Regional Archive May 2012

Thursday 31 May 2012 is World No Tobacco Day and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is adding its voice to the global call for an end to 'tobacco industry interference' - this year's theme -in global and national efforts to control tobacco.

Australia and SPC: committed to improving education and climate change adaptation across the Pacific

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- PNG Police force officers and soldiers who ordered local journalists out of the Papua New Guinea Supreme court yesterday afternoon and forced others to delete images and recordings must face police investigation themselves, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Members of the Pacific Freedom Forum join the tributes this month to a former prime minister of the Cook Islands. Sir Geoffrey, who privatised state media and initiated regular press briefings during his leadership, died on May 8 after a short illness. He was 71.

Pacific countries cannot be left isolated from regional economic integration initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region.

Monday 21 May 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji - SPC trade project looks at challenges and opportunities

Delegates to the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) meeting in French Polynesia last week witnessed a colourful traditional ceremony to present the official handbook of the Pacific region's newest organic Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Bio Fetia to POETCom for assessment and accreditation.

Friday 11 May 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji - Pacific Islands join other small islands developing states in supporting the Sustainable Energy for All initiative

PRESS STATEMENT - 14th May 2012 - The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is seeking to reduce its carbon emissions by 500 tonnes annually with anticipated savings of approximately US$486,000 in diesel costs per year through the use of renewable energy.

Port Vila, Vanuatu, 13th May 2012 - There has been a call for sustainability and coordination of development resources in the education sector in the Pacific region as the 9th Forum Education Ministers' Meeting (FEdMM) gets underway in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

A successful public-private partnership in Cook Islands is helping the country realise its plans to revitalise agriculture by developing organic farming. The partnership is this week (3-8 May) being highlighted at a meeting of the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) in Papeete, French Polynesia.

PRESS STATEMENT - 8th May 2012 - Law enforcement experts from the Pacific are exploring opportunities to strengthen information management and sharing for enhanced service-delivery.

Mr George Petro, of the Vanuatu NGO and Theatre Group Wan Smol Bag, has been recognised internationally for his tireless efforts in turtle conservation in his country.

PRESS RELEASE -Alofi, Niue, 5th May 2012 - The Niue Chamber of Commerce is optimistic about the future of the private sector on the island nation because of the improved relations with the Government.

The London-based International Maritime Organization (IMO), in partnership with SPC, is running a workshop this week in Suva to assist Pacific Island member governments to meet their obligations with regard to national regulations concerning the safe transportation of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes by sea.

KIRIBATI, 19 April 2012 - Three state-of-the-art incubators are saving the lives of at-risk newborns in this Pacific island country thanks to a donation from the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

THIRD VISIT OF THE FORUM MINISTERIAL CONTACT GROUP (MCG) ON FIJI 1st May 2012

PRESS STATEMENT 29/12 - The economic empowerment of women is a prerequisite of sustainable development.