New Year 2010

So year 2009 has just been..another year, now gone into the history books. This new year brings fresh hope and aspiration to many the world over including myself. For me this new year will no doubt bring its own share of challenges but I know for sure that better days are ahead. In the UK we will be having the general elections this year which hopefully a new Government will be in place before the autumn start of the academic year. In Papua New Guinea, the Somare Government will also be doing its best to stay in power,while the country is suffering from economic hardship and high unemployment. Well, we just have to wait and see...right now its the weather that has been dominating the news in the UK. Yes, the UK has been hit by a cold snap from the arctic and from the european continent causing disruptions to travel with many schools and business houses closed this week. So what about this weather? Well, geographically, the UK is temperate in its location and therefore its weather is generally affected and influenced by the movement of five different air masses polar maritime, arctic maritime, polar continental, tropical continental and tropical maritime during the course of the year. Any one of those five air masses can become dominant or a combination of these air masses can be dominant over the UK at any one time throughout the year. See here. At the moment it is the arctic maritime and the polar continental air masses that are dominating the weather system of the British Isles and is set to continue for another week, if the forecasters are right (which they do sometimes but not all the time!).
In Liverpool, like in most parts of the UK many schools and businesses are closed this week.
Well, happy new year 2010...better days ahead, it will surely get warmer!!

Papua New Guinea's Expensive Aeronautical Showpiece - A Waste of Public Money

It’s here!

Source: The National Newspaper

MADELEINE AREK

IT was an impressive sight as it came in to land, gliding in smoothly, this very expensive aeronautical showpiece. And those who control the public purse, and made the decision to buy it, assembled at Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby yesterday to marvel at this magnificent bird. “Excellent, very good,” were the first words uttered by Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu, after an inspection of the Falcon 900 EX aircraft soon after it touched down. Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch, who accompanied Sir Puka on the inspection, said: “A state-of-the-art aircraft, very impressive, very good.”

The two were part of a small crowd that gathered at Gate 16 of the old airport to mark the arrival of the Government’s controversial purchase. The aircraft, fitted with an in-built conference facility, modern entertainment system, and an interior tailor-made for the avid modern traveller, touched down just before 11am yesterday after an eight-hour, 20-minute flight flying at 41,000 feet across the Pacific Ocean from Honolulu in Hawaii. Built in France by Dassault Aviation, the aircraft in its “green state” was flown to Little Rock in Arkansas, USA where it was prepared for Air Niugini at a cost of US$40 million (K112 million), which included the interior, avionics, cabinet-making, entertainment system and specified paint scheme, among other things. It also has cameras fitted on it to aid navigation in bad weather. The aircraft has a five-year warranty and during that time, it will be leased to the Government as well as private sector organisations and individuals.

The aircraft is powered by three Honeywell TFE31-60 turbo fan engines and has the capacity to carry 12 passengers in a standard configuration. It is the finest in its class, with its classic tri-jet engines design. It can land at small airports and fly at high attitudes, even on hot days. It is designed to fly 4,500 nautical miles non-stop.

An elated Sir Puka told those who turned up for the occasion that the aircraft, unlike its twinjet competitor, was very versatile and had a significant safety feature, given its ability to fly slower on approach. “The Falcon 900 EX can land at almost all provincial airports in the country,” Sir Puka said, as if to rebut criticisms that this aircraft could not land in most airstrips in the country. Air Niugini board chairman Sir James Tjoeng said: “Such an arrangement is the first for this country and I would like to thank the National Government for having the trust and confidence in Air Niugini by allowing us to partner in this commercial arrangement. “This is a great opportunity for Air Niugini and we will do our best to serve and provide you the exemplary service that you expect,” said Sir James.

The legend ‘Papua New Guinea Vision 2050’ is inscribed on both sides of the fuselage, the irony of this not lost on an observer among the crowd at the airport. “We have to forego a lot in health and education to buy this aircraft for only a few very privileged people to use,” the person said.

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So here is what I think....

If Papua New Guinea is to fully develop itself to be a dynamic and competitive nation in this world, the government is under obligation to spend and manage public money wisely. Many things are important, however not all are essential and core to nation building. Certainly core priorities in nation building must and should include education, health, infrastructure (roads, airports, seaports, telecomminications etc) and job creation initiatives and programmes for Papua New Guineans. It is a shame that successive governments have yet to get their acts and priorities right! No wonder, the cost of living in PNG is so high and the irony of it all is that the country is so blessed with many natural resources generating billions of Kina (local currency) through mining and other primary and secondary industries every year and yet these billions are yet to be helping the ordinary person on the street or in one remote village in Papua New Guinea......

