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Stacey King's Blog – January 2009 Archive (36)

Washed Up? Niue trying to save itself

NOW on PBS

Week of 12.12.08

Video: Washed Up?

The remote country of Niue is the world's smallest democracy, but it faces enormous environmental and economic challenges. See how this island nation is relying on new techniques—and some old ones—to save… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 20, 2009 at 8:23pm — No Comments

Paradise Lost- Kiribati

NOW on PBS

Week of 12.12.08

Video: Paradise Lost

Just this week, a top UN official predicted that by the middle of this century, the world should expect six million people a year to be displaced by increasingly severe storms and floods caused by climate change. But for many island nations in… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 20, 2009 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Australia's Pacific Islander Seasonal Worker Scheme delayed

January 19 2009 Country News Australia

The proposed Federal Government Pacific Islander seasonal worker scheme has been delayed but it is not expected to affect Goulburn Valley horticulture.

The scheme proposes to bring Pacific Islanders to Australia on a guest worker basis to help with seasonal crops.

It will involve up to 2500 seasonal workers from Kiribati, Papua New Guinea,… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 20, 2009 at 12:10pm — No Comments

Nauru Chiefs are naturals at footy

AFL Australia 17 January 2009

Country snapshot

The tiny island nation of Nauru, located in the South Pacific Ocean north of the Solomon Islands, is just 21 square kilometres in area.

A coral atoll of around 13,000 people, Nauru's isolation has led to the development of a native tongue unlike any other Polynesian… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 17, 2009 at 3:06pm — 2 Comments

Appointment: High Commissioner to the Republic of the Fiji Islands

January 16, 2009

THE TIMES - UK

Mr Malcolm McLachlan, MBE, has been appointed Her Majesty’s High Commissioner to the Republic of the Fiji Islands and Her Majesty’s non-resident High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga, the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Republic of Nauru, in succession to Mr Roger Sykes, OBE, who will be leaving… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 17, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Kiribati pushes overseas job opportunities

Friday, 25 July 2008 00:00

Marianas News

TARAWA (Pacnews) — With limited job opportunities for I-Kiribati youth at home, President Anote Tong said his government’s top priority is expanding overseas employment opportunities, reports Pacific Magazine.

Tong acknowledged that the government cannot provide all school leavers and graduates with employment in Kiribati.

Finding employment for I-Kiribati youth is top on… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 17, 2009 at 2:29pm — No Comments

Kiribati plea for international air service

Last Updated: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:55:00 +1100

ABC Radio News

The island nation of Kiribati is trying to increase the number of international flights which service it.

Pacific correspondent, Campbell Cooney, reports the government of Kiribati has asked for expressions of interest from airlines across the Pacific for the provision of both international services to Tarawa, and the other major population… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 17, 2009 at 2:18pm — No Comments

Canberra hikes Fiji aid relief to $3m

Rowan Callick, Asia-Pacific editor | January 17, 2009

Article from: The Australian

FOREIGN Minister Stephen Smith yesterday announced that Australia would increase to $3million its relief package for Fiji, where floods have this week killed 12, forced 10,500 people to be evacuated and devastated the economy.

Canberra has increased its aid despite continuing tense… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 17, 2009 at 2:13pm — No Comments

Bad weather continues in Fiji

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA

Updated Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:17pm AEDT

There are no signs of improvement in the heavy weather which has hit Fiji over the past fortnight. Since the last weekend flooding has left around nine thousand living in emergency accommodation. It's left international tourists stranded, and communities cut off from the rest of the country. So far the damage bill has been estimated at well over 10 million Fijian dollars, and as Pacific Correspondent Campbell… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 14, 2009 at 2:38pm — No Comments

Phosphate, Guano and the Pacific Experience

YES PACIFIC BLOG

Posted by Aaron Taouma at 4:32 PM

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Talofa and welcome to 2009.

Now, not having been a regular blogger before I do but try. This year though I have decided to try and at least have one article/commentary per week posted to this site.

It is quite general and “me” specific at times but any thoughts, opinions and clarifications within the Pacific diaspora is valuable and adds to the totality of… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 14, 2009 at 10:43am — 1 Comment

Australian Farming community happy with Migrant Worker Scheme progress

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA

Updated Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:06pm AEDT

Australia's Federal Opposition has accused the government of administrative failure for not yet implementing the Pacific seasonal labour pilot scheme. Under the initiative, workers from any of four Pacific island nations will be granted special visas to come to this country to harvest fruit and vegetables in regions with acute labour shortages. But, in many of those areas, the harvest is already in full… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 14, 2009 at 6:13am — No Comments

Fiji Kava producers seek government funding

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA

Updated Fri Jan 9, 2009 2:09pm AEDT

The future of Fiji's kava industry looks bright now that the European Union lifted its bans and reopened the European market. Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo, Chairman of Fiji's Kava Council, regards kava as the only hope for the country's economy as the sugar industry declines further. Ratu Josateki sees kava as one day becoming a multimillion dollar industry but says it is essential that the fledgling industry… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 14, 2009 at 6:09am — No Comments

Environmental Refugees: a reality of things to come

For anyone that has any doubts over rising sea levels they need to visit Tarawa in Kiribati when the next westerly's and king tides hit the island and take a drive along the causeway between Betio and the island's capital Bairiki. When the waves start crashing over the roof of your car with the whole force of the Pacific Ocean behind them you can only hope and pray that you will not get washed away in the wild seas. Once you are on the causeway which is about 3klms long you are at the point of… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 11, 2009 at 1:30am — No Comments

Climate refugees — the hidden cost of climate change

Wednesday, 3 December 2008

“If these people can spend millions and millions on sending troops to fight other countries, why can’t they spend maybe a couple of billions just to save people, like ourselves; the marginalised, poorest of the poor. Why? Because we are taking the brunt, we are the victims of these green[house] gas emissions, the pollution made by industrialised countries.”

These words were spoken by a Carteret Islander in an unfinished documentary,… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 9, 2009 at 6:06pm — 2 Comments

Additional names to hopeful nominees Rabi Elections 2009

by Ranoba Banan Rabi: 5 January 2009 8:33am

Here are a few more names which I have highlighted:

Candidates are:

Tabwewa

Baeba Abetai

Katauea Ueue

Nei Terikano Terikano

Namatan Tiaterenga

Paulo Vanualailai

Uma

Butau Bureitetau

Teatu Rewi

Tebaia Tawita

Tuateira Buratake

** Ioane Terama **

** Burenimone Biara… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 5, 2009 at 8:53am — 1 Comment

Upcoming Elections-What difference would they make?

by Aren Baoa 1 Jan 2009 for Banaban Voice

Now that the 15 December Celebrations is over and festive season is almost over, there is still another reason for the Banabans to be excited; elections for new RCL members is being earmarked for early 2009. Anticipation in the community is high as who would make it to the nine members of Rabi Council of Leaders to lead administer the 1 million dollars annuity income (estimate) and provide leadership in the community for the next four… Continue

Added by Stacey King on January 1, 2009 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment