[PDFlist] Pacific News - TODAY

[Soloveni Vitoso]

PACNEWS

Pacific News Agency Service - administered by the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)

         Tuesday 19 June 2018


In this bulletin:


1. COOKS --- One Cook Islands could choose next PM
2. COOKS --- Confident Demos adopt ‘wait and see’ attitude
3. VAN --- Bail application declined for former Vanuatu MPs
4. PNG --- United Nations evacuate staff from PNG Southern Highlands
5. SOL --- RSIPF patrol boats most active in Pacific
6. FIJ --- Fiji Tourism going green
7. SOL --- PM Hou welcomes Australia’s labour scheme
8. SOL --- Solomon Islands April visitor arrivals continue positive 2018 growth
9. FIJ --- Growing threat of smuggling, trafficking of illicit items in Fiji
10. AUST --- Australia's bitter harvest: 'There will be more deaths'
11. BANGKOK --- Twenty journalists awarded fellowships to cover key climate change meetings in San Francisco, Katowice
12. SOL --- Practice Parliament boosts Women’s confidence as the Solomon Islands General Election nears

​One Cook Islands could choose next PM

RAROTONGA, 19 JUNE 2018 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) --- One Cook Islands (OCI) leader Teina Bishop says he is feeling “better than ever” following last Thursday’s general election.

Speaking exclusively to CINews, the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu says he is confident OCI will gain “another one, maybe two seats” after final election results are released.

With the seat of Tupapa-Mararenga once again being secured by OCI’s George Maggie and the two major parties lacking a clear majority, Bishop says he has good reason to believe his party is in prime position to become kingmaker.

“We want both of them” says Bishop, responding to questions over whether or not there is a chance of Rose Brown and Robert Tapaitau joining forces with OCI.

OCI also stands to possibly gain another two seats, with Tungane Williams and Isaraela Pumati trailing by no more than eight votes in their respective constituencies of Mauke and Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara.

Currently behind by only five votes, Demo candidate Junior Willie Katoa may also win the seat of Pukapuka-Nassau. This would further damage the CIP’s chances of continuing to govern the country, taking their total number of seats in parliament down to just seven.

The CIP would then require the support of all five independent or OCI members in order to be able to create a hung parliament, forcing a re-election. This is an unlikely scenario as it would be of great cost to the taxpayer and could be detrimental to both the CIP and OCI’s chances of forming a government.

“The best way for the country to move forward is for the government to have a majority over 13 seats; any less than that is too fragile and vulnerable” says Bishop.

The CIP are not likely to gain any more seats and a likely scenario is that OCI and the independents will form a government with the Demos. They could form a government with a majority of at least four seats, the only risk being an increase in that majority.

However, as they say, “anything is possible” in politics.  OCI may hold the balance of power and if so, their “five national policy priorities” will be at the centre of any negotiations with the two major parties.

It is expected the independent MP for Teenui-Mapumai, Rose Brown will also throw her weight around at the negotiating table, seeking at least a ministerial portfolio and possibly even the top job. If Brown does not come to the table with the Demos or OCI, they could be in serious trouble. Brown may threaten to support the CIP, taking daughter and new MP Te-Hani Brown with her.

Te-Hani is shaping up to be a massive bargaining chip for Rose Brown. If the Demos are unable to win the support of Rose, she and her daughter may choose to support the CIP. However, the CIP would still also require the support of either Maggie or Tapaitau to be able to form a one seat majority government.

Negotiations are expected to begin this week.


Confident Demos adopt ‘wait and see’ attitude

RAROTONGA, 19 JUNE 2018 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) --- Cook Islands Democratic Party met last Friday morning for a prayer and debriefing following the preliminary results of Thursday’s election.

Opposition parliamentary leader William “Smiley” Heather, spoke about the party's unity and commitment to working together as a team, as he said it had on the campaign leading up to election day.

“While there is much to celebrate in significant wins in some seats, the final count will reveal the result of our people's wishes for a change in government,” he said.

