tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38821203625957980262024-03-18T08:20:22.662+01:00Pacific Climate ChangeAbout AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.comBlogger661125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-60471521430667506152013-11-13T14:35:00.000+01:002013-11-13T14:35:11.973+01:00Pacific faces working as part of the UN security at the UNFCCC COP19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmiVUAEsDFRAxvvryl-YWGle2he2lq2ZghQddLiEbvOxe8TzoIdhxw50MjeC4FwKYVuf_30rxsEaicOrLJ3NmVo03lbimZdgcgu_8Y6X1WCR4OT7MN-msp-8Pl_m8DGeNaY5iF084O9se/s1600/UN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmiVUAEsDFRAxvvryl-YWGle2he2lq2ZghQddLiEbvOxe8TzoIdhxw50MjeC4FwKYVuf_30rxsEaicOrLJ3NmVo03lbimZdgcgu_8Y6X1WCR4OT7MN-msp-8Pl_m8DGeNaY5iF084O9se/s320/UN1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">L - R: Mii Matamaki, Cook Islands with Aminiasi Boseniyasana, FIji - UN Security</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>13 November, UNFCCC, Warsaw Poland</b></i> - When you are far from home it is
always welcoming to see a familiar face! Aminiasi Boseniyasana was one
of several members of the UN <span class="text_exposed_show">Security
patrolling at the UNFCCC COP 19. He along with four others from Fiji
are based in the Hague. Coming from a Police and military background,
Boseniyasana has worked for the UN Security for nine years. He was also
part of the UN Security team at the UNFCCC COP 15 in Copenhagen in
2009.</span></span></span></div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-36404846544009509162013-11-13T14:31:00.000+01:002013-11-13T14:31:18.926+01:00Fiji featured in Adopt a Negotiator Project<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<div class="social-share-buttons-share">
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-tw">
</div>
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-gone">
</div>
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-lin">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="IN-widget" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="display: inline-block ! important; font-size: 1px ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important;"><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384349331576_0"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" id="li_ui_li_gen_1384349331576_0-link"><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384349331576_0-logo">in</span><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384349331576_0-title"><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384349331576_0-mark"></span><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384349331576_0-title-text">Share</span></span></a></span></span><span style="display: inline-block ! important; font-size: 1px ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important;"><span class="IN-right IN-hidden" id="li_ui_li_gen_1384349331582_1-container"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>13 November 2013, UNFCCC COP 19, Warsaw Poland -</strong></em> In the lineup of 12 young people chosen to be 2013/2014 fellows for the <a href="http://adoptanegotiator.org/" target="_blank">Adopt a Negotiator Project</a> there is one face from Fiji - Mr. Krishneil Narayan.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />He
was awarded a fellowship to be part of a team that tracks the
negotiations aiming to translate the process so that it is
understandable.<br /><br />As explained on their <a href="http://adoptanegotiator.org/about-adopt-a-negotiator/" target="_blank">Adopt-a-Negotiator website:</a><br /><em>"One
of the reasons engagement in global negotiations is so hard is because
they are complex, dry, and full of language that no one outside the
system can understand. That's where we come in.</em><br /><br /><em>As a
group of independent young people writing from our own perspectives, we
give you a raw take on who is doing what in this effort. We tell it like
it is, with all the emotion that comes with failure or with progress.
We bring a human element to a too soulless process."</em><br /><br />The
Adopt a Negotiator project is supported by the Global Campaign for
Climate Action with updates from the Negotiation trackers shared through
social media sites at regular intervals.</span><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Krishneil Narayan1" height="269" src="http://www.sprep.org/images/Krishneil_Narayan1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 5px auto;" width="358" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>L - R: Krishneil Narayan with Sai Navoti of the Fiji Delegation</strong></em></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the <a href="http://unfccc.int/2860.php" target="_blank">United Nations Convention on Climate Change</a>
(UNFCCC COP 19) Krishneil will be following the work of the Fiji
delegation. Fiji plays an important role at this conference as the Chair
of the G77, a negotiating bloc of over 130 nations.<br /><br />"I was
really delighted to be selected for this fellowship, I have worked with
the Adopt a Negotiator trackers in the past and have found them to be
inspiring," said Narayan.<br /><br />"We basically track the negotiations
and negotiators and write about the process in a way that those outside
of the conference venue can understand why these negotiations happen and
how it relates to their daily lives. As much as possible we try to give
the negotiations a human face."<br /><br />Narayan is no stranger to the UN Climate negotiations.<br /><br />He
first attended the 15th Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen four
years ago as one of the Pacific youth delegates that were part of the
Project Survival activity.<br /><br />Since then Narayan has remained an advocate in the campaign against climate change through Project Survival Pacific.<br /><br />"The
Pacific islands are one of the least represented groups at the UN
Climate conference and it's very difficult to navigate through this huge
negotiation process with such a small group of people. My aim is to
engage more young people through Project Survival Pacific as these
negotiations are all about the people back at home."<br /><br />For the
UNFCCC COP 19, the 12 trackers are from all four corners of the globe;
India, Philippines, New Zealand, Kenya, Nigeria, Fiji, Poland, Ukraine,
Brazil, Middle East and North Africa region, Peru and China.<br /><br /><a href="http://adoptanegotiator.org/" target="_blank">Read more about their perspectives</a> of the UN climate talks in Warsaw Poland. </span></div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-79649745618055650922013-11-13T05:58:00.001+01:002013-11-13T05:58:19.423+01:00Cook Islands share renewable energy targets at global climate talks in Warsaw, Poland <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>12 November 2013, UNFCCC COP 19, Warsaw Poland</strong></em>
- In just over a year, 50% of the Cook Islands will be powered by
renewable energy and then five years later in 2020 this will increase to
100%.<br /><br />These targets set by the Government of the Cook Islands
were announced at a special event in Warsaw, Poland this week, to show
the diverse ways parties to the <a href="http://unfccc.int/2860.php" target="_blank">United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</a> (UNFCCC) are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.<br /><br />While
it is estimated to cost the nation over NZD 220 million dollars to
achieve its 100% renewable energy target, the benefits in the long run
are worth the investment.</span><br /><br />
<br />
<div>
<img alt="Mii Matamaki 1 copy" height="311" src="http://www.sprep.org/images/Mii_Matamaki_1_copy.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 5px auto;" width="414" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Ms.
Mii Matamaki presenting at the 'Workshop under the SBI work programme
to further the understanding of the diversity of NAMAs'</span></em></strong> -<strong><em> i</em><em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">mage courtesy of Ms. Amelia Fukofuka</span></em></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />"The <a href="http://unfccc.int/files/cooperation_support/nama/application/pdf/nama_implementation_renewable_energy_cook_islands.pdf" target="_blank">Cook Islands are the first Pacific island nation to register</a>
our NAMA, the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action, with the
UNFCCC," said Ms. Mii Matamaki of the Cook Islands delegation after
delivering a presentation on the Cook Island NAMA.<br /><br />"It outlines
how we intend to achieve our targets and reduce our greenhouse gas
emissions to help mitigate climate change, these are plans that we have
already started to implement. This was presented at<a href="http://unfccc.int/focus/mitigation/items/7728.php" target="_blank"> the event</a>
which had a good outcome for us - we received interest from a possible
donor to support us to continue implementing this plan of action."<br /><br />A
NAMA is a voluntary plan of action that outlines how parties intend to
uphold their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that will
mitigate climate change through different actions.<br /><br />These are then
registered with the UNFCCC to help seek support to carry out these
actions and it's also the shows a country's commitment to slow global
warming as a party to the UN Climate Convention.<br /><br />The Cook Islands registered their NAMA in January this year.<br /><br />The
Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action was developed through a
project by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
(SPREP) to form a NAMA guideline for the Pacific and then testing it
out in a Pacific Island Country.<br /><br />The result was a user-friendly guide and step-by-step process that Cook Islands successfully applied in practice.<br /><br />"Our
goal for 100% renewable energy is to help ensure an economically
feasible way of living for residents on our islands. It's getting so
expensive to run our electricity both at government level and for our
households but it's an added bonus in that through using renewable
energy we are also being environmentally responsible as well," said
Matamaki.<br /><br />There are 14 power stations throughout the 12 inhabited
islands that rely on imported fuel. The challenges of ensuring fuel
reaches these islands to power their generators, at an affordable cost,
is ongoing and not always overcome.<br /><br />"Many of our people now have a
lifestyle whereby electricity has become a part of their life however
the cost of fuel is a major burden for families. We only anticipate good
outcomes all round once we achieve our target with support from
partners - families will have power at a cheaper cost and our island
nation will have reached low carbon development."<br /><br />The special
event on NAMA's at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change was held on Monday, 11
November.<br /><br />The UNFCCC COP 19 takes place in Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 22 November.<br /><br />The
NAMA guideline was developed by the Global Climate Change Consultancy
and SPREP, with significant inputs from Cook Islands stakeholders. It
was funded by the Taiwan/ROC Regional Development Assistance programme
and the <a href="http://www.sprep.org/Pacific-Islands-Greenhouse-Gas-Abatement-through-Renewable-Energy-Project/about-piggarep" target="_blank">Pacific Island Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project.</a></span></div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-46174002587552552202013-11-13T05:56:00.006+01:002013-11-13T05:56:56.073+01:00Vanuatu, well represented at global climate forum <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>11 November 2013, UNFCCC COP 19, Warsaw Poland -</strong> </em>Vanuatu is serious about raising their climate change concerns at the international level.<br /><br />The
island nation has a 15 strong delegation including a cabinet minister
at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention to Climate Change (UNFCCC COP19), all of whom were part of a
six month project to prepare for the global negotiations.<br /><br />As part
of this project delegates were selected to represent Vanuatu and
participate in a range of different activities to develop national
positions, prepare ministerial cabinet briefings, undergo negotiations
training and a workshop to assign different roles and responsibilities
within the delegation.<br /><br />"Our delegation is wide and varied, we
have members from the government, civil society, youth groups and
private sector," said Mr. Albert Williams of Vanuatu.<br /><br />"We
prepared our delegation to be well informed of our key issues of
finance, gender balance, adaptation and so forth, before coming here.
