Troglodyte village in IRAN 700 years old - In the north west of Iran at the foot of Mount Sahand in Kandovan, The villagers live in cave homes carved out from the volcanic rock. The age of some houses is more than 700 years.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Release of 'Through The Eye Of The Storm'
Dr Limbie Kelegai's much-acclaimed autobiography Through the Eye of the Storm (http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2009/10/weathering-eye-of-storm-book-review.html) has been released and is now available from the Christian Books Melanesia at Garden City, Boroko,
This powerful book by Dr Kelegai tells of how he overcame being a quadriplegic to achieve his dreams.
Dr Kelegai, from Ialibu, Southern Highlands province, sustained a spinal injury in 1980 in a rugby league accident in Lae and became a quadriplegic while studying at the
On the night of Sept 22, 2005, Dr Kelegai received his PhD in information technology from the vice chancellor of the Queensland University of Technology in
His two sons were on either side proudly groomed in their traditional Ialibuan attire.
The rest of his family was very close in the rows soaking the accolade with pride and joy - it was a momentous evening.
This was the pinnacle in Dr Kelegai’s career.
This is the story of how this young man lived through trauma with hope to achieve his dreams: never giving up regardless of the enormity of the trauma.
It is a love story of how he met his wife Rose, a nurse at the
In these times, this book reminds us of the values we have lost: self-worth, self-belief, courage in the face of adversity and the power of hope.
It is a celebration of our heritage and our people and is a much-needed source of inspiration to instil hope in the hearts of many throughout this country
Sri Lankan tsunami aid misappropriated - watchdog panel
From PAUL OATES
It's very hard not to be cynical when you see these reports. I wonder what happened to the billions sent to other countries in the region?
This is an excellent example of what happens when 'guilt' money is extracted from so called developed nations and given to so called developing nations. There is a very close parallel between this example and what will happen to any carbon credit money extracted from the 'developed' nations and given to the 'developing' nations.
No wonder the 'developing' nations don't want any independent monitoring of where the money goes. If they are worried about so called 'sovereignty' issues, why take the money in the first place? Since when did 'sovereignty' ever worry the leaders of these countries anyway when there was a quick, non accountable billion to be made?
_________________________
Sri Lankan tsunami aid misappropriated - watchdog panel
Article from: Agence France-Presse
December 27, 2009 07:45am
NEARLY $537 million in tsunami aid for Sri Lanka is unaccounted for and over $686 million has been spent on projects unrelated to the disaster, an anti-corruption watchdog says.
Berlin-based Transparency International has demanded an audit of the money received by the Sri Lankan government to help victims of the Asian tsunami which hit the island on December 26, 2004, killing 31,000 people.
The group's Sri Lankan chapter said on Saturday the public have a right to know how the aid money was spent, as the tropical nation marked the fifth anniversary of the tsunami.
The group alleged that out of $2.5 billion received for relief, $686.23 million was spent on projects unrelated to the disaster.
Another $536.68 million is missing, the group said.
"There is no precise evidence to explain the missing sum of $536.68 million," Transparency International said.
An "audit should be done by the government to explain the utilisation of the money received and the challenges faced," the group said.
A government official yesterday declined comment on the allegations, but Colombo has consistently rejected such accusations in the past.
An initial government audit in 2005 found that less than 13 per cent of the aid had been spent, but there has been no formal examination since, Transparency International said.
It's very hard not to be cynical when you see these reports. I wonder what happened to the billions sent to other countries in the region?
This is an excellent example of what happens when 'guilt' money is extracted from so called developed nations and given to so called developing nations. There is a very close parallel between this example and what will happen to any carbon credit money extracted from the 'developed' nations and given to the 'developing' nations.
No wonder the 'developing' nations don't want any independent monitoring of where the money goes. If they are worried about so called 'sovereignty' issues, why take the money in the first place? Since when did 'sovereignty' ever worry the leaders of these countries anyway when there was a quick, non accountable billion to be made?
