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PNG in the News
Sex cult vows banana bonus -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090911/news01.htm -- and -- http://www.trupela.com/2009/09/14/sex-cult-goes-bananas/
Buka hospital calls for return of water pump -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090914/news10.htm
A Catholic nun has been on the front line in the battle against AIDS in PNG since the disease first emerged. -- http://www.theage.com.au/world/saving-grace-20090908-fg0k.html
Call for AIDS rape to be a crime in PNG -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/08/2680343.htm
Plume from Rabaul Volcano -- http://spacegizmo.livingdazed.com/?p=2829
Biscuit Company Ltd (LBC) has started exporting its popular "Snax" biscuit brand to Fiji -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/489
I am a top foreigner in PNG, says carbon kingpin -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cbabf8
Rush for amnesty at Waterboard -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/602
Why not cash on delivery of primary education? -- http://giaman.com/pg/?debdca
Bible translations continue despite violence -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1181d9
PNG Blogs
Goroka Show 2009 -- http://www.trupela.com/2009/09/12/photos-of-goroka-show-2009/ -- http://www.trupela.com/2009/09/13/more-photos-goroka-show-2009/
Mt Hagen Climb. Photos from our Mt Hagen climb the last weekend in June. We camped out on the summit of the mountain and both days had glorious weather, despite freezing up there. The summit is roughly 12600 feet above sea level. -- http://mattinpng.com/2009/09/05/mt-hagen-climb-photos
OceansWatch expedition updates - Madang Province, Karkar Island -- http://www.sailblogs.com/member/oceanswatch/?xjMsgID=101600
Madang is experiencing a steep decline in infrastructure, law and order and general quality of life which may soon be irreversible. Anybody want to deny that? -- http://giaman.com/pg/?436bf0/
PNG Links
There are many web sites that include PNG at the start of the URL. Here is a sample of what is available. If you know of another site starting with PNG please let me know.
Info on PNG research level books -- http://pngbuai.com
PNG Aviation Information, photos and forum -- http://pngair.com
PNG Bible Translation -- http://www.pngbta.com
PNG Business Directory -- http://pngbd.com
The Premier Online Business Directory -- http://www.pngb2b.com
PNG Cars -- http://pngcars.com
PNG Coffee -- http://www.pngcoffee.com
PNG Dating Site -- http://www.pngdate.com
PNG Dive -- http://www.pngdive.com
PNG Dockyard -- http://www.pngdockyard.com.pg
PNG Explorers -- http://pngexplorers.com
PNG Football Association Incorporation -- http://www.pngfootball.com.pg
PNG Hardwood -- http://www.pnghardwood.com
PNG Holidays -- http://www.pngholidays.com
PNG Institute of Management -- http://www.pngim.com
PNG Institute of Medical Research -- http://www.pngimr.com.pg
PNG Liquefied Natural Gas -- http://www.pnglng.com
PNG Ports Corporation Limited -- http://pngports.com.pg
PNG Power -- http://www.pngpower.com.pg
PNG Products -- http://www.pngproducts.com
PNG Reunion -- http://www.pngreunion.com
PNG Surfari -- http://www.pngsurfaris.com
PNG Sustainable Development Program -- http://www.pngsdp.com
PNG Taiheiyo Cement Ltd -- http://www.pngtaiheiyo.com.pg
PNG Tourism Directory -- http://pngtd.com
PNG Tourism Resources Online -- http://www.pngtourism.com
PNG United Nations -- http://www.pngun.org
PNG Waterboard -- http://www.pngwater.com.pg
The Ford Family serves as missionaries in Alotau -- http://www.pngfords.com
Trans Niugini Tours -- http://www.pngtours.com
and of course -- http://pngossip.com
Random Links
Miss PNG Quest -- http://www.misspngquest.com
Investment Promotion Authority -- http://www.ipa.gov.pg
Adventures in Paradise -- http://www.adventuresinparadise.com.pg
German Language Tourism Sites -- http://www.pngtourism.de -- http://www.abacus-touristik.de/png_intro.html
Approaching the Bismark Archipelago -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8c942b
An Underwater Photographers Guide to PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c94f3c
Great Video -- http://www.air-niugini.co.jp/vtr/index.html -- if you can't understand Japanese then turn the sound down and just watch and enjoy.