The COP is tough and that's why we wanted them to have a feel of the
realities of this event before coming to Warsaw so our delegation is
better prepared."</span><br /><br />
<br />
<div>
<img alt="Vanuatu delegation 1" height="368" src="http://www.sprep.org/images/Vanuatu_delegation_1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 5px auto;" width="491" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>Members of the Vanuatu delegation in Warsaw, Poland</strong></em> - <em><strong>Photo courtesy of Climate Change Vanuatu</strong></em><br /><br />Vanuatu were one of the first nations in the world to relocate a community due to climate change impacts. The <a href="http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Vanuatu/73.pdf" target="_blank">Tegua relocation programme</a>
began in 2002 and resulted in 100 residents moving inland due to
coastal inundation impacting on their homes and drinking water.<br /><br />The
climate change impacts continue to be felt by the residents of Vanuatu
with water shortages, coastal inundation and erosion of coastlines,
relocation of government infrastructure and effects on food crops.<br /><br />For
Vanuatu the global climate change negotiations are vital to the
survival of their way of life and investing in a well-prepared national
delegation demonstrates their commitment.<br /><br />"I think we achieved so
much in such a short time with our six month preparation project," said
Charlotte-Fleur Cristofari, coordinator of the project that is led by
the Vanuatu National Advisory Board on Climate Change - Project
Management Unit.<br /><br />"We've made history for Vanuatu on different
levels: we made our first two submissions to the UNFCCC on Gender
Balance and Direct Finance; this is our largest delegation ever with
over 15 members, including a large female contingent, which is a first
too."<br /><br />As part of preparation for the Vanuatu delegation, they
underwent a one week negotiations skills training by the Secretariat of
the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), helping to provide
first time delegates with a background view of what to expect at the
climate negotiations.</span><br /><br />
<div>
<img alt="2013 SPREP October Vanuatu Negotiations training participants 118 copy copy" height="373" src="http://www.sprep.org/images/2013_SPREP_October_Vanuatu_Negotiations_training_participants_118_copy_copy.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 5px auto;" width="498" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>Role playing activities during the training which requires teams to develop ministerial briefs on agenda items</strong></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It
was through this project that other sectors were also provided the
opportunity to strengthen their awareness and understanding about the
UNFCCC COP. A seminar was made to students at the Emalus Campus of the
University of the South Pacific; a national youth and climate change day
was held across the 6 provinces of Vanuatu and; national media also
underwent a one day training facilitated by SPREP.<br /><br />The pilot
project is funded by AusAid, through Oxfam and SPC-GIZ Climate Change
Vanuatu. It is supported by the National Advisory Board on Climate
Change- Project Management Unit, Vanuatu Climate Adaptation Network
(VCAN), SPREP, Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), USP and Vanuatu
Broadcasting and Television Corporation.<br /><br />The UNFCCC COP 19 is hosted in Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 22 November. </span></div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-72352697564520358212013-11-13T05:55:00.003+01:002013-11-13T05:55:34.411+01:00Global Climate Conference called to reflect on a safe climate future for all <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<blockquote>
<em><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"AOSIS has long advocated a science-driven, robust and
ambitious response to the climate challenge. We are here to play our
part in ensuring that we live up to our responsibility to our people and
future generations, and we assure you of our support as we fight for
our survival and work to ensure a safe climate future for all." - <strong>Alliance of Small Island States.</strong></span></em></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>11 November 2013, UNFCCC COP 19, Warsaw Poland -</strong> </em><a href="http://aosis.org/" target="_blank">The Alliance of Small Island States</a>
asked the international community today, to reflect on whether it is
living up to the commitments made to each other over two decades ago, to
tackle and find solutions to climate change with the establishment of
the UNFCCC.<br /><br />The opening of the 19th Conference of the Parties to
the United Nations Framework Convention (UNFCCC) to Climate Change was
the backdrop for the call from AOSIS.<br /><br />"In the immediate wake of
Super-storm Haiyan, one of the strongest storms in recorded history,
which left a wake of destruction across Palau, Micronesia, and most
severely in the Philippines, it is hard to claim that we have," said Ms.
Lara Daniel of Nauru, speaking on behalf of AOSIS during the opening.<br /><br />"Our
thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this horrific tragedy. It
is a cruel reminder for all of us regarding what is really at stake at
these talks. We should also recall that last year's conference began
with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy as a backdrop."</span><br /><br />
<div>
<img alt="Lara Daniel" src="http://www.sprep.org/images/Lara_Daniel.PNG" style="display: block; margin: 5px auto;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><strong>Ms. Lara Daniel of Nauru presenting a statement at the opening plenary of the UNFCCC COP 19 on behalf of AOSIS. </strong></em><em><strong>Photo courtesy of Mr. Ewan Cameron</strong></em></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 14 Pacific islands represented at the UNFCCC COP 19 negotiate at
the international climate change conference together as part of the
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) a coalition of 44 states and
observers from small island and low-lying coastal countries.<br /><br />Together,
Small Island Developing States communities constitute some 5 percent of
the global population, they are the most vulnerable to the impacts of
climate change.<br /><br />AOSIS is calling for progress to be made at this
COP on a legally binding protocol under the UNFCCC to be adopted no
later than 2015 to keep global warming well below 1.5 degrees. This
protocol must ensure there is no backsliding in the type, nature, or
ambition of mitigation commitments.<br /><br />"For many island nations, the
cost of more extreme weather events has been mounting for some time: in
the toll it is taking on our oceans and reefs; in the damage it is
causing our food and water supplies; in the loss of our coastlines and
parts of our sovereign territories; and, sadly, in the many lives lost,"
said Daniel.<br /><br />"The safety, viability and survival of our members
demands that the agreement be based on best science and therefore
include a global goal of keeping warming well below 1.5 degrees."<br /><br />This year the 19th Conference of the Parties to the <a href="http://unfccc.int/2860.php" target="_blank">United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change</a> (UNFCCC COP 19) is hosted by Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 22 November. </span></div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-66994598043952182462013-11-13T05:50:00.002+01:002013-11-13T05:53:29.956+01:00Global climate conference opens in Warsaw, Poland <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 class="contentheading">
</h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="article-tools clearfix">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="social-share-buttons-share">
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-fbl">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="height: 21px; width: 123px;"></span></span>
</div>
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-tw">
</div>
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-gone">
</div>
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-lin">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="IN-widget" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="display: inline-block ! important; font-size: 1px ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important;"><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384318082487_0"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" id="li_ui_li_gen_1384318082487_0-link"><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384318082487_0-logo">in</span><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384318082487_0-title"><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384318082487_0-mark"></span><span id="li_ui_li_gen_1384318082487_0-title-text">Share</span></span></a></span></span><span style="display: inline-block ! important; font-size: 1px ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-indent: 0px ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important;"><span class="IN-right IN-hidden" id="li_ui_li_gen_1384318082493_1-container"></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="social-share-buttons-share-su">
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<i><b>11 November 2013, UNFCCC COP 19, Warsaw Poland </b></i>-
Sobering messages were delivered at the opening of the 19th Conference
of the Parties to the United Nations Framework to Convention on Climate
Change in Warsaw, Poland today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/warsaw_nov_2013/application/pdf/cop19cmp9_opening_ipcc_pachauri_powerpoint.pdf" target="_blank">Findings of the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> were presented by the Chairman of the IPCC, Dr. Rachendra Pachauri, strengthening the call for urgent action.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to the overview, each of the
three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth's surface than
any preceding decade since 1850 and it is extremely likely that human
influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the
mid-20th century.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since the early 1970's, glacier mass loss and ocean thermal
expansion from warming together explain about 75% of the observed global
mean sea level rise.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="IPCC Chair2" height="309" src="http://www.sprep.org/images/IPCC_Chair2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 5px auto;" width="411" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Dr. Rachendra Pachauri, Chairman of the IPCC, addressing the UNFCCC COP 19 Opening Plenary</b></i> - <i><b>Image courtesy of Ms. Amelia Fukofuka</b></i></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Mahatma Gandhi said <i>A
technological society has two choices. First, it can wait until
catastrophic failures expose systematic deficiencies, distortion, and
self-deceptions...secondly, a culture can provide social checks and
balances to correct for systematic distortions prior to catastrophic
failures</i>," said Dr. Pachauri.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I hope this would be the kind of
direction in which our discussions would take place supported by the
science and findings that we have brought up in the report of the IPCC."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the 95th anniversary of
independence for Poland the President of the UNFCCC COP 19 called for
the world to close ranks and act together, referring to the typhoon
tragedy in the Philippines as an 'awakening'.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I say awakening because it is yet
another proof that we are losing this unequal struggle between man and
nature. It got the better of us yet again, and will continue to do so in
the future if we do not close ranks and act together to strike back.