“The party is quietly confident that the numbers that they have obtained so far will remain secure. Once the final position is established the Demo Party will move forward in securing the full amount of seats required to commence government.

“It has not been an easy road for the Democratic Party, having to contend with the superior financial resources of our opponents, but we are proud that we have come through by maintaining a positive, ethical and clean campaign.

“The party will come together as candidates and our leader will arrive from the Pa Enua soon to agree to our next steps.

“We look forward to that time when we can all be together to celebrate and acknowledge everyone's contributions,” said Heather.

Bail application declined for former Vanuatu MPs

PORT VILA, 19 JUNE 2018 (VANUATU DAILY POST) --- The Vanuatu Supreme Court has declined an application for bail pending appeal by Marcellino Pipite, Silas Yatan, John Amos, Thomas Laken and Jonas James.

The application for bail pending appeal by the former members of parliament was filed on the same date of their sentencing of 3 years and 10 months imprisonment for the offence of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

When handing down the judgment for bail application, Justice Gustaaf Andre Wiltens said all defendants simultaneously applied for bail pending appeal with identical sworn statements filed in support.

The lawyer representing Pipite, Christina Thyna, told the Court that there are two grounds of appeal.

First ground is for the full one-third discount for early guilty pleas be allowed as per PP v Andy [2011] VUCA 14 on the basis that the re-trial was a new proceeding and the calculation of time should have been recommenced.

Second is other personal factors advanced as mitigation which should have been taken into account.

Justice Wiltens stated: "When i challenged Thyna about the reason why discounts for early pleas are entertained, she was at a loss to respond.

“In my view, the reasons are that an early guilty plea saves time, effort and costs; it spares complainants the stress of having to re-live ordeals and the prospect of being cross-examined in Court with unlimited spectators watching on; and, significantly, it demonstrates an acceptance of the criminal conduct alleged and can be an indicator of contrition or remorse on the part of the perpetrator.

“The sooner the plea is entered, the greater the mitigation available.

“In this case, there has been a 2.5 year time lag between the offending and the pleas - in which time these defendants denied any wrong-doing leading up to and during the Appeal process.

“All that time, there was no remorse shown, and no acceptance of wrong-doing.

“And the resultant costs accrued over time, and further effort was involved in trial preparation, in the actual trial, in the sentencing process and finally during the entire appeal process.

“The witnesses were not doubt on tenterhooks throughout that process, wondering if they would have to give evidence.

“In my view, there is not way that the pleas here can be described as early.

“In the end i allowed 15% discount for the pleas entered.

“Even if this point gains any traction in Court of Appeal, which i seriously doubt, it can only reduce the end sentence by a relatively short term of imprisonment,” Justice Wiltens said.

The Court was told that the sworn statements of all six defendants were identical due to a shortage of time.

In the Judge's view, this means that there were no special considerations required to be taken into account for any of the applicants.

“The defendants will have served approximately one month of their sentence before the Court of Appeal considers the matter.

“Out of the sentencing of 3 years 10 months, that is not a factor that lends weight to the argument for bail pending appeal.

“The applicants for bail pending appeal are all declined.

“The defendants are to start serving their sentences.

“If their medical issues grow worse, they should alert the Correctional Facility staff - i have no doubts they can and will be properly cared for.

“Section 70 of the Criminal Procedure Code precludes an appeal from this decision,” Judge Wiltens ruled.

United Nations evacuate staff from PNG Southern Highlands

PORT MORESBY, 19 JUNE 2018 (POST COURIER) --- The United Nations providing assistance to earthquake victims in the Southern Highlands has relocated its personnel to a neighbouring province due to ongoing civil unrest.

As a precautionary measure, 18 UN staff and consultants were relocated from Mendi on Thursday, June 14, to Mt Hagen where a temporary operational base has been established says UN resident coordinator Gianluca Rampolla.

