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Fighting the rising tide of plastic pollution in the seas and Solomon Islands waters

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, the UK Government has earmarked 61.4 million pounds from the public purse to fight plastic pollution in the seas.

British Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced the fund ahead of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in London a few weeks ago.

At CHOGM she called on all of the 52 leaders present to sign up to the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance – a strategy to help developing Commonwealth nations research and improve waste management.

Four Commonwealth countries have already joined the UK in the alliance – New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu and Ghana.

A statement from the UK Prime Minister’s office later said £25m of the fund would be used to help researchers investigate the issue of marine plastic from a scientific, economic and social perspective.

A further £20m would be used to curb plastic and other environmental pollution generated by manufacturing in developing countries and prevent it entering the oceans.

The remaining £16.4m would be devoted to improving waste management at a national and a city level to stop plastics entering the water.

Speaking before CHOGM, the prime minister said: “We will look closely at how we can tackle the many threats to the health of the world’s oceans, including the scourge of marine plastic pollution.

“As one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the world today it is vital that we tackle this issue, so that future generations can enjoy a natural environment that is healthier than we currently find it.

“The UK public has shown passion and energy in the fight against plastic waste, and I believe the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to further this transformative action.”

Britain, which co-chaired the CHOGM event with Vanuatu, called on Commonwealth nations to follow the UK’s lead in banning micro beads and cutting down on single use plastic bags.

In the region close to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and some Australian states have already banned single-use plastics, while New Zealand says it is considering it.

It was announced today, Sunday 24 June 2018 by Radio New Zealand that Samoa is now looking to ban all single-use plastic from next January.

The Radio New Zealand news bulletin, from which I will quote, gave some disturbing facts which should heighten our intentions to protect our seas and marine creatures.

Quote: Copyright @ 2018, Radio New Zealand.

“A Samoa government statement said the ban will initially target single-use plastic bags and straws, with an eventual goal of widening the ban to include plastic and Styrofoam containers and cups.

“This issue is too large to for us to sit by without taking any action,” said Ulu Bismarck Crawley, the chief executive of the environment ministry, referring to the global problem of plastic waste in the ocean.

“Every year, 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the world’s oceans, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, with that volume expected to increase significantly in coming years.”

“Millions of whales, birds, seals, turtles and fish are killed when they mistake plastic for food, or when they become ensnared in packaging. Recent studies found a plastic bag at the deepest point of the ocean, the North Pacific’s Marianas Trench, and toxins from plastics have been found to be leaching into the food chain worldwide.

“A lot of the litter from Samoa’s capital, Apia, ends up in the harbour. The government hopes a ban on single-use plastic will begin to address this.

“And that’s before considering the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a gyre of plastic debris about three times the size of France that’s congregated in the northeast Pacific, and has recently been found to be growing rapidly.

“By making these changes as a nation, our positive impact will be felt not only by us in Samoa, but also by our global community,” said Ulu.

“While Samoa contributes little to the global plastic problem, Ulu said it would be wrong for the country to not join the global fight against plastic.

“The country’s use of plastic increased by more than 20 percent between 2011 and last year, according to research by the environment ministry, with the country disposing more than 33,000 tonnes of rubbish – about 20 percent of which is plastic.

“Like most Pacific countries, recycling programmes are expensive and prohibitive, with countries having to fork out large sums to ship small quantities over a vast distance. Most of the rubbish generated ends up in landfill.

“The government said about 70 percent of all the litter in the country’s waterways and ocean was plastic, which presented a huge threat to the country’s marine life.”

With the global momentum on the scourge of plastic in the ocean it is hoped that the Solomon Islands, with perhaps the help of Britain, New Zealand and Vanuatu will begin considering alternative methods of waste disposal and also consider banning and effectively enforcing laws on the use of single-use plastic.

Yours sincerely

 

FRANK SHORT

Continuing and disturbing reports of basic shortages at the NRH

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, it was disturbing to read Radio New Zealand’s early morning news bulletin broadcast throughout the Pacific region this morning, Thursday, June 21, 2018.

The news report mentioned (quote): “Pregnant women in Solomon Islands are being told to bring their own supplies when they go to hospital to give birth.