Climate is a global issue, global problem and global opportunity at the
same time," said <a href="http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/warsaw_nov_2013/application/pdf/cop19cmp9_opening_speech_korolec.pdf" target="_blank">His Excellency, Mr. Marcin Korolec during his opening statement.</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"It is a problem if we cannot concert
our efforts. It becomes an opportunity where we can act together. One
country or group cannot make a difference but acting together, united as
we are here, we can do it."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All 14 Pacific Island Countries that
are members of the UNFCCC are represented at the global conference on
climate change, as well as delegates from Tokelau who are attending as
part of the New Zealand delegation.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although they contribute to less than
1% of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, the Pacific islands
are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's here in Warsaw, Poland that the
Pacific region is hopeful their voice will be heard and action is taken
to lower global temperatures.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://unfccc.int/files/press/statements/application/pdf/cop19_openingspeech_check.pdf" target="_blank">Ms. Christiana Figueres the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC</a> called for a level playing field in the face of climate change.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"There is no doubt that climate change
has created an unlevel playing field for future generations. Previous
generations unknowingly had an advantage; and now we know that future
generations face a monumental uphill struggle. We must urgently level
the playing field."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The<a href="http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12583e.html" target="_blank"> international political response to climate change began</a>
with the adoption of the UNFCCC in 1992, which sets out a framework for
action aimed at stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse
gases (GHGs) to avoid "dangerous anthropogenic interference with the
climate system." The Convention, which entered into force on 21 March
1994, now has 195 parties.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year the 19th Conference of the
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change
(UNFCCC COP 19) is hosted by Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 22 November.</span></span></b></i></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-20681467257329514412013-07-18T05:24:00.001+02:002013-07-18T05:24:32.514+02:00Pacific joint meeting provides springboard for global discussions <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2sMnIJjy9mv-S7TY_s8crGSsE7Iy5D2DZjva7mZR6zplcnNic4-XuYp0SGm1blqIQWmOynXU-HYF1Y-Jnmgw5eKBB9VCq-gTBtePDtY6uHbznTSdVCwO6NGXz1hZrxhtbTQS5lI602Rq/s1600/Dr_Jimmie_Rodgers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2sMnIJjy9mv-S7TY_s8crGSsE7Iy5D2DZjva7mZR6zplcnNic4-XuYp0SGm1blqIQWmOynXU-HYF1Y-Jnmgw5eKBB9VCq-gTBtePDtY6uHbznTSdVCwO6NGXz1hZrxhtbTQS5lI602Rq/s320/Dr_Jimmie_Rodgers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, praised the leadership shown by the nations of the Pacific and their contribution to global efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change and disasters. By embarking on a joint strategy to address these two key challenges, Pacific Island countries and territories are leading the world in rationalizing their approach, which provides a best practice example for other countries and regions of the world. </span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“We opened a new chapter with this meeting. What we have witnessed this week is a demonstration of vision and leadership arising from the countries of the Pacific region. The final goal is the foundation of a safe and secure future for Pacific people now and for those to come,” says Dr. Rodgers. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The regional initiative has been praised by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction as the springboard that will provide impetus to discussions at the global level in the coming 18 months.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Jerry Velasquez, the Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in Asia Pacific, said the region had again demonstrated its global leadership by placing the future of disaster risk reduction work explicitly within a holistic and overarching approach to sustainable development.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yH88468B2mXFowIcWFM1dFzcVsa8FUMLUFIV1_HYfT7muNKVXy1CR0jAaOPby4kTExASfOCZl65eq8ESZiNWH6yc_b9ZBItLWSrk1ojgdQUGhh9jVGS21FCqo_v6A4Bm2FWFTMZY3W5D/s1600/pic_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yH88468B2mXFowIcWFM1dFzcVsa8FUMLUFIV1_HYfT7muNKVXy1CR0jAaOPby4kTExASfOCZl65eq8ESZiNWH6yc_b9ZBItLWSrk1ojgdQUGhh9jVGS21FCqo_v6A4Bm2FWFTMZY3W5D/s320/pic_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“With its identification of national leadership of integrated action in disaster risk management and climate change supported by enlightened regional and international partnership as key, UNISDR is confident that the region will achieve its ambitions and more importantly make a difference to vulnerable communities around the Pacific, which is the ultimate measure of success,” says Velaquez.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), David Sheppard, said “This has been a meeting with a rich and exciting programme. Countries have already successfully commenced work on linking their climate and disaster functions and an integrated strategy at the regional level will enable us to support these efforts while avoiding competition and duplication. We now have a clear path forward for bringing an integrated strategy to fruition.” </span></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The meeting achieved a world first by bringing together the two principal regional conferences on disaster risk management and climate change. The joint meeting will contribute to the formulation of an over-arching regional strategy and framework for climate and disaster-resilient development to be considered for endorsement by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2015. </span></em></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj635INp2Yv1qq7W_vew8ZmYJz8RB_XW_VAC-Q1dfm2316RR3g3DcjdDWydKYuVLseVk0mx31Y-hwT6lVUnXxFccGOXWbRpK4UVJCxxtwWkMiobS9BAotn9RKFTICKmAwfagS_erUnz4BZS/s1600/David1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj635INp2Yv1qq7W_vew8ZmYJz8RB_XW_VAC-Q1dfm2316RR3g3DcjdDWydKYuVLseVk0mx31Y-hwT6lVUnXxFccGOXWbRpK4UVJCxxtwWkMiobS9BAotn9RKFTICKmAwfagS_erUnz4BZS/s320/David1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">An integrated approach to addressing disaster risk reduction and climate change concerns will mean better use of national and regional capacities and resources to address the risks posed by hazards, whether they are extreme weather events such as cyclones and droughts or ‘slow onset’ events such as rising sea levels or ocean acidification associated with climate change. The strategy will further progress the agenda of enabling the Pacific Islands region to build resilience to our changing climate. </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The strategy and framework will be developed in full by 2015 and will replace the current Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005 -2015 and Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006 -2015.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span></em></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>The meeting, which ran from Monday 8 July to Thursday 11 July, 2013, was hosted and chaired by the Government of Fiji and jointly convened by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).</em></span> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><!-- Social Share Buttons | Powered by <a href="http://www.e-max.it/agenzia-web/progettazione-siti-web.html" title="Siti Web" target="_blank">Siti Web</a> --></span></span></span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-77209170968651994042013-07-18T05:15:00.000+02:002013-07-18T05:15:03.616+02:00Closing of the Joint meeting on climate change and disaster risk management<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Ben
Kedoga, NBC PNG<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiPvck6MLZB5JWDAI1kKyYA_-cjruUwAPGanEkZlk05kN6bfN9-BmbJgERvG98g-E4FEee6GQ0Fn4ikM_RB_Mv__NIJCdzPXfneAIjB_MNQnHFcQmyMIyxw2PLUIFJ0YuLMC7V4VFlE62/s1600/Minister_Fiji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiPvck6MLZB5JWDAI1kKyYA_-cjruUwAPGanEkZlk05kN6bfN9-BmbJgERvG98g-E4FEee6GQ0Fn4ikM_RB_Mv__NIJCdzPXfneAIjB_MNQnHFcQmyMIyxw2PLUIFJ0YuLMC7V4VFlE62/s320/Minister_Fiji.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji -</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
Pacific Island Countries are not only advocates but practitioners of disaster
and climate change risk adaptation and mitigation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiji’s
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Rural
Development and National Disaster, Inia Seruiratu said this during his closing
remarks at the conclusion of the Joint meeting of the 2013 Pacific Platform for
Disaster Risk Management and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The
classic showcase of Choiseul province in the Solomon Islands and SPREP’s
Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change, PACC projects in the Rewa delta in Fiji
are evidence of our collective collaboration with our partners to get the
balance right between adaptation and mitigation for climate change and disaster
risks,” Seruiratu said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He added
that Pacific island countries share common approaches in trying to adapt and
mitigate between aspects of climate change and disaster risk management.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Therefore
these commonalties must be well discussed at the community, national and
regional levels so that a practical, gender-sensitive and pragmatic approach is
agreed upon by all key stakeholders to avoid duplication and that efficiencies
can be generated through our joint efforts,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However,
he pointed out that to achieve results for the region a collective regional
approach and integration is imperative to achieve the desired outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-48254033671295024922013-07-18T05:12:00.002+02:002013-07-18T05:12:40.044+02:00Joint meeting comes to an end<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Bill
Jaynes, The Kaselehlie Press: <a href="http://www.kpress.info/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.kpress.info/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF_ooBIa0_O9Nby_wE1M1MHFaTRpnNXZHyHctzwIzrC2_KgtycNLSU7WJVRKppGp_wMsPY8Xg0vzNESQTSFPiFF0yX985M_eOuxvhIx6d39BjD9fpo5sL0KQlHfExr3hTYZzywO8NMIqb/s1600/Jimmie_Rodgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF_ooBIa0_O9Nby_wE1M1MHFaTRpnNXZHyHctzwIzrC2_KgtycNLSU7WJVRKppGp_wMsPY8Xg0vzNESQTSFPiFF0yX985M_eOuxvhIx6d39BjD9fpo5sL0KQlHfExr3hTYZzywO8NMIqb/s320/Jimmie_Rodgers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji - </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and
Pacific Climate Change Roundtable meetings came to close this afternoon at the
Sofitel Hotel in Denarau, Fiji. Delivering their closing remarks were
SPREP Director General David Sheppard, Timothy Wilcox of the UNISDR, and Dr.
