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PNG in the News
Rainforest Rescue and Ecological Internet have started an email protest campaign in solidarity with Indigenous landowners in Madang -- http://giaman.com/pg/?575e06.
PNG’s group says forest sector guidelines must be addressed -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=48616
Vangold Resources Ltd. has signed a deal to acquire mineral exploration properties in the country -- http://giaman.com/pg/?36bd8b
Three Mengens teach in church service -- http://www.ntm.org/png/news_details.php?news_id=9972
Return to the Fatal Sky -- http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2009/s2659822.htm
Shenanigans continue in Dodge City -- http://giaman.com/pg/?46285c
PM is alive and well -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090824/news04.htm -- and -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090824/news05.htm
Safety of people a priority, says Air Niugini -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090824/news09.htm
PNG crash victims' identifications complete -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/24/2665430.htm
PNG Blogs
Sepik River Crocodile Festival -- http://giaman.com/pg/?9921c8
The Baldwin Boomerang PNG Photo Journey -- http://giaman.com/pg/?52806e
Bemobile Cup - PNG National Rugby League -- http://bemobilecup.blogspot.com
Unanswered questions surround August 2008 plane crash -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8d41f8
Little Green Palai -- http://nuahiva.blogspot.com
Lower Ramu Bible Translation Ministry -- http://www.flyingfox.org/wordpress
Madang - Ples Bilong Mi -- http://www.messersmith.name/wordpress
Malum Nalu's Blog -- http://malumnalu.blogspot.com
Matt in PNG working for MAF -- http://mattinpng.com
Warakam PNG -- http://warakambpng.blogspot.com
Random PNG Links
The Art Pacific website -- http://www.art-pacific.com -- continues to provide articles and photos on New Guinea art for both sides of the island. Readers interested in New Guinea artifacts and art forms are invited to check out the site.
Flags of PNG and other info -- http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Papua_New_Guinea.htm
Sunrise from the summit of Mt Hagen -- http://mattinpng.com/2009/08/19/mt-hagen-teaser/
UPNG Remote Sensing Centre -- http://gis.mortonblacketer.com.au/upngis/
Lexacorp Information Systems -- http://www.lexacorp.com.pg
Stan and Tresa Rowe -- http://www.rowespng.com/
What time is it in PNG? -- http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_PG.aspx
PNG Sunsets -- http://www.pbase.com/chris67/image/35862888
Anglican Church in PNG History -- http://anglicanhistory.org/aus/png/
An Introduction to Papua New Guinea -- http://www.geographia.com/papua-newguinea/
Late start, long lunch, lovely dinner in Wewak -- http://giaman.com/pg/?aa8077
PNG Defence Force - http://www.defence.gov.pg
Cloudy Bay Timber - http://www.cloudybaytimber.com.pg
Baia Sport fishing is located on the North Coast of West New Britain in Open Bay -- http://www.baiasportfishing.com/
Tok Pisin and Tok Ples
Tok Pisin and Tok Ples as languages of identification in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a2263c
Tok Pisin -- http://users.bigpond.net.au/billsview/tokpisin.htm
PNG Tok Pisin -- http://www.tokpisin.net
Looking for People
Don't forget to check the Telikom White pages -- http://www.telikompng.com.pg/WhitePages.aspx -- for telephone numbers within PNG.
Also take a look at -- http://www.ntm.org/png/missionaries.php
One of the best forums for finding people is -- http://www.pngbd.com. Of course you could also leave a comment at Keith Jackson's PNG Attitude -- http://asopa.typepad.com/ -- and this is likely to help.
News Items
BSP Helps School Children
In May this year, BSP, the largest Bank in PNG with 35 branches nationwide, and previously known as Bank of South Pacific, announced a major sponsorship worth K150,000 for the PNG Tennis Association, and created the BSP Regional Community Tennis Programme as a result. This sponsorship by the bank will bring the energetic and healthy sport of tennis to thousands of school children throughout the country.
See full press release with photographs at -- http://pnggossip.com/stories/bsptennis09.html
Oro Nickel Project
Regency Mines and Direct Nickel Pty Ltd have signed an agreement in relation to its 75% interest in the Mambare nickel-cobalt project in the Oro Province. Listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, Regency is a mining exploration and mineral investment company with interests in copper and nickel in Western Australia, Queensland, and PNG.
Don Polye Ousted
The election of Minister for Civil Aviation, Transport and Works, Don Polye, has been declared null and void by the national court. Judge Greg Lay ruled in a detailed 185-page decision Polye was not duly elected due to errors and omissions by electoral officers and supporters during polling. One issue with the election win was that Polye received 100 per cent of the vote, he said. Does this mean the other candidates did not vote for themselves? A by-election will have to be conducted for the seat.