“Women in labour are being asked to bring their own gauze, bed sheets and latex gloves to the country’s main hospital in Honiara.”

As I wrote in my recent letter to media sources in Honiara the MHMS/NRH/TMH signed a MOU to supply between 8 to 10 containers of medical equipment and supplies per year but shipments stopped being sent by Take My Hands Charity Trust in New Zealand when the MHMS failed to meet the second stage payment of NZ$25,000 required by the agreed terms of the MOU.

As the co-ordinator and a party to the MOU I sought some assistance for the MHMS/NRH and the management of TMH gave permission for the MHMS to pay just 50 percent of the outstanding money (NZ$12,500) to facilitate the freightage of the medical equipment and medical supplies now said to be in critical short supply at the NRH.

In the absence of that reduced contribution, and given the desperate shortage of hospital beds at the NRH and two provincial hospitals, I sought assistance from likely donors and the SFA swiftly came to the rescue and donated over US$11,000 to ship two forty foot containers with 100 beds.

Those beds are being collected from several NZ hospitals and the first batch of fifty or so will be shipped towards the end of this month or in early July.

The second batch of 50 more beds will be freighted very soon afterwards.

TMH carefully matches the needs of the hospital authorities and collates what is requested, including in the past beds, mattresses, bed sheets, latex clothes, mobility aids, items of hospital equipment, including some furniture items, thermometers, blood pressure equipment and the kind of things the hospital needs as daily disposable items.

TMH did the same in recently sending HOH second hand clothing and extra items for local NGO representatives.

3000 pairs of eye glasses, the second batch of eye glasses in recent times I requested from Lions Clubs in New Zealand, are ready for distribution to needy people throughout the provinces and TMH managed to load the 20 boxes of those glasses in an earlier container which was also funded by the SFA.

I and TMH remain committed to aiding the MOHMS/NRH but resolving the issue of basic shortages at the NRH should not have to rely on the continuing kindness of private donors no matter how receptive and kind hearted past donors have been in responding to my pleas.

Yours sincerely

 

FRANK SHORT

In disasters, violence against women is the huge, often hidden story

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

AFTER her son’s murder, Miriam* finally fled her village in Myanmar’s conflict-ravaged Rakhine State.

Even as Miriam escaped, the few precious belongings she could grab were snatched from her, and she recalls how she was forced to drink water from bamboo to survive the long trek to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Of the nearly 700,000 Rohingya refugees that have crossed into Bangladesh since August 2017, well over half are women and girls, and many, like Miriam, have reported grave human rights abuses.

The Rohingya refugee crisis is extreme, yet violence against women and girls occurs everywhere, in both developed and developing nations. Worldwide – including here in Australia — on average one in three women face some form of violence at some point in their lives.

Cases spike dramatically amid emergencies, but far too often go unreported.

In this, the 21st century, rape is still used as a weapon of war, and fear, shame and stigma stops many survivors from speaking out.

And for refugees like Miriam, the risks aren’t over when they reach relative safety.

Forced to live in makeshift camps filled with uprooted, often traumatized people, exposure and the threat of lawlessness increase the risk of violence.

In desperate situations like these, where people often have just the clothes on their backs, forced marriage, child marriage, trafficking, exploitation and cases of women selling sex to survive, typically rise.

This is why, in any crisis, upholding the safety and dignity of women and girls who have survived violence, or are at risk of suffering it, must be front and centre in relief efforts.

As the monsoon rains set in over the sprawling Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Miriam has finally found some security and respite in one of the special women-only spaces set up by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from the Australian government.

For women who have lost everything – their homes, families, livelihoods and not least their dignity – there, they know that they are safe, that they have support and that they have each other.

Now, with the help of a trained counsellor, Miriam says she’s working through the grief at the loss of her son and feels comfortable enough in the space to start putting plans together for her surviving family.

“I have peace when I come here,” she says. “I get mental and physical support, and when I needed to go to the hospital, they referred me and came with me.”

At the 19 Women-Friendly Spaces UNFPA runs for Rohingya women and girls in Bangladesh, specialists offer healthcare and counselling, as well as professional case management for survivors of violence.