Jimmie Rogers of SPC. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
meeting was officially concluded by Inia Seruiratu, Fji’s Minister for Disaster
Management who said, “A strategic policy and a strong political will and
commitment are the key tenants of realizing the vision of integrating climate
change and disaster response.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Echoing
the sentiments of an earlier speaker Sheppard said that the discussions were
historic precedent setting and an example for the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Any
change to our existing systems of work can potentially seem threatening and
there have been some discussions about implications of an integrated strategy
for issues like funding, and the roles and responsibilities of different
agencies, at national and regional levels,” Sheppard said. “A key lesson
I have drawn is that integration is not a threat - it's an opportunity.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Any
strategy or process is only as good as the outcomes and results it delivers for
the countries and peoples of the Pacific. Our focus must be sharply and
clearly on supporting Pacific Island countries adapt and build resilience to
climate change and natural disasters, as an essential contribution to
sustainable development in our region,” Sheppard reminded the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wilcox said
that he has very familiar with the drudgery of some meetings and “death by
Power Point” but said that he felt that he had seen a lot of productivity at
these meetings and could see that the Pacific Region is moving forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Our human
relationship with Mother Nature is often one of bitter struggle. It’s not
always as harmonious as we would like it to be. So now that we have a
plan for the future, or working one, hopefully we will be able to have a more
harmonious life with the planet as it’s making it’s changes,” Wilcox said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s
clear that this region has much to offer the rest of the world by way of good
example…my person experience in going to meeting in other parts of the world is
that the Pacific Voice is not heard. Not because it’s not there but
because it gets lost in all the troubles that often seem so overwhelming in
other parts of the world. Peace is a commodity your region and we should
be thankful for that” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Dr.
Jimmie Rogers gave the final closing statement. “What I saw this week was
a building of character. It was a demonstration of vision. It was a
demonstration of leadership from our countries of the region. We were not
worried so much in as far as ‘we cannot do this’. I think the Pacific is
saying, “Because we are in this situation—we did not bring ourselves here but
we must stand up and be counted. We need, as a group, to move forward.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said
that there are many more mountains to cross and more rivers and oceans to
cross. “’Roadmap’ is a nice term but there’s a lot of work in it too,” he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-79917975322406139732013-07-18T05:09:00.001+02:002013-07-18T05:09:39.911+02:00Sheppard: Integration is not a threat - it's an opportunity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Daniel Namosuaia,
Solomon Star: <a href="http://www.solomonstarnews.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.solomonstarnews.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvQG49ZWTbzA2mnhUSZZAZzBnB61eO6yYn1P6MvQkgyapo03otYWmOySeh2qSZWTww7gbDK53g1beySEV6JyLQfxan7m_NORhR_h1Fwm2Z9zovySjKHr9yQTjJdS_l0AgH8fCpGil9PY-/s1600/David1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvQG49ZWTbzA2mnhUSZZAZzBnB61eO6yYn1P6MvQkgyapo03otYWmOySeh2qSZWTww7gbDK53g1beySEV6JyLQfxan7m_NORhR_h1Fwm2Z9zovySjKHr9yQTjJdS_l0AgH8fCpGil9PY-/s320/David1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji -</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
The Director General of the Secretariat of Regional Environment Programme,
David Sheppard says integration is a great opportunity for the region to deal
with the impacts of climate change and disasters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his
closing remarks at the Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific Platform for Disaster
Risk Management(PPDRM) and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable(PCCR), he said any
strategy or process is only as good as the outcomes and the results it delivers
for the countries and people of the Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quoting
British wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill, Sheppard said, “no matter
how beautiful the strategy, it is always good to look at the results."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Our focus
must be sharply and clearly on supporting Pacific Island countries adapt and
build resilience to climate change and natural disasters, as an essential
contribution to sustainable development in our region,” Sheppard said<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He
highlighted four key points from the meeting;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. There
is no one size that fits all - any regional strategy must focus on enabling and
supporting national action, and must also support and guide Governments to
develop the systems and processes that will work best in their context, in
their own unique circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.
Ownership is essential if any strategy is to work. Inclusion, real inclusion,
of different groups is crucial for any integrated strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Any
integrated strategy should be underpinned by good governance .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The
work in this region must inform international efforts on disaster risk
reduction and climate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheppard stressed
that responses to climate change and natural disasters must involve a mix of
responses, including those related to infrastructure and those related to
ecosystem protection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adding
that integrated strategy must reinforce the state of urgency facing the region
regarding climate change, associated sea level rise and natural disasters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He
highlighted that good governance will ensure Pacific countries to better
respond to a changing climate and to natural disasters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adding
that national and regional efforts must support efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and ensure that funding commitments are met.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Partnerships
at all levels are essential and we have seen how partnerships, such as in the
Choiseul Province, benefit Pacific countries and their people.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said
while countries of the world argue about emissions reductions and particularly
who is to blame, the countries of the Pacific are the first impacted and will
be the first to go under.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“He
encouraged the increasing level of partnership and joint work between CROP
agencies to continue and accelerate since positive outcomes has been made.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We must
all reach out and better engage new partners, and avoid competition and
duplication.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Partnership
are not the end in themselves we must focus on working together to deliver
better results to support national priorities and meet local needs,” Sheppard
added.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said
SPREP looks forward to working with Pacific countries and territories, other
CROP agencies, donors and partners to support the development of the integrated
strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-25621585214549455912013-07-18T05:05:00.000+02:002013-07-18T05:07:01.995+02:00Tonga’s’ Director of Education quoted at the closing program of the Joint Meeting in Fiji<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">By Sini Latu, Tonga Broadcasting Commission: <a href="http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net</span></a></span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMA6z1LIK6cMk3vRpz3c6DYg_gEqOkxvsLLnuMUxLUu1PWx4k5Pg5g6K7d4l5QuFg3r5n8YJC5RZogRE8L4mFlcAWxbhrnh_bULQkuwKfAlDqSVCxUbwr_-0VD6m0ks3qBuaUvEI3xBUnp/s1600/last-day-smiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMA6z1LIK6cMk3vRpz3c6DYg_gEqOkxvsLLnuMUxLUu1PWx4k5Pg5g6K7d4l5QuFg3r5n8YJC5RZogRE8L4mFlcAWxbhrnh_bULQkuwKfAlDqSVCxUbwr_-0VD6m0ks3qBuaUvEI3xBUnp/s320/last-day-smiles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - “Work hard but always look at the scoreboard” were
the words of encouragement from the Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Ministry
of Education Emily Pouvalu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
She said this during her presentation on Education on Climate Change and
Disaster Risk Management – Priority Areas and Best Practices – on Wednesday
morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
She was quoted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Region Environment Programme’s
Director General – David Sheppard – while giving his closing remarks at the end
of the Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management
and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Though the meeting has been tiring, Sheppard says “it has been a very
interesting and rewarding experience”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheppard said the four day meeting was “ground breaking, as well as
stimulating and challenging”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
The meeting has brought together key related sectors to discuss on issues that
are affecting the region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
In moving forward – Mr Sheppard suggests that “we must listen to and we must be
willing to learn from each other. We must build approaches based on trust and
open and clear communication.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
“The bottom line from any process is that it must deliver improved results and
outcomes for Pacific countries on climate change and disaster risk<br />
reduction.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
“We should be opportunistic and use key events such as the Governing Council
Meetings of SPREP and SPC to advance the strategy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
“We should consider how key events for our region such as the landmark SIDS
Conference in Samoa next year can be used to showcase and advance<br />
climate change and disaster reduction in our region.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
The Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and
Pacific Climate Change Roundtable is the first joint meeting to be held in the
Pacific Region.</span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-58709591021171215272013-07-18T05:02:00.001+02:002013-07-18T05:02:39.243+02:00Many positive lessons learnt from Joint Platform meeting on Disaster Risk and Climate Change <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
Makereta Komai, PACNEWS: <a href="http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=pacnews"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=pacnews</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWPctxdLzQAv_wOWlXwKXmAn_1BrSYm-OwfkWb8ordOYCpXW9hdGarZKR9QjOlfSMVg9LWgNsYjRdQ1jTlZSmMhkShucyNoJMvYUkfpHEKhKQP4LL0-HL2CF8axMMWA0-W7wFd6ZnhA14/s1600/Mosese-Neta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWPctxdLzQAv_wOWlXwKXmAn_1BrSYm-OwfkWb8ordOYCpXW9hdGarZKR9QjOlfSMVg9LWgNsYjRdQ1jTlZSmMhkShucyNoJMvYUkfpHEKhKQP4LL0-HL2CF8axMMWA0-W7wFd6ZnhA14/s320/Mosese-Neta.jpg" width="320" /></a></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July,
2013, Nadi, Fiji -</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
Organisers of the first ever Joint Meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster
Risk Management (DRM) and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in Fiji have
described the meeting as an ‘amazing’ experience bringing the two communities
together to find common grounds to work together for the benefit of Pacific
Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mosese
Sikivou, the Manager Community Risk programme said member countries were very
supportive of the proposed Roadmap process that paves the way for a regional
strategy on DRM and Climate Change (CC) by the end of 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I think the
countries are very supportive of this because this is a regional initiative
that builds on what they already have at the national level. They have the
leadership and ownership to carry it through. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“They want
the regional architecture to provide a better enabling environment to allow
them to integrate better. This meeting is part of a process that started two
years ago. It is significant because it is the first time that climate and
disaster communities have come together, said Sikivou.’’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr Netauta
Pelesikoti, the director of climate change division at the Secretariat of the Pacific
Regional Environment echoed the sentiments of Sikivou saying a lot of work
needs to be done moving forward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“A clear
message came from Pacific Island Countries and Territories that they want to be
involved in the process. Many of them have volunteered to be included in the
steering committee and technical working groups that will carry forward the
consultations and the drafting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The topics
that we heard this week provided some insights on the priority areas that can
be looked at in the proposed strategy. Today we discussed vulnerable groups and
the need to mainstream gender considerations, said Dr Pelesikoti.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the same
time, the joint meeting highlighted synergies between different stakeholders
and the role they can play in the Roadmap process and the development of the
proposed regional strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We are
talking about a lot more significant penetration and tangible results at the
community level and that is something we hope, as we move forward will form the
core of the umbrella strategy that we hope to achieve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sikivou said
the concerns of vulnerable groups will also be incorporated into discussions
now being shaped for the regional strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We are
hoping that they will get a visible profile and become a significant focus of the
work that we do. The message that came from the session this morning is that
they have a lot to contribute in building resilient communities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We need to
reorient our thinking and not look at them as a vulnerable group but how they
can contribute to building resilient communities. If we do that, then we can
adopt a ‘whole of country’ approach, said Sikivou. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr Pelesikoti
of SPREP agrees that vulnerable groups are an important component of the
integrated regional strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It has been
raised and they must be included. They are an important group in our society.
