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PIANGO Monthly 2.5

Editorial

It has been over 3 months since the last production of the MONTHLY and the team from the PIANGO Secretariat welcomes all readers again to a new chapter in PIANGO's history after the successful hosting of the 3rd PIANGO Council. The Council saw election of a new Coordinating Committee to be chaired by Hana Tukukino who hails from Aotearoa/New Zealand. PIANGO owes the out-going CC so much and says thank you especially to the efforts of Gabi Tetiarahi, Bill Armstrong and Abraham Baenesia

3RD PIANGO COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

PIANGO Secretariat wishes to announce completion of a very successful council hosted in Mele Village from the 25-30 July 1999. The meeting which was opened by Minister for Internal Affairs of Vanuatu, Honourable Vincent Boulekone brought together 86 representatives from 21 Pacific Island Countries and regions including; Australia, New Zealand, West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Kanaky, Fiji, Palau, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, Wallis Futuna, Tahiti and Vanuatu. Donor agencies, Regional and International Institutions also participated in this 5-day meeting.

Hana Tukukino from Aotearoa/New Zealand succeeded Gabriel Tetiarahi (Hiti Tau, Tahiti) as Chair of PIANGO. Other members of the Coordinating Committee are: Joseph Ogaie (PNG), Joy Balazo (Australia), Rev. Paula Sotutu (Fiji), Meme Tong (Kiribati), Tina Takashy (FSM) and Roland Oldham (Tahiti).

PIANGO Secretariat Coordinator wishes to extend on behalf of the Coordinating Committee and Movement their sincerest gratitude to the following whose contributions ensured a very productive Strategic Planning / Council outcome:

  • Funding Agencies: AusAid, NZODA, Canada Fund (Australia), Canada Fund (New Zealand), CCFD (France), Bread For the World (Germany), Commonwealth Foundation (United Kingdom) Vanuatu Government: Honourable Vincent Boulekone, Minister for Internal Affairs; Jean Sese, Director General, Prime Minister's Office; Vanuatu Mobile Force Band; Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation
  • Mele Host Community: Chief Poilapa and Mele Chief's Council; All families of Mele Village Members of Local Civil Society Organizations within Vanuatu: PMC; Red Cross; Tanna Toka Dancers; Fatuana Matua; Vanuatu National Council of Women; Vanuatu Association of Non - Government Organizations (VANGO); University of the South Pacific; Vanuatu National Youth Council
  • Businesses: South Pacific Travel; Air Vanuatu; Microtech; PacTec; Service Center; Aliat Wi Tours; Exotic Gardens; Olympic Hotel; Coral Motel
  • Individuals: Lai Sakita (Director, NKDT); Harry Umpkon (VANGO); Harold Obed (Port Vila); Thomas Nabagamiola Thomas (Coordinator, Mele Host Committee); Eddy Kalopele (Coordinator, Mele Host Committee), Kali Vatoko (Chairman, VANGO)

PIANGO is most indebted to the Resource Team and PIANGO Secretariat Staff who worked tirelessly as true professionals through all hours to ensure a successful outcome.
Members include: John Taylor (Capacity Building Specialist, CIDA/UNDP); Andy Lynch (Counseling Services, Vanuatu); Josie Karanga (Facilitator, Te Korowai, Aroha, Aotearoa); Colleen Taylor (Facilitator); Joseph Ogaie (Management Working Group Convener, PNG); Gregor McNish (Raporteur, Information Technology Specialist, CUSO); Theresa Bagnall (Raporteur, Pacific Program Coordinator, CUSO); Margaret and Gilles Kaboha (OMEGA Translations, Vila); Ashley Karae (Finance and Administration Coordinator, PIANGO Secretariat).

As Coordinator of PIANGO Secretariat, I would also like to pay tribute to all families here and abroad who have sacrificed themselves to help PIANGO gain momentum as a Movement within our Pacific Region. I thank my family for their untiring support throughout. Finally and above all, as the Pacific Islands Association of Non - Government Organizations' Coordinator, I thank the Almighty God for making everything possible.