Hundreds of thousands of women and girls have been reached these through safe spaces, including over 165,000 with support related to gender-based violence.

On top of that, UNFPA has provided vital sexual and reproductive health services to over 325,000 Rohingya women and girls, deployed 60 midwives to ensure safe births, and set up 19 reproductive health clinics.

The Australian government has provided $51.5 million in humanitarian assistance to crisis-affected communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar since September 2017.

As well as supporting the provision of counselling and medical services to women and girls who have experienced violence, Australian assistance provides food and nutrition focused on children under five and breastfeeding women; and clean water, shelter and sanitation services.

Beyond that, we need to see stronger political will and more resources invested internationally to ensure that violence against women and girls is put front and centre in any emergency relief and humanitarian action.

And wherever we are, we can always do more to stand up to violence against women and girls in our own lives – in our homes, in our families, in our schools and communities – wherever we might see it.

Only then can hundreds of thousands more like Miriam embark on the road to recovery, summoning strength and restoring their dignity, as we move towards a world where all women and girls everywhere can aspire to live free from violence.

Since this post was written, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has announced additional funding to the Rohingya crisis, bringing Australia’s contribution to $70 million since September 2017.

*Name changed for confidentiality

Dr Sharman Stone is Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls.

By Sharman Stone

DEVPOLICY

Social health workers acquire new skills for community WASH engagement

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

TWENTY-FOUR social health workers from the Ministry of Health and NGOs are now equipped with facilitation skills after successfully completing a training on community WASH engagement last week.

From June 11—20, the Environmental Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services conducted a training course on facilitation skills for community WASH engagement.

The training workshop ended with 24 participants ready to implement new skills on facilitation at their respective workplace after undergone series of training.

The training course was held at the Short Workshop in Mission (SWIM) training centre at Henderson; it convened participants from the Environmental Health Division and Health Promotion Division from all provinces and NGO community workers.

Such training package was organised by the Environmental Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services with funding support from the European Union.

The course was aimed to train community facilitators in the skills to implement the new Community Engagement approach to rural water, sanitation and hygiene.

The approach involves participatory workshops for communities before and after construction of water systems to involve them in planning and making decisions on their water systems.

Trainees also learned how to use a manual to guide their work in running the workshops.

During the course trainees developed new skills in running community workshops example, how to help the community form a strong WASH Committee, including an equal number of men and women.

Trainees also contribute to designing the water system (siting of tap stands) and protecting the environment and establish a system for regular maintenance of the water system.

Throughout the training, participants develop a system for raising funds to pay for spare parts and repairs and develop new hygiene practices – washing hands with soap, covering water and food, etc.

During the second week participants worked in teams, went to three different villages in Guadalcanal Province —Gilutae, Ngalimera, and Valeato – where they tried out these skills in running practice workshops.

The three villages are currently being supported in water system development by the Rural Development Programme (RDP) who assisted with these workshops.

The three village workshops were well attended with an estimation of 25 participants at each workshop.

Respond from the villagers, they said the topics were well received and villagers expressed strong appreciation for such new learning.

Trainers for the two-week course are, from the Environmental Health Division staff Jennimer Ngoli, Methoda Ifuimae, Paul Muller, Margaret Toata, and Marcel Gapu.

Representative from the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is Mr Robert Zutu from ADRA trainer and Community Engagement advisor Ross Kidd.

PSO’s milestone developments and challenges

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

THE Public Solicitor Office (PSO) has enhanced its service delivery to the provinces with lawyers stationed at Gizo, Auki, Kira Kira and Lata with a proposed PSO desk for Buala, Isabel province.

PSO representative and Deputy Public Solicitor (DPS), Mr George Gray stressed the above whilst speaking at outgoing Public Solicitor, Mr Douglas Hou’s farewell function, held on June 22 at the Star Harbour Restaurant.

He stated that under Hou’s leadership, the office has managed to achieve a number of milestone developments.

A few of these developments as outlined by Gray are; increased manpower establishments, enhancing PSO service delivery to the provinces, capacity building for local lawyers, short term trainings and student internship.

In light of increased manpower establishments, he explained that PSO has seen an increase in the number of local lawyers over the years and are also equipped with the assistance of advisors provided by their donor friends.