One of the reasons why they are more vulnerable than others is because they
need special attention and assistance, said Dr Pelesikoti.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another
emerging group is the private sector, said Sikivou.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We are
trying to organise a meeting for the private sector before the end of this year
and a separate one for civil society as well. If we are able to get these
stakeholders together in dedicated groups, we may be able to draw out some key
messages. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both Sikivou
and Dr Pelesikoti agree the Joint National Action Plan (JNAPs) on DRM and CC
that exists in 13 of the 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories shows
commitment and political will at the national level to move forward with the
regional integration proposal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Many
countries have developed their JNAPS but there is a need for the sectors to
take priority and integrate them into their sector action plan. We need
to move away from the thinking that CC and DRM are confined to only some
sectors. There needs to be national mechanisms to take regional policies down
to provinces, outer islands and communities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“This week,
we have seen political leadership shown by the deputy Prime Minister of Tonga,
the acting Prime Minister of Fiji, Minister of Finance of Vanuatu and the
Minister of Environment from Vanuatu. There is a commitment from decision
makers that they see climate change and disaster risk management are key
development issue that need to be addressed if governments want to have sustainable
development, said Dr Pelesikoti. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the
regional strategy is endorsed by Pacific Leaders in August 2014, the Pacific
will be the first region in the world with an integrated plan to tackle
disaster risk and climate change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We need to
be grounded, keep our feet firmly on the ground and just get on and do the
work. Our success as a region should be demonstrated by our work and not by
what we are saying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“One of the
things that worked for us is that a lot of what we do amongst ourselves as
Pacific Islanders is built on the strong foundation of mutual respect and
trust. I am optimistic that if we continue to use this as the mainstay for our
discussions, we can achieve greater things for our people, said Sikivou.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The joint
meeting has brought SPC and SPREP close together, said Sikivou.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“ We’ve
always had a strong relationship. This integration agenda going back to 2009
has just brought us much closer together. We were set up to address different
things but we are mutually complementary, said Sikivou.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A meeting of
the Steering committee will be held in August to discuss outcomes of the Nadi
meeting.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-40446992980947525202013-07-18T04:56:00.001+02:002013-07-18T04:56:27.506+02:00Tongan Leading Climate Change drive in the Region<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">By Sini Latu, Tonga Broadcasting Commission: <a href="http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuCjdjMpe-ZPF94ZVbhZjwewAQK7DDiXh4OOL52dKdeauw51KH7or6JHBKIDTZofNIkm7vdsc4gTw-oEtq96wtgiwJ_goxC2Pn6bQi6mvS_ESP_V5Hxd9uitkPO-PDlqQsC8f5_Q2twNM/s1600/Neta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuCjdjMpe-ZPF94ZVbhZjwewAQK7DDiXh4OOL52dKdeauw51KH7or6JHBKIDTZofNIkm7vdsc4gTw-oEtq96wtgiwJ_goxC2Pn6bQi6mvS_ESP_V5Hxd9uitkPO-PDlqQsC8f5_Q2twNM/s1600/Neta.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji -</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Dr
Netatua Pelesikoti is a familiar climate change figure throughout the Pacific
region and a leading climate change campaigner.<br />
<br />
Meet the Director of Climate Change Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific
Regional Environment Programme Dr Netatua Pelesikoti who has been presenting,
talking and sharing key relevant ideas on climate change at the Joint
Meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and the Pacific
Climate Change Roundtable.<br />
<br />
Dr Pelesikoti worked in Tonga for over 20 years in the Ministry of Education,
Ministry of Lands and Survey, Natural Resources and Environment.<br />
<br />
In 2004 she joined SOPAC in Fiji where she worked for six years. In 2010 she
joined SPREP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Dr Pelesikoti, known to many as Neta – not only works in the region but at the
international level.<br />
<br />
She was involved in the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). The AR5 provide scientific
reports on Climate Change, cyclones, storms, sea level rise, and many more.<br />
<br />
These scientific reports, says Dr Pelesikoti are proof that climate change is
already happening in the region.<br />
<br />
She is encouraging Tonga and other Pacific countries and territories to make
use of these scientific reports to be able to develop a more resilient future
in terms of climate change.<br />
<br />
Despite her heavy workload, she is still willing to get involved in more
regional work to help Tonga and other Pacific islands in any way she can.<br />
<br />
Her eagerness is only limited by time, her major challenge at work.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
SPREPs Director for Climate Change says people need to get serious and start
thinking of climate change when it comes to developments.<br />
<br />
As a Tongan campaigning on climate change Dr Netatua Pelesikoti called on
related sectors in Tonga to work more closely together, get involved and see
how they can share information and resources amongst themselves to better
inform and assist people.<br />
<br />
The collaboration does not end there – says Dr Pelesikoti, but they need to
work together with the media – as the media will help them deliver the
information to the communities and rest of the people.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-14156448086637944802013-07-18T04:53:00.000+02:002013-07-18T04:53:32.159+02:00Effective disaster risk reduction and climate change adaption requires active multi-range partnership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Daniel Namosuaia,
Solomon Star: <a href="http://www.solomonstarnews.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.solomonstarnews.com</span></a></span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">-
Sustainable and effective disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
in the Pacific requires active participation and engagement of the private and
commercial sectors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was
highlighted at a session of the joint disaster risk management and climate
change roundtable this week in Nadi Fiji, that explored the roles that the
private and commercial sector play in disaster risk reduction and climate
change adaptation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
General Manager of Westpac, Fiji, Adrian Hughes said there is need for close
collaboration and partnership with the government to sharing available
resources.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hughes
stressed that lack of coordination between the private sector, government and
international agencies is something that needs to be strengthened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bruce Clay
of Bruce Engineering said the use of Renewable Energy system is commercially
viable and significant technical development that can offset the use of fossil
fuel and reduce green house gas emissions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“So
getting together with the agencies and identifying what resources they have and
get the private sector together and share information and resources where
necessary in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation,” Clay said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Governments
were also urged to design policies that support the efforts of the private
sector through sharing of information and resources and assist in tariffs,
concessions on renewable energy products to boost investments in this sector.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
involvement of the commercial sector like in Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga in the
telecommunication sector where solar systems
were installed in powering telecommunication towers were seen as a
positive collaboration between government and the private sector.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-90148561863121159162013-07-18T04:51:00.000+02:002013-07-18T04:51:02.294+02:00Communication challenge for CC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><i>By Ben Kedoga, NBC PNG, <a href="mailto:benkedoga@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">benkedoga@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> -
Communicating climate change information to local communities in Pacific Island
countries remains a major challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was
highlighted at one of the side events of the Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific
Platform for Disaster Risk Management and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The side
event looked at communication tools for climate change adaptation and risk
reduction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One issue
that is critical is the need to simplify technical scientific information to
everyday language that can be understood by the receiving communities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, Fenno
Bruken, Climate Change Advisor of the Federated States of Micronesia says there
is some form of understanding of the subject and he called on practitioners to
simply not assume that communities cannot understand climate change adaptation
and risk reduction information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He did
acknowledge that climate change remains a complex issue, but he says that from
experience people tend to understand more clearly when the issues are linked to
their everyday life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Fenno
Bruken, Climate Change Advisor, FSM<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Many
scientists think that the things that they are dealing with are way too complex
for the likes of normal people and I think that’s basically not the case so you
have to definitely do some translation, you cannot give a scientific
paper to a local chief and then expect him to understand what the background
but If you explain it to him in a way where he is able to link it to his day to
day experience and then I think it’s easy and then you are also able to explain
complex thing, because they see that there is a change in the weather pattern
in their region”</span> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-19571291048954106512013-07-18T04:48:00.000+02:002013-07-18T04:48:03.810+02:00Tonga strongly represented at the Pacific joint meeting on climate change and disaster risk management<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">By Sini Latu, Tonga Broadcasting Commission: <a href="http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP5fAEqXABCEr-cxXxqt3iS8UKF8NcL82pKi7UrTJTRrlHGSU-dQHdkVN_C8ei10jx2ycmzxH3WWxutCin5AEBHVprhaFH7x4EMPGpPareHB12wx9Sg5KOoCt9PogE-hGaoDSSDHUshPJ/s1600/Tonga_strongly_represented_at_the_Pacific_Joint_meeting_on_cc_and_drm_150_90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP5fAEqXABCEr-cxXxqt3iS8UKF8NcL82pKi7UrTJTRrlHGSU-dQHdkVN_C8ei10jx2ycmzxH3WWxutCin5AEBHVprhaFH7x4EMPGpPareHB12wx9Sg5KOoCt9PogE-hGaoDSSDHUshPJ/s1600/Tonga_strongly_represented_at_the_Pacific_Joint_meeting_on_cc_and_drm_150_90.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;"></span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11
July 2013 Nadi Fiji -</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
Leveni ‘Ahois the Director of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has
been attending the Joint Meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management
and the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is a
member of the National Emergency Management Committee which comprises of the
Police, Fire Services, Education, Tonga Defence, Environment, Lands and Survey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Aho says
working together is not a problem, the big issue is the lack of funds and
resources for their work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To promote disaster awareness, the committee
uses radio, television and outreach work through community groups, NGOs and the
private sector.</span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-76467809242265654552013-07-18T04:45:00.000+02:002013-07-18T04:45:14.879+02:00Joint meeting urged to include disability into CC and disaster integration plan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