_________________________
Sri Lankan tsunami aid misappropriated - watchdog panel
Article from: Agence France-Presse
December 27, 2009 07:45am
NEARLY $537 million in tsunami aid for Sri Lanka is unaccounted for and over $686 million has been spent on projects unrelated to the disaster, an anti-corruption watchdog says.
Berlin-based Transparency International has demanded an audit of the money received by the Sri Lankan government to help victims of the Asian tsunami which hit the island on December 26, 2004, killing 31,000 people.
The group's Sri Lankan chapter said on Saturday the public have a right to know how the aid money was spent, as the tropical nation marked the fifth anniversary of the tsunami.
The group alleged that out of $2.5 billion received for relief, $686.23 million was spent on projects unrelated to the disaster.
Another $536.68 million is missing, the group said.
"There is no precise evidence to explain the missing sum of $536.68 million," Transparency International said.
An "audit should be done by the government to explain the utilisation of the money received and the challenges faced," the group said.
A government official yesterday declined comment on the allegations, but Colombo has consistently rejected such accusations in the past.
An initial government audit in 2005 found that less than 13 per cent of the aid had been spent, but there has been no formal examination since, Transparency International said.
Papua New Guinea's future: Em ol wanlain bilong yu ia; yu mas trastim ol
From John Fowke
IN AN EARLIER contribution, I suggested that the social, developmental and fiscal malaise which holds PNG in an unbroken grip, proceeds from something deeper and more elemental than the existence of public service, fiscal, and political corruption.
The implication I intended was that the situation is due to an inherent weakness in Papua New Guinean society.
Whilst this view was contested both in posted commentary and by Reginald Renagi in one of his opinion-pieces, I'm afraid it holds true, no matter how humiliating or irritating the suggestion may be.
As a foreigner who has spent by far the major part of his life in rural PNG, I well know the sensitivities and have always tried to avoid the habits of the 'Ugly Expatriate', to borrow from Graham Greene.
In that nice old Motuan phrase, I have always endeavoured to be tauna mai manada. In other words, a gentleman.
But having been urged by our revered Blogmeister to contribute a succinct prediction of "things that'll happen" in PNG in the coming year, I am going to spoil any good impression I may have left behind and be provocative.
The coming year needs to be the year in which the educated PNG middle class stands up, stops hiding behind pen names, overcomes residual cultural fears of offending clan and family or attracting 'payback', and speaks with one voice, bound together by a strong but hitherto unrecognised common interest.
The educated middle class must - loudly and forcefully - state what it wants for itself, its families and its descendants. It is long past time for this to happen.
Come on PNG, grow up, stop hiding and complaining and putting forward pie-in-the-sky solutions. Put your shoulders to the load, men and women, coastals, islanders, highlanders, all the educated middle-class together!
You will make it happen. Just do it. You are the Party of Power!
All of you who read and contribute to various blogs and who read the PNG papers, you are the ones who must get up and be the first on the dance-floor, the first to speak, embarrassing as it may be.
Stop whingeing and making covert comments about each other. Stand up and say what you want to be done to get the nation going. If you act as one, forgetting all residues of cultural antipathies and suspicion, you'll be surprised how fast things will change.
I thought for a while that the Christians would get it together in the last couple of elections, but they didn't. Perhaps they too are weakened by that old, old characteristic of PNG, the 'people over the hill syndrome' - "em ol lain nogut ia – noken trastim ol!"
This weakness is shown in the currently fashionable view that a split into semi-autonomous regions will solve the problems. Be real, blokes; it'll be even more disastrous than the present set up.
No, you, the well-educated, largely urban dwelling middle class of PNG, you are the future.
You have influence back home in the village because you are members of a support-group. Make your position in life, your ambitions for yourselves, your kids, and the bubus to come the glue that forms another, far more influential and fruitful commonality. Forge a huge linkage of common interest of class and aspirations for the future, as opposed to the bonds of common ancestry that help perpetuate the problems.
This is the future. Mini-states are meaningless states in the context of the wider world.
