Local Solomon Star Journalist wins ADBI Award

Two Pacific journalists who took part in this this year's Development Asia Journalism Award have both scooped awards in the Climate Change Adaptation category.

Solomon Star journalist Moffat Mamu received the winning award, while Fiji's Samasoni Pareti got the second runners up award.

The trophy and certificates were awarded by the Asian Development Bank Institute, a sister organisation of the Asian Development Bank.

The competition organised annually by ABDI aims to recognise print journalists who have contributed to four issues relating to Poverty, Infrastructure Development, the Impacts of the current Global Financial Crisis and Climate Change Adaptation.

It was the first time Solomon Islands participated in the competition since its inception five years ago.

Both Mamu and Pareti traveled to Tokyo to receive their awards on Friday.

Their winning articles talked about the impacts of climate change in Solomon Islands, Fiji and the region, in relation to sea level rise.

Source: SIBC

North Malaita Students Association at USP elect new executive for 2010

The North Malaita Students Association (NMSA) at USP's Laucala Campus in Suva has elected a new executive to lead the group in 2010.

In a general meeting held at the Orange Lounge on Sunday 18th October, the following students have been elected to lead NMSA over the next term.

- President: Brian Mangi
- Vice-president: Ruth Maealatha
- Treasurer: June Atomea
- Secretary: Joe Kelesi
- Fundraising Chairpersons: John Buata & Elton Etega
- Social Welfare: Peter Danitofea & Ruth Ramo
- Cultural Leaders: Barbra Akao & Ken Finnet
- Education Chairperson: Jones Otafalu

The official handover and final get-to-gether is scheduled for this Saturday where graduating students will also be farewelled.

TARD founding member selected for Emerging Pacific Leaders Dialogue 2010

A TARD founding member, Mr Exsley Taloiburi who hails from North Malaita, has been selected as one of the representatives from Solomon Islands to participate in the second Emerging Pacific Leaders Dialogue (EPLD) scheduled to take place from 11th to 23rd March 2010 - opening in Samoa and closing in Tonga.

Mr Taloiburi holds two Masters Degrees – a Master of Environmental Management from the University of Tasmania in Australia and a Master of Science in Marine Science from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. He has also been instrumental in voluntary community development work in North Malaita through TARD since 2006.

Core of the EPLD 2010 program involves ten study tours to ten separate locations throughout the Pacific region, each of one week duration.

The Emerging Pacific Leaders Dialogue (EPLD) 2010 is an event of national and regional significance and is designed to inspire and uplift individuals with proven leadership experience or potential to contribute to leadership and governance in the Pacific Region, the long-term development and stability of the region, and promote regional understanding and cooperation.

The program will focus on a number of areas of strategic significance including economic growth; regional co-operation and infrastructure; governance and leadership; security, stability and strengthening communities; climate and environment; industry education and health.

EPLD was initiated by the highly respected and long-established Commonwealth Study Conference (CSC) organisations and CSC alumni in Australia, New Zealand and across the Pacific with the inaugural EPLD 2006 opening in Brisbane and closing in Auckland with 10 study tour locations around the Pacific including Solomon Islands.

EPLD 2010 is sponsored by government agencies and private sectors across the Pacific, particularly the Australian Government.

Participants will come from Australia, Cook Islands, East Timor, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The local EPLD 2010 organizing committee includes Mr Paul Tovua (chairman), Mr Priestley Habru (EPLD 2006 alumni), and Mr Desmond Nimepo (CSC alumni 2007).

In total, more than 600 applications had been received for this second pacific region leadership conference via the EPLD website on line application system.

TARD supports North Malaita Sports League

The To’abaita Authority for Research and Development (TARD) student volunteer group provided more than four thousand dollars ($4,038.50) yesterday to help complete the 2009 North Malaita Soccer and Netball League at Malu’u.

According to TARD Project Coordinator Mr Exsley Taloiburi, the funds were transferred to the Malu’u Football League Chairman Jimmy Tonowane in response to a proposal submitted to TARD by the league committee.