ASSESSMENT OF PIANGO SECRETARIAT

Following the PIANGO Council and under the leadership of the new Chair, Mrs. Hana Tukukino, a decision was made for an assessment of the PIANGO Secretariat which is to take place from September 8-10, 1999. The main objective of having this assessment was to work with the Secretariat staff to identify strengths and weaknesses and see how the Secretariat can be strenthened to accommodate the resolutions and recommendations from the 3rd GO Strategic PlanningWorkshop / Council. The Assessment team included Mrs. Jenny Thompson (Executive Director, Te Korowai Aroha), Mrs. Suliana Siwatibau, and PIANGO Secretariat Staff. According to specifications in the TOR, particular attention would be paid to: "background and business direction; key issues and SWOT analysis; planning and development needs; operational and structural needs; financial information systems; organisation and human resource management needs and; quality management systems".

PIANGO INCREASES MEMBERSHIP

The 3rd PIANGO Council saw the admission FANGO (as a full member) and Guam, Niue, Palau and West Papua as Interim members. FANGO is the Federated States of Micronesia Association of NGOs. The FANGO Coordinating Group consists of the following NGOs: FSM Women Association Network; Chuuk Women's Advisory Council; Elin Youth Organization; Niemeres Women Organization; Truk Women's Club; Lien Pohnpei Club; Kosrae Girls Scouts; and Micronesian Seminar. Further informatin can be obtained from Tina Takashy at: P.O Box PS 78, Palikir, Pohnpei, FM 96941, Phone: (691) 320-5133-5379, Fax: (691) 320-5854

PIANGO INTERIM MEMBER PROFILE

PALAU COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY (PCAA)

Address: P.O Box 3000, Koror, Palau 96940, Malakal, Koror, Palau Tel: 680 488 1170, Fax: 680 488 1169, E-mail: iesl@palaunet.com
Languages: Palauan, English
Personnel:
Executive Director - Dorotheo Nagata (Tel: 680 488 2514)
Informal Employment - Robert V. Bishop (Tel: 680 488 4909)
Approach to Development: PCAA works together with the people to identify their needs and then mobilize resources to meet these needs. PCAA uses participatory learning and action coupled with community organizers in each state.
Target Groups: Women, Youth, rural residents
Activity Types: Agriculture, Commmunity Development, Disaster relief, Economy, Education, Employment, Enivironment, Food Supply, Forestry, Health, Industry, Population, Project Design/Management, Small business, Tourism, Women and gender
Current Activities: Informal employment and sustainable livelihoods; personal/family services; multi-media; Headstart (preschool); childcare; small business; renewable resources; village improvement.

(Source: Pacific Development Directory, Development Resource Center)

PCRC GRANTED UN SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE STATUS

The Suva based Pacific Concerns REsource Center (PCRC) has been granted Special Consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Director Lopeti Senituli says PCRC will now designate offical representative to the UN headquarters in New York and the UNis offices in Geneva and Vienna. "This is a major achievement as PCrC is the first Non government Orgnisation (NGO) from the pacific to be granted Special Consultaive status by the United Nations. WE will now work to encourage and assist other (NGOs) from the region to seek similar status," Senituli said.

(Source: Courtesy of Pacnews)

PIANGO extend its congratulations to Mr. Senituli and PCRC staff for a job well-done!

Auckland Institute of Technology and PIANGO collaborate to run NGO Leadership and Management Workshop
(November 29 - December 3 1999), Suva, Fiji

Delegates to the recent PIANGO Council meeting have directed the organisation to facilitate opportunities for NGO leaders to enhance their capacity to understand, adapt, and respond effectively to the many forces transforming Pacific societies. The initiative for running the NGO Leadership and Management workshop is spearheaded by the Management Working Group of PIANGO in collarboration with Auckland Institute of Technology, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The PIANGO Secretariat has been inviting expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates to participate in a five-day intensive workshop to discuss relevant leadership and management issues. The workshop includes a prerequisite course for the Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management programme ("Culture and Values") offered by UNITEC Institute of Technology (Auckland, New Zealand). This three-day course explores the values of the NGO sector and seeks to define the management principles and practices consistent with those values. During the last two days of the workshop, participants will be asked to reflect on the relevance of this course in light of the needs of NGO leaders in the region and assist in developing a comprehensive training strategy for the future. This will include identifying priority learning needs and appropriate planning and delivery processes.

click here for more on the above.