“Considering the volatile security situation in Mendi, the UN has relocated its staff from Mendi to Mt. Hagen. However, we continue with our humanitarian assistance in Southern Highlands Province as well as Hela,” Rampolla said.

UNICEF fully intends to fulfil its humanitarian commitments to the children of Hela and Southern Highlands.

“We shall return as soon as the situation stabilises.”

Meanwhile their implementing partners such as the Catholic Church continue to work in non-conflict affected areas of both provinces.

“When their headlights faded into the uncertain night still smelling of smoke, I looked around and all that I could see were our missionaries: priests, sisters and brothers standing strong among our much-abused people,” said Mendi Diocese Bishop Donald Lippert.

Bishop Lippert said that UN had done a lot of good in both Southern Highlands and Hela provinces.

“They are compelled to obey their security protocols. We are already in contact with them to arrange for their return, they have not abandoned us forever.”

As of end May 2018, the UN had reached more than 21,990 people with food assistance, 27,000 people with clean water and 2930 people with shelter and non-food items. Air operations led by WFP have enabled United Nations agencies to reach remote communities with critical humanitarian assistance despite the logistics and security challenges involved in road transport.

It said that 2600 children benefited from the safe temporary learning spaces, 8362 children were immunized for measles/rubella and 5800 children were screened for severe acute malnutrition, and 600 women were provided dignity kits....

RSIPF patrol boats most active in Pacific

HONIARA, 19 JUNE 2018 (SOLOMON STAR) --- Solomon Islands Police chief Matthew Varley has described police patrol boats as amongst the most active in the region.

“Our patrols boats are one of the most active in the Pacific region,” Varley said.

“Our crews did a fantastic job.”

He said the patrol boats Lata and Auki have been at sea for more than 110 sea days of patrolling conducted so far this year, in just six months.

 Varley added that they boarded about 22/25 foreign fishing vessels in our waters.

He said they have also carried out a range of fisheries and security patrols.

One of the recent security patrols was done at the Border area.

“We work closely with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) but also from time to time we also intercepted any other suspicious vessels that might be passing through Solomon Islands waters.

“The boats not armed and have not been armed for many years,” Varley said in response to a question asked by a journalist if the boats were armed.

“However, what we are doing and doing regularly is increasing the training between the Maritime crews and the Police Response Team (PRT).

“......so that the PRT team is often on board the vessel as part of the armed capability programme for the RSIPF.

Patrol Boats Lata and Auki are more than 30 years old.

They have been in service since the 1980s.


Fiji Tourism going green

NADI, 19 JUNE 2018 (IFC) --- Fiji’s tourist hotels could make significant savings in energy and operating costs, if they opted to go green, according to a senior official from IFC, the International Finance Corporation.

Autif Sayyed, IFC’s green building special in Asia and the Pacific, told a conference in Nadi that it’s possible for hotels to save between 15 and 30% of their energy costs, if clever design decisions are taken early by owners and operators of hotels.

Sayyed was speaking at a session on financing tourism businesses towards sustainability at the 30th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia UNWTO Regional Seminar on Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Tourism Development in Nadi.

He said buildings play an important role in making the tourism industry sustainable, as it’s an industry using a significantly high amount of resources compared to others.

“A single room in a five-star resort in Fiji, where resource efficiency has not been considered in design, typically has energy consumption equivalent to 14 low income homes, and water consumption equivalent to five low income homes,” he said.

“While the high operating costs are not surprising because the buildings are being operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the priority given to guest comfort and amenities, these figures represent a big drain on the operation budget of the hotel owners and operator,” he said.

According to some figures, five to 11% of a typical hotel’s total revenue is spent on energy and water. In the Pacific islands, where energy cost is higher, this percentage is even higher. It has been demonstrated across several hotel types and locations that 15 to 30 % in savings are possible at payback less than three years, if clever design decisions are taken early. This saving can be directly accrued to the owner or operator.

In the Philippines, an average midsize hotel was evaluated to reduce 20% operational cost, which is equivalent to increasing their average daily rate by around USD$4.