Taloiburi says the funds are intended to support the league committee with the administration and prizes for soccer and netball league.

The 2009 sports league at Malu’u which is a voluntary initiative by the North Malaita Sports Association was started early this year, but had to be placed on hold due to the recent Malaita Cup in Auki and lack of financial support.

Mr Taloiburi adds that it is TARD’s desire that its latest financial support will enable the league committee to revive the league games, which in turn will engage the rural youths of North Malaita in sports rather than resorting to illegal activities.

With the latest funding support, the sports league is now expected to be completed by late November.

TARD has been very instrumental in organising Christmas Games and sports coaching workshop for North Malaita youths over the last four years since 2006. Recently, the student group supported the North Malaita School Sports Carnival held in September at Walo School. In December, TARD will also organise the 2009 North Malaita Christmas Games, a sporting initiative in its fourth consecutive year.

Mr Taloiburi says all of these activities were made possible through generous project funding from the Australian Government under the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) 2008-2009 projects.

Ragomo earns Goldenboot award in Libya

Solomon Island futsal sensation Elliot Ragomo, 19, has been awarded top goal scorer at the 2009 Al-Fateh Confederation Cup – a tournament featuring some of the best futsal players in the world.

Staged in Libya from 6-12 October, the competition featured the champion teams of each confederation barring UEFA after Spain withdrew at late notice.

Ragomo finished with six goals to claim the golden boot award despite the Solomon Island Kurukuru finishing last behind Iran, Uruguay, Libya and Guatemala.

The skillful striker has been an inspirational captain of the youthful national side, leading the Kurukuru to their second successive victory at the OFC Futsal Championship in July 2009.

He has won many accolades including most recently the Young Solomon Islander of the Year award in August.

Ragomo was the first ever Solomon Islander to play futsal as a professional when he played for Playas De Castellyon in the Nacinal Futsal Liga in Spain in 2007. He graduated from the Playas De Castellyon juvenile development squad in 2006 to make his name in their senior squad.

As national captain he led the Kurukuru in 2008 as they became the first Solomon Islands team to appear at a FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Domestically, Ragomo plays for the Brissolona Futsal Club and with Central Titans in the Honiara Beach Soccer League.

Source: PF Net

Solomon Islands rated 135th best place to live in the world

Solomon Islands is the 135th most desirable place to live in the world, according to an annual report by the United Nations.

In the Pacific, Australia ranked 2nd, New Zealand rated 20th, Samoa 94th, Tonga 99th, Fiji stood at 106th, Vanuatu (126th), Solomon Islands at 135th, and Papua New Guinea rated 148th.

According to the UN human development index, Norway is the best place in the world to live while Niger is the least desirable at 182.

The index shows that life expectancy in Solomon Islands was 65.8 years while the adult literacy rate was 76.6 percent.

Afghanistan was regarded the second least desirable place to live, just below Sierra Leone in third from bottom place.

The 182 countries were ranked according to the quality of life their citizens experienced.

Criteria examined included life expectancy, literacy rates, school enrolment and country economies.

The report used data collected in 2007.

Of the larger economies in the world, the United States is rated as the 13th most desirable place to live, while the UK takes the 21st spot.

The index rates countries listed between 1 and 38 as having “very high human development” and 84-158 with “medium human development”.

Source: UNDP

Hapilyn Iro adds two Silver medals to Solomons tally in Cook Islands

Solomon Islands young weightlifter Hapilyn Iro has added two Silver medals to Team Solomons overall tally at the Cook Islands Mini Games yesterday.

Hapilyn's two Silver medals have taken the overall tally for Team Solomons to 10 medals comprising 3 Gold, 6 Silver and 1 Bronze.

Hapilyn collected Silver in the Women's 69kg Clean & Jerk by lifting 82kg and another Silver in the Women's 69kg Snatch with a lift of 65kg.

Gold was won by Tauimani Ah Kuoi of Samoa and Raijeli Tagua of Fiji settled for bronze.