PIANGO TO BE REPRESENTED AT THE ALTERNATIVE TO APEC AGENDA CONFERENCE
(11-12 SEPTEMBER 1999), AUCKLAND, AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND

PIANGO has been invited and will be represented at the Alternative to the APEC Agenda Conference to be held in Auckland, New Zealand from 11-12 September 1999. The Alternatives to the APEC Agenda Conference is expected to have a strong domestic focus on the impact of the free trade and investment, free market model on Aotearoa/New Zealand and the Pacific. It will draw links between this form of "development", colonisation, and the extreme market reforms which successive government s have implemented. The process of globalization is generating shifting patterns of poverty and insecurity both within and between countries in the Pacific. As legitimate players in the development arena, NGOs can act as a countervailing force to the expanding influence of markets and the declining authority of governments. A strong and united civil society (or NGO sector as it is referred to in the Pacific) provides a means by which citizens are represented in relation to the state and the market. The main objectives of having PIANGO representation at this conference have been to: share experiences and knowledge and looking at the implications surrounding APEC; explore alternatives to the APEC Agenda; offer support and encourage solidarity amongst Civil Society ; assist in developing strategies to deal with such global economic trends; produce a report and share information with other members of PIANGO, affiliates, regional and International organizations within the Pacific region. PIANGO's participation in this conference is a further step towards assisting NGOs within the Pacific region to be more effective and thus increase their contribution to their respective constituencies, both local, national, regional and in the international arena.

Representative Profiles:

  • PIANGO will be represented at the conference by Mr. Aisake Casimira from the Fiji Council of Churches (FCC) Research Group, based in Suva, Fiji. The FCC-Research Group was founded in response to the Fiji's constitutional crisis and the introduction of structural adjustment policies in mid to the late 1980s. It is an arm of the Fiji Council of Churches but its focus is more on research, responding and advocating on social, political and economic issues that affect our people. It looks at these issues from a Christian perspective. The FCC Research Group is currently doing research and advocacy work on globalization, neo-liberal economic policies and the preparation of the Fiji national budget)
  • Mr. John Salong from Vanuatu will accompany Mr. Casimira to the conference. Mr. Salong has been involved in numerous discussions with the PIANGO Economic Working Group especially on issues affecting the Pacific region. Mr. Salong who is currently completing a Masters Degree in Australia is founder of IDEAS (Industrial Development and Economic Alternatives for SANMA), a locally-grown NGO whose aim has been to encourage citizens of Vanuatu to explore and utilize local economic systems that are more user-friendly rather than become prisoner to the global economic system.

(PIANGO's participation at the Conference is supported financially through funding from Community Aid Abroad (CAA))

to conference report.

8th Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) Conference
Arue, Tahiti, 19-25 September 1999

The 8th Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) Conference will be held between 19-25 September 1999. The conference will be hosted by Tavini Huiraatira no Te Ao Maohi and will be held at the Evangelical Church Centre in Arue, Tahiti.

The theme of the conference is:

"No Te Parau Tia, No Te Parau Mau, No Te Tiamaraa - E Tu...E Tu..."
"For Justice, for truth and for independence - Wake Up Stand Up"

(PIANGO was invited and will be represented at the Conference through funding sourced through PCRC.)

PAPE'ETE, August 27
(PINA Nius Online)

A court here found the French State guilty of not maintaining public order during the 1995 nuclear-related riots and imposed a 204 million French Pacific Francs -CFP- (two million US dollars), RFO-radio reports here on Friday. In 1995, riots related to the resumption of nuclear tests in French Polynesian atolls of Mururoa and Fagataufa caused major damage in the French Teritorry capital of Pape'ete. The riots started with a blockade of Pape'ete's international airport of Faa'a. Shops and offices downtown were later destroyed and looted. The tests stopped early 1996 and their base, the military Centre d'Expérimentations de Polynésie (CEP, Polynesian Experimentation Center), has since been dismantled. Pape'ete's administrative tribunal ruled that in the view of damage sustained during the riots by businesses in downtown Pape''te, they should be compensated, and that the State, which guarantees maintainance of law and order at all times, on this occasion failed and therefore was to be held responsible.

 
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