Canterbury Fijian Church

from w
Peceli and I spent most of Sunday at the Canterbury Uniting Church in Sydney. (We went up there by plane for a family wedding on the Saturday.) Canterbury is a Fijian congregation with four or five other church communities as part of the parish. The morning worship was at 10.30 and at 4p.m. the three vanua groups gathered for second services scattered around the church compound. So there was opportunity for talking with old friends and making new friends, kava drinking (which was tabu for a while) and delicious meals of Island food. They have built a new hall which is very fine and useful. I went out with the Sunday School teenagers rather than listen to a sermon! They have a beaut big Sunday school with many older students. As next Sunday is Palm Sunday and in the Fijian custom - Children's Sunday, four girls were practicing their sermons under the tutoring of a fine young teacher. It was a lovely day for Peceli to meet up with friends, and I even met up with an old Lelean student. Now if he is now 67, what does that make me feel? Canterbury has one of the best Fijian choirs I have ever heard and they must miss their annual trips to Fiji conferences. Let's hope there'll be one next August. Vina'a va'alevu to our friends- old and new - at Canterbury, for the lovely time together. Praise God that we can use our own languages, customary ways, and music in our migrant community churches.

An Oz wedding

from w
Peceli and I attended a beautiful wedding of our nephew Alex and his bride Laura, in a delightful rural setting past St Alban's two hours and more out of Sydney. We drove by rental car after flying from Avalan by Jetstar to Sydney, and had to cross one river by ferry. As driving through Sydney suburbs is chaotic with many twists and turns and choosing the right lanes, Bibi, our Fijian nephew, came to our resuce and was navigator for half the journey. Vina'a va'alevu Bib. More news later as we are on the internet at a hotel this morning! We plan to attend the Canterbury Fijian Uniting Church later this morning.

New Foreign Affairs man from Canberra

from w
Bob Carr sounds very promising, a man of intelligence, humanity, and experience. I hope he can deal well with Fiji in the future. Here is an article from today's Age with a summary of his maiden speech in the Australian Parliament. His idea of 'an overlap of cultures' as a way of life where there is respect despite difference, many cultures and religions side by side without exaggeration is very fair.

History exhibits possibilities of tolerance and respect
Bob Carr
March 22, 2012
OPINION

We can aim for an overlap of cultures rather than a clash of civilisations.

LAST month, US soldiers burned copies of the Koran at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Days later, young people destroyed 238 war graves in Benghazi, Libya.

Intentional insult or error of judgment, such acts can look like cultures at war, as did the Taliban when it dynamited the Buddhas of Bamiyan, carved in stone 15 centuries ago.

At such times, people might believe we are being tugged towards the nightmare that American writer Samuel Huntington predicted in his 1996 book, The Clash of Civilizations.

And yet … I remember King Abdullah of Jordan saying in a speech at Davos: ''Let us avert the clash of civilisations, and help the overlap of cultures.''

An overlap - the idea is inspiring, especially compared with the alternative notion of monochrome monoliths burning one another's books and smashing their statues.

There have been, in the world's history, some very fine cultures of tolerance.

In southern Spain in medieval times, Muslims, Christians and Jews lived and worked together in the polity known as al-Andalus.

As Maria Rosa Menocal wrote in The Ornament of the World, it was a society that had the courage to ''live with its own flagrant contradictions''.

I've sometimes asked Chinese leaders as we've talked over dinner, ''What was your favourite dynasty?''

In my experience, the Chinese usually nominate the Tang, ruling between 618 and 907. It was the time, according to one of my interlocutors, ''when China opened to the world and the world opened to China''.

Its sometime capital was Xi'an, a walled city of a million people with mosques and churches and Buddhist monasteries, where ancient texts from India were being translated into Chinese. Persian princes in exile made it their home.

The grid-like streets were thronged with tradesmen, horsemen, acrobats and musicians who had travelled from central Asia along the Silk Route. It was cosmopolitan. The empire was full of foreigners learning from Chinese civilisation.

Sydney businessman John Azarias recently wrote an account of Greek-Alexandrian poet Constantine Cavafy, whose ''constant companions of the mind were the multi-ethnic worlds of the Seleucids, of the Ptolemies, of Byzantium and of the Ottomans''.

Again, the culture was untidy, contradictory, pluralistic - not a culture demanding conformity to a single religion or language.

Surely rich enough to fit King Abdullah's ideal of ''an overlap of cultures''. As I heard Bill Clinton say once: ''Our differences make us interesting. Our common humanity is more important.''

What can we Australians do to steer the world away from Koran burnings and the bombing of Buddhas and towards peaceful overlap and pluralism?

We can make sure that our multicultural society continues to tick over. There is no need to fetishise multiculturalism … but simply to relax into our easy-going Australian ethnic and cultural diversity, based on tolerance and respect.