On the other hand, Gray shed light on some of the challenges confronting PSO which include; exit of lawyers due to the low government salary, increased demand for PSO services compounded by serious shortage of lawyers and funding constraints to further enhance their service delivery to provinces and rural areas.

However, he voiced that despite these challenges, Hou must be commended for the efforts that PSO has taken over the last 10 years to reach out with its limited resources to bring about a sense of justice to our people, in Honiara and those the rural areas where they are able to reach.

“On a personal note, we must say that Mr Hou has served the PSO with faithfulness, loyalty, honesty, patience, a kind heart, wisdom, understanding and humbleness. You have taught us to always keep our heads high even when circumstances suppress us. We admire and salute you for that.

“All of us are very privileged to have worked with you and under your supervision, guidance and leadership for the past 10 years up to now,” said Gary.

Kodili Festival 2018 begins today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

IN BUALA

BUALA Town in Isabel province is now packed with participants to celebrate the five days Kodili Festival 2018, starting today.

Travelling to Buala since the past days that will partake in the festival include 46 participants each from Wards respectively; Kia, Havulei, Kokota, Hovikoilo, Buala,Tirotongna,Koviloko,Kmaga,Kaloka,Tatamba,Sigana,Japuana,Kolotubi,Kolomola,Susubona and Katova plus invited dignitaries, government ministers and delegations and organisations.

It is understood from Kodili Festival’s 2018 Committee that another travelling ship for Honiara participants is expected to arrive at Buala early today morning, being said to be a direct route to the provincial headquarter.

Speaking to Island Sun, youths from Bughotu expressed their excitement to participate in the festival that will be hosted for the second time, as it will be time to showcase their culture.

“The first Kodili Festival 2016 was a big celebration bringing joy and pride for us to showcase our culture and other areas concerning our heritage in which we look forward to showcasing more, making the Kodili Festival 2018 an even more bigger historical one,” said Bughotu youths.

Buala’s Provincial Headquarter Cultural Officer, Eddie Kanijama Kopala, relaying information said it is expected that there will be more than 800 participants including specialised cultural groups and practitioners, as well as youths from the 16 Wards around the province.

“Kodili Festival 2018 will showcase cultural heritage and legacy, and conservation of natural resources in bold and innovative ways,” informed the cultural officer.

“The festival provides the opportunity to raise awareness and educate communities and resource owners about the significance of conservation of the natural environment and cultural heritage of the province. Its aim also is to promote tourism in the province.”

Isabel’s culture and tradition is captured through the participation of bamboo pan pipers, Kodili players and other selected unique performance by groups and artists.

The festival supports the transmission of knowledge and culture to younger generation.

Kodili Festival 2018 starts on June 25 and ends on the 29th (coming Friday).

Expected to take place today on day one of the festival which will start this afternoon around 1pm ending during tonight is the opening of the ceremony, followed by activities of pan pipes, male and female custom dances, festival games, Isabel history drama, educational awareness and Kodili showcase wrapping up.

The theme for the festival this year is: “Our Living Culture Our Future”.

Shortland Islands women conference begins tomorrow

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

WOMEN from Nila Catholic Mission station, Shortland Islands in Western province will be hosting a four-day women’s conference and celebration of various different activities.

It’s a programme that will provide a space for women to learn and venture into educational awareness talks, learning the roles and functions of the Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW), Family Protection Act, human rights, women in leadership and politics, gender equality, christian principles and the roles of women in the Church, good governance and national provident funds saving investment.

Women will also be introduced to different activities like ‘long life skills’ activities including arts and craft making, weaving, custom food preparations, cooking and agricultural activities.

There will also be sport activity competitions like sea festival canoe racing, diving competition, swimming competition and fishing competitions.

The event is the first of its kind and is organised through the initiation of the Famoa Council of Women and is hosted by the Nila Catholic women’s group and they hoped it will be an on-going annual.

It will gather 600 women of different denominations living in and around the Shortland Islands.

And will begin with a parade commencing 9.30am, followed by speeches in which Mr Casper Fa’asala General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW) as the Guest of honour will address the gathering with the keynote address and officially open the weeklong conference and programme of activities.