Daniel Namosuaia, Solomon Star: <a href="http://www.solomonstarnews.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.solomonstarnews.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11 July 2013, Nadi,
Fiji -</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Pacific Island
governments have been urged to design disability inclusive approach to disaster
risk management and climate change projects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Katabwena
Tawaka of the Pacific Disability Forum said it is important to include the most
vulnerable groupings in the community in the integrated strategy for disaster
risk management and climate change projects in the region.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We need
disability inclusive projects because it assists in developing resilient
communities for the most vulnerable population and understand how persons with
disabilities can contribute to a successful project,” Tawaka said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said
persons with disability faced barriers that disadvantage them and makes them
more vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Attitudinal
barrier is the most common faced, including negative stereotyping of people
with disabilities, social stigma and other forms of overt discrimination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It is not
uncommon that disability is associated with cultural beliefs about sin, evil
and witchcraft. People with disabilities often report that attitudes are the
most disabling barriers of all,” Mr Tawaka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He added that
other barriers faced include physical and environmental, communication, policy
and institutional barriers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adding
that when formulating disability inclusive projects, it is important to
consider a rights based approach to DRM and CC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It is important
to recognize that people with disabilities have the same rights as others to
health, education, water therefore when implementing programmes it is important
to mainstream specific interventions to help meet these rights.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has
been recommended that the following be considered for a disability inclusive
disaster risk management and climate change project;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-collation
of desegregated data that caters for all forms of impairment to best inform
decisions for DRM&CC initiative<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-understanding
and working towards eliminating all forms of barriers in DRM&CC initiatives<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-genuine
partnership in working closely with persons with disabilities and their
respective organisations that exists in most Pacific Island Countries as
disability advisors to DRM&CC at all levels of programme.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-54197660229878726882013-07-11T06:58:00.000+02:002013-07-11T06:59:14.705+02:00Climate change on the SIDS meeting agenda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>By Halitesh Datt, Fiji TV</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>11 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji -</i> Climate Change will be high on the agenda during the 3rd Conference of Small Islands Developing States in Samoa next year.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Secretary General of the Conference, Wu Hongbo says the region should have a strong voice on climate change.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/l_cJ0Dqfmbc/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l_cJ0Dqfmbc?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l_cJ0Dqfmbc?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Wu Hongbo, Secretary General for 3</span></i></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></i></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> SIDS Conference</span></i></span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="color: #2fa7e5; font: 8.5px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hongbo says climate change has been hindering the sustainable development of many countries in the region.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DMuAQa7fTws?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Wu Hongbo, Secretary General for 3</span></i></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></i></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> SIDS Conference</span></i></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #1738f5; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The United Nations has also praised the region for taking a bold step in turning to clean energy.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He said clean energy targets by regional countries could provide valuable lesson for many in the developed world.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/s_vi/MuAjZWMkLPQ/default.jpg?sqp=CKDu-I4F&rs=AOn4CLBY1_JxniwVUdpSDgYJmFbTan1hzw" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MuAjZWMkLPQ?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MuAjZWMkLPQ?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Tahoma; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Wu Hongbo, Secretary General for 3</span></i></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></i></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> SIDS Conference</span></i></span></b><span style="font: 12.0px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #1738f5; font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Tahoma; margin: 5.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ends...</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-41080854180097684572013-07-11T05:29:00.001+02:002013-07-11T05:29:37.074+02:0025 minutes with Margareta Wahlstrom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Bill
Jaynes, The Kaselehlie Press: </span><a href="https://www.sprep.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=8bc3604726a143f0bdc12c2407198e00&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.kpress.info%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.kpress.info/</span></a></span></i></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRuS9TFjaXioTlZrESBQXDc6jPhq1ToY5l5bR0bKEIYRCvRU7FHKuqd4Pl4GVZoTCoYfd3z0hLhi9_fbBidjjfPc71eGi6xY5SspEAKa2Wy7EMsAnVEOd6PgKb3enZm6g9rLGRC1A8Wfv/s1600/Margareta_W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRuS9TFjaXioTlZrESBQXDc6jPhq1ToY5l5bR0bKEIYRCvRU7FHKuqd4Pl4GVZoTCoYfd3z0hLhi9_fbBidjjfPc71eGi6xY5SspEAKa2Wy7EMsAnVEOd6PgKb3enZm6g9rLGRC1A8Wfv/s320/Margareta_W.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11
July 2013, Nadi, Fiji -</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> On July 9, 2015, two journalists from
Fiji TV and Kaselehlie Press who are members of the SPREP media team sat down to
talk to Margareta Wahlstrom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary for
Disaster Risk Reduction during the Joint Meeting of the Pacific Platform for
Disaster Risk Management and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wahlstrom
explained the role of the United Nations in the Pacific region, talked about the
integrated strategy that has been uniquely developed in the region, analysis of
legislation and many other topics that are important as the Pacific develops its
strategy to cope with Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiji One:
What is UNISDR’s role and how is it assisting in the Pacific?</span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wahlstrom:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> We are not a big
operation or an agency, it’s an office for advocacy, creating evidence for why
Disaster Risk Reduction pays and how it can effectively assist countries in
suffering less losses. We do have regional offices. We have an office here in
the Pacific and we particularly work these countries on getting it into their
mechanisms for planning, for awareness, to look at disasters as not an event
that you just pay and then move on but you can actually plan for with financial
mechanisms. You can get it into your sectoral planning, and we work for t<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>he same reason with donors, the UN agencies to create a
practical agenda for how countries can focus on prevention and mitigation as
much as a cure, or maybe more prevention and mitigation as a cure.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiji One:
What can the Pacific expect from the UN when it comes to climate change and
disaster risk management?</span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wahlstrom: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We will continue to persist in this
agenda of integration to put it very simply. This region, this work that’s
going on now is very critical. It’s led by the regional organizations at the
instruction of countries and there’s a lot of resources in this region. There
is a lot of financial resources. There’s a clear shortage of capacities, not
just because the countries are small but because there is such a competition on
many issues that are important for their development.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I think
it’s engaging them on how to use these resources in the crosscutting issue that
ensures that the country gradually builds through the financial and planning
mechanism; through the sectoral health, education, higher education, land use
planning, infrastructure, become resilient to today’s and tomorrow’s disaster
and climate stresses.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiji One:
How are the Pacific Islands doing about climate change and disaster risk
management?</span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wahlstrom: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Well, we can probably never do enough
because the change continues in the environment. If the countries now press
ahead with this integration they will achieve a much higher degree of efficiency
in how they tackle the issues of climate change and disaster risk reduction and
that will put them on the path and more quickly looking at the environmental
impact, the resilience of the infrastructure. But most important—this is
fundamentally—why are we doing all this? Because these countries are seeking to
ensure sustained development for their people for education, health benefits,
and to ensure the population that their incomes are stable.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I can say
that all this work on mitigation and prevention is to ensure that they can they
can reap the full benefits of their development investment. They’re doing a
lot. I must say that the region should get a lot more credit for its innovation
and its effort. There’s a tendency to see the problems, a lot more than maybe
seeing in fact how much practical effort is being put into finding
solutions—small countries, few people, small economic bases, a lot of investment
by the development partners but, a lot of the countries themselves are
absolutely determined that they will succeed.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kaselehlie
Press: Is it possible to generalize whether or not the Pacific has the
expertise to access what has been characterized as some billions of dollars of
funding that’s “out there”? In general, do we have the expertise to actually
access that funding in the Pacific region?</span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wahlstrom: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I think some countries do. I mean, if
you listen to the presentations or have conversation with the Minister of
Finance of Cook Islands you can hear that that’s a very strong wish and very
practical thing. He is now the chair of a working group of finance ministers
where they are all working in the same direction to use the budget to ensure
that the resources come to the countries.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now the
regional institutions in many cases, as you know, are the first recipient of
funding that then goes to the countries. And for now that is a complement and
an effective instrument to be sure that money is there. I’m sure that the
countries envisage that gradually for the future they would like to see the
money coming to them so that they can directly benefit from it. What they do
clearly need from the UN and other partners is technical expertise just because
of the limited human resource base. What I have been told is that in some
countries there is basically a drain on resources sometimes because the
internationals recruit people and they disappear.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think
that’s the main challenge is to accelerate the development of competencies and
skills that will stay with the countries and not disappear into international.
