What a con!

From PAUL OATES 

So called 'Developed' countries could well note a report in PNG's The National. The PNG Environment and Conservation Secretary, Dr Wari Iamoan says PNG will reduce it's carbon emissions by 60% in 10 years and by 100% in 40 years. The methodology to achieve this reduction must surely be revolutionary. Exactly who is in charge of measuring PNG's carbon emissions and how this would be done was not detailed however.

Elsewhere, it was reported that 'Carbon Cowboys' have now created a scam and tricked German Carbon Creditors into releasing their confidential data base details and diverted some of the millions on offer into false bank accounts.

The process of buying carbon credits appears to some to be a simple equation. Electricity producers can continue to produce electricity from coal but buy carbon credits from those selling them to 'offset' the carbon dioxide so produced and being releasing into the atmosphere. Exactly how this will reduce the overall carbon emissions is unclear and the cost of 'buying' carbon credits will just be passed onto the consumer as a simple, new impost.

Those 'selling' carbon credits don't seem to have any guaranteed methodology of ensuring that the 'credits' they are selling can either be verified or audited. Those nations who still have rainforests were very quick to reject any external auditing of their forest resources proposed at Copenhagen.

So can someone explain how carbon credits and emmissions trading schemes will effectively guarantee any reduction in carbon dioxide emissions or future greenhouse pollution? The whole process seems to be a sham of the greatest proportions. With electronic bank transfers and offshore bank accounts, those operating these carbon credit schemes seem to have an open door to manipulate the consumers and those with forests and play both sides off against each other while making millions in the process. What a con!
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PNG ready to submit carbon targets to UN
Source:
By PATRICK TALU
PAPUA New Guinea has formalised its emission reduction targets (ERT) to comply with the Copenhagen Accord in reducing carbon emissions by 60% come 2020 and 100% by 2050.
Environment and Conservation Secretary, Dr Wari Iamo, said PNG was ready to submit its ERT to the UN together with its emission mitigation action plans.
Dr Iamo told The National yesterday by phone that PNG was focusing on the reduced emission on deforestation and degradation (REDD) initiative.
"To facilitate the REDD initiative, the Annex One nations (industrialised nations) have already committed K3 billion - K5 billion to the coalition of rainforest nations, including PNG.
"These funds are going to be used to create awareness, establishment of institutional capacities financing and technology transfer, pilot projects, laws and policy framework for REDD initiative and other necessary works," Dr Iamo said.
Meanwhile, the EU last month formalised its support for the Copenhagen Accord on climate change and presented its commitments for ERT to the UN.
In a statement released from the EU country office in Port Moresby on Monday, a joint letter signed by the Spanish presidency of the council and the European commission has formally notified the EU's willingness to be associated with the Accord and submitted  information on EU's established greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2020.
Commission president José Manuel Barroso said: "The EU is determined to move ahead rapidly with implementing the Copenhagen Accord to make progress towards the agreement that we need to hold global warming below 2°C.
"The accord provides a basis on which to build the future agreement and I therefore urge all countries to associate themselves with it and notify ambitious emission targets or actions for inclusion as we are doing."
The accord was the main outcome of the UN climate change conference held in Copenhagen from Dec 7 - 19.
The accord was negotiated by 28 developed and developing countries and the EC which account for 80% of the GHG emission.

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Hackers Steal Millions in Carbon Credits

* By Kim Zetter Email Author
* February 3, 2010 |

Credit card numbers are so passe. Today's hackers know the real powerhouse data to steal is emission certificates.

That's exactly what hackers went after last week when they obtained unauthorized access to online accounts where companies maintain their carbon credits, according to the German newspaper Der Spiegel.

The hackers launched a targeted phishing attack against employees of numerous companies in Europe, New Zealand and Japan, which appeared to come from the German Emissions Trading Authority. The workers were told that their companies needed to re-register their accounts with the Authority, where carbon credits and transactions are recorded.

When workers entered their credentials into a bogus web page linked in the e-mail, the hackers were able to hi-jack the credentials to access the companies' Trading Authority accounts and transfer their carbon credits to two other accounts controlled by the hackers.

Under environmental cap-and-trade laws, there's a limit to the greenhouse gases companies can emit. Companies that exceed this limit can purchase so-called carbon credits from entities that produce fewer greenhouse emissions than the limit provides them.

