Regional Archive February 2009

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has commissioned a second edition of its Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) in the run up to the Asia-Pacific Water Summit in 2010.

There has been a call from a human rights activist for the establishment of a human rights body for the region.

Art from the various cultures of the region, referred to as Oceanic Art, is gaining popularity, attracting more attention especially in the U. S.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance grant to raise awareness through the media on the serious threat that climate change poses to hundreds of millions of people in the region.

Digicel has chosen Vanuatu as the site of its green power mobile network in which the power will be generated from a combination of wind and solar power.

The residents of Carteret Islands, north east of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, are likely to become some of the world's first climate change refugees before the end of the year.

The comments made by Fiji's Police Commissioner to some members of the country's police force has caused outrage with many labeling them racist and calling for the Commissioner to step down.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is assisting the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to develop their power sector by helping them prepare a Power Sector Development Plan.

The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) has revealed that young girls are being sold or given away as wives in some rural parts of the country mostly as a result of poverty.

Human rights organization, Amnesty International, is urging Papua New Guinea to make a greater effort to put an end to sorcery-related killings in the country which seems to be on the rise.

The island nation of Kiribati is following in the steps of the Maldives by preparing for relocation for its people as the rising sea level threatens to submerge the nation.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to carry out a new study into how private spending on maternal, newborn and child health care is hurting the poor in the Asia and the Pacific region.

The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre is blaming the political instability in the country as the reason for domestic violence following the recent reports.

The Papua New Guinea court has sentenced a man to 50 years in jail for his part in a sorcery-related killing while the country receives yet another report of another sorcery-related killing.

Press Release- A seven-year effort to develop a Pacific region database on sea turtle research will culminate with the launch of the Turtle Research Database System (TREDS), 5:30 to 6:00 pm, Feb. 17, 2009, at the 29th Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Australia.

There has been another attack on another Vanuatu journalist, also a staff of the country's Daily Post.

January 19, 2009 (Taken from canada.com) - Bits of plastic turn parts of the ocean into a deadly "soup"

A 40 year-old man has become the latest victim of sorcery-related killing in Papua New Guinea after he was brutally chopped to death by a group of men after being accused of practicing sorcery.

Police in Vanuatu have identified four suspects for the assault on the country's Daily Post publisher, Marc Neil-Jones, and they are due to appear in court this month for preliminary hearings.

The Fiji Rugby Union has sacked world-renown rugby player, Waisale Serevi, as the coach of the country's Rugby Sevens team.