Don Pomb Polye is the deputy leader of the ruling National Alliance Party (Highlands Region).
See also - Polye considers legal action -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090818/news02.htm -- and -- Polye decision due in three days -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090825/news05.htm
Crash Investigation Begins
The investigation into the Kokoda air crash will began on the 17th Nov 2009 after all of the known remains of the 13 dead were removed from the wreckage site over the weekend of the 15th and 16th.
full story -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3a1d5e
PNG Gives to Solomon Islands Students
The PNG Government has given US$1.5 million to the Solomon Islands Government to help fund Solomon Island students studying in PNG. It will go towards their tuition fees, boarding and allowances at PNG tertiary institutions. Since 2006, the PNG Government has given the Solomons over US$4 million to support the education and training of Solomon Islands students in PNG.
Mt Hagen Show
The biggest cultural event in the Western Highlands has been held at Kagamuga near the airport that serves Mt Hagen. The Mt Hagen shows brings tourists from across the country and across the world. A full report by Matt from MAF can be found here -- http://mattinpng.com/2009/08/23/mt-hagen-cultural-show/
Gordons Market Closed
Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald has condemned the recent the closure of the popular Gordons market by police. Mr Mald said whoever ordered the closure of the market was "insane" as it had cost the vendors and suppliers of goods to the market dearly. For many vendors all they could do was watch as their produce rotted away behind the locked gates of the market.
Ramu Nickel Project Resumes
Construction work has been able to resume following rectification of a number of health and safety issues at the mainly Chinese-owned one point three seven billion US dollars Ramu nickel cobalt project in Madang province. -- http://www.highlandspacific.com/ramu.html -- and -- http://www.ramunico.com -- The targeted annual output of the Ramu mine is 31,500 tonnes of nickel and 3300 tonnes of cobalt contained in high grade concentrate over a 20 year mine life.
Milne Bay Pictures
Street scenes in the centre of Alotau. A sleepy country town it is the capital of Milne Bay Province. The great news about Alotau is that security is not an issue and you can wander around town at ease. These photos are taken looking in three directions from the same spot.
http://pineappleskip.vox.com/library/post/alotau.html?_c=feed-PNGG
Some views of the highway which runs East from Alotau. Like much of PNG however, the road doesn't go very far and if you want to go to the next province, you have to fly.
http://pineappleskip.vox.com/library/post/milne-bay-roadsides.html
Gas Plant Closed
Landowners from Komo in the Southern Highlands Province recently closed down the Hides gas and oil and electricity plant and demanded K500 million from Oil Search and Department of Petroleum and Energy.
Full report -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090825/news09.htm
Japan / PNG Flights
PNG and Japan have signed a new air services agreement that increases the number of flights permitted between the countries. The agreement gives PNG two flights per week to Tokyo's Narita airport. At this stage Air Niugini has no plans to increase its once-weekly non-stop service Japan to a twice weekly service. It is widely believed that Air Niugini makes a loss on this service and it only operates the service due to political lobbying by the tuna fishing industry wishing to market fresh fish in Japan.
The new agreement allows PNG carriers more frequencies to Osaka Kansai, and adds Nagoya to the list of Japanese destinations they can serve. No carrier other than Air Niugini presently flies to any city in Japan.
New US Ambassador
The United States of America Senate has confirmed President Obama's nomination of Teddy Bernard Taylor, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to Papua New Guinea.
Crater Mountain Gold
Crater Mountain in the Eastern Highlands is to be mapped out three-dimensionally to see if the gold there has potential for open-pit mining. Australian-registered Anomaly Resources and Aura Gold are sending in a team to analyse the grade of the gold found in the area. A representative of the company has said it could be years before mining begins, but if successful, it would add to the region’s cash economy.
Bank Customer Robbed
A security guard has been shot and a customer robbed of more than K200,000 in cash in Port Moresby. The criminals followed a bank customer, a service station owner, into the bank’s car park area and held him up as he got out of his car to go into the bank to deposit the money.
Lae Power
Most towns around PNG suffer from a lack of reliable power from time to time. The main industrial city of Lae in Morobe province, despite being close to the main Ramu power grid, is no different to the rest. The Minister for Public Enterprises, Arthur Somare, has promised that Lae’s electricity supply will be back to a stable and reliable form by early next year after maintenance work at the Ramu hydro-electric project. Due to their age and a lack of maintenance the four operating units at the Ramu power station have been de-rated. It is expected that one unit will be refurbished by mid next year with the other three following.
