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(Photos:
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NEW ZEALAND: SACCF
programme to improve quality of life for
Auckland Samoans
Source:
Samoa Auckland City
Community Fono (SACCF) Inc Press Release
A key Samoan group is launching a five-year
programme this week to help improve the quality
of life for the 21,000 Samoans in Auckland.
The initiative is lead by the Samoa Auckland
City Community Fono (SACCF), which was set up in
2004 to work with the community on promoting
work skills and economic options.
The launch of the 2008 – 2012 development
programme held on Thursday, the 29th May at the
Fale Pasefika at the University of Auckland.
The Samoa Community Fono believes the programme
will help to improve the wellbeing of Samoans
living in Auckland city. It will be aligned with
Auckland City’s key themes, such as skills
training and a healthy community, as well as
governments focus on economic transformation.
A related aim is to mobilise the Samoan
community to work together on social and
economic challenges, and to provide leadership
on building a stronger community. The Samoa
Auckland City Community Fono is under the
leadership of Rev Asora Amosa and an executive
board, with a strong representation of New
Zealand born Samoans.
Photo Captions:
Rev Asora Amosa
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(Photos:
SASNOC) |
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SAMOA: SASNOC announces
fundraising activities for 2008 Samoa Olympic
Team
Source:
SASNOC Press Release
The 2008 Samoa Olympic Team for Beijing would
like to announce their major fundraising
activities where the people of Samoa will have
an opportunity to meet their athletes and team
members who will attend the Olympics which will
run from the 8th - 24th August this year.
On Saturday, 14th July, 2008, SASNOC will be
hosting the Samoa Olympic Team Golf Tournament
at the Faleata Golf Course from 7am - 2pm.
All Proceeds will go directly towards Team Samoa
for the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided, all
inclusive in the ST$300 price per team made up
of three players.
Pick up a registration form from the SASNOC
Office, or download one from the SASNOC website:
www.oceaniasport.com (use the key word:
"Samoa"). Contact Pauli Lalau Willie Fong:
25033, 7596216, Seb Kohlhase: 22790, 7747591, or
Janita Adams 26707, 7526707 for further details.
On the 19th of July, SASNOC will also be hosting
an Olympic Day Run which will also be used as a
fundraiser for the Olympic team. Everyone is
invited to enter the Olympic Day Run; adults
ST$5, students ST$2.
Students will be able to register for the
Olympic Day Run at their schools, and the public
will be able to register at the SASNOC office,
and nominated businesses in the town area.
We will also be holding an Olympic Promotion for
the schools in the Apia Region for the students
to meet Samoa's 2008 Olympic Team, and we will
be distributing 2008 Olympic Games information
packs next week for the schools to get on board
in support of their athletes, and learn about
the Games in the process.
At this stage, the following athletes are
confirmed to represent Samoa at the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games:
1. ELE OPELOGE:Weightlifting
Ele qualified in her own right at the
Weightlifting World Cup which was held here in
Samoa last December in the 75kg+ women's
division.
2. MUA'USA JOSEPH WALTER: Archery
Based on the results obtained by Samoan Athletes
during the Continental Qualifier in New Zealand
during January 2008; Samoa was granted a Quota
place to the Archery event of the Games of the
XXIX Olympiad to be held in Beijing in 2008, and
Mua'usa was selected to represent Samoa in
Archery.
3. RUDOLF WILLIAMS: Flat Water Kayaking
During the Oceania Kayaking Olympic
Qualification in Penrith, Australia during March
2008, Samoa gained a position for the Beijing
Olympic Games in the following Flatwater
Kayaking events; the K1 500 and K1 1000m. Rudolf
Williams who gained these positions has been
selected to compete at the Beijing Olympics.
4. FARANI TAVUI: Boxing
Farani Tavui qualified in his right during the
Oceania Olympic Qualifier, held right here in
Samoa during April. Farani won the Light Heavy
Weight category, 81kg.
5. AUNESE CURREEN: Athletics
Athletics Samoa has selected Aunese Curreen to
represent Samoa at the Beijing Olympics
following a myriad of high performances. Aunese
was a triple gold medalist at the 2007 South
Pacific Games. He came 1st place 800m at the NZ
National Championships in 2006 and 2007. Aunese
is currently ranked number one in Pacific for
both the 800m and 1500m. In the 2006
Oceania Championships he also gained 1st place
in both the 800m and 1500m.
6. SERAFINA AKELI: Athletics
Athletics Samoa has selected Serafina Akeli to
represent Samoa at the Beijing Olympics.
