1. Islands

Category Archives: Islands

Northern Mariana Islands and Guam Begin Regulating Social Work, Adopt ASWB Licensing Exam

Posted on by

(PRWEB) September 30, 2014

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the Territory of Guam have joined the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) in order to administer the ASWB social work licensing exam as part of adopting new regulations for the social work profession. This is the first time that social workers will be regulated and licensed in these jurisdictions. The board of directors for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the nonprofit association of social work regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Canada that owns and maintains the licensing exams, accepted the application of both U.S. jurisdictions by unanimous vote.

We are pleased to welcome the Health Care Professions Licensing Board of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Guam Board of Social Work of the Territory of Guam as members of ASWB, said ASWB President Dorinda N. Noble, Ph.D., LCSW. Professional regulation protects the public by ensuring that consumers have an avenue of recourse if practitioners step outside the boundaries of the rules, regulations, and ethics that guide our profession. The ASWB social work licensing exam ensures that social work professionals demonstrate their ability to practice competently and safely before becoming licensed.

The Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of Guam form the Mariana Islands in the Pacific subregion of Micronesia.

Northern Mariana Islands The Health Care Professions Licensing Board (HCPLB) of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands includes the regulation of the profession of social work. The board recently adopted regulations for licensing baccalaureate, masters, and clinical social workers.

CNMI is a commonwealth of the United States, ratified in 1975. It is a 14-island archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. The population of approximately 53,000 (2013) lives predominantly on the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Territory of Guam The Guam Social Work Board of the Territory of Guam is an independent regulatory agency with the authority to license and regulate the profession of social work in Guam. The board is in the process of developing regulations for the licensure of social workers at the baccalaureate, masters, and clinical levels.

Guam became a U.S. territory in 1898. Its current form of government was established in 1950. The island of Guam is the southernmost and largest of the Mariana island chain. It is also the largest island in Micronesia. The population in 2013 was approximately 165,000.

About ASWB

The Association of Social Work Boards is the nonprofit association of social work regulatory bodies in the United States and Canada. In addition to Guam and Northern Mariana Islands, ASWB member jurisdictions include 49 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and all ten Canadian provinces. The association owns and maintains the licensing examinations used by its jurisdictional members and also provides services to members and social workers, such as the Approved Continuing Education program, the ASWB Social Work Registry, and the Public Protection Database. ASWBs mission is to strengthen protection of the public by providing support and services to the social work regulatory community in order to advance safe, competent, and ethical practices. Visit http://www.aswb.org for more information.

Go here to see the original:

Northern Mariana Islands and Guam Begin Regulating Social Work, Adopt ASWB Licensing Exam

Channel Islands Beach Bathroom Specialists call Shafran 805 421 4333 – Video

Posted on by


Channel Islands Beach Bathroom Specialists call Shafran 805 421 4333
Bathroom Professionals Call Shafran 805-421-4333 Shafran Construction FREE Estimates! 805-421-4333 Corporate office: 21550 Oxnard St Third Floor, Suite 46 Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (818) 855-9330...

By: Paul Hernandez

Read the original:

Channel Islands Beach Bathroom Specialists call Shafran 805 421 4333 - Video

Cruises to disputed islands offer bland food, gray views and a chance to press China's claims

Posted on by

In this Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Zhang Jing, a police officer poses with a Chinese national flag on the Quanfu island, a Paracels of Sansha prefecture of China's Hainan province. This is the southern frontier of China, Zhang said when he had reached one of the islands. As a Chinese, I feel proud to come here and declare sovereignty. (AP Photo/Peng Peng)(The Associated Press)

In this Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Chinese tourists take souvenir photos with Chinese national flag as they visit to Quanfu island, a Paracels of Sansha prefecture of China's Hainan province. A cheer erupted on board at the sight of the distant land, and passengers scurried to take pictures of each other at the railing holding Chinas bright red flag. (AP Photo/Peng Peng)(The Associated Press)

In this Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Chinese tourists disembark from an inflatable boat upon arrival in Quanfu island, a Paracels of Sansha prefecture of China's Hainan province. They had each waited months for permission to join the tour and then spent from $1,200 to about $2,000 to visit these barren patches of sand in the South China Sea, making do with the bland cabbage and noodles on board and blackouts of cellphone service. (AP Photo/Peng Peng)(The Associated Press)

In this Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Chinese fisherman Fan Qiusheng chats with a woman outside his wood-and-tarp shack on the Yingyu island, a Paracels of Sansha prefecture of China's Hainan province. Fan was waiting for tourists on the beach of Yingyu island outside the wood-and-tarp shack where he lives nine months of the year. He said the central government pays him 1,350 yuan, or about $220, a month to stay put while providing him with food, water, electricity and other supplies. (AP Photo/Peng Peng)(The Associated Press)

In this Sept. 14, 2014 photo, a Chinese navy frigate cruise near the paracel islands of Sansha prefecture of China's Hainan province. A cheer erupted on board at the sight of the distant land, and the other passengers scurried to take pictures of each other at the railing holding Chinas bright red flag. A few miles away, a Chinese navy frigate cruised by silently, part of the countrys continuing watch over the tiny islands it has long claimed as part of its territory. (AP Photo/Peng Peng)(The Associated Press)

ABOARD THE COCONUT PRINCESS Zhang Jing watched the gray shells of the Paracel Islands emerge from the purple, pre-dawn South China Sea. Here was the focal point of a cruise more about politics than pleasure.

