News Briefs
Climate change-a challenge for Small Island States
Climate change is perhaps the greatest global challenge of our time; the Cook Islands as with other SIDs (Small Island States) is highly vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.
As a geographically isolated SIDS country with many low-lying atolls, the science indicates the Cook Islands will see worsening climate change, and that significant adaptation efforts are required to respond to this.
Uncertainty of climate change is basically a question of how can we adapt when we are unsure of what the scale of impacts will be, as this depends on international action to reduce emissions that are driving climate change as well as locally specific variables.
To address this problem, over 190 governments, including the Cook Islands, adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention (KP) to encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the establishment of low-carbon economies.
The Convention and Protocol contain s sets rules and procedures to which Parties must adhere. With the notable exception of the United States, larger and more developed countries have assumed legally-binding reduction targets as well as obligations to assist developing countries including SIDS to address climate change through funding assistance, transferring climate-friendly technology, capacity building and meeting their adaptation and mitigation needs.
Why is Climate Change an Issue for the Cook Islands to raise internationally?
The scale of the economy makes it highly sensitive to external shocks and extreme events.
Vulnerable sectors include coastal, marine, water, agriculture, biodiversity, human health and socio-economic activities like tourism, pearl farming and agriculture. It is clear climate change is affecting our people, culture, ecosystems and our Cook Islands’ way of life. Isolation means that there are fewer cost-effective options to increase resilience, along with limited human resources and especially technical capacity to fully address the projected implications of climate change. -Tiare Ponini
MOIP seeks MP’s input on road works
On Thursday all Rarotonga MPs met at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP)building in Arorangi for a briefing on the roads maintenance programme.
All MPs were present and representatives attended for Opposition Leader Robert Wigmore and Finance Minister Mark Brown who were not able to attend.
Minister Heather’s CEO Ben Mose said the purpose of the meeting was to advise MPs to indicate which roads in their electorates should get priority under the routine maintenance programme.
Mose said the MPs were also advised that when the 2.5km stretch from Pokoinu to the Aquarius restaurant was upgraded, it would establish the standard for all work on the roads to follow. This stretch will be 10m wide being 7m of road taken out 1.5m on either side.
This financial year, $678,000 was allocated for the roads programme. Of this amount, MOIP’s June 2011 Programme Implementation Document for Rarotonga Roads shows that $446,000 was allocated for ongoing road maintenance and upgrade works which includes procurement of roading materials and stocks and management of potholes.
A further meeting will be held to consider the MPs recommendations when these are received.
Other work on the programme involves;
1.Undertaking drainage improvements. Work is planned at;
Tupapa-the Red Cross site drain ($25,000)
Tupapa-the Ngatipa road drain ($15,000)
Takuvaine-D Marsters drain ($15,000)
Takuvaine-drain No 2 (near 2M tank crossing) ($15,000)
Arorangi School ($12,000)
2. Widening main roads section at Avatiu Valley- ($20,000)
3. Relocation of road sealing heating facilities away from residential properties.
Transportation, building, fencing and site clearance- ($110,000). -Charels Pitt
Joint effort for White Ribbon Day
In 1989, 14 women were massacred in Montreal, Canada. In response to this event, a handful of men in 1991 decided to speak out against violence against women. They proposed that November 25 become an international day for domestic violence awareness. It wasn’t until 1999 however that the UN General Assembly declared November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Today we celebrate Friday 25 November as International White Ribbon Day. Here in the Cook Islands, women’s counselling service Punanga Tauturu works closely with the Cook Islands Police Department (CIPD) and Te Marae Ora, Ministry of Health for the cause of domestic violence.
White Ribbon Day in Rarotonga began with a 6am church service at Nikao CICC, followed by the collection of donations for t-shirts, wrist bands and white ribbon pins. Members of Punanga Tauturu championed their cause at a stall at the Trade Day markets and ribbons and bands were for sale at many banks and stores in Rarotonga.
Senior Sergeant Rebecca Hosking-Ellis, who is the Domestic Violence Coordinator for the CIPD, spoke on talkback for Radio Cook Islands as part of the campaign. She described the significance of the white ribbon as being a symbol of the protection of innocence and purity, and the white knot in the ribbon as a symbol of equality. She expressed her desire to help the people of the Cook Islands deal with the issue of domestic violence. “It’s a passion for me. It’s a passion for me to help - especially in the domestic violence area.”
According to Senior Sergeant Hosking-Ellis, the ongoing campaign is slowly making a difference. “It’s amazing, since we had the ads – women are slowly coming out. Slowly. But we need to let them know we’re here.” She added that there were efforts within the police department to continue to raise awareness and create understanding amongst police officers through weekly training education sessions that she runs herself.
All money received supports the work of Punanga Tauturu in helping victims of domestic violence. Donations can be made at any time by contacting Punanga Tauturu. -Ngariki Ngatae
Te Putokotoko
How should we pray?
Must we kneel when we pray? No, the Bible records a number of different positions for prayer. We must pray in faith. (James 1:6) We must pray to God with clean hands and a pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-4)
Our prayer must be in keeping with God’s will. (Luke 22:42)
Does God answer prayer?
Yes, he answered Elijah’s prayer at Mt Carmel (1 King 18:36-39) He gave Hannah a son in answer to her prayer. (1 Samuel 1:7 -20) In answer to the prayer of Ezekiel he saved Judah from the Assyrians. (Isaiah 37:15-36) God answers prayers in the three ways. Sometimes he answers yes when he knows it is best for us. (James 4:3) Elijah prayed for God to take his life when Jezebel was seeking to kill him. (1 King 194, 2 King 2:11) Sometimes God says wait, our request may be right bit it may be asked at the wrong time. (1 Corinthians 1:25) This is one way that we can learn patience. (James 1:3) Abraham had to wait 25 years for the son God had promised him. Moses had to wait 40 years before God was ready for him to lead Israel to freedom.
Five areas of prayer
1. Praise (Luke 11:2)
2. Thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1)
3. Confession (Luke 1:4, Psalm 66:18)
4. Petition (Philippians 4:6)
5. Intercession (Colossians 1:9, Thessalonians 3:1)
We pray to God because he wants us to speak to him. Prayer is an important part of a Christian’s life. It is one of the blessings of being in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) Does God hear your prayers if you are not a Christian? You do not have the privilege of prayer. If you are living in disobedience to God he will not hear your prayers. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) In order to get into Christ we must believe and be baptized (mark 16:15-16, Galatians 3:26-27) why not obey the gospel today so you can have God’s acceptance that he will hear your prayers.
Kia Orana e Kia manuia.
Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
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- Century old palm trees and the French connection
- Koutu Nui takes part in Raui meeting in Moorea
- WOM Award Dinner for Ake Hosea-Winterflood
- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009