He said besides the operational savings, hotels stand to gain on marketing visibility. According to a work survey, 73% of corporate event planners said that sustainable hotel procedures help them decide on a hotel venue. A “green “hotel is attractive to discerning leisure and business travellers.

Sayyed said the tourism industry also has a huge environmental footprint, which can be reduced by proper design decision making and good operational behaviour.

He said while some global hotel chains are adopting green standards for their hotels, “green” or resource efficient design of hotels and resorts remain an exception, rather than the norm. There are a few common reasons for this including a lack of clear definition and standards on what is “green” as well as simple guidelines and tools to make green design decisions.
 
To help developers, designers and investors overcome these challenges, IFC has come up with the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) system, which helps deliver sound financial decision making for building designs. EDGE includes:

*A global standard for resource efficiency (20% reduction in energy, water and material use) for over 120 emerging markets

*Localised benchmarking- using local data on construction costs, weather, typical construction practices, energy and water tariffs

*Easy calculations- provided through a free online software (www.edgebuildings.com<http://www.edgebuildings.com/>)

*Cost-benefit analysis- EDGE tool has numerous inbuilt design efficiency strategies to help developers combine strategies and provide cost-benefit analysis

*Validation- EDGE now has the most extensive green building certification network in the world, covering all over 120 countries.

*Ease of certification-  a certification process simplified through online system and lowered cost of certification

*Facilitation of green finance- with several green finance opportunities, such as green bonds becoming available, investors are looking for standardization and validation for green buildings.

He said with this combined approach, IFC has already invested about USD $2 billion in green buildings and enabled much more green building finance from other investors.

He said for investors, designers and hotel operators, green buildings and EDGE provide an opportunity to be more operationally efficient, environmentally responsible, and visible in the market as a progressive, sustainable and green hotel.

PM Hou welcomes Australia’s labour scheme

HONIARA, 19 JUNE 2018 (SOLOMON STAR) --- Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Hou has welcomed Australia’s commitment to expand the Pacific labour mobility scheme.

Hou highlighted this during his state visit in Australia last week.

The Prime Minister said Solomon Islands is looking to take a more strategic and long-term approach on labour mobility.

“I have been discussing the concept of developing a strategic partnership framework to enhance labour mobility opportunities between Solomon Islands and Australia within the overarching framework of the Australia - Pacific Labour Mobility Initiative,” he said.

He stated that such a framework is expected to involve establishing a database of ‘worker employment opportunities’ in farms and other employments particularly in rural Australia.

It is understood about 18,000 young Solomon Islanders join the labour market every year.

He said most of the young people are graduates from rural training centres and the nursing school at the Solomon Islands national University.

Ho added it is an opportunity for them to participate in labour mobility schemes through the seasonal workers programme, and similar programmes for the semi-skilled and skilled workers from Solomon Islands.

 “The farm owners which I had the privilege to visit during my recent trip have acknowledged the productivity and the professionalism of Solomon Island workers.

“Australia has the need; and we have the required pool of workers,” he said.

The prime minister said what the Government needs to do now is to agree on a long term strategic approach to link the increasing labour demand to labour supply,” the Prime Minister stated.

Solomon Islands April visitor arrivals continue positive 2018 growth

HONIARA, 19 JUNE 2018 (SOLOMON STAR) --- For the fourth month in a row, international visitation to the Solomon Islands has shown double digit growth.

Figures released by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) this week reveal international visitation increased for April 2018 increased 11.8 per cent over the corresponding month in 2017.

The 2,250 total recorded showed an increase of 237 over the 2,013 achieved in April 2017.

With all major source markets showing good growth, Australian visitor arrivals continued to dominate, climbing 13 per cent from 2,689 to 3,038.

New Zealand figures increased 17 per cent from 443 to 519.

Papua New Guinea figures increased from 377 to 492, an increase of 30.5 per cent while US figures grew 19 per cent from 341 to 409.