Cheers erupted on board at the sight of the distant land, and Zhang and the other passengers scurried to take pictures of each other at the railing holding China's bright red flag. A few miles away, a Chinese navy frigate cruised by silently, part of the country's continuing watch over the tiny islands it has long claimed as part of its territory.

"This is the southern frontier of China," Zhang, a policeman, said when he had reached one of the islands. "As a Chinese, I feel proud to come here and declare sovereignty."

With the Tangshan resident and 167 other Chinese tourists on board, the ship had traveled more than 200 miles south of Hainan Island off China's southern coast to what they said was an indisputable outpost of their country.

Each had waited months for permission to join the five-day tour, and spent from $1,200 to about $2,000 to visit these barren patches of sand, making do with the bland cabbage and noodles on board and blackouts of cellphone service.

Link:

Cruises to disputed islands offer bland food, gray views and a chance to press China's claims

Christmas and Cocos Islands Australian colonies in all but name

Posted on by

Jon Stanhope: the outgoing administrator of Christmas Island. Photo: Tony McDonoough

As administrator of Christmas and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands I have confronted human rights and other issues that render those that Australians dwell on in Canberra and elsewhere on the mainland as mere frippery.

Christmas and the Cocos Islands are very different to the rest of Australia. Not only are they geographically part of Asia, their history culture and people are mainly Asian. People of Chinese and Malaysian heritage constitute about 70percent of the population. The main religions are Islam, Buddhism and Taoism. There areone Christian church, three mosques and 16 Chinese temples. Up to a third of the resident population do not speak English either at all or with fluency. The most common language on Christmas Island is Mandarin, and on Cocos Island, Malay. On Cocos Island, English is rarely spoken by people of Malay heritage (about80 percent of the Cocos population) in the home.

The territories are incorporated into the Northern Territory for federal electoral purposes but federal members play no part in the administration of the territories and rarely, if ever, visit. Most residents regard their incorporation into the Northern Territory as tokenistic.

There are no democratic arrangements in place for state type purposes. Most services are delivered by Western Australian agencies under contracts with the Commonwealth. There is no input into the content of the contracts by residents of the territories, nor are the service delivery agreements under which the services are made publicly available. There are no annual reports, , on any services delivered or monies spent in the territories.

Advertisement

All policy and budget decisions are made by federal public servants based in Canberra and Perth. Residents are not consulted about expenditure priorities. No draft budget is prepared and there is noestimates process.

There are no effective consultative mechanisms in place engagement of the local communities in policy development or resource allocation. There are massive gaps in services in areas like aged care, mental health and public health. Land management, economic development, waste disposal, environmental protection and community and social infrastructure is poor.

Despite having lived on Christmas Island for two years, it still comes as a surprise to me that in the 21st century, there are still Australian citizens who are denied the most fundamental right the right to be involved in the civil and political life of their community.

The territories were administered from the colony of Singapore prior to its independence. At that time, the two territories were hived off from Singapore and accepted by Australia.Before1958, Christmas Island, along with the Cocos Islands,reported on by Britain to the United Nations. It was consistent with article 73 (e) of the United Nations Charter, on the basis that Britain accepted that the territories were non-self-governing territories (otherwise known as colonies) within the terms of chapter XI of the charter.

See the original post:

Christmas and Cocos Islands Australian colonies in all but name

Ugly traffic islands prompt call for action

Posted on by

Sept. 30, 2014, 9:10 p.m.

A BALLARAT resident is calling for two asphalted traffic islands in the heart of the city to be grassed.

Unsympathetic to heritage: Ballarat resident Brian Pola at the unsightly traffic islands. PICTURE: ADAM TRAFFORD

A BALLARAT resident is calling for two asphalted traffic islands in the heart of the city to be grassed.

Ballarat resident Brian Pola dubbed the asphalted traffic islands, situated in front of a heritage-listed 1860s cottage in Armstrong Street South, as unsightly.

The council recently cut four holes into the asphalted islands to plant trees, but Mr Pola said it would have been easier and less expensive to completely remove the asphalt and grass the area entirely.

He brought the matter to the council chambers at last Wednesdays council meeting and urged councillors to take immediate action to enhance the south end of the iconic street.

His presentation to councillors was met with applause from other residents in the chamber.