Samarai Island -- http://www.travels5.com/2009/09/05/the-frog-samarai-island-milne-bay-papua-new-guinea/
Tabari Place Market at Boroko on Flickr -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/21507027@N02/3914992636/
Goroka Show -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunapulej/3914487730/ -- http://kalwij.com/2009/09/goroka-show-2009
Hiri Moale Festival -- http://www.skerah.com/hirimoale
Luk Save Art Show -- http://skerah.com/luksaveartshow.php
News Items
Vale Captain Peter Sharpe
Have just received news that Captain Peter Sharpe, MBE, a veteran commercial pilot and ocean racing yachtsman sadly passed away on the 13th of September. Sharpie will be sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him during his life in PNG. I believe Peter's funeral will be in Manila on Saturday the 19th of September.
Independence Day
Thirty-four years ago on the 16th of September 1975 Papua New Guinea celebrated its independence from Australian rule. For some it was a defining moment, for others it was a day off school and for most, Independence Day was a mixture of confusion and celebration. It was a day to say goodbye to Australia and hello to PNG. Many people in Port Moresby went to see the lowering of the Australian flag and the raising of the new flag of Papua New Guinea even a young Prince Charles and the King of Tonga attended the ceremony. No matter what the population thought the day marked an extremely important moment in the nation's history. Governor General elect, Sir John Guise, made the following remark after the lowering of the Aussie flag for the last time "My dear friends, we're only lowering it, we are not tearing it down". No blood was spilt and the two flags changed places peacefully something that has not always happened as a country becomes independent.
Madang Show
Fear of a cholera outbreak in the Morobe province has forced the neighbouring Madang province to postpone its Madang festival indefinitely. -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/634
If any province currently values and prepares for a big celebration to coincide with PNG's 34th Independent Anniversary then Madang Province is one. Read more -- http://mathewyakai.blogspot.com/2009/09/madang-hopes-for-big-show-sept-16-19.html
Boroko Motors
Boroko Motors has opened up a service centre for customers. Boroko Motors General Manager, Martyn Dawson said the company would deliver products and services with reliability, consistency and added value. Boroko Motors also took the opportunity to unveil its new top of the range 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class car shwn at the top of the newsletter.
http://www.boroko-motors.com/
Boroko Motors are agents for Nissan Motor Company, Nissan Diesel, Isuzu, Fuso, Mercedes Benz, Kenworth, TCM, Mitsubishi Motors, Honda Motorcycles, New Holland, Bombardier as well as Valvoline oils.
see also -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4be139
No Pay for 9 Months
Over 300 casual workers in Lae have not been paid for over nine months. The workers claim they have patched holes in the road, swept the roads, cut the grass, cleared trees and performed other jobs in Lae generally working hard to keep the city of Lae clean.
Public Health Emergency
PNG Health Minister, Sasa Zibe, has declared a public health emergency in parts of Morobe province affected by cholera, influenza and dysentery. See -- <http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=49014. While making the announcement health officials, including the World Health Organisation country representative Dr Eigil Sorensen and Health Secretary Dr Clement Malau, used the opportunity to call for people throughout the country to adhere to simple and basic personal hygiene practices to avoid contracting such diseases.
Related stories:
Schools in Lae were shut down for a day - see -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/509
The Eastern Highlands, bordering Morobe province has been put on alert. Has Cholera crossed over into the Eastern Highlands? -- http://www.trupela.com/2009/09/06/cholera-in-eastern-highlands -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cabe1e
EHP on alert -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/607
Also -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/12/2683901.htm
Dysentery Outbreak Reaches Bulolo
Dysentery has struck Bulolo in Morobe province. The town of Bulolo is situated between Lae, where there is a cholera outbreak, and Menyamya, where 102 people have died from dysentery and influenza related illnesses.
Tears and Love
Have tears and love stopped a 33 year old war between neighbouring tribes in the remote Kup district high in the mountains of Simbu province? If the women of the neighbouring villages and a community development worker and social activist from Kundiawa have anything to do with the outcome then it will happen.
full story from the Melbourne Age -- http://www.theage.com.au/world/lighting-the-way-20090907-fec4.html
A Mother's Life
Jo Chandler has written about the plight of women and the hospital system in PNG. She starts out by stating "the trail of blood running down the concrete path to the maternity wing of Papua New Guinea's main referral and teaching hospital tells the story. Eloquent splashes of red, falling centimetres apart at first, becoming a continuous stream by the time she reaches the admission doors.
read more by following the link to The Age web site --
http://www.theage.com.au/world/a-mothers-life-20090906-fcr6.html
Indian Remains Found in ENB
An Australian Army recovery team sent to examine the remains of World War II soldiers found by a mining company at Kokopo, in East New Britain province have determined they are Indian. The team concluded the dental remains of the five bodies showed patterns consistent with an Indian diet, and identified a sewing kit used exclusively by the Indian Army.
see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1aaf40
Japanese forces used Indian prisoners of war to build the considerable fortifications surrounding the harbour at Rabaul and for other labour tasks from June 1943 until the end of the war. It is unknown how many Indian soldiers were held and perished at Rabaul, however, over 5,600 were liberated by Australian forces at the end of the war.