Make PNG the paradise it should be. It'll be hard, it'll take long, but remember…only you (with the others) can do it. If you love your country, you must raise your voice and show your face without fear.
Christmas Day drug bust
Caption: Inspector Michael Periwanga (5th from right) and members Operation Bright Star with the marijuana plants they uprooted in an early morning raid on Christmas Day at Vunapalading No. 3,
By LYTHIA SUITAWA in Kokopo
A FATHER and his two sons are now in police custody in
The raid which took place at Vunapalading No. 3 was part of a special Christmas New Year Operation code named Bright Star by Kerevat and Livuan police with assistance from Tomaringa’s Mobile Squad 18.
Acting Police Station Commander (Kerevat) Inspector Michael Periwanga who led the raid said the marijuana plants were inter-planted with the family’s food crops such as peanut and Chinese taro.
Inspector Periwanga said the family even had a nursery for the marijuana plants.
Police uprooted 30 matured plants ranging between 1.5 to 2m and weighing a total of 19kg.
Officers from National Agricultural Research Institute’s Islands Regional Centre in Kerevat estimated the local street market value of the plants to be around K310, 000.
Inspector Periwanga said the successful raid was a result of a drug and illegal substance abuse community awareness that he and his men conducted at the start of the operation.
“I am glad that the awareness we conducted encouraged people to come forward with information about these illegal activities but there is still more to be done,” he said.
“More people must realize the damaging effects of these substances and inform us so that we stop the use of these drugs.”
Inspector Periwanga also voiced concerns that the use of marijuana and homebrew are becoming more and more prevalent within Papua New Guinean communities.
“Particularly in
More than 30 people have been arrested and charged for drug related offences since Operation Bright Star commenced on December 18.
The three and two other suspects are in custody at Kerevat Police Station waiting to appear in court.
Report from an observer at Copenhagen
From The Guardian
Copenhagen was a disaster. That much is agreed. But the truth about what actually happened is in danger of being lost amid the spin and inevitable mutual recriminations. The truth is this: China wrecked the talks, intentionally humiliated Barack Obama, and insisted on an awful "deal" so western leaders would walk away carrying the blame. How do I know this? Because I was in the room and saw it happen.
China's strategy was simple: block the open negotiations for two weeks, and then ensure that the closed-door deal made it look as if the west had failed the world's poor once again. And sure enough, the aid agencies, civil society movements and environmental groups all took the bait. The failure was "the inevitable result of rich countries refusing adequately and fairly to shoulder their overwhelming responsibility", said Christian Aid. "Rich countries have bullied developing nations," fumed Friends of the Earth International.
All very predictable, but the complete opposite of the truth. Even George Monbiot, writing in yesterday's Guardian, made the mistake of singly blaming Obama. But I saw Obama fighting desperately to salvage a deal, and the Chinese delegate saying "no", over and over again. Monbiot even approvingly quoted the Sudanese delegate Lumumba Di-Aping, who denounced the Copenhagen accord as "a suicide pact, an incineration pact, in order to maintain the economic dominance of a few countries".
Sudan behaves at the talks as a puppet of China; one of a number of countries that relieves the Chinese delegation of having to fight its battles in open sessions. It was a perfect stitch-up. China gutted the deal behind the scenes, and then left its proxies to savage it in public.
Here's what actually went on late last Friday night, as heads of state from two dozen countries met behind closed doors. Obama was at the table for several hours, sitting between Gordon Brown and the Ethiopian prime minister, Meles Zenawi. The Danish prime minister chaired, and on his right sat Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the UN. Probably only about 50 or 60 people, including the heads of state, were in the room. I was attached to one of the delegations, whose head of state was also present for most of the time.
What I saw was profoundly shocking. The Chinese premier, Wen Jinbao, did not deign to attend the meetings personally, instead sending a second-tier official in the country's foreign ministry to sit opposite Obama himself. The diplomatic snub was obvious and brutal, as was the practical implication: several times during the session, the world's most powerful heads of state were forced to wait around as the Chinese delegate went off to make telephone calls to his "superiors".