We can enhance our work in the region for interfaith dialogue. We can work with Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim community, which continues to spurn extremism. As Burma democratises we will give it aid to educate and feed its children. We will encourage it to resolve complex internal conflicts and to entrench human rights. But we will also encourage it to value the evidence of its pluralistic past - like the precinct in Rangoon that includes a synagogue created by Jews from Iraq in the 1890s sitting next door to a 1914 Sunni madrasah which, in turn faces a Hindu temple and a Hokkien temple, with Methodist, Catholic and Anglican churches all nearby.

Running foreign policy is not just about protecting our national interest.

It is also being an exemplary global citizen when it comes to protecting human rights and the world's oceans.

We can also promote and defend cultural diversity, the idea of a planet of 7 billion that celebrates and does not deny its contradictions.

This is an edited text of Senator Bob Carr's maiden speech yesterday.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/history-exhibits-possibilities-of-tolerance-and-respect-20120321-1vk1g.html#ixzz1pndrnVli

Micro managing our lives

from w
It seems that these days the Labasa people are being instructed in all sorts of things by the local police. Gossiping is a crime. Leaving children home alone is a crime. And now we are told that it is not the job of schools to teach manners, but parents. Okay it's primarily a parenting role to instill into children good manners, excellent behaviour, ethics and a knowledge of right and wrong, or good, better and best. But to say that schools are only about academic achievement is incorrect. Teachers surely incorporate ethics and the desire for behaviour into their class management and in use of computers, books, sharing resources, respect for adults and fellow students and also in the way the play sport, the way they behave in the buses and so on. I do agree though that there are times when parents do put priorities a bit askew - running errands by the children is considered more important than doing homework, choir practice comes before talking with your teenagers about how they feel about life etc.

From the Fiji media I read this:

Better parents and teachers
Fred Wesley
Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Villagers of Naqai outside Labasa Town were given an important message late last week.

They were told teachers are not responsible for imparting ethical behaviour and discipline to children. That responsibility, they were reminded, fell on the shoulders of parents.

It was all part of a residential community policing program by police in the northern division.

The school, they were told, was not an institution for imparting ethical behaviour, proper manners and conduct but instead it was only meant for preparing children to be academically stable.

Under the new Crimes Decree, they were reminded that parents could be charged with negligence if children complained about being left home alone.

Villagers were told some children did not perform well at school because of parental negligence. They were told that some parents had developed a habit of leaving their children alone at home.

In another part of Labasa, financial constraint was cited as a major cause for children drop-outs.

Fiji Teachers Union general secretary Agni Deo Singh said studies revealed that 48 per cent of students did not complete high school education while 2 per cent failed to reach Class Six. He was speaking at the opening of the new FTU office in Labasa at the weekend.

Students living in rural areas, villages, and outer islands, he said, usually dropped out because of a lack of financial support.

The two issues share one common factor. They both affect our children and how we educate them.

Obviously there will be differing views on the importance of parental guidance and lessons learnt from teachers.

It is not hard though to accept that both can play important roles in nurturing children.

While parents have a responsibility to provide the basic necessities for children, there's no doubt about the fact that a great teacher can make a difference in a student's achievements. It thus important that we recruit, train and reward such teachers.

The bottom line is we need better parents.

Parents who are focused on their children's education can also make a difference.

Ideally, as parents, we should be monitoring homework; making sure children get to school; rewarding their efforts and talking up the idea of furthering their education. Let us, as parents, get involved with our children's learning.

Better parents can help make teachers more effective. Better parents will also set priorities that place their children on a very high pedestal.

Vatuadova church plan

from w
Our village near Labasa has a new project - a new church. The first church was built about twelve years ago and it is now too small for the number of people coming to worship - some come out from Labasa. Vatuadova village started as two houses way back in about 1967 and is the extended family of the Ratawas with very good houses and cane farms. Vina'a va'alevu Epi Dakai, Ateca, Mila, Degei and others and to those who are hardworking with the new project. When Dakai talks about 'children abroad' this is a bit a hint isn't it for us guys in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, England and elsewhere! The Fiji Times wrote up this story. A nice positive story amidst some of the disquiet of other news of the day.

Villagers build house of worship
Salaseini Vosamana
Saturday, March 17, 2012

Vatudova church building committee chairman Waisele Tuidama marks the construction of the new village church by laying the foundation of the building. Picture: SALASEINI VOSAMANA

VILLAGERS of Vatudova outside Labasa Town will soon serve God in a composed environment following the groundbreaking ceremony of their new church building yesterday. The villagers decided to embark on the $120,000 project because the existing building could not cater for the increasing congregation.

Vatudova church building committee chairman Waisele Tuidama said the villagers had put aside part of their money received from lease payments for the new building.

"The villagers have taken a strong stand to put aside some funds from lease payments for the project," Mr Tuidama said. "The existing building is always full every Sunday because those people in nearby villages and settlements usually attend the service. Construction work started last week and we are expecting to complete the project in six months time," he said.

Mr Tuidama said the villagers, who were from the mataqali Nadogo in Wailevu, had made it an effort to contribute part of their income towards the development of their church.

