Breaking news! Fiji military regime suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum

The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Premier of Niue, the Hon. Toke Talagi MP, has announced that the military regime of Fiji has been suspended from the Forum. 

“It is with considerable sorrow and disappointment that I confirm the suspension of the current military regime in the Republic of the Fiji Islands, from full participation in the Pacific Islands Forum, with immediate effect from 2 May 2009.”   

Hon. Talagi added: “This difficult decision, agreed unanimously between all Forum leaders at our Retreat in Port Moresby on 27 January 2009, responds to Commodore Bainimarama’s failure to address constructively by 1 May 2009 the expectations of Forum Leaders to return Fiji to democratic governance in an acceptable time-frame, in addition to responding to a range of other concerns (the Port Moresby Leaders’ Retreat Decisions are attached).  It is also particularly timely given the recent disturbing deterioration of the political, legal and human rights situation in Fiji since 10 April 2009.” 

“These measures respond directly to the confirmation by the military regime in Fiji, particularly through its recent actions, that it rejects fundamental Forum obligations and core principles, as outlined in the Biketawa Declaration and other key guiding documents of the Forum.  Reflecting on the Leaders Vision Statement of 2004, this involves cooperation through the Forum to create a Pacific region respected for the quality of its governance, the sustainable management of its resources, the full observance of democratic values and for its defence and promotion of human rights.” 

The Forum Chair confirmed: “This decision does not amount to the expulsion of Fiji, as a nation, from its membership of the Forum.  That proposition has not been considered by Leaders in their deliberations. As such, the Pacific Islands Forum remains a 16-member body and the Republic of the Fiji Islands continues to be part of the Forum group of nations, albeit with participation of the current regime suspended until further notice.”   

“A regime which displays such a total disregard for basic human rights, democracy and freedom has no place in the Pacific Islands Forum.  Nevertheless, we look forward with great hope to Fiji’s earliest possible return to constitutional democracy, through free and fair elections, when we will be able to restore this country to its rightful place among our family of Pacific Islands Forum nations.  The Forum, as always, stands ready to assist Fiji’s return to democratic rule, concerned, in particular, by the increasingly negative and wide-ranging impacts of events over the past two and a half years on the people of Fiji,” Hon. Talagi reaffirmed.  

The Leaders’ decision involves implementation of two specific targeted measures, taken in accordance with the 2000 Biketawa Declaration.  The first involves suspension of participation by the leader, ministers and officials of Fiji from all Forum meetings and events arranged by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, including the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.  The second measure involves ensuring the military regime in Fiji does not benefit directly from Forum regional cooperation initiatives or any new financial or technical assistance, other than assistance toward the restoration of democracy

2009 National Education Conference launched at University of Goroka

A National Education Conference planned for September this year was launched last Friday April 24, 2009 at the University of Goroka.

 The conference will be jointly hosted by the University of Goroka and the National Department of Education.

 It is planned to be held at the University of Goroka in the Mark Solon Auditorium from September 21-23.

Speaking at the launching the Dean of the Education Faculty at UOG Dr Kapa Kelep-Malpo informed those who gathered for the event that the conference was planned to address the current issues faced by education practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders including parents. 

She stressed the importance of partnership in education from all sectors of the community. 

She also urged all to work collectively to equip young Papua New Guineans with proper education.

Present at the launching were members of the University Council and Dr Michael Tapo representing the National Department of Education.

 There were also representatives from the Provincial Division of Education, and schools from both elementary and secondary levels.

 Business houses and non-government organisations including churches from the township of Goroka were also represented.

According to the organisers, the theme of the conference is ‘Education, Innovation and Standards’.

 The sub-themes include managing education reform policy and promoting access through distance and flexible learning.

 Innovative and successful partnership in education and the responsibilities of the government and non government organisations in addressing common societal issues are the other sub-themes of the conference.

Most speakers at the launching agreed that the conference was timely to address the current concerns relating to the national education reform.

They expressed that the conference would be an appropriate forum for stakeholders to discuss the possible ways education could be directed to cater for the county’s growing population and its national, regional and global development plans.

The organising committee extends its invitation to scholars, education practitioners, business organisations and the communities at large to attend the conference. 

It is calling for papers from within and abroad for presentation at the conference.  Abstracts should be submitted by May 31, and full papers by August 28.

More information on the conference can be obtained from Dr Kapa Kelep-Malpo, Dean and Chairperson of the Planning Committee through phone (675) 731 1741 and email malpok@uog.ac.pg . 

Information can also be obtained form Associate Professor Api Maha, Chairperson of the Editorial Committee through phone (675) 731 808 and email mahaa@uog.ac.pg .

 All postal correspondence can be sent to: PO Box 1078 Goroka EHP, Papua New Guinea.