Shifting the blame
To those who would blame Obama and rich countries in general, know this: it was China's representative who insisted that industrialised country targets, previously agreed as an 80% cut by 2050, be taken out of the deal. "Why can't we even mention our own targets?" demanded a furious Angela Merkel. Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, was annoyed enough to bang his microphone. Brazil's representative too pointed out the illogicality of China's position. Why should rich countries not announce even this unilateral cut? The Chinese delegate said no, and I watched, aghast, as Merkel threw up her hands in despair and conceded the point. Now we know why - because China bet, correctly, that Obama would get the blame for the Copenhagen accord's lack of ambition.
China, backed at times by India, then proceeded to take out all the numbers that mattered. A 2020 peaking year in global emissions, essential to restrain temperatures to 2C, was removed and replaced by woolly language suggesting that emissions should peak "as soon as possible". The long-term target, of global 50% cuts by 2050, was also excised. No one else, perhaps with the exceptions of India and Saudi Arabia, wanted this to happen. I am certain that had the Chinese not been in the room, we would have left Copenhagen with a deal that had environmentalists popping champagne corks popping in every corner of the world.
Strong position
So how did China manage to pull off this coup? First, it was in an extremely strong negotiating position. China didn't need a deal. As one developing country foreign minister said to me: "The Athenians had nothing to offer to the Spartans." On the other hand, western leaders in particular - but also presidents Lula of Brazil, Zuma of South Africa, Calderón of Mexico and many others - were desperate for a positive outcome. Obama needed a strong deal perhaps more than anyone. The US had confirmed the offer of $100bn to developing countries for adaptation, put serious cuts on the table for the first time (17% below 2005 levels by 2020), and was obviously prepared to up its offer.
Above all, Obama needed to be able to demonstrate to the Senate that he could deliver China in any global climate regulation framework, so conservative senators could not argue that US carbon cuts would further advantage Chinese industry. With midterm elections looming, Obama and his staff also knew that Copenhagen would be probably their only opportunity to go to climate change talks with a strong mandate. This further strengthened China's negotiating hand, as did the complete lack of civil society political pressure on either China or India. Campaign groups never blame developing countries for failure; this is an iron rule that is never broken. The Indians, in particular, have become past masters at co-opting the language of equity ("equal rights to the atmosphere") in the service of planetary suicide - and leftish campaigners and commentators are hoist with their own petard.
With the deal gutted, the heads of state session concluded with a final battle as the Chinese delegate insisted on removing the 1.5C target so beloved of the small island states and low-lying nations who have most to lose from rising seas. President Nasheed of the Maldives, supported by Brown, fought valiantly to save this crucial number. "How can you ask my country to go extinct?" demanded Nasheed. The Chinese delegate feigned great offence - and the number stayed, but surrounded by language which makes it all but meaningless. The deed was done.
China's game
All this raises the question: what is China's game? Why did China, in the words of a UK-based analyst who also spent hours in heads of state meetings, "not only reject targets for itself, but also refuse to allow any other country to take on binding targets?" The analyst, who has attended climate conferences for more than 15 years, concludes that China wants to weaken the climate regulation regime now "in order to avoid the risk that it might be called on to be more ambitious in a few years' time".
This does not mean China is not serious about global warming. It is strong in both the wind and solar industries. But China's growth, and growing global political and economic dominance, is based largely on cheap coal. China knows it is becoming an uncontested superpower; indeed its newfound muscular confidence was on striking display in Copenhagen. Its coal-based economy doubles every decade, and its power increases commensurately. Its leadership will not alter this magic formula unless they absolutely have to.
Copenhagen was much worse than just another bad deal, because it illustrated a profound shift in global geopolitics. This is fast becoming China's century, yet its leadership has displayed that multilateral environmental governance is not only not a priority, but is viewed as a hindrance to the new superpower's freedom of action. I left Copenhagen more despondent than I have felt in a long time. After all the hope and all the hype, the mobilisation of thousands, a wave of optimism crashed against the rock of global power politics, fell back, and drained away.
