Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The World visits Milne Bay
Captions: 1. Canadian tourists who were seen delving into
The
Among guests on the 200m-long vessel was renowned anthropologist Dr Nancy Sullivan who is currently based in Madang.
She was accompanied by tourists from
Dr Sullivan has been a strong advocate of tourism as a way forward for
"Tourism is good for PNG,” she said.
“It brings much-needed funds to these remote communities, encourages them to maintain a traditional lifestyle and prevents the young men, in particular, from having to seek to work in the cities where they are subject to many dangerous influences."
Dr Sullivan and her friendly entourage cycled to the Alotau War Memorial which was highlighted on the day of their arrival by Trobriand craftsmen and their impressive artwork.
While a few stepped in to grab some young, thirst-quenching coconuts and cordial ice blocks, the more adventurous tourists made a bolder move toward the betelnut and tobacco stalls.
The tourists cycled through the outskirts of the quiet town while most of the local people observed a quiet Sunday of Christian worship.
The World, which departed on the same day that afternoon, is no ordinary cruise liner but a floating residential community owned by residents of the ship from 40 different countries.
While she shares similar facilities to those on board a cruise liner, she is more unique because of her residential nature.
Her features include a grocery store and delicatessen, boutique, athletic facilities that include a golf simulator, putting green, casino, full-sized tennis court, jogging track and gym.
The World boasts four restaurants and entertainment including a movie theatre and music performances.
Classes are also offered for dance, navigation, cooking, language, arts and crafts, music, computers and photography
Her 200-300m bedroom luxury apartments have open plan living and dining areas with master and guest bedrooms that have ensuite bathing facilities.
A full-sized kitchen is also a feature and Internet access is provided to each residence.
The World's website www.aboardtheworld.com describes having a private apartment onboard as "the magic carpet that provides you with the ride of your life with the comfort of home".
While some residents live onboard full time others visit their floating home periodically through the year as their ship slowly circumnavigates the globe.
Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change (ACFCC)
December 12th 2009,
A robust agreement in
“The outcome of the negotiations of REDD under the UNFCCC will be crucial for the future of tropical rainforests and forest-dependent peoples. If we lose the battle against deforestation we lose the battle against climate change,” said Kenn Mondiai – Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Ecoforestry Forum speaking on behalf of the Accra Caucus [2] on forests and climate change.
The draft text, released by government negotiators this morning following three days of closed-door discussions, shows that an objective for reducing deforestation by at least 50% by 2020 that had been included in an earlier ‘pre-Copenhagen’ draft of the agreement has now been removed. Similarly, wording that would ensure that biodiversity and the rights of indigenous peoples would be protected has also been moved out of the operative part of the agreement [1].
”In order to be successful, the REDD agreement must include a target for ending deforestation by 2020. Without this, there is a risk that emissions from forest destruction will be prolonged with devastating impacts that will endanger forest-dependent communities and indigenous peoples, biodiversity and exacerbate climate change” said Kenn Mondiai – Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Ecoforestry Forum.
The loss of the specific target for reducing deforestation is believed to have come about as a result of pressure from tropical countries, who have been angered at the lack of financial commitments from the rich world to help them develop without destroying their forests and the lack of binding and adequate commitments to reducing industrial CO2 emissions by those responsible for creating the climate crisis.
“It’s hardly surprising that developing countries won’t agree to commit to global targets for reductions in deforestation, when rich countries aren't prepared to commit to global targets for reductions of industrial emissions. We are watching an historic opportunity turn into a monumental disaster” said Kenn Mondiai.
The key to saving forests and the climate is that binding targets to reduce industrial emissions, as well as long term financial commitments from developed countries, must be struck at the same time as a deal to reduce deforestation.
“As developing countries rally around the call for emission reduction targets that will keep temperature increases below 1.5 degrees, so the need for tougher targets for REDD become critical if REDD is to be a part of a meaningful outcome from Copenhagen”3 said Kenn Mondiai.
Notes
[1] The former text stated “parties shall”, but the new wording places no specific obligations on parties to adhere to safeguards
[2] The Accra Caucus consists of over 100 non-governmental organisations from 30 countries, (including all the major countries with tropical rainforest)
[3] notes on G77 position needed
For additional information contact Kenn Mondiai in
Is this just a lull before social turmoil?- Alfredo Hernandez 10.12.09
From John Fowke
What Alfredo and other less-outspoken commentators have said recently regarding a lack of interest in individual enterprise within PNG society- which they say has led to a vacuum filled by enterprising Asians- -is something to be considered, although it is not entirely correct.It is wrong, in fact it is insulting, to ascribe sign of a growing unrest at the recent Asian invasion into many areas of business in PNG, to simple envy and jealousy on the part of PNG'ians.
