News and information service for Banaban Network Worldwide!

December 2009 Blog Posts (34)

Australian Fraudster Peter Foster discusses involvement in Fiji politics

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA Updated December 30, 2009 16:50:18

Peter Foster has been imprisoned for financial crimes on three continents, and you'll also remember him for becoming embroiled in the political intrigues of Fiji. He's made and lost a fortune selling slimming products deemed to be bogus, and he developed a reputation as the world's greatest living con man. Monica Attard recently… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 31, 2009 at 11:26am — No Comments

The Tides of Change

The Yale Globalist Wednesday, 30 December 2009 | Jessica Shor

On the isolated atolls of Kiribati, climate change is more than an abstract threat.

Thousands of years of coral accumulation have created Kiribati's 33 narrow atolls, most of which lie less than two meters above sea level. (Flickr Creative… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 31, 2009 at 10:47am — No Comments

Congratulations to Inoke and Nyree Sanawaka on the birth of their baby boy!

Big congratulations to Banaban-Australia Association members - Inoke and Nyree with the birth to their third child - a boy (yet to be named) on Christmas Eve at Redlands Hospital, Brisbane. Inoke's mum has flown in from Fiji and Inoke's sister has come up from Porland Victoria for the event.

The BAA member are all looking foward to seeing the new baby at a Curry night planned for next weeked at their home.

Added by Stacey King on December 29, 2009 at 12:20pm — No Comments

Nauru denies diplomatic recognition for aid money

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA Updated December 24, 2009 17:18:03

Nauru denies it's recognised two breakaway republics in the Caucusus in exchange for aid from Russia. Nauru has recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which broke away from Georgia in the wake of Russian invasion of Georgia last August. Russia backs the two territories, but so far only Venezuela and Nicaragua have joined it in recognising their independence. Nauru's finance minister, Kieran Keke, insists that… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 29, 2009 at 10:50am — No Comments

Phosphate Islanders Celebrate Brother and Sister Double Graduation

spasifikmag.com Wellington NZ

A Wellington brother and sister will celebrate their graduations from university over the next month, in a rare occasion for their small ethnic community.

Quentin Smith, aged 26, graduated from Massey University with a degree in Bachelor of Business Studies (Information Systems) this November and… Continue

Added by Ken Sigrah on December 28, 2009 at 8:43pm — 1 Comment

Update for 2009 Banaban Rehabilitation Project

Find a report on the progress on the Banaban Rehabilitaion Project

at: Update 2009 Banaban Rehabilitation Project - Banaban Vision

Added by Stacey King on December 23, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

ORBITUARY - RUABETE RUABOU

Nawaia Touakin, Suva Fiji

We regret to advise the sudden passing away of Ruabete Ruabou (Sgt) who was called to rest on Sunday 20/12/09 while on peace keeping duties in Iraq.

Funeral arrangements are being finalized in consultation with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces who are organizing the transfer of Ruabete’s body back to Fiji for a full military funeral.

The funeral gathering is being held at their home in Waila, Nausori.

Our condolences are… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 22, 2009 at 12:40pm — No Comments

Fiji counts the cost of cyclone

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA: Pacific Beat Updated December 15, 2009 18:06:30

The official death toll from Cyclone Mick in Fiji was put at three, but that could rise as two fishermen have been reported missing at sea. The system has been downgraded to a category one storm and was heading south east, away from the country's main island of Viti Levu, after causing flash floods. More than three thousand eight hundred people are reported to have slept in evacuation centres because of fears their… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 16, 2009 at 8:29am — No Comments

Damaged and displaced after Fiji cyclone

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA: Pacific BeatUpdated December 15, 2009 09:16:16

Tropical Cyclone Mick is about to leave the Fiji group and appears to be tracking towards Tonga's main island of Tongatapu, Ha'apai and the Eua group. After reportedly damaging houses and battering Fiji's main island of Viti Levu, Cyclone Mick has moved off the coast and is now 450 kilometres north-northwest of… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 16, 2009 at 8:26am — No Comments

Mick joins Laurence as first seasonal cyclones

RADIO AUSTRALIA: Pacific Beat

Updated December 15, 2009 09:16:15

The Pacific is keeping a watchful eye on Tropical Cyclone Mick as it now heads near Tongan islands, while Australia faces Cyclone Laurence in the country's west. Mick crossed the coast of Fiji's main island Viti Levu late on Monday afternoon, where it made its way across the island in a southwesterly… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 16, 2009 at 8:23am — No Comments

No casualty reports in north as winds ease

FIJI TIMES ONLINE Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Update: 11:20AM HEAVY rain and strong winds as a result of Cyclone Mick have eased in most parts of the northern division.