Interestingly, visitation from Japan climbed by 40 per cent from 207 to 290, a result Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto attributed to renewed interest in the destination following on from the 75th anniversary of the Guadalcanal campaign last August.

European traffic also continued to build, the 338 total recorded representing a 48.9 per cent increase over the 227 figure achieved in 2017.

The April result follows the destination’s best-ever first quarter result with collective visitor arrivals for Q1 2018 up 29 per cent....PACNEWS

Growing threat of smuggling, trafficking of illicit items in Fiji

SUVA,19 JUNE 2018 (FIJI TIMES) --- Increases in the volume of arriving vessels, aircraft, passengers and cargo has increased the potential threat for smuggling and trafficking of illicit items across borders, says Fiji Revenue and Customs Service CEO Visvanath Das.

Das said they were concerned with the number of fishing vessels that continued to smuggle highly taxed goods such as alcohol and cigarettes as well as currencies into the country.

In a media statement, Das said last year, Revenue and Customs searched 68 fishing vessels berthed at the Suva Harbour after Customs officers had profiled the vessels for a number of reasons and considered that they may be a high border risk or may be breaching legislative requirements.

“Through these 68 rummages, a number of irregularities including undeclared alcohol and cigarettes (which attract high tax rates) were discovered. The teams also found undeclared currencies, environmentally damaging gas which is banned in Fiji and most surprisingly 8 live puppies. In fact, 26 of the 68 searches resulted in an anomaly being detected,” Das said.

“In the 57 rummages that were carried out on fishing vessels from January 2018, 10 anomalies were discovered. These detections included high volumes of undeclared cigarettes and alcohol as well as other dutiable items.

“During one of the rummages in February, Customs officers also recovered more than 105,000 litres of excess fuel, which was undeclared. Total duty collected during this rummage alone was more than $34,000 (US$16,318),” Das said.

He said those found guilty of this offence would be liable to a fine of $25,000 (US$12,000) or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or both under section 137 of the Customs Act.

The FRCS continues to work with other agencies to make Fiji’s borders safe and Das said this year they signed a Fiji Country Plan with the New Zealand Customs Service to improve border management in Fiji.

Das said the technical assistance NZ Customs provides, would assist to enhance capacity and competency to clamp down risks that posed a threat at Fiji’s borders.

He said recently the Revenue and Customs along with 24 other World Customs Organisation (WCO) Member Countries made a commitment to adopt international standards and to share best practices.

Australia's bitter harvest: 'There will be more deaths'

By Leesha McKenny, Luke Waters

SYDNEY, 19 JUNE 2018 (SBS) --- Jone Roqica, a former Fijian army captain and prison officer who once played rugby for his country, collapsed while picking apples in regional Victoria last month.

His death, on a crisp 12-degree Saturday towards the end of the harvest near the Goulburn Valley township of Shepparton, came as a shock to his cousin, Dave Raulini.

He describes the 52-year-old father to SBS News as a “really disciplined and very fit” teetotaler who once ran out on the field for Fiji during a Rugby Sevens tour of the UK.

“How can he pass away with his bag of apples?” Raulini said. “Just passed away down below.”

Roqica’s death – of an apparent heart attack – was the 14th known Pacific Islander fatality on an Australian farm in just six years, or 15th since 2009.

There has been no finding that Roqica’s death was caused by overwork or unsafe practices, but it comes at a time when the agricultural sector - which is deeply reliant on workers from the region to fill its lower-skilled jobs - has been plagued by concerns about how it treats the thousands flocking to Australia each year.

Alison Rahill, an anti-slavery advocate from the Salvation Army, has travelled around the country and heard allegations from workers including beatings, withholding of wages and intimidation.

“There are slavery-like practices happening definitely in the agriculture sector,” Rahill said.

“I’ve probably just seen the tip of the iceberg.”

'Broken promises'

Roqica's death was the only one of the 14 not to occur under the Seasonal Worker Program, the federal government’s official scheme for recruiting Pacific Islanders. His cousin Mr Raulini had sponsored him to be in Australia.