As for the presence of Philippine nationals as such in PNG, most of these, beginning in the 1970's, have been professional and administrative and trades-connected migrants who have come as workers rather than business-people. I think this fact is recognised although Philippinos in general, like all foreigners who stay for long in PNG, are still new colonials in the eyes of most citizens.
May I recommend to Alfredo and to his countrymen who are of a similar general opinion that they look back upon the history of their own nation?
The small, semi-tribal kingdoms, rajahnates, and principalities which ruled the islands of that great Asian archipelago, today the independant Republic of Philippines, were free in the same measure as pre-colonial PNG was free up until 125 years ago. These small Philippine kingdoms conducted their own affairs and benefitted for centuries in terms of a sporadic but important contact with seaborne traders from China, Vietnam and other neighbouring kingdoms.
Then came the Spanish explorers, and the expedition led by Legaspi in 1564 which established the foothold from which dominance and full control by Spain over the whole archipelago arose. Spain ruled, and controlled not only the civil affairs and the laws, but also the trade of this rich colony for more than 300 years. Spain was displaced by the United States of America which granted full independence to the people of the Philippines in 1946, only 30 years befor PNG became an independant nation.
Don't tell us, please, Alfredo, that your fathers and your uncles and grandparents, to say nothing of their ancestors right back to 1565, did not chafe under the yoke of authoritarian colonial control and colonial exploitation? Dont tell us that even today, Phillipine nationals dont have any negative feelings about the heavy presence of American multinational companies and those less-desirable effects emanating from the US military presence in your country? Under Aguinaldo in the 1890's your people fought a vicious and prolonged guerilla war against the colonial forces of the US, until, at the cost of a great many lives on both sides, the Americans again established control over your country. Dont tell us that the Philippinos of that generation together with their descendants held no animosity toward the Americans, who still have quite a large influence on the commerce and the politcs of your country. Think about this and then consider the feelings of Papua New Guineans, at one moment made free of foreign domination, and so soon after independence, once again heavily colonized in terms of influence and takeup of business opportunities by aliens. Is there any wonder that they feel aggrieved?
John Fowke
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Is this just a lull before a social turmoil?
By ALFREDO P. HERNANDEZ
Thursday, 10 December 2009 10:07
WHILE Papua New Guineans are looking forward to Christmas Day, Asians in this blessed country are looking beyond this red letter date, and with so much apprehensions, anxieties and dread.
Taking the threat seriously, they are growingly concerned about the violent prospects of December 31, New Year’s Eve. This is the day when all Asian-operated small businesses are supposed to cease operations once and for all, or else they go up in smoke in the fashion of burning pyrotechnics at a Christmas carnival.
The “cease-your-business-operation” order has been issued by a group of faceless and nameless anarchic individuals who are spearheading a hate campaign against Asians in PNG.
In particular, the targets are those small entrepreneurs who run successful businesses – retail stores, shops, grocery, among others -- in urban centers across the country.
Among Asians, it is only the Chinese, especially the old-timers, who have persevered in putting up such enterprises and succeeded. Other Asian people – Malaysians, Indonesians, Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Singaporeans, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thais, among others – came to this country as professionals and technical people; they are not here to work as store owners or storekeepers.
Unfortunately, the generic tag that expatriates carry conveniently lumps them together with the Chinese in the same rubbish bag. All being Asians, they have also become the target of racial hatred and maybe later – racial violence.
This has drawn a sharp reaction from the Philippine Ambassador to PNG, Madam Shirley Ho-Vicario, who resented media reports that had identified an Asian nationality as simply “Asian” and not as one where he comes from.
She has wished that the country’s newspapers, radio and television would be more specific in their reference to such person who committed some transgression, like for instance, “Filipino”, “Malaysian”, “Chinese”, thus sparing other nationalities of possible backlash which could be physical harm or negative sentiments arising from the news report, instead of just identifying him in the generic.
These hate campaigners are claiming to have the support from various sectors of the society – including a Parliamentary bi-partisan committee investigating the anti-Asian May riot and various civil organizations.
However, this is a claim that has been shoved under layers of questions by thinking Papua New Guinean public because of the means with which they push their silly, stupid and out-of-this-world cause and agenda.
Sensible members of the Papua New Guinean society readily admit that whatever omissions that have ignited such hatred against Asians are of their own making and that of the very government of the day.