Mataqali head Epi Ratawa said the project was a major investment. "It has become a norm for us to contribute one tenth of our income to the Lord because we believe it will spawn more blessings for us," Mr Ratawa said. "This project is a major investment we are working on this year and our children who have resided in other parts of Fiji and abroad have significantly contributed funds. We will not grow weary in trying to create a better house of worship because whatever we are doing will be rewarded one day," he said.

When is chatting gossiping?

from w
What will they think about next? Who is going to listen in to the conversation of a group of women at the marketplace? Since when has gossiping/talanoa/yarning/telling stories about people been a crime? Sobosobo! Talking is what we women do!

Gossiping is a crime
Salaseini Vosamana
Friday, March 16, 2012
A GROUP of women vendors in Labasa were yesterday told to refrain from gossiping because it was against the law. Organised by the community policing officers in the north, the short discussion was aimed at bringing women together to inform them about the new Crimes Decree associated with women issues.

In her formal address, police constable Mere Mocetoka told the women that anyone was liable to spend one year in prison if found gossiping or making bad remarks about another person.

"Every day, new faces visit the market and women are fond of sitting together in groups to make gestures and gossip about them," Constable Mocetoka said.

"It's an attitude we have grown up with but it is something the law recognises as illegal. Gossiping is a contributing factor to fights and hatred among one another, which is something very common in women," she said.

Constable Mocetoka said they decided to organise the brief discussion because they received complaints of gossiping from women last week.

"We have been receiving complaints since last week and the best way to solve this problem is by telling them (women) the penalties they are likely to face when they are charged.

"Nowadays, an old woman can be sent to prison if she is found gossiping.

"The law won't entertain such unsuitable behaviour," she said.

The women thanked the force for informing them about the new Crimes Decree, something they were not aware of.
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And also here's an article from the internet - that gossip is good for women!
Gossiping is healthy?
June 7th, 2011 | Author: admin

Gossiping ?..Mmm..mm!!.spontanously commented about someone else looks, friend’s affair, what and why someone doing or not doing are common behaviour isn’t it?!, particularly among women. Talking and laughing about beauty, men, fashion even watching tv gossip seems fun indeed, not surprisingly many women can stand gossiping for hours.
Is gossiping have benefits? Even healthy?.

Based on researches lead by Prof. Stephanie Brown from university of Michigan, shows that gossiping activity which always associated with women, is good for their health. Wow, ..how come?!. Stephanie and collegues explained that women tends to feel much eager and happier when they enjoy gossiping with their friends. Those actifivity can reduces stress, anxiety and worries. Gossiping can improve progesterone hormone. This hormone has significant role for women. Its affecting ability to interact with peoples. Research shows that women with less-gossiping activity experiences decreasing progesterone hormone. On the other hand, women with high-gossiping activity will be much happier, flexible, healthy and live longer.

Why women are gossiping?

Curiousity. People particularly women easyly curious about other people’s affair.

Women has need for sharing every informations about their daily lifes.

Women seeing gossiping as a media to seek informations around her.

Women loves a detail information about anything than men.

Some study shows that women more confidence to talking about something than men.

A study shows that women has powerful capability to spread information than men.
Most women liking and enjoying talking than men.

Women more expressive than men to talk or exposing about something than men.

Talking, and then go on to gossiping isn’t easily thing to avoid.

People or most women tends to easily interested, sensitive and focused on negative informations.

Surprisingly, human brain have strong capability to catch and remind negative than neutral or positive information.

Study shows that people having tendency to talking, gossiping, or even judging others.
Advantages of gossiping

A scientist Robin Dunbar from Oxford university says that gossiping isn’t always bad thing, it can be a media to collect unity among people.

Researcher Eliza Bliss-Moreau says that by gossiping, we can learn and stay away from any bad thing that people we are talked about. Its mean we can learn from bad examples.

Even gossing has positive effect, it doesn’t mean gossiping turned to a bad habit. So, go gossiping girl!,..but control it ok, don’t let it ruining our daily life by gossiping time to time and forgetting any others that is more important. Do you agreed ?..

Sea levels rising at Kiribati

from w
At first it seemed that the people of Kiribati want to move to Fiji, but no, the proposed purchase of land at Savusavu is for investment purposes they say. Good idea anyway, as we do feel pity for the people of Kiribati and also Tuvalu are having trouble with the sea rising and they eventually will have to move away from their islands.

Church offers land for Kiribati
Serelisoni Moceica
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
MORE than 5000 acres of land in Savusavu has been offered by the Anglican Church to the Kiribati government for investment.The freehold land that belongs to the church group costs more than $16 million.

The comment was made yesterday by the Kiribati High Commissioner to Fiji, Reteta Rimon, as she confirmed reports that the land sought by Kiribati was for investment and development purposes and not for relocation as reported in the media.

"There are plans to purchase this land and the church group has offered us this piece of land, which the Kiribati government seeks to use for investment like agricultural purposes," Ms Rimona said.

She says the agricultural purpose is to address matters like food security that is being threatened because of the effects of climate change in their island homes.

"This is a Kiribati government initiative and has been approved by Cabinet," Ms Rimon said. The Kiribati ambassador said the plans were yet to be endorsed by the Kiribati parliament. "The idea is supported by government and all that is left is the parliament's endorsement, the parliament is sitting in April," Ms Rimon said.