But the growing seasonal worker death tally has led to scrutiny of the same issues. Families and advocates have raised concerns about poor living conditions and inadequate accommodation, combined with gruelling and often poorly paid work.

On a farm not far from the one where Roqica died, a group of workers from Vanuatu last month alleged they faced dangerous working conditions and were underpaid by a labour hire contractor. The firm involved, Agri Labour Australia, has since been suspended from the programme.

Former fruit picker Waisake counts among the Fijians drawn to the floodplains of the Goulburn Valley, which supplies a bounty of apples, pears and stone fruit to the Australian market.

But the 31-year-old said the reality of his last job never matched a middleman’s promise of $30 (US$22) a bin picking apples and an assurance of modest but private accommodation.

“I lived in a caravan that was supposed to be for one person, and four person was living in there,” he told SBS News. Waisake said he quit after working up to seven days a week for what amounted to just $16 (US$11) a bin.

He said many of his fellow workers went into debt to get to Australia and felt exploited and angry: “Most of them can’t do nothing because they’re just stuck, there’s no one there to help them.”

SBS News put Waisake’s claims to the alleged middleman – a Fijian national living in Australia. He denied sourcing workers from Fiji, underpaying them or misrepresenting living and working conditions.

But Waisake said workers were locked in a stressful cycle of early starts on little food, where a hard day’s work was followed by poor quality rest.

“It’s very unhealthy. I believe there will be more deaths if this carries on.”

'Workers stretched'

Roqica was not supposed to be working on the day he died. After putting in five days at a packing shed, he took up the option of an extra Saturday’s work on a neighbouring farm.

“He said that there was family commitments in Fiji, he has to send money so he needed go and work, and pick apples that day,” his cousin Raulini said.

A small memorial of flowers marks the spot where he collapsed, the ground strewn with the fruit he was there to collect.

A WorkSafe Victoria spokeswoman confirmed the agency looked into a death on a farm near Shepparton last month.

“When making inquiries, WorkSafe examines factors which may pose a risk to workers’ health and safety,” she said.

“For privacy reasons it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

An Australian Workers Union spokesman for its Victorian branch told SBS News it “remains very concerned about the treatment of migrant fruit pickers in the Goulburn Valley - especially around Shepparton” and is “working with the Victorian Government to try and improve accommodation and working conditions”.

'Conditions adequate'

Third-generation farmer Steve Vigliaturo, who runs the property where Roqica lived and spent his working weeks, said he treated workers fairly and the living conditions were adequate.

“I think the amenities I have are pretty good for what’s there,” Vigliaturo said.

He said all the wages - paid in cash - were “on the books” and Roqica, who he described as “a nice, gentle bloke” was reimbursed fairly.

“He was paid an hourly rate. He was on pretty good money, actually.”

“Just one of those things, I suppose,” he said of his death. “No one knew he was sick, and just had a heart attack. Pretty sad thing for most people around here, actually.”

A spokesman for Workplace Minister Craig Laundy said any workplace fatality was a tragedy “and the minister offers his condolences to Roqica’s family and friends.

A Migrant Workers’ Taskforce, chaired by Allan Fels, has been tasked with examining labour hire practices and was considering a range of options to address unscrupulous practices, he said.

“The government will consider the views of the taskforce carefully in determining whether changes in this particular form of work are needed to address the broader issue of worker exploitation,” the spokesman said.

In the caravan where Roqica lived, bottles of drinking water are stacked behind a single bed. Thin curtains hang across the windows, elsewhere they’re boarded up. It’s empty; the apple season wrapped, until next year.





Twenty journalists awarded fellowships to cover key climate change meetings in San Francisco, Katowice

BANGKOK, 19 JUNE 2018 (EJN/INTER NEWS) --- The Earth Journalism Network (EJN), a project of Internews, and the Stanley Foundation are pleased to announce 20 journalists from developing countries have been awarded fellowships to cover two key climate change events this year. The journalists were selected from a global open call that drew more than 300 applications.