The scheme has produced a robust market for the trade of credits. More than 8 million tons of CO2 emissions worth $130 billion were traded in Europe last year.

According to the BBC, it's estimated the hackers stole 250,000 carbon credit permits from six companies worth more than $4 million. At least seven out of 2,000 German firms that were targeted in the phishing scam fell for it. One of these unidentified firms reportedly lost $2.1 million in credits in the fraud.

The credits were resold for an undisclosed sum. The buyers, who likely believed the transactions were legitimate, haven't been named.

The German Emissions Trading Authority has suspended access to its databases for a week while an investigation is underway.

The fraud is the latest example of hacks aimed at gaming environment controls. A year ago, hackers penetrated the Brazilian government's quota data for Brazilian rain forest products - allowing the illegal poaching of more than 1.7 million cubic feet of timber.

Papua New Guinea art takes New Zealand by storm

L to R, Geneva Gibson (Aesthete Gallery), Gickmai Kundun (sculptor), Pierre Peeters (Aesthete Gallery)

Family’, metal sculpture 2009, Gickmai Kundun, ‘Women and Poverty’, acrylic on canvas 2007, Philip Yobale

‘Unexpected Land I’, acrylic on canvas 2008, Alexander Mebri

Opening Night, Liklik Luk Save

Opening Night, Liklik Luk Save

‘Lo Moro’, acrylic on canvas 2006, Ratoos Haoapa Gary; ‘Unexpected Land I’, acrylic on canvas 2008, Alexander Mebri

For three weeks last year, Auckland hosted the first Liklik Luk Save Art Show at the Aesthete Gallery.

A smaller version of the national art show Luk Save, held every September at the Royal Papua Yacht Club, Liklik Luk Save brought seven PNG artists’ work, on invitation, to the heart of New Zealand’s fine art trade with a very genuine and warm welcome.

Pierre Peeters, owner of Aesthete Gallery, has built a reputation over many years for identifying and promoting New Zealand’s up and coming contemporary artists.

He is renowned for embracing challenging and vibrant work and connecting artists with key private collectors and the general public.

His invitation to Papua New Guinea’s finest was in keeping with his bold and determined approach to take the best of contemporary art to a wider audience.

This was Peeters first event showcasing this market and said: “For a country that has had limited exposure to the art world, they have a lot to offer and it is worthy of being exhibited in high-end international art centers.

“I am pleased to see New Zealand’s private individual collectors embrace the art from our Pacific Rim cousins.”

Gickmai Kundun’s stunning sculpture work that graces our capital city was represented with artists Tom Deko, Martin Morubabuna, Alexander Mebri, Ratoos Haoapa Gary and Heso Kiwi being featured with two large canvasses from the late Philip Yobale collection.

The work and the event were very well received both critically and commercially.

Giles Peterson, curator and lecturer in Pacific Art and Design at the Whitecliffe College of Art & Design in Auckland, opened the show, saying: “As someone who is familiar with contemporary PNG art I am blown away by the quality of work here today.”

He went on to emphasise: “This exhibition has stood its ground on an international basis and it is very exciting and refreshing to see such an exhibition in New Zealand.”

The show experienced good attendance and strong sales.

The key piece in demand turned out to be a substantial canvas from Ratoos Haoapa Gary, ‘Lo Moro’ with Gickmai Kundun and Alexander Mebri also selling on opening night.

In total over half of the work presented was sold and, possibly most importantly, the work has gone to established private collectors from the New Zealand market.

This is particularly significant for our artists as it dramatically opens the international market for their work bringing much-needed financial support and recognition to their professionalism.

The Aesthete Gallery has consolidated their commitment to the PNG fine art community by inviting Liklik Luk Save back this year and is currently working with the PNG-based curator Amanda Adams of Luk Save to present a broader experience for 2011.

Waitangi Day and what's it's all about

Waitangi Day on Feb 6 is New Zealand's national day.

The date is an important marker in the country's history: the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on Feb 6, 1840.

In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand's founding document.

For some people, Waitangi Day is a holiday; for many, and especially for Maori, it is the occasion for reflecting on the meaning of the Treaty.