She said talks with the Anglican Church was still in progress. The church's Trust Fund will comment once talks have been finalised.

Kiribati, which straddles the equator near the international date line, has found itself at the leading edge of the debate on climate change because many of its atolls rise just a few feet above sea level.

There's usually a catch

from w
An article in Saturday's Fiji Times sounded an excellent opportunity for people who have been paying off their mortgages for years and years to the Fiji Housing Authority to be pardoned and get the debt paid off. Some have paid more than twice the original cost over the years. It seemed a good idea to investigate if it helps people in villages with several houses purchased through the Fiji Housing Authority. Okay, a family member checked it out and it's only for individuals and not for houses bought communally by a clan. Now that does seem unfair and favours only certain home-buyers and not others. There's usually a catch to 'good news' stories in Fiji isn't there!

Here's the story:

Home assistance
Elenoa Baselala
Saturday, March 10, 2012

A $2million government assistance will see at least 300 customers of Housing Authority having their debts partially or completely written off.

And yesterday, one of the 300, Navosai resident Peni Waqaimoala was still reeling from the news of his windfall. "I have no words to describe how I fell, I had the best night of sleep in ages," Mr Waqaimoala said. "I am thankful to the government and Housing Authority for having the vision of providing assistance to people like my family."

Yesterday, HA confirmed that the first 16 homeowners who have qualified for the scheme would have received their letters this week. "In this instance, we are extending the social housing policy to assist more homeowners by considering those who have paid over two times the principal loan amount, are retired and can prove genuine financial difficulties in repaying their home loans," Housing Authority chief executive Alipate Naiorosui said.

"The assistance under the social housing policy is in line with the announcement by the Prime Minister in January, 2011 to ensure that all Fijians have access to decent and affordable housing by 2020, which saw 92 families having their home loan accounts completely written off.

"Initially under the policy, homeowners who had paid over two and a half times the principal loan amount, are retired and or who are facing genuine financial difficulties were considered for full or partial write off", he said.

HA spokesman Dwain Qalovaki said if existing Housing Authority homeowners were facing genuine financial difficulty, they were requested to contact HA to see if they qualified under the policy.

"In special cases where the homeowners are temporarily facing financial difficulties, we are able to facilitate freezing of interest charges to their home loan account. The financial assistance to the 16 homeowners this month totals over $200,000 of both government grant and HA provisions. Housing Authority is expected to assist more homeowners in the coming months by providing full or partial write offs," Mr Qalovaki said.

The main objective of the policy is to encourage home retention and ownership.

Oz new Foreign Affairs minister

from w
Bob Carr apparently relented and decided to take up a Senate position and the Foreign Affairs role after Rudd moved to the back bench. A good man, smart and popular I think, so I wonder what will be his relation to the people of the Pacific Islands, especially Fiji.

Former premier was ready to take the stage
March 1, 2012
OPINION


If Bob Carr had become foreign minister he'd have brought to the job extensive contacts, very firm views, and an activist approach to Australia's diplomacy. Carr would have been determined to make a splash, both in the Senate and on the world stage.

According to those with whom he has shared his views, he would have very likely closed down the Australian drive to get a seat on the UN Security Council.

The expansion of Australian activities in Africa would have been reviewed in favour of more representation in Chinese and Indian cities and the Gulf area.

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And the government would have been looking carefully at its guiding principles for dealing with the US-China competition in the Asia-Pacific region.

Carr knows personally a dozen members of the US Senate, and calls Henry Kissinger a friend. He has spoken to many in the Chinese leadership and is at home talking about Chinese dynastic history.

As he settled into the job, one of his first tasks would have been to consult those who had earlier run foreign policy, including former prime ministers Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard, and former foreign ministers Gareth Evans, Alexander Downer and Kevin Rudd.

In the Senate, the theatrical Carr style might have attracted a few more journalists to tune into the upper house's question time.

Although the NSW ALP and, it seems, the PM, were attracted to the radical idea of the Carr experiment, Stephen Smith and presumably some others were not. Smith had had to stand aside when Rudd demanded the foreign affairs job.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/former-premier-was-ready-to-take-the-stage-20120229-1u3fi.html#ixzz1nwAPxAyW
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and more recently
from ABC
Carr rejects talk of softening Fiji stance
By New Zealand correspondent Dominique Schwartz

Posted March 09, 2012 20:26:46

Foreign minister designate Bob Carr has rejected media reports that he is planning to soften Australia's hard stance against Fiji.Mr Carr was speaking in Auckland after holding informal talks with his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully. Mr Carr said he had noted Friday's announcement by Fiji's military leader Frank Bainimarama about planned public consultation over a new constitution.

Both Mr Carr and Mr McCully greeted the announcement with caution and said time would tell if the Fiji's rulers were truly moving towards democratic elections. The former New South Wales premier also says he will be seeking more information from the ACTU about the human rights situation for workers in Fiji. Mr Carr says he wants to further investigate claims that any union official who speaks out against the interim government still risks life imprisonment.