Serafina is the current Oceania Champion in
women's javelin. She was also the New Zealand
2007 and 2008 National Champion in javelin.
Samoa still has other athletes attempting to
qualify for the Games, and the final team will
be known by the close of athlete entries on the
8th of July 2008.
Congratulations to all the above athletes who
are confirmed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and
we encourage all remaining athletes to make the
most of any opportunities they have to qualify
for the Games and wish them the best of luck.
In addition, SASNOC has selected two Youth
Ambassadors to represent Samoa at the Beijing
Olympic Youth Camp; Andrew Ah Liki & Luana
Milroy.
All candidates had to be between 16 - 18 years
of age by Aug 8th, 2008, be Samoan citizens,
possess excellent conversational ability in
English, excel in a local Olympic sport or
sport(s) and have contributed to Samoa i.e.
through volunteer or environmental protection
activities.
Photo Caption:
Athletes selected to
represent Samoa at the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing:
Mua'ausa Joseph Walter (Archery), Ele Opeloge
with sister Mary Opeloge (Weightlifting),
Serafina Akeli (Athletics),Aunese Curreen
(Athletics).
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(Photos: Marc
Peretic Wilson) |
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AROUND THE WORLD:
Oceania Football Confederation Media Advisory
Source:
OFC Press Release
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji all got off to
perfect starts on Match Day One of the Oceania
Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship
today at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji.
The three Melanesian teams are now favourites to
represent OFC at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in
Brazil in September after combining for a total
of 15 goals in their three respective games.
The tournaments opening match proved a real
crowd pleaser as hundreds of Solomon Island fans
packed into the indoor stadium to show their
support for Victor Wai’ias young squad.
The Solomon boys didn’t disappoint and bounced
out to a five goal lead with goals to Elliot
Ragamo (2), Micah Lea’alafa, Maffat Sikwa’ae and
Jenan Kapu.
New Zealand scored a consolation goal with one
minute left on the clock through Bakr Al Saudi
but it was not nearly enough to stop the Solomon
side establishing themselves as tournament
favourites.
Vanuatu fought through some stubborn first half
Tuvalu defending to increase their one goal half
time lead to six at the final whistle.
Jack Vira Ala was the star of the show finishing
off a classy hat trick after goals from Ben
Edward and Derek Malas. In the final game of the
night Kamal Hassan stole the show when his two
late goals propelled Fiji to a well deserved 4-2
victory over New Caledonia.
Rosso Alexandre’s opener for New Caledonia was
cancelled out by a Sandeep Sanjesh Nair screamer
which shook the gathered crowd of over 1000.
Fiji went 2-1 up through Nayzal Siga Ali before
New Caledonia equalized again three minutes from
time through Hnailolo Albert.
Hassan then scored two goals in the space of a
minute to earn Fiji a very valuable three points
and please the local faithful.
Match Day Two kicks off tomorrow at 16H00 (local
time) when New Zealand meet Vanuatu.
Photo Caption:
The Solomon Islands shot to the top of the OFC
Futsal Championship table
today following their 8-5 victory over New
Caledonia on match day two of
the tournament in Suva Fiji.
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(Photos:
Michael Drew) |
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AUSTRALIA:
Australia to work with Pacific on land policy
reform
Source:
Australian High
Commission Press Release
The Australian Government is to provide A$54
million over four years for a Pacific Land
Program to support governments in the region
that wish to strengthen or improve their land
systems.
“This funding, which was announced in the recent
Australian budget, will provide practical
assistance to governments dealing with complex
issues relating to land policy reform,” said
Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for
International Development Assistance, Bob
McMullan.
Mr McMullan said Australian assistance will be
guided by two fundamental principles: first,
Australia will only support reforms that
recognise the continuing importance of customary
tenure; and, second, land policy reform must be
driven by Pacific island governments and
communities, not by donors.
Mr McMullan is in Vanuatu for a two-day Pacific
land policy conference. The Making Land Work
conference will be attended by government
ministers, officials, landowners and other
groups from around the Pacific region with a
stake or interest in land issues.
“Pacific governments are under pressure to
reconcile new and competing interests relating
to land ownership and land use with the
customary systems that have served their people
for countless generations,” he said. “These
pressures include new technologies, rapid
population growth and social change. Our program
is designed to provide support to governments
undertaking reforms to strengthen and improve
their land systems and deal with these
pressures.”
