroi in 1989, there had never been a reconciliation.
"The Methodist Church has been troubled by what happened in its history in 1989 there was a church coup, where the president was removed from office," he said.
"From then on we have been trying to go through reconciliation.
"We feel that what is happening now in the church might be a good time to look at what is wrong because we have not cleansed ourselves properly from our past sins.
"That is needed to be done."
Mr Nawadra said while some of the ministers involved have passed on, Mr Koroi and Reverend Manasa Lasaro were still around.
"It would be a good thing to see them come to a reconciliation relationship before they go on ahead or we might go first," he said.
"That's our hope that we will try to do that.
"The plan of that is not with us right now but we will talk about that later on."

The Methodist Conference is on but...

2011-08-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

from w
The Fiji media and blogs are busy with cautious tales of tomorrow's start to the Methodist Conference in Fiji that has been banned for a few years. It's hard to see why mild-mannered Methodists are treated differently from other Christian organisations in Fiji. The agenda is structured and barely even touches on social justice issues - it's mainly housekeeping matters, elections and receiving reports, and of course having tasty meals and yarning with friends you only see once a year.

From Fiji Village today:
Govt officials/Military to be part of conference
Publish date/time: 22/08/2011 [13:13]

Military and government officials will be part of the Methodist Church of Fiji conference as observers.

Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni said they want to ensure that the church follows the conditions set and deals with activities of the church and the spiritual development of its members.

Lieutenant Colonel Leweni said the military and the government hopes that the church members do not discuss political issues in the conference starting from tomorrow.

He also makes it clear that the church’s current President Reverend Ame Tugaue, General Secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu and executive Reverend Manasa Lasaro are not allowed to chair any of the meetings during the conference.

The Methodist Church conference will be held from tomorrow to Thursday at Suva’s Centenary Church.

The first item on the agenda tomorrow is the election of the new President and General Secretary.

Story by: Vijay Narayan

High tides and Pacific Islands

2011-08-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

from w
This morning we attended the launch of a photographic exhibition about the people of Tuvalu and Kiribas with reference to their difficulties with the sea rising. Oxfam organised the three exhibitions and the local Member of Parliament, Richard Marles, spoke at the launch. He is passionately interested in the Pacific Islands peoples and is currently on the Pacific desk for the Australian government. Only two Islanders were at the launch - no meke, no lovo - Keleta Avene who is from Tuvalu and Peceli from Fiji. I think the topic is very important and in Fiji the sea surges along the coast of some of the Fiji islands has been noticeable. There is something in the talk of 'climate change'.

Below are the notes on the web about the exhibition:
Oxfam’s Land is Life: Photographic climate change exhibition comes to Geelong

Oxfam Australia is a non-profit organisation working towards a just world without poverty through contributing to long-term development projects, responding to humanitarian emergencies and campaigning for change.

Oxfam is currently raising awareness of the impacts of climate change through the Land is Life photo exhibition, which will be showing free of charge in Geelong throughout August 2011.

Land is Life powerfully illustrates the impact that climate change is having on people of the Pacific Islands of Kiribati and Tuvalu, whose land is being slowly eaten away by storm surges, unpredictable weather and the salination of arable soil.

This free photo exhibition shares a story of human determination and resilience in the face of great adversity. Rodney Dekker, award-winning documentary photographer and multi-media storyteller, has captured how climate change affects daily life on these fragile islands.

Land is Life is showing free of charge at:
• National Wool Museum - 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong: 5 - 14 August
• Geelong West Library - 153b Pakington St, Geelong West: 15 - 25 August
• Belmont Library - 163 High Street, Belmont: 15 - 25 August