"Certainly one of the tests we'd consider in the future is the right of organisation in the workplace," he said. "That's a fundamental human right. I'd expect to have more conversations with unionists, in particular the ACTU."

Mr Carr said his hour-long discussion with Mr McCully about the region was wide-ranging and helpful. He will meet prime minister John Key on Saturday morning.

It is his first overseas trip since being named the replacement for Kevin Rudd. He is due to be sworn in as a senator and foreign minister on Tuesday.

Want to buy an island in Fiji?

from w
A cautionary tale - though there are a few islands for sale, beware of the complicatons of land matters in Fiji, cautions one David Aubrey of a marketing consultancy. From today's Fiji Times. Of course it always astonished me the asking price for a piece of land, that was, once upon a time, given in good faith to a stranger for a gun or two to use for a few years then revert to the Fijian people of that place. There was no understanding of land title 'for ever' those days.

Islands for sale
Elenoa Baselala
Saturday, February 25, 2012

A TOURISM market findings report claims that there were 14 private islands listed for sale early this year, their price tags totalling over $98million.

David Aubrey of the Aubrey Development Marketing Consulting company said the Market Findings report on buying a Fiji island was produced as tourism started to build again.

"Fiji has a great future and it is an ideal place to buy a private dream island but there are many matters to be taken into consideration before purchase," he said.

The 14 properties were listed for sale by three offshore companies but it was difficult to achieve a total understanding of what each offering entailed, Mr Aubrey said.

In the report, Mr Aubrey stated that the legal framework for ownership of land in Fiji was quite complex.

"One matter that is causing considerable consternation and uncertainty is unregistered land that should not be sold but there are instances where it has," the report said.

"This represents a daunting scenario for a would-be purchaser who wants a prudent investment to accompany the slice of paradise.

"Contrary to wide held belief, not all private islands are owned by luxury chain resorts, multimillionaire film stars and business tycoons for whom money is not a problem. Indeed several of the islands are owned and operated by independent business that seized the opportunity to continue in business but far from the corporate world."

The report warned potential buyers of unregistered land that could be subject to challenge after purchase, misrepresentation by sales agents, different agents quoting different prices, islands with no beach as well as incomplete island resorts, which may be costly to complete.

It also cautioned potential buyers to be aware of government taxes, accessibility, local traditions and politics, local weather systems, logistics of supplies and the length of time to get approvals ù to name a few.

The information contained in the report was sourced via island brokers, interviews with existing resort operators from small to medium to large scale international brand, government information, CIA data, Internet blog sites following nine consecutive trips to Fiji, Mr Aubrey claimed.

"It is grassroots research with real data on property transactions very difficult to obtain. Potential buyers should treat this information as a guide only and seek professional assistance prior to entering into due diligence or a contract of sale."

A girl from Batinikama

from Peceli,
Another story of a Vanua Levu woman doing good work. Anshu comes from Batinikama, a place out in the countryside of babasiga. From the Fiji Times.
Anshu sets example
Solomoni Biumaiono
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Picture by SOLOMONI BIUMAIONO

A life changing experience has turned this environmental scientist from her conservative upbringing to a more robust and outgoing businesswoman.

Anshu Lata, originally of Batinikama now owns You and Me Talent Agency. But it has not always been this way for this Labasa girl.

Anshu or Zeus as her workers affectionately call her, first started off on the normal career path that is expected of many children around Fiji. Get an education, earn a degree, get a good job and then settle down.

"The only work we knew about back then was to be a teacher, to be a doctor, or to be an accountant. Those are the big jobs and everyone was all just gearing towards this," Anshu says.

She was a good science student in Form Four and she stuck to that throughout high school and eventually into the University of the South Pacific where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.

"Looking back at it now, we never had good counselling, if you will, when it comes to making career choices while we're still back in school. Unlike today, students are provided with more options and given good advice about what subjects they could take," Anshu says.

To her, this meant a big thing because she had always wanted herself to be heard. She had always wanted to be independent and she secretly harbours a creative streak.

This was only brought to the fore after she left USP to start working and somehow gained new insights and knowledge that challenged her to become the person that she is today, a businesswoman.

"After I left JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) in 2007, I met many different people from different walks of life and backgrounds and I started to learn new things. I guess that new life experience changed me a lot into the kind of person I am today," she said.

Three years after leaving JICA, Anshu finally started a talent agency business and in her first year, she managed to find a lot of work, organising fashion shows and models, organising movie premiers and being a judge at the 2011 World Supermodel Australia Teens show at Amanuca Island.

And along the way she also met and made a lot of opposition, something that she says, is all part and parcel of running a business.

"As the saying goes, you can measure your success with the number of enemies that you have but to look back at what I did, I did start my business on an impulse but that has not stopped me at all.

"It has helped me to be a better person where I learnt to have more self belief, I learnt to be more patient, mature, more cautious and to be analytical," Anshu says. She admits that there were times when she wanted to quit, but one thing that kept her going was stubbornness, which surprisingly, was not a newfound quality she had learnt most recently but something she had learnt from a young age while growing up in Labasa.

