1. Islands

Category Archives: Islands

Highway 93 islands to be paved over

Posted on by

STEVENSVILLE They were designed to be islands of green to break up the four lanes of black that would cut through the Bitterroot Valley from Lolo to Hamilton.

The idea of adding trees and shrubs to beautify roadway islands came directly from members of the communities along U.S. Highway 93 who stepped forward 20 years ago to help plan the travel route.

We wanted to add safety and enjoyment and some beauty to that big black roadway that looked like an airport landing zone, remembered Jean Atthowe of Stevensville. The islands were designed to help mitigate the four-lane highway that was ramming its way through this beautiful valley.

Now county and state officials say that experiment has failed on all of the highways islands, save those in Victor.

They say that its too dangerous to have volunteers cross the busy highway for maintenance and theres no funding in government coffers to cover the cost. On top of that, many of the original plantings have succumbed to the deicer used on the highway each winter.

The islands have become a bit unsightly, said Ed Toavs, the Montana Department of Transportations Missoula district administrator. They are not in the best shape at this time. There are weeds as high as two or three feet on some of the islands.

So in June, a contractor will begin capping all the highway islands at Lolo, Florence, Stevensville, Woodside and Hamilton with colored concrete.

Before that happens, county workers are removing the remaining live trees and shrubs and replanting along the roadway.

MDT will pay about $430,000 out of its maintenance budget to complete the work.

Earlier this week, the Ravalli County commissioners heard from community members discouraged with the decision.

Read more here:

Highway 93 islands to be paved over

Fitch Affirms Virgin Islands WAPA Sr Lien Bonds at 'BB' / Sub Lien Bonds at 'BB-'

Posted on by

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the following ratings for the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA):

--$156,550,000 electric system revenue bonds, series 2003, 2010A, 2010B, 2010C, 2012A at 'BB';

--$109,340,000 electric system subordinated revenue bonds, series 2007A, 2012B, 2012C at 'BB-'.

The Rating Outlook on all bonds is Negative.

SECURITY

The electric system revenue bonds are secured by a pledge of net electric revenues and certain other funds established under the bond resolution. The electric system subordinated revenue bonds are secured by a pledge of net revenues that are subordinate to the pledge securing the electric system revenue bonds.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

WEAKENED FINANCIAL METRICS: WAPA's financial metrics have deteriorated in recent years to speculative-grade levels reflecting escalating fuel prices, delays in cost recovery, higher receivables and increased reliance on short-term debt financing. Fitch-calculated debt service coverage has remained below 1.0x since fiscal 2010 and the ability to meet financial targets remains uncertain.

INADEQUATE AND REGULATED COST RECOVERY MECHANISMS: The authority's electric rates are regulated by the Virgin Islands Public Service Commission (PSC), which has authorized cost recovery through both base rates and a levelized energy adjustment clause (LEAC) for fuel and other related costs. Although the PSC been reasonably responsive to requests for cost recovery in recent years, delays inherent in both the regulatory process and the recovery mechanism impair liquidity and limit financial flexibility.

Read the original here:

Fitch Affirms Virgin Islands WAPA Sr Lien Bonds at 'BB' / Sub Lien Bonds at 'BB-'

Providing a second chance for Solomon Islands youth though training and work – Video

Posted on by


Providing a second chance for Solomon Islands youth though training and work
Like many youth in the Solomon Islands, Fabian left his village for the capital Honiara in the hope to find a job and improve his family #39;s life. Unable to fi...

By: The World Bank

See the original post here:

Providing a second chance for Solomon Islands youth though training and work - Video

2nd MetaMan triathlon to be held in Riau Islands

Posted on by

With its lovely beaches, strategic location, and numerous tourism spots scattered all over the island, Bintan in Riau Islands province has always been one of the stars of Indonesia's tourism industry.

Those are the reasons why renowned sport management company MetaSport chooses to hold its MetaMan long-distance triathlon in the island on Aug. 31.

We have several other locations in Asia Pacific in our mind. In the end, we chose Bintan because many triathletes wish for a reachable venue right in the middle of everything, MetaSport managing director Nathalie Marquet told a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Natalie also cited excellent support from the Riau Islands administration, good infrastructure, and scenic terrain as reasons.

Bintan is located near Batam island. It is just an hour's ferry-ride from Singapore's Tanah Merah ferry terminal or an 80-minute flight away from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

The event itself is held at the Nirwana Gardens Resort, located in Bintan's upscale resort area Lagoi and only 10-minute shuttle ride away from the Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal.

This year's MetaMan Bintan long-distance triathlon is the second time it is held under collaboration between MetaSport, Bintan Resorts International and Bintan Tourism Board.

Around 500 world-class athletes, triathlon enthusiasts, and travelers from 35 countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, Italy, Japan and host country Indonesia are expected to take part in the event.

The MetaMan Bintan 2013 will have two race distances, from which participants can choose. The first is a full iron distance (3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of biking and 42.2 kilometers of running), and the other a half-iron distance (1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike and 21.1-kilometer run).

The event will offer a total of US$154,000 in prizes, comprising of US$142,000 for full iron distance winners and US$12,000 for the half-iron distance winners.

See original here:

2nd MetaMan triathlon to be held in Riau Islands

Red Cross continues to ease crisis in Marshall Islands

Posted on by

Three New Zealand Red Cross aid workers have returned from the remote Marshall Islands after responding in mid-May to a severe drought.