In defence of Regi Renagi
From PAUL OATES in Queensland, Australia
Anonymous said...
Reg Renagi writes about everything and nothing and long ago turned himself into the sourest grape who should not be given serious consideration. This man carries a huge chip on his shoulders against people who succeed in life or outmanouvre him. He also carries a equally huge hangover from his less than colorful military tenure. Get real, Reggie Boy.
Anonymous said...
Reg Renagi writes about everything and nothing and long ago turned himself into the sourest grape who should not be given serious consideration. This man carries a huge chip on his shoulders against people who succeed in life or outmanouvre him. He also carries a equally huge hangover from his less than colorful military tenure. Get real, Reggie Boy.
______________
Paul Oates said...
Paul Oates said...
While Reg's military career is a matter of the past, his comments appear to many to be a very pertinent view on PNG today. They provide an excellent perspective on his country after 34 years of PNG Independence. They also appear to be based in fact. So when the issue of reality is considered, one must logically ponder on just who is in the REAL world and who is off in one of their own fantasy? Err.. Wouldn't you agree Mr Anonymous? At the very least, Reg has the guts to make his comments public under his own name. That's more than the person who made these comments about Reg is prepared to do. It therefore begs the question of why?
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Potential for vegetable production in mid altitudes of New Britain
NARI staff harvesting potatoes at Wildog, Sinivit LLG in East New Britain 
A Wildog Mine field worker showing off potatoes harvested at Wildog, Sinivit LLG in East New Britain .-Pictures by NARI Keravat 
By SELWYN HARIKI of NARI
Introduced vegetables like potato, broccoli, carrot and cauliflower are important food and cash crops in the highlands of PNG.
The cool climate in the higher altitude and central highlands allow for the cultivation of these crops by farmers.
The demand for these vegetables in the lowlands, particularly the New Guinea Islands region, is high presently.
Together with transportation costs, the prices are relatively high in most supermarkets. Andersons Foodland in Kokopo, East New Britain province (ENBP), sells its potato, broccoli, carrot and cauliflowers produces at prices ranging from K4 to K7 a kilogram. Papindo is selling cauliflower at K6.40/kg, broccoli at K8.80/kg, and carrots at K4/kg. Most of these products are transported in from the highlands of mainland PNG.
However these crops can also be grown in the mid-altitude areas of PNG’s Islands provinces, ranging from 300 metres above sea level and higher.
Preliminary research by NARI in 2006 has proven that potato, broccoli, carrot and cauliflower varieties can be produced in the region.
These crops did well in the study, giving yields of 5-8 tones per hectare.
These are short-term crops which take three to four months to mature and are highly nutritious.
However they are hardly found in everyday meals of people or in the local markets.
With the current demand for potatoes and other introduced vegetables and the opportunity for their production in the mid-altitude areas of the islands provinces, NARI is currently carrying out more research work on these crops in the region for further development.
More information can be sought through NARI Islands regional centre at Keravat, ENBP.
Introduced vegetables like potato, broccoli, carrot and cauliflower are important food and cash crops in the highlands of PNG.
The cool climate in the higher altitude and central highlands allow for the cultivation of these crops by farmers.
The demand for these vegetables in the lowlands, particularly the New Guinea Islands region, is high presently.
Together with transportation costs, the prices are relatively high in most supermarkets. Andersons Foodland in Kokopo, East New Britain province (ENBP), sells its potato, broccoli, carrot and cauliflowers produces at prices ranging from K4 to K7 a kilogram. Papindo is selling cauliflower at K6.40/kg, broccoli at K8.80/kg, and carrots at K4/kg. Most of these products are transported in from the highlands of mainland PNG.
However these crops can also be grown in the mid-altitude areas of PNG’s Islands provinces, ranging from 300 metres above sea level and higher.
Preliminary research by NARI in 2006 has proven that potato, broccoli, carrot and cauliflower varieties can be produced in the region.