This is a challenge in many countries but particularly it’s huge here because
you’re dealing with such small populations to start with in many
cases.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I think
these two elements are the critical ones saying “can they access the
resources”. They do access the resources, a lot of the resources.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiji One:
You mentioned about technical experts and how experts from the region are
leaving for greener pastures. Are there any plans from United Nations to help
the region regarding that, to maintain experts here or to provide with
experts?</span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wahlstrom:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I believe there could
be a lot of incentive for the UN but the Pacific as a region is very different
from other regions in a sense that the big actors here are the CROPs (Council of
Regional Organisations in the Pacific) like SPC. They have lots of staff. They
have lots of expertise. They were set up particularly so that these countries
were taken care of particularly. Now that doesn’t mean its enough. I know the
UN is represented here UNDP, UNICEF, FAO and there are others. They all have
experts here. They’re not very large but the UN is for sure motivated to add as
required. But I think that we are all very careful not overload countries
because there’s a lot of engagement here and we hear about many, many missions
to countries—international institutions, multilaterals, donors, partners—so
sometimes I think that we need to let countries work, let the ministers do their
job, let the technical expert actually get on with the job, and try to be a bit
more economical in how we coordinate ourselves in our support to
them.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I think
that what the UN would like to see is a very strong cooperation between the UN,
SPC, SPREP, the big technical organizations that support countries so that we
are very well organized among us to know how we can complement each other’s
capacities.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kaselehlie
Press: I would just ask you if you have any specific message that you would
like to get out through our media resources.</span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wahlstrom: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yes, I think that what we want for you
particularly that covers the political issues, try to expand the understanding
of the economics of disaster. It’s when governments, ministers of finance, and
leaders begin to understand not only the direct losses from the damage but also
what happens afterwards, how costly reconstruction is; how costly poor quality
reconstruction is. It’s also a question of who actually pays. Government pays
a lot. Business pays but most of the losses normally accrues to the individual
citizen as it goes down, you know personal losses are very rarely fully
compensated. So gradually increasing this perspective since there are things to
a high degree you can mitigate or prevent, do it in order to use those resources
for a more positive purpose. So I think that gradually uncovering and unlocking
that understand would be a great task.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other one
is continuous, ongoing public awareness campaigns. Constantly talk, not to
scare people but tell them what to do to protect yourself, your family, you
community. “Don’t forget where the evacuation routes are.” “When you get an
early warning signal follow the advice”. “Know where to go”. “Move away your
property that might be damaged by a flood.” So that’s my second message</span>.</span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-92081697341676731732013-07-11T05:20:00.001+02:002013-07-11T05:20:17.444+02:00Cook Islands reaps benefits of CC and DRM integration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Evan Wasuka<span style="color: #1f497d;">,<span style="color: black;"> Editor of Pacific Media Team, 2013</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTDqwLBYSUxDc34CUPIrwb-td1WTEB_URJhVNtJmw4m6NWQ7wTST7JE_F49afrH9cbp6-5BEoTMZnZyiAOw8rdofLuE3AFr0a4Cl-iXty4pmBjsuyx9Bv3xb3LZHteAwk7ZwNanCO1YjS/s320/CI+Delegation.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Cook Islanders at the Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific Platform for Disaster
Risk Management and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable with Finance Minister Hon.
Mark Brown.</em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTDqwLBYSUxDc34CUPIrwb-td1WTEB_URJhVNtJmw4m6NWQ7wTST7JE_F49afrH9cbp6-5BEoTMZnZyiAOw8rdofLuE3AFr0a4Cl-iXty4pmBjsuyx9Bv3xb3LZHteAwk7ZwNanCO1YjS/s1600/CI+Delegation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;">11 July 2013, Nadi,
Fiji -</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">While the
integration of disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change (CC) has been
the key topic on agenda at the Joint talks in Nadi this week, one country that
is already putting this into practice is the Cook Islands. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both its
Emergency Management service and its Climate Change Office are under the Office
of the Prime Minister. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Director
of Cook Islands Emergency Management, Charles Carlson says the main benefit has
been the maximising of limited resources to get maximum outcome. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“By having
both under one division we work regularly together, we meet every couple of week
so we know what is going on in climate change and they know what is happening in
disaster. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“There is no
duplication of services. We complement what they are doing.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carlson says
he hopes that the Joint Meeting this week has removed any doubts about
integrating CC and DRM.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“After
hearing the presentations hopefully that message will get down to all DRM and CC
practitioners about the importance of working together.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for the
Cook Islands, Carlson says the way forward is to integrate climate change and
disaster into other sectors.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“For example
with infrastructure, we have to make sure that climate proofing is part of the
building code and ensure when buildings are built it is climate proofed for the
future. So we address resilience in the longterm. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Or in the
area of health, climate change has to be taken into account. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carlson says
the main issue in the Cook Islands is to get key stakeholders aware about CC and
DRM, and to take this into account in their planning. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Climate
change is not just an environmental issue, it’s a development issue.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carlson says
the Joint Meeting has been helpful in bringing together a wide range of sector
to discuss integration. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Ideally
what each country should do is have their own national platform, to look at how
climate change and disaster can be addressed in core sectors. CC and DRM then
becomes everybody’s responsibility.”</span></span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-77208125880549488562013-07-11T03:20:00.000+02:002013-07-11T03:20:09.542+02:00Way forward for Samoa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
Asenati Taugasolo Semu, Press Secretariat of the Government of Samoa: <a href="https://www.sprep.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=8bc3604726a143f0bdc12c2407198e00&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.savalinews.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.savalinews.com</span></a></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SRRhS14xB37m-hC2XeCZ67_7yLycA2ip8Zp29HOoTOig2nDtFORq2NhjOIHQxXAGw4UpIq2ASPGYsimF0Bnsf1GijzRZEUe7DX6_STa4y-rVNXdkZpNE8esxkvRIFKwPL08DCzLUeIVF/s1600/filomena2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SRRhS14xB37m-hC2XeCZ67_7yLycA2ip8Zp29HOoTOig2nDtFORq2NhjOIHQxXAGw4UpIq2ASPGYsimF0Bnsf1GijzRZEUe7DX6_STa4y-rVNXdkZpNE8esxkvRIFKwPL08DCzLUeIVF/s320/filomena2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">11 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji -</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">
Addressing the real needs of the countries and their people is the way forward
for Samoa to deal with climate and disaster related issues.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This
was according to the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment, Filomena Nelson during her presentation at
the Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific Climate Change for Disaster Risk
Management & Pacific Climate Change Roundtable this week.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Nelson
highlighted her country’s perspective for the<b> </b>United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Linkages to the
Roadmap.<b></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">One of
the suggestions raised by Nelson is to maintain status quo - separate regulatory
and institutional or governance frameworks but recognise synergies through
implementation.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">She
also pointed out the engagement of more private sector and non governmental
organisations.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“We
should address real issues, resettlement and relocation of extremely vulnerable
communities,” said Filomena.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“We
should address synergies and commonalities and to focus on the risks when
addressing these synergies.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“There
should be clear roles and responsibilities of regional organisations and
donors,” she said.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“Although
disaster risk management and climate change have synergies, but there are also
major differences in response arrangements and the fact that not all disasters
are caused by climate related hazards.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Nelson
said some challenges that should be implemented in the roadmap are coordination
by respective sectors, communication among agencies, sharing resources and
knowledge and most importantly assessing funds.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">She
suggested that the implementation of climate change and risk reduction
adaptation and mitigation strategies should be prioritised.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“This
includes climate early warning products, promoting agro forestry, first aid and
search and rescue response capability.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“She
said response capability should be provided to villages within forest fire prone
area and also early warning capability through fire sirens, first aid and search
and rescue response capability.”</span></div>
</div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-75323388797583669002013-07-11T03:16:00.000+02:002013-07-11T03:16:21.957+02:00Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister wants to merge climate and disaster functions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Sini Latu, Tonga
Broadcasting Commission: <a href="https://www.sprep.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=8bc3604726a143f0bdc12c2407198e00&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.tonga-broadcasting.net%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net</span></a></span></i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfx48lPadYeYS0gsXca4-WuVsJrPsoqvMh_bsdVTbFbvlWCJpEt-jGDGmREyB0kLIwus3f7VBaxw3ibFXrlGFB-wlR4qmUpFj9om3S-4z9lsX69cqGxVblH_1QORLUbPGnhe6-Yfqz0Pl/s1600/DSC_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfx48lPadYeYS0gsXca4-WuVsJrPsoqvMh_bsdVTbFbvlWCJpEt-jGDGmREyB0kLIwus3f7VBaxw3ibFXrlGFB-wlR4qmUpFj9om3S-4z9lsX69cqGxVblH_1QORLUbPGnhe6-Yfqz0Pl/s320/DSC_0346.JPG" width="249" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11
July 2013, Nadi, Fiji -</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> One of the ways forward in dealing
with climate and disaster related issues in Tonga is bringing the related
divisions together under one ministry, says Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Samiu
Vaipulu.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Vaipulu
says after three days of dialogue at the Joint Meeting of the 2013 Pacific
Platform for Disaster Risk Management and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in
Fiji, he is contemplating the merger of the Environment, Climate Change, Tonga
National Meteorological and National Emergency Management Office into one
ministry. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Vaipulu
says he will raise this proposal with the Prime Minister and Cabinet.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />“My
