BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

WOMEN in the Pacific Island Countries are most victimised and vulnerable on climate change impact.

This was revealed by Honourable Member from Fiji, Salote Radrodro yesterday at the Pacific Women Parliamentary Partnership Forum held at Heritage Park Hotel, in Honiara.

Speaking at the PWPP Forum yesterday, Hon Salote Radrodro says disasters, rising sea level, agriculture and aquaculture are the three critical areas women have negative impacts on climate change.

“Research has proven and as we know ourselves that women and children are much more vulnerable in times of disasters.

“Loss of lives, loss of livelihoods leads women and girls in experience more tangible losses,” said Hon Radrodro.

She added rising sea levels, erosion and Stalinization are direct attributed to climate change, which will likely lead to less land for living and less arable land for growing food as well as less fresh water.

“As we only know too well that we (women) are responsible for water collection.

“In regards to this (climate change) issue there will be a decrease in the availability of fresh water will also lead women and girls in spending more time collecting water for their families,” she said.

She furthers that women are also responsible for caring for those who fall sick with water borne diseases.

“This increase in work load means that women and girls have less time to spend on earning an income education and contributing to community level decision making process, including climate and disaster risk reduction,” said Hon Radrodro.

Moreover changing rainfall patterns and salinity intrusion (salt water) are likely to be having significant impact on Agriculture.

“Women and girls are affected the most when traditional crops fail, this is because they have particular skills and knowledge when it comes to growing certain crops and foods preservation , which can help address reduced crop yields,” she said.

She added Pacific Island countries rely heavily on aquaculture for nutrition and income.

“However, ocean warming as a result of climate change affects healthy coral growth and along with coral bleaching reduces fish stock.

“Women are key stakeholders in fishery management yet our contributions are often unrecognised, as these are done for home consumption rather than economic gain.”

Attending the PWPP Forum are Hon minsters, senators, members of Parliament, opposition leaders, country representatives and participants from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Bougainville, Kiribati, Palau, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand and Tonga.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

The adverse effects of climate change on the land and sea will hinder women’s opportunities to sustain their livelihoods.

This is according to Cook Islands Member of Parliament, Hon Nikki Rattle who was speaking at the Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnership Workshop at the Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

She emphasised that because of climate change, women in Cook Islands will not be able to rely on their islands resources as how much they used to.

Hon Rattle explained that women depend very much on the natural resources to support their families whether it is crafting an island necklace from little shells that hover beneath rocks that rest in the shallow waters to sell in the main island to looking for wild leaves that rest in the deep forests turned into garlands for student graduations in Hawaii, women rely heavily on what their islands naturally provide.

In this regard, she stressed that due to climate change and it’s adverse effects they are looking at ways of reviving their resources and one example is the idea of using nurseries to cater for their soil grown resources.

The workshop not only paved way for the Pacific region’s female leaders to enlighten others of their island struggles as it also created a path for them to come together as women, mothers and leaders of their country to work together towards discovering the alternatives and strategies on how they can vigorously address the climate change issue in the present day and in the days to come.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

THE Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnership Forum which kicked off on September 25 2017 continued yesterday with discussions focusing on climate change.

Among key speakers who spoke at the workshop was Fiji’s Opposition Member of Parliament, Hon Salote Radrodro.

In initial remarks, she stated that climate change is a global issue affecting humanity in many different ways.

Moreover, Hon Radrodro highlighted that climate change is a political issue because it requires political will to sign and ratify international agreements, the Paris Agreement for example.

She added that this will subsequently mandate and require each country to enforce and comply with the associated articles for the effective implementation of the climate change agenda.

In relation, Hon Radrodro stated that the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will strongly impact and influence climate change goals under the scope of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on a national, regional and international level.

She mentioned that climate change and gender equality on national and international levels also affect the achievements of SDGs and future development goals.

However, according to Hon Radrodro gradual steps have been taken in effort to address the harsh realities of climate change.

“Regional bodies like PIF, SPC have programmes in Agriculture, Fisheries, Health, Development and Empowerment of Women and other areas that link up to the achievement of SDGs in regards to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

“Kiribatis bought land in Savusavu, Fiji and I am given to understand that the plan is to relocate her people if and when the need arises.”

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE Agriculture Division at Tulaghi has assured that the Vietnamese blue fishing boat currently anchoring in Mboli Passage at Ngella poses no minimal threat of foreign species.

However, they said if the boat sinks then this will be a huge threat to marine life.