Just two weeks ago she was on the verge of losing the Miss Earth Fiji franchise that she has with Carousel Productions Limited of the Philippines but she persevered and only confirmed it a few days ago.

"I want to be a good businessperson and to be a good example for all the youths and all the dreamers out there who want to make something of their lives," Anshu says.

A shop in Nabalebale

from w
It's good to see initiative in a Fijian village and here's a story about a woman who set up a little shop in Nabalebale, a village on the road between Savusavu and Labasa where the scenery is quite picturesque. The road isn't dusty though - it's tar-sealed.

It's back home for Arieta
Solomoni Biumaiono
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
(find picture) Arieta Seru outside her dainty shop at Nabalebale village. Picture: SOLOMONI BIUMAIONO

REMEMBER that dusty road, when it touches your feet, it finally registers in your head that you're back home?
Back to your village so to speak! Here is the story of Arieta Seru, the shopkeeper at Nabalebale Shopping Centre in Vanua Levu.
Arieta started off from her village in Urata several years ago to go to Suva to start a new life. She made some progress with her life in the big city. In Suva, she found a husband and is now the mother of their four children but then, after eight years in Suva, she sought a new beginning. And she found it nine months ago when she was given the opportunity to go back to her village.

"It was our family's arrangement. You see, my cousin runs a business in Suva and we discussed that I come here to Nabalebale to run this shop for him ù I jumped at the chance," Arieta says.

The Nabalebale Shopping Centre is one of two shops at Nabalebale village. It is located at the junction of the Wailevu West Road and the Labasa-Savusavu Highway which is a prime spot and a rest stop for those travelling down to the villages of Wailevu West and Bua. The shop sells groceries of every kind and Arieta surely runs a tight ship with her business even though she didn't receive any formal training business management.

"We do not have any problems with our supplies as our shop is constantly stocked by wholesalers from Labasa. It's only when we need something urgently do we order from Savusavu. Apart from that, in running a business, it's important that you keep records of your accounts because it's a business and you need to run it like that," Arieta says.

In the past nine months, Arieta says sales have been good. She's even managed to turn a little profit from her business venture. "I do not allow any credit so people understand my way of running the shopé" she said. "I am always careful when it comes to how I spend.

"I watch my spending because sometimes when money starts flowing into the business, shopkeepers always want to order more for their shops."

She has no regrets about her decision to turn a new leaf back home. In fact, she is content with what she has achieved in the short time she has spent as a shopkeeper. For her, this is one way of going back to her roots.

Villages in Macuata

from w
Before the Labasa tourism guys start to think of promoting Vuo and Naduri they need to identify what tourists coming on these boats really want? and where they've been in other days on the cruise e.g. Savusavu, an island or two. Do they want to go shopping, see Indian culture, visit a village? There may be a prettier village near Savusavu. Naduri also is rather far away from Malau where the tourist boat will be. Vuo is close of course but it's not your 'idealised' bures around a splendid green as in the old postcards. However the people of Vuo, especially Tui Mali, are very used to visitors as they were host to the tribewanted eco-tourism project on Vorovoro Island for a few years and many of those visitors came to Vuo as they established a relationship with Tui Mali and the workers at Vorovoro.

About Naduri village - Do tourists really want to see a site of old posts of the chief's bure with a dramatic story of the past, as at Naduri? We've been told one version of the building of it by a senior gentleman from Naseakula, Sakaria, who has now passed on, but I wonder if ordinary tourists would be interested. However the people of Naduri and Seaqaqa nearby do splendid mekes and ceremonies - (several stories on this blog about these) and also their advocacy for keeping the Great Sea Reef healthy and also saving the turtles would be a point of interest.

I think a picnic in a good park in Labasa town with stalls might be better. What about Naseakula village - there's no mention of that. And no mention of Mali Island and Vorovoro, a short boat trip away, but of course tourists might be worried about getting back on time.
from Fiji Times today:
Village groups to promote culture
Serafina Silaitoga
Monday, February 20, 2012
VILLAGE tourism committees have been formed to enhance the promotion of the Fijian culture in tourism.

Labasa Tourism Committee president Paul Jaduram said Vuo and Naduri villages in the province of Macuata were the first to set up the committees.

"We have just formed a committee in the village of Vuo and we discussed some areas they need to beautify in the village for our tourists.

"The village committee will have to put up some items that identify the Fijian culture and they can organise other activities such as weaving of mats and meke," Mr Jaduram said.

He said the next cruise liner would arrive in April.

"We have chosen Vuo because it was the first establishment of workforce in Labasa with the hospital built there.

"At that time there was no Labasa town and not much developments had taken place so a bit of a history for our visitors would be good," Mr Jaduram said.

He said a clean up program in Naduri Village had begun.

"I have spoken with the Tui Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere and he informed me that they are cleaning up the area and would do more work in the village before we can take our visitors there," Mr Jaduram said.