Since the 1970s the style and mood of the commemorations on Waitangi Day have been influenced by debate surrounding the place of the Treaty in modern New Zealand. Recognition of the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi as the nation's founding document will continue to encourage leaders, communities and individuals to mark the day in new ways.

 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi)

 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) takes its name from the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed.

 The Treaty is an agreement, in Maori and English, between the British Crown and about 540 Maori rangatira (chiefs).  

The Treaty is a broad statement of principles on which the British and Maori made a political compact to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand.

 The Treaty has three articles.

 In the English version, these are that Maori ceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain; Maori gave the Crown an exclusive right to buy lands they wished to sell, and, in return, they were guaranteed full rights of ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions; and that Maori would have the rights and privileges of British subjects.

Different understandings of the Treaty have long been the subject of debate.

 It is common now to refer to the intention, spirit or principles of the Treaty.

The Treaty of Waitangi is not considered part of New Zealand domestic law, except where its principles are referred to in several Acts of Parliament.

The exclusive right to determine the meaning of the Treaty rests with the Waitangi Tribunal, a commission of inquiry created in 1975 to investigate the Crown's alleged breaches of the Treaty.

 More than 1000 claims have been lodged with the tribunal, and a number have been settled.

 

The people of Aotearoa New Zealand

 

New Zealand's indigenous people, the Māori, arrived around 800 years ago in waka (canoes) from Polynesia in the South Pacific.

Māori define themselves as iwi (tribes), by descent from the crew of voyaging canoes or other illustrious ancestors. 

New Zealand was not known to Europeans until 1642.

Over 150 years later, settlers started to arrive from England, Scotland and Ireland.

 The journey was long and  arduous, but they came in the hope of a better life.

From the 20th century onwards, war, persecution and other troubles have led groups and individuals to migrate to New Zealand.

 Others have come by choice, seeking a change of lifestyle.

 Today's New Zealanders celebrate a wide and varied heritage – from the Pacific, Europe, Asia, Africa and America. 

 But whatever the origin of today's New Zealanders, for all of us the Treaty is not just a historical relic, but a living document that continues to help define us as a people.

More information about the history of Waitangi Day and Te Tiriti o Waitangi is available at: www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/waitangi-day and

www.treatyofwaitangi.govt.nz

New Zealand and Papua New Guinea political and defence links

Political relationship

Diplomatic links between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea were formally established soon after PNG achieved independence in 1975, building on official NZ representation in the country before that.

The relationship now includes regular political-level consultations, a large development assistance programme, defence co-operation activities and a network of commercial and business linkages.

Up to two and a half thousand New Zealanders are estimated to live and work in PNG.

New Zealand and PNG are close partners at both the regional and bilateral levels.

We share common views on a range of international issues and co-operate actively in the many multilateral and regional bodies in which we are both members.

New Zealand played a pivotal role in establishing the “Friends of PNG” group, which was instrumental in offering international support to the country during its financial crisis in mid-1999.

In trade, PNG is New Zealand’s second largest market in the Pacific region (behind Fiji, not including Australia).

 

High-level visits

There are regular high level visits between the two countries.

Amongst other contacts, in recent years Foreign Ministers from both countries have met regularly to discuss regional and international issues of interest, and to promote developments in the bilateral relationship.

New Zealand Prime Minister Hon John Key’s first bilateral engagement was with Rt Hon Sir Michael Somare en route to the 2008 APEC meeting in Lima.

There have been several bilateral engagements between Foreign Ministers Hon Samuel Abal and New Zealand’s Hon Murray McCully.

Prime Minister Key and Foreign Minister McCully also visited Port Moresby in January 2009.

New Zealand Governor-General Hon Sir Anand Satyanand visited PNG in October 2009 for five days – taking in Goroka and Rabaul as well as Port Moresby.

 PNG Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane visited New Zealand in February 2006, and PNG Trade Minister Hon Paul Tiensten visited in June 2006, both as guests of our government.

Dame Carol Kidu, Minister for Community Development visited as a partial guest of government in November 2008.

 

Defence relationship

Defence co-operation between the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) is deep and enduring, and has developed over many decades since PNG’s independence.

Today defence co-operation is evident in the NZDF’s Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) which provides assistance to the PNGDF for individual training and its Commercial Support Program (CSP).