This is one anomaly that goes back to Day One of their nationhood but it is only now that they are realizing this: it is a social cancer that has spread wide and far. They were the ones who put those politicians into office, believing that they will do their jobs of making better the lives of the ordinary people.
But as it is, the country’s elected leaders have failed and this is now being attested by a million of people or so who have been marginalized and economically deprived, and are now being used as pawns by the city anarchists to drive away Asians out of this country.
Asians – the Chinese for one -- are just here to make a living because Papua New Guineans gave them the opportunity to do so and they are giving back in return in the form of a lively local economy, helped by the many little stores and shops they have put up.
And yet, these hate peddlers are ready to cause anarchy all over the city on December 31 by burning such innocent, productive establishments.
For more than eight months now, they have been crawling all over the villages and settlements and poisoning the minds of unschooled people that these Asians are the cause of their economic miseries; that they are robbing them of their supposed livelihoods, and depriving them of jobs that they should have right now but are instead in the hands of these people.
Of course, the members of the civil society who got sense in their heads believe otherwise, and they are in great number. Who would want to see their community, especially
These law-abiding citizens believe that should Asians opt to flee the country, there could be more ensuing problems, not only for the entire peace-loving citizenry but for the country’s economy as well.
If the Chinese close shop, who could we expect to takeover from them … the grassroots? I don’t think so.
After the Chinese of Honiara fled the country following the burning of the city in 2006 which ravaged their business houses, the enterprises that they left behind had never recovered, nearly killing the local economy.
It was only when they began coming back to
Up to this time, the country’s police hierarchy is silent about the New Year’s Eve threat. Or maybe, they re just waiting and looking, but then I would like to give them the benefit of doubts.
The top echelons must have ignored it and dismissed it as pure “nonsense”. Or it could also be possible that like many Papua New Guineans, they are clueless as to who are causing this social intrigue.
When the first carnage erupted last May, beginning with a public rally attended by people who had nothing to do better in life, and then ending up in rioting and looting of several Asian-operated shops and trade stores, police were caught with their pants down.
Now they should know better.
If Asian expatriates are being gnawed at by insecurity amidst the advent of the Yuletide season culminating on New Year’s Eve, their respective ambassadors are even more worried and are having sleepless nights over this, so to speak.
On both personal and official levels of communications, these envoys have expressed worries to one another over what could happen 21 days from now -- to them and to their respective wards.
Asians in PNG are overseen by their respective embassies whose ambassadors are the highest government officials of their country holding office here. Their job is to look after their compatriots’ welfare, seeing to it that each citizen are obeying the laws of the host country and are free from harm or any form of threats.
That’s why the anarchists’ emailed threat to Asian businesses has become a great cause of concern among the members of the 21-nation Diplomatic Corps in
During its monthly meeting held on December 4, the envoys from
“Is it true? Are the police aware of this? Is the Government aware of this? If so, what do they intend to do to prevent such carnage from actually taking place?”
“What does the Government intend to do to protect our citizens?”
Such questions obviously indicate the level of trust that the diplomatic community places on the local authorities, particularly the police establishment. Their confidence is somewhat being undermined by the fact that the perceived threat persists up to the present time, which signals to high heavens that no drastic move is being taken to mitigate the situation, at least on the psychological aspect of the issue.
Most of all, it also questions the police capability to actually gather first-hand intelligence as to what level of intensity such impending anarchy has progressed so far.
Do the police have assets among the grassroots to accurately pinpoint and identify individuals who are in direct cahoots with the brains of the anti-Asian movement? There could be more questions to ask.
Although the hate campaign is targeting Asians, one European ambassador has nevertheless expressed grave anxiety, saying it has now become a European concern and not just Asian’s. “While we are Europeans, we are very much concerned because we are a brother of yours here in PNG …”
Forging a common stand, the members of the Diplomatic Corps have agreed to call on relevant senior Government officials and present their concerns.
But with the brouhaha and excitement generated by green-lighting the US$15 billion PNG LNG project, the biggest resource development ever undertaken in PNG, to push ahead, will those relevant Government officials be responsibly involved enough to act?
Or is it Christmas as usual and that there’s no need to act in haste?
I would like to keep my fingers crossed, anyway.
Merry Christmas!
Email the writer: jarahdz500@online.net.pg
alfredophernandez@thenational.com.pg
To see the original web posting, please visit: http://www.batasmauricio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=983:is-this-just-a-lull-before-a-social-turmoil&catid=40:letters-from-port-moresby&Itemid=117
To see previous articles, please visit: http://www.batasmauricio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=40:letters-from-port-moresby&layout=blog&Itemid=117
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