As part of the Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP), the fellows will attend the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) from September 12-14 in San Francisco, United States, as well as the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in early December in Katowice, Poland. The GCAS is a key gathering of non-state actors and sub-national governments working towards the Paris Agreement goal to keep global temperature rise well below two degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels. The summit will take place just 11 weeks ahead of COP 24, where world leaders will participate in a “stock-taking” of progress since the Paris Agreement was signed.

During the fellowship, journalists will get support and guidance from seasoned climate journalists from EJN’s global network of trainers and participate in an orientation day ahead of both summits, daily morning briefings, interviews with high-level officials, and other interactions co-designed by EJN and the Stanley Foundation to inform and facilitate quality reporting on developments at the summits.

“One of the main challenges journalists face is being able to report in a compelling way on solutions to our environmental and climate challenges," said James Fahn, executive director of Internews' Earth Journalism Network, who is working with the Stanley Foundation’s media programme officer, Devon Terrill, on this year’s CCMP fellowship.

“Giving journalists from around the world a chance to be on the ground at the GCAS and COP 24 creates organic opportunities for them to cover exactly how cities, countries, communities, companies, and individuals are working to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement – or are perhaps lagging in their commitments,” Terrill said.

This is the second year EJN and the Stanley Foundation have teamed up on the CCMP fellowship, but this is the first time fellows will be given the opportunity to attend two global climate action events.

Applauding this opportunity for international journalists to cover developments at the Global Climate Action Summit, Nick Nuttall, the spokesperson and director of communications for the summit, said: “If the world is to get on track to meet the aims and ambitions of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, we need to take ambition to the next level over the next two crucial years. The summit will be the launch pad to this next moment in our shared future. Having journalists from developing countries join us for this historic event means the message of ambition, commitment and solidarity will echo to every corner of the Earth as we set the stage for the de-carbonization of the global economy.”

EJN, along with Panos London and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), formed the CCMP in 2007 to enable developing country journalists to attend and report from the annual UN climate summits.

The 2018 fellowship programme is a partnership between Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (with support from Sweden/SIDA) and the Stanley Foundation.

The fellows are:

 Abhaya Raj Joshi, Onlinekhabar (Nepal)
    Alanah Torralba, CNN Philippines and Inquirer.net (Philippines)
    Andrea Polanco, Great Belize Television: News 5 (Belize)
    Ayoola Kassim, Channels Television (Nigeria)
    Chen Zhou, Caixin Media (China)
    Fredrick Mugira, Vision Group (Uganda)
    Guilherme Jancowski de Avila Justino, Zero Hora (Brazil)
    Irena Pretika Widayanti, Metro TV (Indonesia)
    Karthikeyan Hemalatha, Firstpost (India)
    Le Minh Hung, Thanh Nien Newspaper (Vietnam)
    Mahadev Amar Guriro, Daily Times and Geo News (Pakistan)
    Maria del Pilar Assefh, El Cronista Comercial (Argentina)
    Michelle Soto, Latin Clima (Costa Rica)
    Paritta Wangkiat, Bangkok Post (Thailand)
    Ronald Toito'ona, Solomon Star Newspaper (Solomon Islands)
    Ruzeen Odeh, Musawa Channel (Israel-Palestine)
    Silvano Hajid Maulana, CNN Indonesia TV (Indonesia)
    Siphamandla Goge, eNews Channel Africa (South Africa)
    Sohara Mehroze Shachi, Inter Press Service (Bangladesh)
    Yixuan Cai, Energy Observer Magazine (China)

ABOUT EARTH JOURNALISM NETWORK

Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) empowers and enables journalists to cover the environment more effectively. With a mission to improve the quantity and quality of environmental coverage and over 12,000 members from more than 130 countries, EJN trains journalists to cover a wide variety of topics, develops ground-breaking digital media sites, establishes networks of environmental journalists in countries where they don't exist, and builds their capacity where they do, through workshops and development of training materials, fellowship programs, support for story production and distribution, and dispersing small grants. For more information, visit https://earthjournalism.net<https://earthjournalism.net/>.