Two babasiga boys

from w
It was the High School swimming sports yeaterday and our two grandsons, Jordan and Andrew, aged 14 and 12, got a few ribbons so won points for their house. A week ago one decided to learn to dive and trained every day, but his first leap was a bomb!

Permits but monitoring

from w
Permits okay, but why the monitors of ordinary church meetings? They still don't trust the Methodists when they pray and discuss church work?
From Fijilive today:

Methodist Church gets permit for meeting
February 09, 2012 12:45:25 PMA+ A-|||
A number of Methodist churches around the country will now be able to have their general meetings after receiving approval from the Fiji Police Force.

This was confirmed to FijiLive by Director of Police Operations SSP Rusiate Tudravu.

According to Tudravu, the Divisional Police Commanders will giving out permits and there will be terms and conditions which the churches will have to adhere to before, during and after their meetings.

He said a group of officers will be monitoring and observing the meeting.

Meanwhile, Methodist Church Assistant Secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra is thankful to the Fiji Police Force for granting permits to the church.

Rev Nawadra said churches in Suva, in Vanua Levu and those near towns will be able to conduct their meetings.

He said they are still awaiting approval for those churches in the outer islands.

" It is difficult for those in outer islands like Ono-I-Lau to get a permit since they are not close to a police station so they have to submit their applications in Suva."

All churches with permits are expected to have their meetings in the first Sunday of next month.

By Mereani Gonedua

A young doctor in Labasa

from w
The heroes in Fiji today are the medical staff and teachers and ordinary people doing extraordinary things in difficult times. Good on you, people like this young man who is an intern at the Labasa hospital.

from the Fiji Times:
Overcoming hurdles
Geraldine Panapasa
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
photo: School days ... Dr Tavo, right, with friends in 2009. Picture: SUPPLIED
WHEN life throws you a curved ball, you give it your best shot and never look back. That's exactly what Doctor Richard Tavo did when his mum was left to support the family after the untimely death of his father in 2001.

The 24-year-old is based at the Labasa Hospital for his internship year and hopes to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynaecology.It was no easy journey getting to where he is today with all the pressures and distractions of young adult life.But focus, commitment and perseverance pushed Richard towards a profession that values life.

"Ever since I was admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva for burns in 1990, I knew I wanted to become a doctor," he said from Labasa. "Apart from that, my father's death in 2001 when I was in Form Three also made me even more determined to become a doctor and help the sick."

Second in a family of five siblings, Richard has set precedence for his younger sister, Talei, who is also in her final year for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program at the Fiji National University's medical school. Both siblings believe passion to help make a difference in the lives of the sick are what makes their work very rewarding.

"I attended St Marcellin Primary School then moved to Marist Brothers' High School from 2001-2004," said the 2010 FSMed Students Association president. After high school, I went to the University of the South Pacific to do foundation science in 2005 and entered FSM on a Public Service Commission scholarship a year later. The thought of failure and the shame I would endure if I failed medical school pushed me to go even further with my studies. I'm glad I did because now I get to do something I love and am passionate about."

The medical school campus was his home for six years and it was this experience that made him comfortable with life away from home.

"In my final year at FSM, I did my trainee internship at Savusavu Subdivisional Hospital and we had to bring cases to Labasa so being in the Friendly North isn't exactly a new experience," he said. "Labasa is actually a nice place to work. I think the only challenge I've faced so far is the language barrier ù it's something that I'm learning. I believe there is a time for everything. When it's time to study, I give it my all. God and my family has been the backbone encouraging me to do better. Growing up without a father also motivated me to achieve what I have today."

Behind every great man is an equally successful woman, and for Dr Tavo, his ladylove is none other than his Tongan partner Kaloafu Nofoakifolau, who also graduated from the same medical college.

"She was always there for me, helping and encouraging me to succeed. She is also the backbone of it all," he said. "I think if you have the passion to help the sick and serve your country and its people then you should go for it ù take up medicine for the right reasons. The sky's the limit."

Today, Dr Tavo is one of many lifesavers committed to improving health in our country.

Floods in Vanua Levu

from w
The Western side of Viti Levu was given most of the publicity recently but it's really bad in Vanua Levu also, such as around the Labasa area. It is still raining they say.
from the Fiji radio news:

North roads, bridges under water
Monday, February 06, 2012
A number of roads and bridges in the North are under water following continuous heavy rain.

In Labasa - the Urata bridge is under water and closed to all traffic The Nakama bridge under 10 feet water and Closed to all traffic.

The Sarara and Vunimoli roads are under 8 feet water and closed totraffic Tabialagi bridge is alo under water and closed.

There is a power black-out in Wainikoro.

The Waiqele Irish Crossing has been washed away.

Close to 300 hundred families live in this area and most of the houses are located near the Waiqele River.

Advisory Councilor - Chandra Shandil is urging the residents to move to higher grounds as the water level in the river is rising.

“At the moment it is rainng very heavily, with winds blowing very hard and the water in the Waiqele river has risen. I would like to urge the parents and the children not to cross the river because the situation is very bad.”