John Bailey Nirenga [24 Nov, 2009]

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Papua New Guinea Bosavi's Hidden Wonders and the Threat of Logging Operations

Bosavi's hidden wonders

From The PNG National Newspaper

Source:

The BBC takes the world into the crater of an extinct volcano in PNG and unearths a hidden trove of animal life. SINCLAIRE SOLOMON reports

PAPUA New Guinea’s own untouched Galapagos secret world attracted much world attention this month because of the weird and wonderful creatures that have been “discovered” after 200,000 years of isolation.
First, there was the announcement of a rat, which has no fear of humans, measures 82cm long, placing it among the largest species of rat known anywhere in the world. This was followed by the announcement that the world’s smallest parrot has been filmed in the wild for the first time.
Like the Galapagos Islands of the Charles Darwin fame, our very own isolated animal world - in the remote Mt Bosavi area of Southern Highlands province - has unearthed unseen species of life, including giant rats and fanged frogs inside an extinct volcanic crater.
Mt Bosavi’s unique species of fauna and flora, notably the Bosavi Giant Rat, will be featured on BBC1 television, one of the world’s biggest television network, on Sept 22 as part of the network’s The Lost Land of the Volcano series which started last week Tuesday.
From what is available on the internet this week, the BBC sent a team of explorers along to investigate the inner crater of Mt Bosavi, a volcano thought not to have erupted for about 200,000 years.
Inside the crater the environment has been protected from large predators and the inhabitants have been left follow their own unique pattern of evolution, not too differently from the animals and birds of the volcanic Galapagos Islands on the opposite end of the Pacific Ocean.The BBC said on its website that heading the expedition, sent to film the wildlife documentary for the BBC was naturalist Steve Buckshall, wildlife cameraman and naturalist Gordon Buchanan and head scientist Dr George McGavin.
The Bosavi Woolly Rat was first captured on film on a remote camera set up by Buchanan. It was then later seen for the first time, in the flesh by a tracker who called over biologist Dr Kristofer Helgen and Gordon Buchanan. The rat has long silvery fur and measures 82cm long and weighs around 1.5kg.
Helgen said, “This is one of the world’s largest rats. It is a true rat related to the same kind you find in the city sewers - but a heck of a lot bigger.”
Traditional beliefs may have kept the locals away from the crater which is about 4km wide and 1km deep, on the Great Papuan Plateau, making it an ideal home for the rat and other creatures which, the BBC team found, were very tame.
Other amazing discoveries by the BBC team included many new frogs, including a fanged frog, and al ot of new insects, including jumping spiders and spiders camouflaged as lichen.
“Many bird species were found to be inhabiting the area, including a beautiful fruit dove with green wings and a red head and a striking red bird named the King Bird of Paradise,” the BBC said.
Part of the mountain, which rises more than 2,000m above the surrounding plain, is included in the Sulamesi Wildlife Management Area, set up in 2006, formed part of the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kikori River Basin/Great Papuan Plateau.
The people living just north of the mountain refer to themselves as Bosavi kalu (people of Bosavi) and divide into four marked groups.
The international WWF is heavily involved in the three major rainforest Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the area, protecting some of PNG’s most threatened wildlife habitat.
It supported the Bosavi people’s efforts in protecting their land and heritage for future generations.
Together with the Department of Environment and Conservation it acknowledges that the Kikori Basin has a variety of forest habitats that are home to some of PNG’s most threatened species, as well as dramatic landscape features that include the cockpit and needle karsts of the extensive Darai limestone, the remarkable Hegigio Gorge and the spectacular Wassi and Wawoi waterfalls.
WWF says that the animals of the region rank among the most spectacular found anywhere on earth and include the world’s longest lizard, largest pigeon, largest moth and one of the world’s largest butterflies. Rare species of plant-life can also be found here, and recently WWF reported that eight new species of orchid had been discovered in the area with around 20 further species are being verified.
In the BBC documentary, the team is based at the foot of Mt Bosavi and with the help of local trackers they searched for the animals that live there, and they make their amazing finds, including the nest of the world’s smallest parrot, and types of frog, gecko and bat that are completely new to science.
“Series combining stunning wildlife with high-octane adventure, as a team of scientists and wildlife filmmakers from the BBC’s Natural History Unit explores one of the last great unspoilt jungle wildernesses on earth,” said one rave preview in the English media.
“Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan discovers the nest of the world’s smallest parrot, insect expert Dr George McGavin finds a talking beetle, the scientists identify types of frog, gecko and bat that are completely new to science, and adventurer Steve Backshall has to live and sleep underground as he explores a cave system flooded with white water.
“The cameras follow the team every sweaty step of the way as they search for the evidence that may help preserve this last great jungle forever,” said the preview.