No reports of casualties have been received but evacuees have been asked to remain in their respective evacuation centres in villages around the division.

Divisional Planning officer north Ratu Eliki Tikoidraubuta said… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 16, 2009 at 8:17am — No Comments

RADIO INTERVIEW - Cyclone Mick hits Fiji

RADIO AUSTRALIA: Pacific Beat

Updated December 14, 2009 18:05:43

Fiji has been experiencing strong winds and flooding from tropical Cyclone Mick. A tropical cyclone gale warning has been in force for the Fiji group, and flash flooding has been reported in some parts of the country. Tony Wedd from the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Brisbane spoke to me earlier about Tropical… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 14, 2009 at 10:52pm — No Comments

CYCLONE ALERT FOR NORTH OF FIJI

Special Weather Bulletin Number THREE for Fiji ON TROPICAL CYCLONE

MICK

ISSUED FROM RSMC NADI at 3:33pm on Sunday the 13th of December 2009

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE GALE WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE FOR VANUA LEVU,

TAVEUNI, VITI LEVU, YASAWA AND MAMANUCA, LOMAIVITI GROUP AND NEARBY

SMALLER ISLANDS.

A TROPICAL CYCLONE ALERT REMAINS IN FORCE FOR THE REST OF FIJI.

A STRONG WIND WARNING REMAINS IN FORCE FOR… Continue

Added by Biara Touakin on December 13, 2009 at 3:35pm — No Comments

Tuvalu rep in Copenhagen spawns unprecedented walk-out

ABC Radio Australia

Updated December 10, 2009 10:14:04

Tuvalu has caused quite a stir at the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen with the island's representative pleading with delegates to come up with a legally binding agreement, then in an unprecedented move stormed-out, closing the session until the afternoon.

Tuvalu's call comes as divisions between the countries… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 10, 2009 at 8:38pm — No Comments

Kiribati appeals for jobs abroad to save islanders

By Evan Wasuka Agence France-Presse First Posted 13:43:00 12/10/2009

COPENHAGEN, Denmark—The remote Pacific nation of Kiribati has appealed to rich nations to give training and jobs to its people, fearing its very existence is at risk if the low-lying atolls are swamped by rising seas.

Foreign Secretary Tessie Eria Lambourne said Kiribati, whose islands lie just two meters (about six feet) above sea-level on average, was in imminent danger from global… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 10, 2009 at 4:46pm — No Comments

Kiribati officials plan for 'practical and rational' exodus from atolls

Written by: Laurie Goering Reuters AlertNet - 09 Dec 2009 18:18:00 GMT

COPENHAGEN (AlertNet) - Rather than waiting to become climate "refugees", people from the Pacific island of Kiribati are training as nurses and other professions to achieve "merit-based relocation" to Western countries in need of workers.

In one of the most emotional sessions so far of the Copenhagen climate… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 10, 2009 at 10:11am — No Comments

Plea to see human face of crisis

Catholic Leader By: Robin Williams Published: 13 December 2009

EDMUND Rice Centre (ERC) director Phil Glendenning wants world leaders meeting in Copenhagen this month to see the human face of the impact of climate change.

Mr Glendenning is one of an eight-member Pacific Calling Partnership (PCP) delegation that left Aust-ralia on December 4 to attend the United Nations Climate Change Summit, which started on Monday (December 7) and continues until Friday (December… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 10, 2009 at 10:09am — No Comments

Nauru and Kava

Kavadotcom

Nauru, like many of its Micronesia neighbors, has an unusual relationship with Kava. Beyond its relationship to Kava, many environmentalists look to Nauru as a test case for natural resource management (or, more specifically, mismanagement). Before we get to that, let’s take a look at Nauru’s unique history and how they came to be the nation we see today.

Nauru Island Itself

Formerly known as… Continue

Added by Stacey King on December 9, 2009 at 4:58pm — No Comments

Pacific Islanders call out for help (Banaban Pelenise Alofa)

Climate News Online By Celia Thaysen Tuesday, 8 December, 2009 14:29

Kiribati is an island nation in the north Pacific Ocean made up of 33 atolls. With many of them lying just two metres above sea level, it is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change