reason to merge these divisions – is to be able to gain more funding, aid and
help. If these divisions are merged – they could be able to work more closely
together for the benefit of the country and its people”, says
Vaipulu.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />These
divisions are under different ministries at the moment – which makes it hard
sometimes to direct certain task, as one may say, that particular task is under
their division, says Vaipulu.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />The
idea was from the joint meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk
Management and the Climate Change Roundtable – which he says has shown the way
forward in addressing Climate Change and Disaster issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />According to the deputy prime
minister - the Special Representative of the United Nation Secretary-General for
Disaster Risk Reduction – Margareta Wahlstrom had promised that if Tonga
approves this – she will return to the Kingdom to see what they can do to
help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />Bringing these divisions together
will make work easier says Vaipulu and “funds and help from donor partner will
be used wisely”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />He
called on donor partners to work closely with the government.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Donor
partners should not come and tell us what they want to be done, but instead we
will work together to lay out the best plan, taking into consideration the
future.”</span></div>
</div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-225648959942106182013-07-11T02:42:00.000+02:002013-07-11T02:42:29.578+02:00Is the Pacific doing enough in its disaster early warning systems?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
Daniel Namosuaia, Solomon Star: <a href="https://www.sprep.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=38769ad2455e4e3d9aecec3547a82e97&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.solomonstarnews.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.solomonstarnews.com</span></a></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTaAyhLhyphenhyphen3elYwh9c5nEHsmcFvArSLFCeXnDXYuudyHFb8Ss4QMM2TaElNstxZT0ICXpUQC-MhTkQTAD7uoZmX8cpE6tXYqeL-z1RKt5Q2kwynZaqG0HAjSGCdCd_Q0mgpSMy0AUcH9HC/s1600/Rajendrapr_Prasad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTaAyhLhyphenhyphen3elYwh9c5nEHsmcFvArSLFCeXnDXYuudyHFb8Ss4QMM2TaElNstxZT0ICXpUQC-MhTkQTAD7uoZmX8cpE6tXYqeL-z1RKt5Q2kwynZaqG0HAjSGCdCd_Q0mgpSMy0AUcH9HC/s320/Rajendrapr_Prasad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">11
July, 2013, Nadi, Fiji</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> - A lot of progress has been made in
the Pacific in the area of early warning systems (EWS), however more needs to be
done, says Rajendra Prasad, the UNESCO/IOC Programme Officer for DRR and Tsunami
Warning.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Prasad
says countries in the Pacific do vary on their level of EWS, but says the
progress and developments done within the region has been going reasonably
well.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“there are
several natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, flash floods, droughts and
tsunami which each country’s state of EWS differs. But for us in Fiji, we have
reasonably good early warning systems for tropical cyclones,” Prasad
said.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Although
there were some weaknesses such as incidences of over warnings, under warnings,
late warnings or too early warnings, Prasad said it has been a real challenge
for the Pacific with hazards like tsunami where information could reach the
public through the media without proper assessment and causes panic and anxiety
amongst people.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
stressed that for different hazards, different countries have their own EWS
situation, some are well prepared more than others.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
highlighted that Solomon Islands is one of the countries that has one of the
best EWS practices in place where the integration of the Meteorological services
and National Disaster Management Office could respond in the earliest time to
its EWS.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Prasad
further highlighted that the Pacific has a long way to go in addressing certain
hazards like that of tsunami, while with others like tropical cyclones, they are
well equipped and have in place proper EWS.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However he
said there is certainly a need for improvement to ensure EWS are in place to
counter any type of hazards.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“We have a
lot of way to go in terms of improvements on EWS but the good part is the
Pacific Early Warning Centre will in the near future cease to issue warnings and
people can get that quickly from their national met services and integrate that
information with the national disaster divisions to organise the respond to
EWS.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He
stressed that despite the challenges Pacific island countries face with the
resources they have available, they have done a lot and this should be
maintained and improved.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When asked
on how prepared the Pacific is in terms of its EWS for natural hazards, Prasad
said it depends entirely on the type of hazards.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He said if
he is going to rank the pacific on scale of one to ten with ten being the
highest, the Pacific would sit between 6 and 7.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However he
said for tropical cyclones he would rank the pacific between 8 and 9. For flash
floods he ranked it between 5-6 depending on the locality of the area and for
tsunami, he ranked it below 5.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“This
integration process (between climate change and disaster management) is like we
are planting a seed and surely it will germinate and mature and bear fruit. Once
it starts to grow, we will just have to look after it and by the end of the day
it will enable us to tackle multi-hazards when it comes.”</span></div>
</div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-16084905830928899122013-07-11T02:31:00.000+02:002013-07-11T02:34:16.553+02:00Climate change to worsen risk on commercial agriculture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><!-- Social Share Buttons | Powered by <a href="http://www.e-max.it/agenzia-web/progettazione-siti-web.html" title="Siti Web" target="_blank">Siti Web</a> --><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Ben Kedoga, NBC
PNG</span></span></em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbglmqZiuZzPaW-_mCAWhIiV7Qhqt5lejQQKL261SYKCQbaDqmwCxEyM5QBg_6lVL64Zj2-e4vS60v8q4kYzMHGOUpWzclqnC7eguqDXlz1e1gqMoTkWgHL0sI0uHZPZFMILcj-eMyb3Pa/s1600/papaya1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbglmqZiuZzPaW-_mCAWhIiV7Qhqt5lejQQKL261SYKCQbaDqmwCxEyM5QBg_6lVL64Zj2-e4vS60v8q4kYzMHGOUpWzclqnC7eguqDXlz1e1gqMoTkWgHL0sI0uHZPZFMILcj-eMyb3Pa/s320/papaya1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em><strong>11 July 2013 Nadi, Fiji</strong> </em>- A commercial agriculture project manager in Fiji says climate change will exacerbate risks to the industry.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Australian Center for International Agriculture Research, ACIAR, Fiji Papaya Project Manager, Kyle Stice said because of these challenges they are now trying to carry out research into natural disasters, so that a new strategy is developed to address the challenges created by the natural disasters.<br /><br />Stice spoke on the issue of integrating climate change and disaster risk management in the agriculture sector. His presentation was based on a case study on the Fiji Papaya Project.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He said over the last four years natural disasters in Fiji have had a drastic impact, not only on the papaya farmers, but exporters as well.<br /><br />Stice says it takes about 9 months for a papaya tree to bear fruit and within these four years the money made after the natural disasters, were used to offset the cost of damages and they have been left with a very unhealthy net income.<br /><br />However, he said most of the Papaya farmers are also doing multi-cropping, in their farm, so they were able to generate some form of income, while waiting for the rehabilitation of their papaya farms.<br /><br />Stice said their exporters were hardest hit by the recent natural disasters in 2012, especially those that are exclusively papaya exporters. He said their exclusive exporters lost business completely, including assets which they've acquired over time.<br /><br />He said the current system put in place for disaster rehabilitation does not take into consideration such situations.<br /><br />Stice said this illustrates that the commercial agriculture as an industry can be affected negatively by natural disasters.<br /><br />He says the only way to minimise the negative effects of climate change is to plan for it.<br /><br />"It is important that as businesses, whether you are a farmer or exporter that we start including the likelihood of a natural disaster into our planning, as farmers the way we manage our money, as exporters and the way we use our money so that we are not in a position that we are only relying on the government or an aid agency to come in and rehabilitate, so hopefully the industry is taking some of these messages on"<br /><br />Stice added that the negative impact on the industry has also impacted on the confidence of farmers and exporters, and he predicted the numbers to drop.<br /><br />"Unfortunately there's been a level of discouragement; we will see the number of farmers and exporters decrease because of these series of natural disasters at least for a few years, so confidence in papaya farming and exporting has dropped"</span></span></div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3882120362595798026.post-36389732791027081852013-07-10T23:43:00.002+02:002013-07-10T23:43:28.736+02:00Kiribati builds resilience in water and sanitation sector through integration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Sini Latu, Tonga Broadcasting Commission: <a href="https://www.sprep.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=38769ad2455e4e3d9aecec3547a82e97&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.tonga-broadcasting.net%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net</span></a></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8rvo3uKkzYLj-YaGsXTfFcaApmf5qahDR6WXO_agLFcTfR5bJm92DSmqYkNeQYMBSB_0VFInK280u6VQM9itmR2vTD-13fkj6nLUcF9XSKWHmuyShmCfi7CJTRRPDbBLJ-XcyasUElTx/s1600/Kiribati1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8rvo3uKkzYLj-YaGsXTfFcaApmf5qahDR6WXO_agLFcTfR5bJm92DSmqYkNeQYMBSB_0VFInK280u6VQM9itmR2vTD-13fkj6nLUcF9XSKWHmuyShmCfi7CJTRRPDbBLJ-XcyasUElTx/s320/Kiribati1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">10 July
2013, Nadi, Fiji - The Water and Sanitation Sector in Kiribati is supporting
integration as a way of dealing with the impacts of climate change and disaster
risk management.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Reenate
Willie from the Kiribati Ministry of Public Works, says the Water Sector's role
is to provide technical advice, monitoring and assessment, planning for
resilience, supporting resilient communities and others.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Speaking
at the Joint Meeting on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management in Nadi,
Willie said these roles also apply to climate change adaptation
programmes.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“The water
sector feels that there needs to be a combined approach on how to handle the
critically linked areas of disaster risk, climate change, water, sanitation,
hygiene and human health which is far more effective than individual sector
approaches.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">He says
the integrated approach also takes into account the fragility and sustainability
of Kiribati water resources and health amongst other things.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Willie
says the Water and Sanitation sector in Kiribati is limited in their capacity to
implement some of the activities that have already been laid out in their
policies and plans because they do not have the key people to implement
them.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kiribati
also highlighted the need for flexibility in terms of funding support on climate
change and disaster risk reduction activities.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With most
of these activities carried out by communities, Willie says the water and
sanitation sector is building the capacity of the community to become self
reliant and sustainable. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i> </div>
</div>
About AOSIS: The Alliance of Small Islands Stateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00909086526816118661noreply@blogger.com0