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I have watched the BBC documentary on Mt Bosavi and I must say I was quite impressed with the discoveries of the new species of animals (fauna) and plants (flora) found within and around Mt Bosavi. Certainly we must make every effort to protect these species. The documentary also highlighted a disturbing extent to which logging operations have had within that area. If care is not taken by the Government of Papua New Guinea in controlling these logging operations, most of these unique species both discovered as well as those that are yet to be discovered will be lost forever. Below are two video clips on Mt Bosavi by the BBC. [John B Nirenga].

(For more clips visit the BBC Lost Land of the Volcano webpage http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mqjx2 or on their Youtube website http://www.youtube.com/user/BBC )

Video Clip1: Giant Rat found in Mt Bosavi's Extinct Volcanic Crater

Video Clip2: Birds of Paradise

A Disgrace of Democracy by the Papua New Guinea Government

The fiasco in the Papua New Guinea Parliament reported this week in the media can only be summarised as an excercise of self-preservation by a Government who has lost control in upholding and maintaining the intergrity of the House of Parliament. Shame to the Speaker of Parilament Jeffery Nape and to Sir Michael Somare and his government! Below is what The Post Courier Editorial has reported [ PNG Post Courier. ]

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Shameless Exercise in Self-Preservation!

PARLIAMENT was subjected to a brutal show of strength by the reigning Government yesterday when it rammed through a four-month “holiday’’ for the Members.
It was a shameless exercise in self-preservation.
If the Government truly had the numbers, they would have let the Opposition motion of no-confidence be accepted and put to the ultimate test.
There is no visible excuse for the episode that enraged the Opposition members and many of the people in the public gallery.
It remains to be seen how the rest of Papua New Guinea takes the enforced holiday.
We would not be surprised if there is a major groundswell of resentment and disgust at what went on in the Haus Tambaran of the Waigani swamps.
The Government knew what was coming and did all it could to prevent it getting to the starting post, let alone letting the race be run.
People on both sides of politics are questioning the role of the office of the Speaker in this shambles of democratic practice.
The King of Morata is quoted accurately in yesterday’s report by our reporter, at first denying the motion of no-confidence had been accepted by his office, then conceding it had been.
There was considerable talk in the power circles of Waigani yesterday about the to and fro of key brokers to negotiate the “acceptance’’ of the motion. Some of that talk was rather negative and cast a dim light on the democratic process.
Now we are faced with the prospect of a further four months without the opportunity for our 109 elected members of having some say in the running of the country.
Academic Dr Ray Anere believes the whole exercise in adjourning Parliament and refusing to take heed of the motion is a flaunting of the Constitution.
There is a little matter of the Constitution insisting on a minimum of 63 sitting days in a year. This matter has previously been the subject of court interpretation.
Opinion is that Parliament has only sat for 41 days and will find it hard to squeeze in another 22 days before the end of the 12 months to satisfy the lawyers.
In the meantime, the Government of Waigani will continue to rule by virtue of the “kitchen cabinet’’ of a handful of powerful ministers and have their way with important affairs of state, like the ExxonMobil liquefied gas project.
Shame on them and pity the people of PNG!

Carterets Islanders Moved To Their New Homes

Below is an article in the Papua New Guinea Post Courier today (Friday 01 May, 2009) on the plight of the Carterets Islanders. Read and watch a video on the Carterets Islanders on one of my earlier posting here.

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Carterets People Resettled

By GORETHY KENNETH

THE first world climate refugees from Carterets Island moved to their new homes, Tinputz, the relocation site last Wednesday to prepare the land for their families to move over permanently.
Fathers of the first five families to relocate arrived on the shores of Tinputz on Wednesday.
The fathers, Boski, Kamin, Cahrles Tsibi, Texan and Bernard arrived in a banana boat hired by Tulele Peisa from the Health Centre on Han Carterets.
The fathers brought along their sons to support them in the work leading up to the time when their wives and children will eventually join them. Head of a non-government organisation, Tulele Peisa, Ursula Rakova yesterday said they had raised K15,000 to bring these families over to Tinputz and denied the Bougainville Administration did nothing to help with the relocation program.
She said they were able to build sago houses for these five families and are hoping the government intervenes to provide funds for iron roofing and other necessities.
Ms Rakova said yesterday that the five fathers were met by the Tinputz community, representatives of the Tinputz Parish Council and Tulele Peisa on arrival.
They arrival was quiet but a significant historic occasion and to a traditional welcome ceremony performed by women from Tinputz.
For more than three years now Tulele Peisa mandated by the elders from Carterets to fast-track the relocation of the islanders has been working in close partnership and dialogue with the Catholic Church of Bougainville for land to voluntary resettle some families from the Carterets. In response the Catholic gave 41 hectares of land.
Work on the resettlement site began last year.
“Carterets Islanders want to relocate to mainland,” she said. “They want to begin true relationships with their host community partners, get involved in some income generating activities to sustain their lives.” The five families were chosen from a criteria set by Tulele Peisa with the emphasis on size of family, whether a family has enough to feed on the island, access to paying school fees and medical services and the whether the family is able to survive on the island for the next two years.”
Ms Rakova said Tulele Peisa ran the criteria past some of the elders in Buka, Carterets and Tinputz and most agreed that it catered for the everyday questions raised. In Carterets, some of the families whose fathers arrived in Tinputz this week signed on early and they were all smiles when their boat reached Tinputz. “What can I say, I’m lost for words and cannot believe I am definitely here to prepare the place for the movement of my fellow islanders”, Bernard Tobara of Yolasa, Carterets, said in a statement sent yesterday.
“On Monday during a big meeting to farewell and wish us luck on our journey an argument broke out as some fathers complained that they had put up their names first, but were not included,”Charles Tsibi said.
As soon as the welcome party left, the fathers went to work in cleaning up their village, raking up leaves that had collected over the years, some cutting away branches, while others went about putting up a tent for the night – their first night in their new home.