Meanwhile - along the Wairiki Road Irish crossing, the approach has been washed away and underwater and it is closed to all traffic.

The Nakama low level crossing alomg Naduna road had its approach washed away towards Waiqele Road. It is now closed to all traffic.

The Nasaqa Road crossing is under water and closed to all traffic.

The Waidamudamu crossing along Korotari Road is under water and closed to all traffic.

And the Nasivara Road crossing is under water and also closed to all traffic.

In Seqaqa - the Buavou crossing and Savulutu road are under water and closed to all traffic.

Nabouwalu - the Nanono bridge is under four feet water and closed to traffic.

At Solevu in - Bua- the bridge is under water and Closed to all traffic

The Nadenu, Rauba and Sidney settlement- are all experiencing heavy rain with strong winds.

Villagers have been advised to move to Luke Secondary School as it has been turned into an evacuation center.

The people of Tukavesi in Cakaudrove have been experiencing strong winds for past few hours.

The Station Officer at the Tukavesi Police Station Kemueli Baledrokadroka told FBC News the strong winds are accompanied by heavy rain and is felt by all villages.

Baledrokadroka says the weather was good in the morning but it changed suddenly after midday.

Another Tukavesi villager Aisake Senikarawa told FBC News - their village is now under water.

Breadfruits are strewn all over the village and big trees have fallen down.

A police boat was swept away by the currents.

Savusavu is still experiencing strong winds - but rain has eased.

A town resident Kenani Tadulala told FBC News - they had rain from late yesterday until this morning.

The winds have just started to hit them. Tadulala says - even small yachts and boats are docked and no one is travelling by sea.

Reports coming in say that the Bagata bridge is under 1.5 meters of water and closed to all traffic.

There is a power failure in Savusavu town.

Vunivesi, Varativa and Naloaloa areas are experiencing a rise in the water level





Report by : Elenoa Turagaiviu; Shireen Lata

A writer, like father, like son

from w,
It's good to read in the Fiji Times that Josua Tuwere had written a book and is available now - fiction -not like his dad Dr Sevati Tuwere who has written excellent studies on the Fijian vanua and the lotu.

Tuwere releases e-book
Frederica Elbourne
Friday, February 03, 2012

Josua Tuwere at his home in Tacirua East, Suva. icture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
A FORMER Fiji Times journalist has released his first book which, poetic in nature, contains characters that every day people can identify with.

Based on the Pacific concepts of journey and identity among Fijians, Tongans and the English, the book- Selo ! Selo ! Selo ! A Pacific Odyssey by Josua Tuwere is about a Fijian warrior and the history of his clan.

Mr Tuwere says the characters in his book have traits of those found in biblical literature, Greek and Oceanic mythology.

He says Saunivanua, the main character, is a heroic but deeply flawed warrior with daily life experiences similar to what we are faced with today.

Available on the website amazon.com, the e-book is an epic poem which traces the history of Saunivanua and his existence through tales of conflict, displacement and love.

He said the book was drawn from Pacific and Christian epistemological frameworks and was a poetic infusion of Fijian, Tongan and English concepts of journey and identity.

"Saunivanua represents the Pacific islander trying to find his place and identity in this world.

"He is entirely fictional but hopefully a lot of people will be able to engage and identify with him and also with the other characters, especially Natoba ù who was betrothed to him ù a woman, who is strong and resolute and has a mind of her own," Mr Tuwere said.

He started his book last September after he locked himself away at Deuba where he wrote 11,000 words in a week. "I already had worked on a collection of poetry that I wanted to edit in a week but on the first day in front of the laptop I had an inspiration of sorts to try something new. I didn't know what form it would take and originally thought a collection of short stories would be the result."

Mr Tuwere, a former communications officer with the Regional Delegation in the Pacific for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), worked for two years as a reporter for The Fiji Times during 1999 and 2000.

Vinaka Virisila

from w
From Fiji Times:
Global honour for Fiji activist
Ioane Burese
Thursday, February 02, 2012

FIJI Women's Rights Movement's executive director Virisila Buadromo has been awarded the Women Have Wings inaugural Courage Award. She is one of three women from around the world Rwanda's Aloisea Inyumba and Cameroon's Chi Yvonne Leina, are the others.

Ms Buadromo received the award in recognition of her being an outstanding female human rights activist living in the courageous spirit of Amelia Earhart.

A statement said the endowment for the award was created from the selling of the sister-ship to Amelia Earhart's trusty Lockheed Electra 10-E, the airplane in which she attempted her global flight.

This year is not only the inaugural year for the award but also the 75th anniversary of Amelia Earhart's global flight! Ms Buadromo was nominated by a current Women have Wings Council adviser Kavita Ramdas. In thanking the council for the award, Ms Buadromo said: "I am honoured to be a recipient of this prestigious award, alongside Rwanda's Aloisea Inyumba and Cameroon's Chi Yvonne Leina.

"I hope to live up to all your expectations!"

With the award comes an honorarium of $10,000 to support FWRM's work in Fiji and a stipend for Ms Buadromo to travel to speak at an event or conference.

Building on sand or rocks

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.