It's a big worry

From PAUL OATES

It's a big worry
The US President has just sent the clean up bill for the current disastrous oil spill to BP. Apparently it's BP's responsibility to pay even though they were given permission to drill in US waters.
So if, as is likely, given the results of the Papua New Guinea government's own environmental impact study and similar examples elsewhere (e.g New Caledonia), there is an environmental disaster from the Ramu nickel mine pumping millions of tons of toxic waste into the pristine sea off Madang, who would be held responsible? Who could be sued by those who may end up poisoned and hungry when their marine food stocks are destroyed? Who could wind up being responsible if the overland tailings pipe ruptures and spills toxic waste over farming ground and people's crops?
Clearly the owners of the Ramu mine would say that they were operating under the approved permit issued by the PNG government. Clearly the PNG government would also say that they were not to blame as they were relying on their own appointed and responsible representative not to issue an approved permit unless there was no likelihood of there being any disaster.
So who would end up holding the parcel? Who might end up being held personally liable and sued by the mine's owners, the government and his own people for being directly responsible for untold misery and potential deaths in his own country.
It's all rather a big Wari .. err. ..worry for any person who may have issued an ill considered permit.

A healthy occupation?

From PAUL OATES

In the news today is a report that the US President has sent an account to BP for the clean up of their recent oil spill disaster.

So what happens if this sort of thing occurs in Papua New Guinea?
Considering that there is a US involvement in the LNG project, would the US be guilty of having one law for themselves in their own country but concerning a foreign company and another for their own operations in another country?
Where is the equity in this debate? If there is an environmental disaster over the poisonous tailings from the Ramu mine being pumped out into the ocean, clearly the mine's owners will not be held to account under the recently passed legislation because they met the requirements of the government permit they were given.
This is a classic example of when responsibility is in the eye of the beholder. Is the US government to blame for letting BP drill in their own waters without suitable safety provisions? Clearly the US President doesn't think so.
So where does that leave the PNG government if there is an environmental disaster from the Ramu mine's waste being pumped into the sea? Would the person who issued the permit without the necessary checks and safety provisions then be able to be personally sued by those who were disadvantaged or affected?
The PNG government has now effectively abrogated the mining company's responsibility should there be a disaster. A disaster that has apparently already been predicted in the government's own environmental impact survey on the project.
Issuing future permits under these provisions may not be a very healthy occupation.
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White House to send BP bill over oil spill
From correspondents in Washington
From: AFP
June 04, 2010 10:12AM

THE White House has slapped BP with a $US69 million ($82 million) bill and demanded prompt payment for the first installment of government expenses incurred in the effort to halt the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Officials today also said they would keep billing the British energy giant for all associated costs from America's biggest-ever environmental disaster, under a US law requiring oil firms to pay for cleanups.
"The Obama administration today sent a preliminary bill for $US69.09 million to BP and other responsible parties for response and recovery operations relating to the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill," the US Government said.
"The administration will continue to bill BP regularly for all associated costs," the statement, issued by the oil spill incident centre said.
"The administration expects prompt payment and will take additional steps as necessary to ensure that BP and other responsible parties, not American taxpayers, pay all of the costs associated with the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill."
The White House said BP was given until July 1 to pay the full $US69 million ($82 million).
The total includes $US29 million ($34.46 million) for federal agencies to support operation of ships, aircraft and boats, and for environmental monitoring and related costs; $US29 million ($34.46 million) for National Guard expenditures; $US7 million ($8.32 million) for costs incurred by states for monitoring, oil removal and other expenses; and $US4 million ($4.75 million) for Defence Department support.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the total accounts for 75 per cent of the incurred costs to date.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, enacted after the Exxon Valdez oil disaster in Alaska, made oil giants liable for cleanup costs resulting from spills and is being used by the administration to hold BP's feet to the fire.
Mr Obama has also vowed to hold BP responsible if it is found that the company broke any laws before the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in Apri l.

First pictures of Roz Savage arriving in Madang today

Roz Savage arrives in Madang

By SIR PETER BARTER

 

 Roz Savage arrived in Madang this morning at 0800.  

She was met by flotilla of more than 100 traditional canoes, bilased in PNG style and PNG Flags. 

 More than 5000 men, women and children, many in traditional dress lines the entrance of Dallman Passage and Kalibobo Village waving to Roz as she moved slowly into the dock at the Madang Resort.

 On arrival she was met by customs, immigration, and quarantine and officially cleared and then welcomed by the Governor Sir Arnold Amet. 

 Literally hundred of people shook hands with Roz most of whom had pictures taken.

 Sir Peter welcomed her, explained the purpose of her visit and Roz then spoke saying she chose Madang on the advise from Jean Michel Cousteau who visited Madang in the 80's with his Father, Jaucque Coustoeu the famous family known for their underwater research and filming, both of whom spent several months at the Madang Resort with their famous vessels making a film. 

  Roz spoke of the million of strokes and together she had crossed an ocean, she went on to tell the people that they too could make a contribution by many people doing small things to look after the environment.