Central Hospital
When mentioning the various problems associated with the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) the Health Minister, Sasa Zibe, recently mentioned there was a need for a new hospital in Central province to take some of the pressure off PMGH. There is debate whether, due to transport problems, a new hospital should be built in Central or in the National Capital District.
Fuel Prices
The retail price of fuel provided from InterOil's Port Moresby refinery has fallen for the second consecutive month. The reduction applies to the full range of fuels and includes kerosene, gasoline, diesel, zoom and jet fuel.
New Legal Centre
A new alternative dispute resolutions (ADR) centre has been opened at the National Court in Waigani in the Nation's capital. Australian High Commissioner, Chris Moraitis, was present to officially open the centre, a historical addition to the PNG legal system. He was also invited to open three other buildings, which cost K2.4million.
New Species Discovered
A group of scientists from the United States, Britain, and PNG have found over 40 previously unidentified species when they climbed into the kilometre-deep crater of Mount Bosavi and explored the pristine jungle habitat teeming with life that has evolved in isolation since the volcano last erupted 200,000 years ago.
Several of the species have been given the names starting with Bosavi. One of the biggest rats in the world has been given the name Bosavi Woolly Rat, it measures just over 85cm (32 inches) from nose to tail and weighs in at 1.36kg (3 pound). PNG is famous for the number and diversity of rodents with more than 57 species from the Murid family of rats and mice on the island. They also found 16 species of frog, 20 species of insect and spider,3 new species of fish and 1 species of bat.
see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b1a542
What other unique species are being destroyed by deforestation? Will the world ever know? Research published in the journal Biotropica in June 2008 estimated that over a quarter of Papua New Guinea's forests had been either destroyed or damaged.
The DahCavill Customary School
The DahCavill Customary School is located near Port Moresby in a small swamp village called RakaRaka, at Laloki, adjacent to the Laloki Psychiatric Hospital on the Hiritano Highway of the Central Province of Papua New Guinea (view map). The school is situated on over 200 hectares of customary land on the banks of the Laloki River.
Visit their web site -- http://www.themagicswamp.com/
Pacific Marine Industrial Zone
The National Government will contribute at least K165 million towards the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang province. The funding will be at least 20 per cent (US$60 million) of the total estimated cost of US$300 million (K999 million) for the marine park.
The Pacific Marine Industrial Zone is a special economic zone dedicated to tuna processing.
PNG Games
The PNG Games are set to be held in the National Capital from the 18th to the 29th of November. NCD Governor Powes Parkop has injected K500,000 into the staging of the Games and Sir Brian Bell has donated K100,000. Provinces are late in confirming their appearance at the Games. PNG Sports Foundation commissioner responsible for PNG Games Ni Cragnolini confirmed that only six provinces, Bougainville, East New Britain, Oro, Milne Bay, Central and Western province's, have confirmed participation.
PX Duty Free
The National Flag Carrier, Air Niugini, has introduced a new in-flight duty-free catalogue. Air Niugini chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said Air Niugini customers and those of Qantas, under the code-share agreement, could buy the new products. Air Niugini will now offer 152 duty free items to international passengers. This is 127 items more than what was offered previously. Goods are marked in US dollar but purchases could also be made in kina, Philippines peso, Japanese yen and in currencies of Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Women's Representation in Parliament
The Electoral Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, has raised concerns over the move to reserve 22 parliamentary seats for women in the 2012 general election, including the financial cost and legal implications.
Coming Events
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- Today!
Mt Wilhelm Walk for Life - 18th to the 20th of September.
BSP PNG Billiards and Snooker Association men's titles - commencing 19th September -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/527
AFLPNG National Championships -- 21st - 23rd September 2009
World Heart Day - 28th September.
Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from the 29th of September to the 2nd of October.
AFLPNG Talent Search. AFL Queensland side Coolangatta, a regular host of PNG talent, will travel to take on the PNG Mosquitoes in Port Moresby. -- 24th October 2009
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.
PNG Games in Port Moresby from 18th to 29th of November
World Aids Day -- http://www.baha.com.pg -- 1st December 2009.
AFLPNG Talent Camp will be held in Goroka with 120 Under 17's, 15's, 13's present -- 4th to 6th of December 2009
AFLPNG - PNG Scholarships/Under 18 Trials will be held in Australia. 8 x U18s are hoped to be provided with Country Queensland, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Scholarships. -- February 2010
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 -- http://pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html.
PNG Media
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