Voluntary Payment For Carbon Emission by the PNG Office of Climate Change and Environment Sustainability (OCC&ES).

Report from the PNG National Newspaper (23rd April,2009)

Climate Change Staff Pay Fees

THE Office of Climate Change and Environment Sustainability (OCC&ES) has taken the lead in voluntarily paying for carbon emissions.
Staff members from the office starting from executive director Dr Theo Yasause have paid their carbon offsets of K12,000 yesterday towards assisting in the resettlement of Carteret Islanders who have been affected by global warming.
The next payment, due next month, will be for mangrove planting along the Motuan coast.
Dr Yasause said the office was also looking at using low fuel products on all its vehicles to help reduce emissions and increase efficiency.
He said an NEC submission was being prepared for Cabinet to seek a policy direction for Government ministers, MPs, departmental heads and others to start paying for the carbon footprints.
The pay scale structure will apply.
Under this proposal, our current carbon emissions of two million metric tonnes annually will be offset by undertaking reforestation and afforestation projects as well as support climate impact projects across the country, thereby making PNG carbon neutral by next year.
Dr Yasause said this when presenting certificates to more than 50 officers who completed their three-day induction course at the PNGIPA and a new life for most as public servants.
He said intense interest had been raised among policy makers around the world on the evolving long-term international framework to promote the transition to low-carbon economies needed to address global and national climate change impacts.
“If current trends continue, the country’s and the region’s greenhouse emissions whether from energy production, transportation, deforestation, or other sources, will be comparable to those of Europe and North America.
“We must find and adopt new patterns of urban development, energy production and consumption, land use, and waste management, or else it will find itself increasingly contributing to the global climate change problem and broader resources degradation – with negative consequences for our people and the planet as a whole.
“We all have a shared responsibility, and must act responsibly.
“Action is needed both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to identify and act upon the highest priorities for integrating climate adaptation measures into planning and investment at the project, district, regional, national and global levels,” Dr Yasause said.

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For a country like PNG, this is certainly a very bold move . Dr Yasause and his staff should be commended. I only hope this move will be supported by the Papua New Guinea Government. [John B Nirenga (April, 2009)]

King Tides in Papua New Guinea

Recently this month many eastern facing coastal low lying areas of Papua New Guinea had experienced some form of flooding and inundation by the sea as surges of higher spring tides affected these areas. Whilst the media reported them as King tides many may probably wonder what actually causes such tides. I have provide a link here where most of these questions can be answered. Below is a report from the Papua New Guinea PostCourier today.
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King tides expected to hit PNG shores

By Simon Eroro

SPRING tides or king tides are expected to occur throughout the country towards the end of this month and early next month.
The Director of the National Disaster Centre (NDS) Martin Mose said according to the National Weather Service’s (NDS) warning issued yesterday, the spring tides are expected to occur throughout Papua New Guinea’s coastal waters.
Mr Mose said this is expected to occur from January 7 to 14 and urged communities along the coastal areas to take extra precautions during this period.
He said the people living along the coastlines should identify and high er ground and safest routes to the higher grounds when the high tides are experienced.
“Make it a habit to listen to radio or watch the television for any warnings that may be issued by authorities such as the NDS Office,” Mr Mose said.
He said if the warning is issued, people must move inland or to higher grounds immediately, adding young men and women must have the courage to help children, older people and the disabled to move with them.
He also warned people to stay away from beaches until authorities had declared them safe.
Mr Mose said learning from all the disasters that occur, people must take with them an emergency kit which should include spare clothes, canned or fried food, water, water containers, candles, a torch with spare batteries, matches or lighter and a lamp with kerosene.
“Although the authorities will continue to discharge current updates on the spring tides and king tides occurrence, communities must also take up the responsibility to confirm before taking the necessary steps to evacuate to safer areas,” Mr Mose said.