Currently under the MAP, up to 40 PNGDF personnel annually receive command, leadership, staff and other specialist training at various Camps and Bases in New Zealand or through attachments with the Officer Cadet School in Waiouru.

In May 2009 the NZDF conducted a four week company level, tropical jungle exercise at the Goldie River Training Area near Port Moresby.

 PNGDF and NZDF troops serve together as part of the Combined Task Force, in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

Both nations maintain a Defence Adviser in each other’s capitals, Port Moresby and Wellington.

Since October 2009 New Zealand has seconded Gp Capt Athol Forrest to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff in the PNG Defence Force.

The NZDF also provides regular Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion Patrols to assist PNG monitor and control its maritime EEZ and from time to time both nations conduct combined military training, exercises and operations.

There exists today a mutual trust and respect between the two defence forces, and a close bond between many of each nation’s senior and middle ranked defence leaders and staff, which has built up over many years of shared military service, whether deployed together on postings, exercises, courses or operations.

In this sense the defence relationship is not only unique, but is one of the longest and strongest bonds between NZ and PNG.

 

Bougainville

New Zealand’s involvement in the Bougainville peace process and subsequent peace monitoring missions was a special chapter in NZ-PNG relations, and remains a key pillar in our bilateral relationship.

New Zealand became actively involved in ending the conflict from 1997, when we hosted and mediated the first of a series of meetings between parties.

The peace process concluded with the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement in August 2001.

 This was given legal effect in PNG through the unanimous adoption of the 2002 Bougainville Peace Agreement Act, which provides for greater autonomy for the Bougainville within the PNG state and a referendum on independence in 2015.

New Zealand also led the initial truce-monitoring group that deployed to Bougainville in 1997 and was the second largest contributor (after Australia) to the later Peace Monitoring Group.

Over the past four years New Zealand has had a deployment of New Zealand Police in Buka and Arawa assisting in the training of the Bougainville Community Police.

 

New Zealand and Papua New Guinea aid and development programme

NZAID snapshot

 NZAID is the name of the Government's international aid and development programme

 New Zealand will provide $500 million on overseas development assistance in FY2009/10.

 Over half of New Zealand's funds are spent in the Pacific.

 New Zealand's aid programme has a core focus on sustainable economic development and a sharpened focus on development effectiveness (outcomes) and aid efficiency (eg; delivery mechanisms)

 Assistance to Papua New Guinea totalled PGK40 million (NZD23.75m) for the 12 months to June 2009. This year's target is PGK46million (NZD27m).

 Papua New Guinea is NZAID's second largest country programme (Solomon Islands is the largest).

 

New Zealand's assistance to Papua New Guinea

The New Zealand Government signed a joint strategy with the Government of Papua New Guinea in July 2008.

This strategy will guide the aid programme in PNG for the next 10 years, and addresses some of the key development priorities of the country.

The strategy is aimed at:

 improving social services in education and health

 improving livelihood opportunities for rural people

In July 2009, the New Zealand Government announced a revised commitment to Papua New Guinea totalling NZD85 million (approximately PGK146.6million) for the next three financial years to June 2012.

 

Health

New Zealand will continue its long-term commitment to the Health Sector Improvement Programme, a joint approach between the PNG Government and development partners to improve the delivery of health services nationwide and build capacity in the National Health department.

 In 2009, the New Zealand Government agreed to provide PGK16 million for health over the next four years to support local groups delivering health services targeting reproductive health, community health and HIV and AIDS prevention.

Programmes such as the Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme train villagers to be primary health care providers and contribute to the growing pool of volunteers, mostly women, who help their communities.

To contribute to a just society, free of poverty, through equitable and sustainable social and economic development of PNG and all its people

 

Education

New Zealand supports PNG as it works towards a major new initiative to improve access to basic primary education. New Zealand is developing a comprehensive approach to human resource development in PNG that expands its existing tertiary and technical scholarship schemes and will better link training to improving rural livelihoods.

 New Zealand offers around 250 scholarships per year for study in NZ and PNG.

 

Improving livelihoods opportunities

New Zealand is continuing its support for the Fresh Produce Development Agency and Bris Kanda Rural Enterprise Development Programme.