These crops did well in the study, giving yields of 5-8 tones per hectare.
These are short-term crops which take three to four months to mature and are highly nutritious.
However they are hardly found in everyday meals of people or in the local markets.
With the current demand for potatoes and other introduced vegetables and the opportunity for their production in the mid-altitude areas of the islands provinces, NARI is currently carrying out more research work on these crops in the region for further development.
More information can be sought through NARI Islands regional centre at Keravat, ENBP.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas to one and all
A Very Merry Christmas to followers of this blog from all over the world, and thank you for your unwavering support, which has seen this blog be named by the Papua New Guinea Media Council as the '2009 Papua New Guinea Blog of the Year'.
Also yesterday, the number of visitors to this blog soared past the 100,000 mark since I installed a counter in July 2008.
On behalf of my four young children, I wish one and all a Blessed and Very Merry Christmas.
You can contact me on email malumnalu@gmail.com.
Also yesterday, the number of visitors to this blog soared past the 100,000 mark since I installed a counter in July 2008.
On behalf of my four young children, I wish one and all a Blessed and Very Merry Christmas.
You can contact me on email malumnalu@gmail.com.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
GOVERNMENT OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA SIGNS INTEROIL'S LNG PROJECT AGREEMENT
GOVERNMENT OF PAPUA NEW
InterOil Corporation (NYSE: IOC) (POMSoX: IOC) yesterday announced that the PNG National Government has signed the Company’s Project Agreement for the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Papua New Guinea.
Following approval of the Project Agreement by the National Executive Council on December 10, the Minister for Petroleum Hon William Duma and acting Governor-General Dr Allan Marat signed the Agreement securing PNG’s second LNG project.
The signing was witnessed by the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
The Agreement sets fiscal terms for a twenty year period, which include a 30% company tax rate and certain exemptions applicable to large scale projects of this nature.
It also provides for a 20.5% ownership stake to be held by the Government of Papua New Guinea’s nominee, Petromin PNG Holdings Limited.
A further 2% ownership stake will be taken by landowners directly affected by the plant.
As previously announced, the proposed LNG project would be developed by InterOil and its joint venture partners Pacific LNG Operations Ltd. and Petromin PNG Holdings Limited. The project targets a $5 to $7 billion LNG facility, with multiple trains.
Additionally, the Agreement provides for the expansion of the plant up to 10.6 million tons per annum (mmtpa).
While current plans call for first production of LNG towards the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015, InterOil is progressing a proposed liquids stripping plant, to be located in Gulf Province, in late 2011/early 2012, which would provide an attractive revenue stream prior to the commissioning of the LNG plant.
Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, stated, “The government of Papua New Guinea, through its long standing partnership with InterOil, has secured an ownership stake across the entire value chain from wellhead to LNG offtake in a world class energy development project that will significantly contribute to national prosperity and fiscal security for many years to come.
“The national equity interest, to be held by the state’s nominee Petromin PNG Holdings Limited, aligns the Country’s economic interests with its partners and provides strategic assets for national security.”
Phil Mulacek, Chief Executive Officer of InterOil, commented, “The Government of Papua New Guinea has firmly demonstrated its commitment to delivering a stable, long-term supply of energy to a growing Asian market.
“The recent agreements set the stage for PNG to become a significant new Asian
energy hub.”
About InterOil
InterOil Corporation is developing a vertically integrated energy business whose primary focus is
About Petromin PNG Holdings Limited
PNG Holdings Limited is an independent company created by the State of
Copenhagen a big waste of money for PNG
BY REGINALD RENAGI
THE DAILY news is very discouraging to the people of PNG. They hope for a better future for their children and grand children one day. But that one day is a long way off.
There are many problems affecting their livelihood and want the government to address their immediate needs. But the mass media hype in recent months is mostly about the UN climate change conference in
It’s no big deal. Everyone's being hoodwinked - ordinary people that is, but not intelligent PNGeans. It is one big cop out by the people running this country.