 

For further information please contact:

Ms Kate Gunn

Public Relations & Marketing Officer

The University of Goroka

Ph: (675) 7311 877

Fax: (675) 732 1914

Email: gunnk@uog.ac.pg

 

 

Call for collectiveness to address climate change

By SENIORL ANZU

 

Climate change and its impacts on PNG should be addresses effectively and collectively, says a senior scientist with the National Agricultural Research Institute, Dr Akkinapally Ramakrishna.

He said the phenomenon of climate change was worldwide and everyone should get to know circumstances surrounding the issue and join our hands to respond to it.

Dr Ramakrishna said this in light of the coming ‘Agricultural Innovations Show’ NARI will stage next Tuesday at Bubia near Lae, which will focus on climate change, its impacts on agriculture and suggestions on how PNG can address it.

 The theme of the show is ‘Adapting PNG Agriculture to Climate Change’.

“The idea behind the show is to sensitise climate change and make everyone, including farmers, organisations, politicians, bureaucrats, policy makers, scientists, and the general public who have interest and wish to know the issue become aware of this fact”, Dr Ramakrishna said.

“Climate change is going to affect the rural and vulnerable communities and they need to know the issue and work around it collectively.

 “PNG needs to think seriously and have a plan in place.”

Dr Ramakrishna said in order to increase raising the awareness, NARI had invited sister institutions and organisations from the public and private sectors to come together during the show for this noble cause.

He said during the agricultural innovations show, NARI would exhibit and show awareness materials on climate change relating to agriculture and research initiatives currently undertaken by the institute to address some aspects of the climate change problem.

From some 60-plus organisations invited, 70-80% of them have responded favorably and Dr Ramakrishna said more request were flowing in.

He said this would be another big occasion for information sharing and knowledge sharing.

Those confirmed to participate include the Coffee Industry Corporation, Fresh Produce Development Agency, National Agriculture Development Plan, New Britain Palm Oil Limited, Ramu Agri-Industries, PNG University of Technology, Project Support Services and many more.

 

Pacific Adventist University offering

World No Tobacco Day

On May 31 each year, the World Health Organisation celebrates World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce consumption.

 

Tobacco use is the second cause of death globally and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide.

 

The WHO has "Tobacco Health Warnings" as the theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day.

 

Tobacco health warnings appear on packs of cigarettes and are among the strongest defences against the global epidemic of tobacco.

 

WHO particularly approves of tobacco health warnings that contain both pictures and words because they are the most effective at convincing people to quit. Such pictorial warnings appear in more than a dozen countries.

 

On World No Tobacco Day 2009, and throughout the following year, WHO will encourage governments to adopt tobacco health warnings that meet all the criteria for maximal effectiveness, including that they cover more than half of the pack, appear on both the front and back of the pack and contain pictures.

 

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control obligates its more than 160 countries parties to require "health warnings describing the harmful effects of tobacco use" on packs of tobacco and their outside packaging and recommends that the warnings contain pictures. WHO works through its Tobacco Free Initiative department to help the parties to meet their obligation, providing technical and other assistance.

 

As WHO Director General Margaret Chan says, "We hold in our hands the solution to the global tobacco epidemic that threatens the lives of one billion men, women and children during this century."

 

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: Protecting children in cyberspace

The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

 

Sunday May 17 marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union.

 

This year, to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, ITU Council adopted the theme: Protecting children in cyberspace.

 

The theme of this year’s WTISD aims at ensuring that children can safely access the Internet and its valuable resources without fear of falling prey to unscrupulous predators in cyberspace.

 

ITU calls upon all stakeholders (policy makers, regulators, operators and industry) to promote the adoption of policies and strategies that will protect children in cyberspace and promote their safe access to online resources.

 

International Day of the Family

May 15 is celebrated as the International Day of the Family. This day highlights the importance of families. It aims at fostering equality, bringing about a fuller sharing of domestic responsibilities and employment opportunities. The programmes undertaken to commemorate the day, work towards supporting families in the discharge of their functions. They tend to promote the inherent strengths of families, including their great capacity of self-reliance, and stimulate self-sustaining activities.

 

Family constitutes the basic unit of society. Hence, the widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to families so that they fully assume their responsibilities within the community to the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on Social Progress and Developments and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women.

 

The biological, emotional and economic needs are the foundation of a family. It grows out of biological needs, particularly those of the expectant mother and the infant child, who cannot support and live by themselves.

 

Every association of people; it be a state, a nation, or a tribe - has its own distinctive culture, its modes of living and thought, which are developed as a response to the peculiar circumstances of the environment, natural and ideological. Family is the agency through which the impressionable rising generation is made familiar with such traditions. It teaches the individual what situations to anticipate, how to behave and what behaviour to expect, by giving one the gifts of language and dress which integrate within one’s cultural ethos. It facilitates adjustment to people and groups outside the family circle.

 

Family plays an important role in transmission of the cultural traditions from one generation to another. It acts as an educative unit and a socio-cultural agency. The importance of this aspect lies in the fact that children all over the world get their earliest instruction in the family beginning with language.