She told the crowd that during her stay over four weeks she would visit schools, meet the students and talk to them about protecting the planet, our only planet!

Numerous people presented bilum bags, yabob pots and other gifts as an appreciation and the formal welcome was done by children from Milne Bay and students of Krangket Island.

 

Peter Barter

Just what Papua New Guinea needs

From PAUL OATES


Just what PNG needs in the bush. I wonder if they can be introduced ASAP?. I read somewhere that any country that has something like 22% ownership of mobile phones will never become a dictatorship due to good and fast communications.
______________________
(in today's on line news)
Nokia unveils pedal-powered phones
 a.. From correspondents in Helsinki
 b.. From: AAP
 c.. June 03, 2010 6:12PM
THE world's top mobile phone maker Nokia today released details of four new cheap phone models and a battery charger powered by the energy generated from riding a bicycle.
The charger, which can be fitted into any Nokia phone with a 2mm charger jack, uses a dynamo to generate electricity from the movement of the wheels, Nokia said in a statement.
 "Bicycles are the most widespread means of transport in many markets around the world, so this is just one more benefit to be gained from an activity people are already doing," Alex Lambeek, Vice President at Nokia, said in the statement.
The price of the charger kit, which also includes a holder for securing the phone to the bicycle, will vary according to market, but in countries like Kenya, where the product was introduced today, it would be around 15 euros ($22), a Nokia spokesman said.
To begin charging, a cyclist needs to travel around 6km/h, and while charging times will vary depending on battery model, a 10-minute journey at 10km/h produces around 28 minutes of talk time or 37 hours of standby time, the spokesman said.
The faster you ride, the more battery life you generate. The charger is set to become available through selected retailers and the company's online store before the end of the year, Nokia said.
The four new phones it also introduced in Kenya today target developing markets, a key growth area for the Finnish company, and also contain features designed for the needs of people in countries where access to electricity is limited, such as a six-week battery standby time.

A mother's anxious moments

By MALUM NALU

 

It will be one of Rita Savage’s proudest moments when daughter Roz rows into Madang tomorrow (Friday).

“I am proud of what she is achieving, but still have sleepless nights when she is having problems at sea,” she said.

When Roz Savage first talked about rowing across the Atlantic in 2005, her mother Rita thought it was just a wild idea that would soon go away.

“Then she stated that she did not want to be part of the Atlantic Rowing Race, but would do it on her own,” Rita told me from London today (Thursday).

“I was totally dismayed.

“But that idea did not work out, the race organisers would not allow her to buy the boat unless she joined the race.

“So she was committed.

“Leading up to the race, she invited me to spend a month with her to help with work on the boat.

“During that time we became a team, working together to help her to succeed and that is the way it has remained since.

“There have been bad moments: as the race went on she was totally reliant on me for support, there was no one else, a couple of people who had promised to help had let her down.

“Then her satellite phone failed about three weeks before she reached the end in Antigua. “Fortunately the race website showed the position of all boats, and hers was moving in the right direction, so that was a relief.”

Rita recalls that there have been many anxious moments for her as a mother.

“In 2007 her boat capsized three times in 24 hours off the coast of California, and she was taken off by helicopter.

“In 2008, on the way to Hawaii, her water maker failed and she was running out of drinking water which caused great anxiety until she met up with a craft that could give her enough to finish the voyage.”

 

Maori experts travel to Papua New Guinea on experience sharing mission

A group of seven New Zealanders will be visiting local Papua New Guinea land and resource owners to share their experiences in turning land based resources into thriving businesses.

The Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) of New Zealand is leading the delegation and has set up meetings in Port Moresby and Madang with representatives from the PNG forestry and fishery sectors as well as other community groups to discuss how natural resources are utilised for maximum economic benefit.

According to a statement from the New Zealand High Commission, the group would be in Port Moresby June 7 – 8 and then in Madang June 9-12 before returning to New Zealand June 13.

Maori groups are significant stakeholders in New Zealand’s primary sectors through their various land interests and treaty settlements.

Many Maori-owned enterprises dealing in primary resources have been successful in leveraging their interests for the groups’ benefit.

But success hasn’t come overnight and serious lessons have been learnt in the process of creating successful enterprises.

The PCF has selected five Maori experts to travel to PNG with them.

All have significant experience in developing primary resources and developing the capacity of their hapu (clan) to manage their growing enterprise.

Meg Poutasi, chief executive of PCF commented: “I hope this delegation to Papua New Guinea is just the beginning of better and more-engaged dialogue between New Zealand Maori and Papua New Guinea land and resource owners.

“We have very similar issues and I think engagement will result in longer term partnerships beneficial to both groups.

“Our delegation is going to gain a better understanding of the issues concerning PNG fisheries and forestry and in turn, I hope, we will be able to offer some insights into the lessons New Zealand learnt while turning primary industries into viable businesses.

‘I am very much looking forward to hearing the outcomes from this visit and discovering how PCF can broker future relationships.”