The weeklong event will commence tomorrow and is expected to close on Sunday July 1, 2018 with a holy Eucharistic celebration followed by closing speeches and feasting.

Opening prayer for Kodili Festival 2018 re-set

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

IN BUALA

THE opening prayer for Isabel Province Kodili Festival 2018 expected to take place on Sunday at Buala has been re-set for later to Monday in the evening around 4.30pm.

It is understood according to members of the Kodili Festival 2018 that the opening prayer was re-scheduled for today because not all invited Officials had arrived yet.

Despite the festival’s opening ceremony will take place first in the afternoon around 1pm, the opening prayer will yet take place.

As the province is looking forward to this significant celebration, Buala town is now packed with participants to celebrate through the five days Kodili Festival 2018 (25th to 29th), being the second since the first one held in 2016.

The festival includes 46 participants each from Isabel’s Wards respectively and invited dignitaries, government ministers and their delegations and organisations.

Theme for the festival this year is: “Our Living Culture, Our Future”.

SI designs featured in Royal Ascot

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

ROYAL Ascot is as much about fashion — and those hats! — as it is about horse racing.

And Queen Elizabeth is using her favourite week of the year to highlight fashions and artisans across the Commonwealth.

The monarch, 92, has backed an exhibit featuring the unique outfits made across the Commonwealth, some of which are currently on display in the hall of the Royal Ascot main grandstand.

The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange initiative was launched by Livia Firth in February, and Kate Middleton and Sophie Wessex were among those who highlighted the work of the designers and artisans at a special Buckingham Palace party later that month.

Welcoming the expected 300,000 racegoers to Royal Ascot this year, the Queen writes in the program that the week “will highlight the strength and vitality of the Commonwealth, through a fashion exhibition with displays from all 53 Commonwealth Nations, and the fourth running of the Commonwealth Cup”.

Among the designers whose work is on display: Australian label Kitx, using work from the Solomon Islands in the Pacific; British heritage label Burberry; Shasha Designs of Guyana, which has teamed with Launesha Barnes of Antigua and Barbuda; and Vanessa Winston, an artisan from Dominica.

It is a landmark year for the Commonwealth – the union of 53 countries loosely linked to the UK – with the Queen likely attending her last heads of Government meeting in April; her son and heir Prince Charles, 69, being named as her successor as head of the organisation; and Prince Harry taking on the role of Youth Ambassador.

Along with Meghan Markle, 36, he is expected to put the Commonwealth at the forefront of his public work.

–PEOPLE

SINU to offer unique tourism and hospitality bachelor programme

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SINU’S Institute of Tourism and Hospitality will offer a Bachelor programme of Tourism and Hospitality Management different from other regional universities.

The Director for Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Mr Charlie Panakera revealed Bachelor programme of Tourism and Hospitality Management will be offered at the Solomon Islands national university.

It is a three and half year programme; first two years will be theory and after that students will go on a six-month internship programme before coming back for their final year.

This was revealed during a session with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and stakeholders on June 13th at Kukum campus.

According to the popular Facebook Yumi Tok Tok forum, Panakera explained that such programme is designed to be different from the Bachelor of Tourism offered by other regional universities.

The programme is aimed to avoid competition in the job market with a design programme focussed on “job creation” in which graduates will have boosted confidence to be entrepreneurial and to move away from the paradigm of job seekers.

Panakera said, “Festivals, Conferencing and Events Management is the fastest growing market segment in the Solomon Islands and Pacific Islands nations, therefore, this programme will address the skills gaps in service industry.

“I want my students to be ready to get their hands dirty before they graduated and coming to work for you.”

He said companies that provide internship opportunities for his students will have a higher chance to hire the students once they graduate.

During the discussion, the stakeholders indicated the need for government to step in and help the institute secure internship opportunities from companies overseas.

At the session, tourism stakeholders discussed the need and interest for tourism industry to take over the income from the logging industry.

However, tourism industry needs to generate five times more income in order to equal what the country receives from logging.

With this, the stakeholders urged government, stakeholders and SINU to work extra hard side by side to reach such goal.

Yumi Tok Tok forum said Panakera concluded his presentation by calling on the stakeholders and the government to establish an Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to guide the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality.

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