Read about power problems in Kundiawa -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e66d2b
see also - Power to light up Kerowagi -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090825/news10.htm
Seats for Women
The twenty Provincial Governors have agreed that there should be an additional seat in each province for women alone to contest. Women's groups in PNG are happy with the idea. The former President of the National Council of Women, Susan Setae says women should be elected by the people. With the creation of two new provinces (Hela and Jiwaka) there will be 22 seats for women.
see -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/200908/s2660909.htm
Oro Aid
Following the disaster of cyclone Guba in November 2007, Rotary International District 9750 has adopted the Oro Province to provide humanitarian assistance.
Full Story - http://www.trupela.com/2009/08/19/rotary-provides-aid-to-the-people-of-oro-province
Hiri Moale Festival
Preparations are well underway for the Hiri Moale festival in September. Tatana village, just outside the city of Port Moresby, has already run mini Hiri Moale contests for young women are aged between 18 and 21 years old. Motuan villages starting from Manumanu in the west to Gabagaba in the east will stage their own mini-village Hiri Moale celebrations to select their final contestants to represent each village.
Coastwatchers Memorial
Peter has posted the following at -- http://pnggossip.blogspot.com/2009/08/coastwatchers-memorial-lighthouse.html -- there is also another item so click on the link and read the rest.
TRIBUTE TO THE COASTWATCHERS MEMORIAL LIGHTHOUSE
In January 1954 more than 50 years ago Madang had been chosen as the site for the Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse. Sufficient funds were donated at that time, which included a personal contribution from the US President Richard Nixon.
Plans were well advanced by October 1955 and the design provided for a graceful, bomb-shaped reinforced concrete column of 80 feet high with an attractive base surround and a cruciform pathway approach. The Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse was also designed to be a practical navigational aid and provisional plans called for the installation of a powerful light that would be visible to a distance of 10 mile to sea.
Fifty years ago, the Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse, at the entrance to Madang Harbour, was dedicated and switched on for the first time on the Saturday 15th August 1959.
50 years ago these roads were crowded with natives heading towards the Lighthouse and by afternoon all the enclosures were packed, every tree dripped with spectators. Also in Madang for the occasion were representatives of the United States Navy, the Director of Lighthouses, Minister for the Navy, besides representatives of Army, Navy and Air Force; the Allied Intelligence Bureau became the official channel for activities.
The Memorial is, without question, the most beautiful and magnificent design to commemorate the work these men did. As they watched the coast, so now does their Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse.
TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN COASTWATCHERS
The construction is of dazzling white cement. The lighthouse, 80 feet high, stands on a base of red terrazzo tiles, and on this circle, between each set of fins, is a bronze plaque. The plaque between the two front fins is the Honour Plaque with the names of the fallen Coastwatchers,
On the left side is a plaque which reads:
"In honour and grateful memory of the Coastwatchers and of the loyal natives who assisted them in their heroic service behind enemy lines during the Second World War in providing intelligence vital to the conduct of Allied operations. Not only did they transmit by means of teleradio from their jungle hideouts, information which led to the sinking of numerous enemy warships, but they were able to give timely warning of impending enemy air attacks. The contribution towards the Allied victory in the Pacific by the small body of men who constituted the Coastwatchers was out of all proportion to their numbers."
Coming Events
45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 30th of Aug to the 4th of September
8th National Garamut and Mambu Festival - Wewak - 5th - 6th of September.
5th Bilasim Skin Festival - Goroka - 12th, 14th and 15th of September.
Hiri Moale Festival -- September.
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September.
Mt Wilhelm Walk for Life - 18th to the 20th of September.
World Heart Day - 28th September.
Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from the 29th of September to the 2nd of October.
PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum 2009 Seminars 27th to the 30th of October -- http://skerah.com/Venuecentral/Premiumlink/pngcmp.php -- or -- http://www.pngchamberminpet.com.pg/images/pdf_files/chevents.pdf
31st October and the 1st of November - Morobe Show - see -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg/ -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2f4583
6th to 8th of November - National Canoe and Kundu Festival, Milne Bay -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab7f63
National Arts and Craft Exhibition - 13th - 15th of November
Women in Mining and Petroleum Conference - 22nd - 24th March 2010 - to be held at Divine Word University in Madang.
25th April 2010 - World Malaria Day. Malaria affects 90 per cent of the PNG population.
World liquefied natural gas (LNG) summit - Mid 2010
11th Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference - 6th to 8th December, 2010 - Hilton Hotel, Sydney - http://www.pnginvestment.cia.com.au -- This web site is out of date showing information abut the 2008 conference.
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.
PNG Media
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