“Apart from rats, there is no threat from foreign species of whatsoever on the blue fishing boat,” said the Agriculture Division.

Three Asian blue fishing boats were captured by Maritime Police in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) early this year.

There were 40 crew members on board the three blue fishing boats but were deported to their home country except for three captains who are serving four years in Rove prison.

A deal to destroy the boats was made according to the High Court decision because they failed to meet the seaworthiness standard as reported by Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA).

One of the three blue boats said to be taken to Langalanga Lagoon last month by the selected initial bidder from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) for $400,000.00 dollars is currently only anchored in Ngella with engine problem as the reason made known.

Since it’s anchoring outside of Hakama Agriculture Station in Mboli Passage, concern was raised by the province that it might only end up sinking there.

By Alfred Sasako

AS President Tsai Ing-wen prepares to visit Pacific allies next month, China has again warned that there’s only one future for Taiwan – reunification.

The warning was issued in a briefing provided by the Director General of Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (of China), Du Shixin, who met a visiting delegation from seven Pacific Island countries in Beijing yesterday.

“There is only one future for Taiwan – that to return to China,” Mr Du said.

He urged Pacific Island Countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan to consider their future carefully, saying “there is no political future for Taiwan.”

“Once Taiwan disappears as a sovereign nation, any diplomatic relations it has with any country, also disappears. Those Pacific island countries will be sorry. They will miss out on the benefits from China’s Belt and Road initiative, which has the potential for economic development for the Pacific region,” Mr Du said.

Solomon Islands is one of six Pacific Islands nations that has diplomatic relations with Taipei.

“What people need to understand is that diplomatic relations with Taiwan will disappear sooner or later. There is no way the Chinese government will allow one of its local governments enjoy diplomatic relations with outside countries. There is only one sovereign nation and China is that nation,” Mr Du said.

“Four things people ought to understand about China. First, it is a member of the United Nations Security Council. Secondly, it is the second largest economy in the world. Thirdly, it is largest developing country and fourthly China is the driving engine of the global economy.

“Come with us and enjoy all the benefits our world status offers or starve yourself of the necessary help for economic growth,” Mr Du said.

“Reuniting China and Taiwan will be the irreversible trend,” he said, warning China would not abandon the use of force should it become necessary.”

Mr Du said while Beijing was still pursuing peaceful reunification, it “must also take into account the feelings and wishes of its 1.38 billion people who want to see Taiwan reunited with China.”

He also provided a brief history on Taiwan and its relations with China.

Mr Du said Taiwan was initially ceded to Japan but it was returned to China in November 1945 after 50 years of Japanese occupation. In 1971, sovereignty was granted to Mainland China by the United Nations.

“Since then, Taiwan also known as the Republic of China and its citizens have been barred from the United Nations and its many UN agencies around the world. So the claim by Taiwan as a legitimate sovereign state has neither historical nor legal basis. Taiwan is an integral part of China,” Mr Du said.

He also told the delegations that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is due to visit its six Pacific allies next month. No other details were available.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TRIAL into the case against Malia Katalake and two others continues at the Honiara Magistrate Court today.

Peter Rockson and Junior Moris Bolas are co-accused with Malia Katalake.

This is the matter against Malia Katalake who is currently facing counts in relation to fraudulent falsification, false pretences and embezzlement.

Ms Katalake is a former employee of the Solomon Tropical Product, and was working as a plant manager when the alleged incident occurred.

She is charged with two other co-accused her husband Peter Rockson, 30, of Lord Howe, Malaita Outer Island and 29-year-old Junior Morris Bolas from Choiseul.

Rockson faces four counts of receiving and soliciting while Bolas faces seven counts of receiving.

Ms Katalake was responsible for receiving copra from local farmers, scaling and writing on receivable company document (copra inspections and payment forms) for farmers who came from the province.

The allegation said that between January 1, 2008 and June 21, 2008 Malia and Bolas made up false copra payments sheet under the ghost name Sisi David and fraudulently withdrawn a total of $152,570.80 from the company.

Police alleged Malia was the mastermind of the company scandal and she at her own discretion before submitting to the office receptionist to have them calculate and raise the payment according to what names appear on the copra sheet.

Most payments were alleged to have been done on cheques at the National Bank of Solomon Islands now the Bank of South Pacific and Malia and Bolas were the ones who collected and cashed the cheques at the Bank.

The matter was reported to police by the complainant John Vollrat who is the general manager of the Solomon Tropical Products, a company that deals with local farms by purchasing, processing and exporting of copra.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the state.