The Pacific Land Program will increase the
skills and knowledge of people working in land
departments and non-government organisations. It
will include assistance for dispute resolution
and helping customary owners negotiate on a more
even basis with investors and developers. The
program will initially provide support to Papua
New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and
Timor-Leste. Assistance will also be provided on
a regional level for education and training and
to help countries respond to problems associated
with growing urbanisation such as squatter
settlements.
“Uncertainty over land ownership and land use
constrains social and economic development and
reduces the prospects of greater investment and
higher living standards,” said Mr McMullan. “It
can be a trigger for wider conflict, and
conflict tends to exacerbate poverty.”
Mr McMullan will launch a two-volume publication
Making Land Work prepared by the Australian
Agency for International Development, AusAID,
based on consultations with more than 80
specialists and practitioners in land and
development from the region, including Australia
and New Zealand.
The publication provides an overview of matters
that countries are likely to face if they choose
to reform their land policies and institutions.
It includes case studies that look at problems
and innovative practices in land tenure and
administration across the Pacific.
‘This is an excellent resource for
policy-makers,’ says Mr McMullan. ‘It draws
lessons from international experience around the
Pacific and will stimulate ideas on policy
options.’
Photo Captions:
The ASCC Teacher Education
Department congraulates Education major Mac
Aveina(front, left) on receiving a scholarship
from Pacific Resources for Education and
Learning (PREL). Mac also made the spring 2008
Dean's List, which the College released this
week.
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HAWAII: Combine Showcases Hawaii Talent
Source:
KHNL
For the past seven years, the Pacific Island
Athletic Alliance holds a combine for high
school football players to get performance
material on tape. And though it's a successful
endeavor thus far, it never could be possible
without the people who care.
For most of these Island football players,
playing in college is the goal. but, getting
their name out there isn't easy, a problem the
PIAA is ready to tackle.
"The number of kids being recruited wasn't high
enough, there's a lot of talent in Hawaii and
not enough kids going on to play football," said
Doris Sullivan, Director of PIAA
The solution -- hold a combine for the players
to strut their stuff.
"The purpose of the combine is to help secure
scholarships for the local boys, it's to get
their video out there," said Sullivan.
However, since PIAA is a non profit
organization, they rely primarily on donations
from the community to help run their event.
"It costs money to run this, the phone bill
every month, just the little things that add up,
believe me we don't need a lot of money, we just
need enough to exist," explained Sullivan.
This year's combine almost didn't happen due to
lack of funding, but thanks to a former
Kamehameha and UH Warrior, he cut a check for
the difference.
"It's a beautiful thing and i wanted to be part
of it, i wanted to help and this is a tangible
way in making sure they had everything they
needed to put this thing on," said Leo Goeas.
And in the future, Leo hopes another athlete
will do the same.
"I know when you sow into other people's lives
like other people have sown into mine, it's all
about giving back," said Goeas.
The NCAA recently says coaches can't come to
combines off their own campuses, but Sullivan
says they're looking to get an exception and
hope to have another 40-50 coaches back next
year.
The combines have helped over 800 students
receive more than 10 million dollars in
scholarships and grants.
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TONGA:
Tongan PM joins London Commonwealth mini-summit
Source:
Matangi Tonga
TONGA'S Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele and 10
other Commonwealth leaders met in London
yesterday, June 9 to discuss the reform of the
World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the
United Nations.
The two-days meeting focused on practical steps
which Commonwealth member states can take to
achieve reform and coherence of global
institutions. Its three-part focus will be on
the international financial institutions, global
environmental governance, and the UN system.
The Commonwealth Secretariat stated that the
Commonwealth leaders meeting is the first step
in implementing the decision of the November
2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,
at which leaders decided to establish a small
representative group from their 53-member
association to undertake lobbying and advocacy
for the reform of international institutions.
"There is a need for change, and that change
must reflect the full global spectrum of
interests and needs. International institutions
must support an inclusive and comprehensive
globalisation, which benefits the entire global
community," said the Commonwealth
Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.
"We have to reform our global financial
institutions. It is absolutely clear that the
national supervision that we have is inadequate
and we need a global agreement," said British
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who chairs the
mini-summit.
The meeting is attended by President Bharrat
Jagdeo of Guyana, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
of Maldives, Prime Minister Dr Navinchandra
Ramgoolam of Mauritius, President Mahinda
Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, President Jakaya Kikwete
of Tanzania, Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele of
Tonga, Prime Minister Patrick Manning of
Trinidad and Tobago, President Yoweri Museveni
of Uganda, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
of Malaysia and Vice President Alhaji Aliu
Mahama of Ghana, and chaired by Prime Minister
Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom.
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