We have many important national priorities to address. Lately, however, these are being constantly overshadowed by a smokescreen of public statements about the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (or REDD) scheme, a global plan to slow down or eliminate the deforestation responsible for 20 percent of global emissions., as if it is the only viable policy option available.
REDD is only one aspect of a complex global phenomenon. PNG's delegation in
In the past two weeks, critics have accused the PNG delegation of not being fully prepared for this conference. They are right.
The PM and his men forgot what is the position of our parliament and Opposition. We should have included the opposition’s stance on climate change to come up with a good bipartisan paper for
We also did not need a big delegation of over 40 when half a dozen people should have been sufficient. It was morally wrong for the government to extravagantly burn several millions for this conference.
Considering the alleged eight million Kina for this conference, PNG has nothing beneficial to show for it.
The public should by now be in an uproar over their government’s spending millions for some greedy people to attend a conference that will not even reach any viable agreement. This is a total waste of money.
The people could have used this money in many needy areas. Our women have been crying out for a cancer machine for years. Teachers and nurses need a pay rise to meet the rising cost of living. PNG’s national security situation is appalling and needs much improvement.
With a tough year about to end, the people could do with some spare money now to enjoy a nice Christmas roast in this festive season.
Come on, Papua New Guineans, can’t you see they are laughing at our expense? Let us get rid of these greedy people in 2012.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Something you may not have seen recently.....
Playing hide & seek with a Polar Bear -
Next time, get in the truck, stupid!
Good Thoughts & Dreams For A Better PNG
Hello Malum,
I have been reading your blogspot a lot and find the articles very interesting and also excellent pictures of PNG. You are a great journalist and I send this email for your valuable input and thoughts about the idea of raising awareness amongst the general community through word of mouth and usage of regular media sources to promote good habits, attitudes and values.
Another year is shortly coming to a close and a new year soon to begin and instead of the usual "New Year Resolutions" that most of us (rarely) achieve e.g. quit smoking, quit binge drinking, stop chewing buai, lose weight or save some money, let us look forward to fulfilling dreams that we all wish to chase to improve our lives...
I believe we all have good thoughts in our dreams to see beautiful PNG moving ahead with the rest of the world and this could be by simply applying good thoughts that will not cost us an arm or a leg, but through genuine effort of telling others to change their undesirable habits and attitudes for the better. Advising them to be more respectful, showing honesty and courtesy, and caring and sharing, reminding them of good old-fashioned values and ways that we had learnt from our parents, from our village elders, from school, from church and from our neighbours. To get the message across to the masses, we could ask the media to help out by contributing some free space in their newspapers, radio and television. Worthy discussions could be rotated or offered on a voluntary basis from reputable persons in the community, from church pastors, from political leaders, from senior members of the disciplined forces and senior public servants and also business people.
Simple messages could be conveyed to the people to obey the laws of the country, to respect others and the community, and settling problems and differences peacefully to avoid unnecessary confrontation and violence. Also telling people to stop doing deliberate acts of defacing (ugly graffiti and red buai spit) or damaging government and private property etc. These topics can be constant reminders in the newspapers, radio and television to everyone at least twice or three times a week. Also good suggestions could be discussed in a meaningful and wholesome way to engage the general public in participating for change and improvement to their lifestyles whether living in a town, city, settlement or village. Women could also use this opportunity via the media to voice their concerns on a whole lot of issues such as education, child health care, high cost of food, better housing, clean drinking water, fair employment, and be able to walk freely and safely without being harassed and so on.
Chasing those dreams would surely make PNG a great place to live, work and to do business and also more travellers would want to visit our lovely country, also investors would want to set up businesses to create more jobs and training opportunities. Our dreams can come true if everyone could spare a moment to listen to good thoughts from various reputable persons and apply those good thoughts or dreams. Young ones will grow up happy to enjoy a better and healthy future and they will pass on those dreams or values to their children...
Have a merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!