There is no reason why this area couldnt have been grassed, Mr Pola said. It is uninviting and doesnt add to the appeal of the residential heritage precinct and fails to meet the greenery and beautification aspirations of the city.

Mr Pola said the Melbourne City Council was already leading the way in beautifying Melbournes CBD through methods including grassing traffic islands.

Originally posted here:

Ugly traffic islands prompt call for action

Bay of Islands SmartBay buoy to help boaters of all sorts

Posted on by

Submitted photo

The SmartBay buoy being launched in the outer Bay of Islands in early September.

Those who head out on the waters of the outer Bay of Islands can do so in a little smarter fashion these days.

Earlier this month, following consultations ACAP Humber Arm held with local user groups in 2011, the Marine Institute expanded its SmartBay project to the Bay of Islands.

The SmartBay project involves setting up specialized buoys in strategic locations to help improve the safety and knowledge of local users. The SmartBay buoys provide a wide range of data concerning conditions at the site, such as air and water temperatures, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, wave height and other sea state information.

The buoys are also equipped with Aids to Navigation Information Systems, allowing direct transmittal of the buoys data to nearby vessels via the Internet.

The Bay of Islands buoy began providing data after it was launched just west of Woods Island in the outer Bay of Islands Sept. 10. Since the first SmartBay buoy launched inPlacentia Bay in 2006, similar buoys have been set up near the mouth of Channel-Port aux Basques, as well as in the Bay of Exploits near New World Island and near Cape Spear just outside of St. Johns Harbour in the past year. The buoys will be taken up for the winter when ice conditions warrant it.

Brian Brewer of Corner Brook is an avid sailor. He has yet to have a chance to put the navigational help offered by the buoy in the Bay of Islands to practical use, but will be checking it out next summer. Thats when he plans to sail his late father Gordon Brewers sailboat from Baddeck, N.S. across the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the marina in the Humber Arm.

Sailing anything, just knowing that buoy is there would be a benefit to anybody planning any sort of recreational boating in the outer bay, said Brewer. Its nice to know what conditions are there and how to plan for a trip.

The sea conditions inside the sheltered bay, noted Brewer, is often drastically different from what its like in the outer Bay of Islands.

More here:

Bay of Islands SmartBay buoy to help boaters of all sorts

Smart buoys to improve safety, knowledge in Bay of Islands

Posted on by

Those who head out on the waters of the outer Bay of Islands can do so in a little smarter fashion these days.

The SmartBay buoy being launched in the outer Bay of Islands in early September. Submitted photo

Earlier this month, following consultations ACAP Humber Arm held with local user groups in 2011, the Marine Institute expanded its SmartBay project to the Bay of Islands.

The SmartBay project involves setting up specialized buoys in strategic locations to help improve the safety and knowledge of local users. The SmartBay buoys provide a wide range of data concerning conditions at the site, such as air and water temperatures, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, wave height and other sea state information.

The buoys are also equipped with Aids to Navigation Information Systems, allowing direct transmittal of the buoys data to nearby vessels via the Internet.

The Bay of Islands buoy began providing data after it was launched just west of Woods Island in the outer Bay of Islands Sept. 10. Since the first SmartBay buoy launched in Placentia Bay in 2006, similar buoys have been set up near the mouth of Channel-Port aux Basques, as we all as in the Bay of Exploits near New World Island and near Cape Spear just outside of St. Johns Harbour in the past year.

Brian Brewer of Corner Brook is an avid sailor. He has yet to have a chance to put the navigational help offered by the buoy in the Bay of Islands to practical use, but will be checking it out next summer. Thats when he plans to sail his late father Gordon Brewers sailboat from Baddeck, N.S., across the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the marina in the Humber Arm.

Sailing anything, just knowing that buoy is there would be a benefit to anybody planning any sort of recreational boating in the outer bay, said Brewer. Its nice to know what conditions are there and how to plan for a trip.

The sea conditions inside the sheltered bay, noted Brewer, is often drastically different from what its like in the outer Bay of Islands.

It is likely, said Brewer, that boaters will need a signal booster to access the Internet and the buoy information while on the water, where the signal is relatively weak.

Read the original:

Smart buoys to improve safety, knowledge in Bay of Islands

Minecraft: Darkshard Islands Ep .1 – ADVENTURE STARTS! w/Jassen & RowDe – Video

Posted on by


Minecraft: Darkshard Islands Ep .1 - ADVENTURE STARTS! w/Jassen RowDe
Leave a LIKE For Darkshard! 😀 Become A Myt Bow - http://bit.ly/subjassen Our goal while playing Darkshard Islands is to find lost pages in dungeons, and bring them back in order to unlock...

By: JassenBowGaming

Follow this link:

Minecraft: Darkshard Islands Ep .1 - ADVENTURE STARTS! w/Jassen & RowDe - Video


  1. Islands