Pacific

Regional energy regulators address challenges

This is especially in light of the ambitious renewable energy and energy efficiency targets of Pacific Island countries as part of the Paris Agreement process and towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 7) of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

This was one of the key messages emerging from the week-long training for Energy Regulators which concluded in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, yesterday.

Cost for Pacific power among the highest in the world

A energy specialist from the World Bank addressed the 25th Pacific Power Association Conference in Nuku'alofa.

Matai’s diary from Rio Olympic Village

The number of delegations in the Games Village is nearing 200 by Sunday afternoon here in Rio.

206 is the full complement of nations that make up the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

IOC boss Thomas Bach reiterated his confidence at a press conference of an excellent Rio Games following all the internal and external challenges faced by the Rio Organising Committee.

Bach is expected to tour the village and have lunch at the dining hall again today.

For the Pacific Islands, two more countries have arrived- Solomons and Federated State of Micronesia.

Pacific suicide reporting has ripple effect

The warning comes from Le Va, a New Zealand group working to prevent suicide in Pasifika communities around New Zealand.

It has come up with a set of media guidelines to help New Zealand's Pasifika media practice safe reporting and also provide help.

Le Va's chief executive Monique Faleafa said reporting of suicide in Pacific island countries was freer than in New Zealand and the stories were being picked up elsewhere.

Pacific research swayed by funding

RNZ reports the Pacific Islands Political Studies Association conference on political change in Oceania was held in Niue last month. (July)

Following the conference, the Pacific director at New Zealand's Massey University, Malakai Koloamatangi said it was difficult to say one type of research is better than the other.

Inaugural Ukulele Festival Launched for Niue

The Festival, which runs from Friday 21 October to Monday 24 October, will feature ukulele workshops, concerts and instructional (“tips and tricks”) sessions by panels of leading ukulele exponents including:

• Paul Jonson from New Zealand

• Hawaiians’ Jody Kamisato and rising superstars Honoka and Azita

Pacific vulnerable to human trafficking

And these countries have poor social and economic system, high rates of poverty, under-resourced judiciary and government agencies, and inadequate laws, among others.

This was part of the presentation by the acting Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Dialogue Limited Ms Patricia Kailola, when speaking on The Hidden Crime of Human Trafficking in the Pacific Islands Region, at the 2016 Pacific Update Conference at The University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva on Tuesday.

Commercial reforms needed to boost Pacific State - owned enterprises - ADB

Advance copies of Finding Balance 2016, the latest edition of ADB’s landmark assessment of Pacific SOEs’ performance, were shared at the Pacific Update Conference at the University of South Pacific, Fiji.

The report finds SOE portfolios in the eight Pacific countries examined contributed only 1.8% to 12% to gross domestic product, despite their very large asset base, ongoing government cash transfers, and monopoly market positions. It also finds productivity levels of the SOEs tend to be well below developed country benchmarks.                                             

Youth training programme to expand

RNZI reports the Pacific Community will train 20 youth from Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu to act as leaders to help unemployed youth in their home countries.

The SPC's Melanesia director, Mia Rimon, said 20 percent of the Pacific's 11 million people are 15 to 24 years old, and approximately half are unemployed.

Tackling the menace of used pesticide containers in the Pacific

Pesticides require careful handling as many pose an unacceptable risk to human health, animal health or the environment. In fact, according to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), nine of the twelve most dangerous and persistent chemicals on the planet are types of pesticides.