James Derbyshire
Brisbane, Qld
Twas the Night before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem Twas the night before Christmas has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of Twas the night before Christmas St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers! The author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington. The tradition of reading Twas the night before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve is now a worldwide institution.
Source: http://www.carols.org.uk
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem Twas the night before Christmas has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of Twas the night before Christmas St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers! The author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington. The tradition of reading Twas the night before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve is now a worldwide institution.
Source: http://www.carols.org.uk
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
JK returns to mum's home
Children of mix parentage have the benefit of being from two or more provinces or even nationalities but there are times when some of these children are never given the opportunity to visit home provinces of either one of their parents.
This in itself is a sad state of affairs mainly because they miss out on the richness of the cultural heritage they inherit from either parent.
We refer to most of these as city kids who identify themselves with a province only by name.
For my son Joel, it has taken 20 years, but this Christmas he is fulfilling on his mums’ wishes and that is to have her own son return to the island of her birth.
“It is a wonderful feeling to have this young man go ashore at my home, wonder through the forests, watch the sunset from the mountains, swim in the same rivers, fish the creeks for fresh water prawns as I did in my teens and get to understand the life I left behind ,” Stephanie says.
Joel is of mix Oro and Siassi parentage and has spent most of his time growing up in
But this Christmas he has decided to book a flight to Lae and get on a coastal ship for the one and half day sea journey which will take him to Finchhchafen and on to Siassi.
“Mum is from Gasam village and I have never been there so this will be quite an experience for me,” JK said.
Years ago Stephanie ventured from her home on Siassi like all other youngsters from the island and arrived in
Some years later she moved on and joined the department of Post and Telegraph which later separated to become Telekom PNG.
Stephanie raised two girls who now have their own families and her baby boy JK is now a young man of 20.
“It is nice that my own son should decide to retrace my journey to Siassi to see where I come from, she said.
The prospect of travelling to Lae on an F100 is a far cry from the usual Dash 8 flights to and from Popondetta.
He is going home in the company of his mother’s younger brother Jerry who just as excited to have him.
“It is going to be one hell of a home coming and everybody is excited about this,” Jerry said.
Joel is named after his maternal grandfather the late Joel Som Kamia (Yolex).
In his prime this great man stood tall and elegant. He was descended from great warrior chiefs and took over on the death of his own father to be head of the Aslem Ngaivon clan.
But early in life he answered the calling of the Lord which took him and a young family away from home to spread the word of God in far off Sirunki valley of the Enga province.
Siassi is a small island just off the coast of
It is rich in it cultural heritage for which the Sia dance is known throughout the country.
The people are spiritually linked to the land and the sea and they depict this relationship in their arts and crafts and their dances and demonstration of their hospitality to visitors.
It is a culture where the eagle, the fish and the snake feature prominently while Bunrailum the fair fairy of the lakes who appears occasionally and weeps as a sign that a member of the clan is about to pass on.
Joel will not be an ordinary visitor because he is the son of a woman who herself is an elder of her clan. He will be treated with respect because of his mother’s status and his peers will hold him in high regard and relatives will go out of their way to make his stay as comfortable as possible.
But for JK the protocols of customs will not dampen the reasons for his own pilgrimage to Gasam village.
All the children’s stories he heard from mum while she was nurturing him will no longer be just stories but real people and places.
The many bays and lagoons protected by coral reefs which as a young girl she would collect coral to process into lime and, the white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters from mountain streams cascading over rocks and pebbles.
It is an island of magic, beetle nut pepper fruit and lime where the taro and fish is plentiful and the mountains gently roll onto the ocean forming a picturesque coastline from which you can take in distant lands as far off as Madang,
Joel is crossing a bridge his mum built years ago that linked her people of Siassi with her in-laws thousands of kilometres away at Eroro village on the
It will be a whole new ball game and for the first time to experience his mother’s side of his life and his uncle Jerry will take him by the hands and guide him, educating him in the knowledge of customs and their ways and he will show him clan boundaries of land and the sea and help the young man conduct himself and induct him to be part of his mother’s culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)