The Fresh Produce Development Agency is a Government extension agency linking farmers and consumers of fresh fruit and vegetables.

 Bris Kanda aims to build commercially-productive partnerships between rural communities and service providers in the Huon Gulf, Morobe province.

New Zealand will explore ways to improve rural people's income from the agricultural sector by supporting government and civil society groups who can improve small-holder farmer productivity and access to markets.

 

Bougainville

New Zealand's engagement in Bougainville supports the governance of the Autonomous Region and strengthening its law and justice system.

 This includes the Governance and Implementation Fund; a joint initiative of Government of PNG, the Autonomous Bougainville Government, AusAID and NZAID to improve government administration and service delivery.

The Bougainville Community Policing Project provides training and support to the Bougainville Police Service and Community Auxiliary Police who help local communities deal with law and order and social problems in partnership with traditional leaders.

Over 300 community police have been deployed throughout Bougainville.

 

Civil society

New Zealand recognises the role and potential of civil society organisations in addressing poverty and promoting sustainable development in PNG.

 New Zealand supports organisations that deliver key services, empower communities to address their development needs, and take a strategic approach to advocating for improved services and greater economic prosperity for rural communities.

New Zealand supports Oxfam NZ which focuses on peacebuilding in the Highlands Region, working alongside local organisations such as Kup Women for Peace and Community Development Agency.

New Zealand has long term relationships with a number of organisations in Bougainville, such as Leitana Nehan, Osi Tanata, and Arawa Carpentry and Social Development Agency.

These groups provide counselling, training and rehabilitation for people affected by the conflict in Bougainville.

 

Gender equity and the empowerment of women

New Zealand continues to strengthen the contribution of all its programmes and projects to gender equity and the political and economic empowerment of women.

New initiatives focused on gender issues are under consideration.

 

Papua New Guinea Girl Guides receive Kiwi VIP

On a typically hot and sunny day in Port Moresby last October the Girl Guides at their Headquarters in Hanuabada received a less than typical visitor – Her Excellency Lady Susan Satyanand, the wife of New Zealand’s Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand (pictured).

Lady Satyanand, who is also the Patron of Girl Guiding New Zealand, was accompanying her husband Hon Sir Anand Satyanand on his week-long visit to Papua New Guinea.

 She was warmly welcomed by Chief Commissioner Hon Keke Reva and National Director Mrs Emily David, along with rows of Guides, Brownies, Rangers and Leaders, who sung songs of greeting.              

Her Excellency was shown an innovative solar cooking project developed by the Girl Guides and allowed her time to inspect the training and conference hall.

 Following the formal part of the visit Lady Satyanand stopped to greet the Girl Guides, and shake hands with members.

Background

The Guide movement was established in PNG in 1927 by members of the London Missionary Society (now United Church).

 Two years ago it had celebrated its 80^th anniversary.

 Guiding is now active in 10 of PNG’s 20 provinces, with about 3,000 Guides on the roll. 

 

 

 

Kiwi alumni network brings people together

 

 

What do famous Papua New Guinea artist Daniel Waswas and PNG’s Minister of Justice Hon Allan Marat have in common? 

They both spent time studying in New Zealand, and are members of the Kiwi Alumni Network (formerly called the PNG-NZ Alumni Network).

From the arts to law and from education to forestry, Papua New Guinean graduates of New Zealand education come from almost every discipline.  

Recently around 50 members with about 25 of their children gathered for a Bung Kaikai at the New Zealand High Commission. 

A volleyball net was string between the trees and families spread themselves out on blankets around the grounds.

 Staff and members spent time reminiscing about old times in New Zealand.

Only a few weeks later a number of avid All Blacks supporters, with family, friends and staff from the NZHC met to watch the All Blacks grab victory from the Wallabies in the second 2009 Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies.

Members and kind volunteers also helped recently to assist the weekly Cheshire Home hot dog stand at Boroko Foodworld. 

The Kiwi Alumni Network gives graduates of a New Zealand education a chance to meet socially and reminisce, mix and mingle professionally and contribute something positive to the wider PNG community. 

There are over 200 members of the Network.  Most studied in New Zealand on New Zealand Government scholarships.

Membership is free and open to anyone who has spent time studying in New Zealand and anyone interested should contact the New Zealand High Commission.