 ABOUT THE STANLEY FOUNDATION

The Stanley Foundation advances multilateral action to create fair, just, and lasting solutions to critical issues of peace and security. The foundation's work is built on a belief that greater international cooperation will improve global governance and enhance global citizenship. Through its media programming, the foundation regularly collaborates with media partners to foster timely, in-depth, and rigorous reporting on topics related to three program areas:  climate change, nuclear weapons, and mass violence and atrocities. The organization values its Midwestern roots and family heritage as well as its role as a nonpartisan, private operating foundation. The Stanley Foundation does not make grants. Online at www.stanleyfoundation.org<http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/>


 Practice Parliament boosts women’s confidence as the Solomon Islands general election nears

HONIARA, 19 JUNE 2018 (UNDP) --- 50 enthusiastic women across the eight Provinces of the Solomon Islands mostly met as strangers but now leave the Capital more enthused and empowered to participate as candidates in any general election following the fourth Practice Parliament for Women.

The exercise was primarily targeted at women who were considering standing for the National Elections or local elections, women community leaders who wished to develop their leadership, advocacy and policy skills as well as women who have committed to supporting gender equality.

“My participation this week has been quite significant and a lifetime achievement,” said Leader of the Independent MPs for the 2018 Practice Parliament for Women, Senoveva Mauli.

“The discussions during the training, and the level of substance brought out during the Parliamentary debate has been enriching. I am now seriously considering standing for the 2019 national elections after my experience this week.”

The Head of Vois Blo Mere Solomon, Josephine Teakeni, a partner for the Practice Parliament this week was impressed with the calibre of the participants.

“The 50 women participants were so committed throughout the week, and I am just overwhelmed with their preparation and performance at the Practice Parliament session today. I feel that women with the calibre showcased at the Practice Parliament today can and will get voted into Parliament,” said Teakeni.

The five-day event was carried out in two phases with the training and awareness raising carried out in the first four days, and the final day where participants use their newly acquired skills as they play the role of national members of their Parliament.

The Speaker of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands, Ajilon Nasiu, acknowledged the enthusiasm of the participants and highlighted the importance of gender equality.

“Your participation further cements the commitment of the current government ensuring both Parliament and oversight institutions of this country recognise the importance of gender equality in all sectors of the country,” said Nasiu.

“I want to specifically thank the Solomon Islands Government for support towards this workshop. The current SIDCCG Government is a staunch supporter of gender to address problems & challenges relating to gender & human rights in this country and the pacific region.”

Adding her sentiments, the UNDP Solomon Islands Country Manager, Azusa Kubota, echoed the need for more women to participate in the democratic process and highlighted the innate ability of women to think more about the collective as a mark of quality leadership.

“In 15 of the Pacific countries where the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works, there are only 42 women MPs out of 559 MPs altogether. This represents 7.5% representation. When women represent 50% of the society, this does not sound right,” said Kubota

“Women are often care takers in the family and communities. Women always put others interests before theirs. Women always think about collective good rather than individual gain.”

She added, “Women therefore naturally have the quality to serve the people and represent the people in the Parliament.”

In selecting the participants, special efforts were made to target women leaders from outside of Honiara municipality/province, as well as targeting special groups.

The Practice Parliament for Women in the Solomon Islands was made possible through the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji funding through two Pacific regional projects under the Effective Governance programme, namely the Strengthening Legislatures in the Pacific Island Countries Project (SLIP) Project funded by the Government of Japan, and the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI), funded by the Government of New Zealand.

National partners for the event were the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs, the National Council of Women, Vois Blo Mere, Women’s Rights Action Movement, UNWomen and the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group.

The Practice Parliament for Women was held from 11 – 15 June.
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