During their time on the outer islands of Ailuk, Enerjeral and Ollet, the team used reverse osmosis desalination units to produce 12,630 litres of water, leaving behind a machine capable of making another 4000 litres of fresh water a day.

Another Red Cross aid worker remains in the Marshalls, and is due on remote Ailuk Island tomorrow to restock fuel, check solar panels and oversee on-going water production.

The Red Cross mission is being supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The tiny Pacific nation has declared a state of national disaster due to a severe drought, which has seen up to 6400 people across 15 atolls surviving on less than a litre of water per person per day. A further 11,000 people have been affected by crop loss.

One of the three returning aid workers, water engineer Ana Zarkovic of Auckland, says when the team arrived the situation was reaching crisis point.

"Some people were using coconut water or the limited fresh water for drinking and the salty water for cooking. They were incredibly resourceful and resilient but were running out of resources.

"The community was overwhelmingly grateful and we were thanked a number of times by the mayor, church ministers, the police, and other local people. It was such a good feeling to be able to help," she says.

While in the Marshalls the team also developed hygiene and water usage plans in consultation with local communities.

New Zealands commitment to the Marshall Islands is likely to continue for the next few months.

Originally posted here:

Red Cross continues to ease crisis in Marshall Islands

Solomon Islands Commissions Solar Home Systems Project

Posted on by

Solomon Islands Commissions Solar Home Systems Project

With kerosene, diesel and coconut shells as sources of lighting for their homes, the residents of Kiu village on the island of Malaita in Solomon Islands were truly emotional when celebrating the completed installation of 180 solar home systems during the official commissioning of the Rural Electrification Via Solar Homes Systems in the Solomon Islands Project.

The Kiu community are the first recipients of the US$3.99 million, which involves the installation of 2,000 solar home systems that will provide significant benefits to rural areas and outer islands in the eight provinces around Solomon Islands who will now have access to power for lighting and basic electrical appliances.

The project, developed and implemented by the Government of Solomon Islands, is funded through the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund, contributed by the Government of Japan and administered by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

While speaking at the commissioning event, the PEC Fund Project Manager, Mr Jonathan Mitchell commended the efforts of the Government of Solomon Islands and the implementers of the project on the significant progress made to deliver the solar home systems to the outer islands.

With the installation of the first set of solar home systems in the community of Kiu now completed, we hope that the households who have received the solar home systems will take full advantage of the benefits that the systems will provide and we look forward to the installation of the remaining systems around Solomon Islands, said Mr Mitchell.

Kiu villager, Mrs Susan Taonarihu noted the positive impacts that the project has had on households in the area, Before having this solar system, I used coconut shells, kerosene and diesel to provide lighting in our house. Now, I am able to focus on my childrens education- our kids will now be able to study at night and we will have more time for our family prayers. With an excited tone, she added, I am also now able to charge my mobile phone at my own home without going to the neighbors who have generators, which costs me $10 each time I charge my phone and I would also be able to weave and make baskets at night now.

Deputy Director for the Solomon Islands Energy Department, Mr Gabriel Aimaea noted the significance of the project to Solomon Islands and expressed appreciation and gratitude of the region to the Government and people of Japan for the provision of the PEC Fund.

Solomon Islands currently has one of the lowest levels of access to electricity in the region, with over 85% of the population of Solomon Islands still without access to electricity and for this project alone, we received over 6,000 applications to obtain only 2,000 solar home systems, said Mr Aimaea.

He further added that the contribution provided through the PEC Fund is greatly assisting efforts by the Government of Solomon Islands in working towards its policy of increasing and developing sources of renewable energy to support the development of growth centers and rural economic communities.

Continue reading here:

Solomon Islands Commissions Solar Home Systems Project

Mediterranean Palace Tenerife Canary islands Spain sat 30 mar 2013 George Godley 00312 – Video

Posted on by


Mediterranean Palace Tenerife Canary islands Spain sat 30 mar 2013 George Godley 00312
http://georgegodley.com/ http://www.youtube.com/geogodley https://twitter.com/geogodley https://www.facebook.com/pages/GeoGodley/213431738712281.

By: #9992; #9835; hearts; #13025; WORLD RECORD MULTI DAILY VLOG LIFELOG -george godley

Read the original here:

Mediterranean Palace Tenerife Canary islands Spain sat 30 mar 2013 George Godley 00312 - Video

canon s100 FAIL zoom sat 30 mar 2013 George Godley Tenerife Canary islands Spain MVI6579 – Video

Posted on by


canon s100 FAIL zoom sat 30 mar 2013 George Godley Tenerife Canary islands Spain MVI6579
http://georgegodley.com/ http://www.youtube.com/geogodley https://twitter.com/geogodley https://www.facebook.com/pages/GeoGodley/213431738712281.

By: #9992; #9835; hearts; #13025; WORLD RECORD MULTI DAILY VLOG LIFELOG -george godley

See original here:

canon s100 FAIL zoom sat 30 mar 2013 George Godley Tenerife Canary islands Spain MVI6579 - Video

Cook Islands: Statement made at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (2013) – Video

Posted on by


Cook Islands: Statement made at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (2013)
An Official Statement made by Mr Charlie Carlson, Director, Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI), Cook Islands, at the fourth session of the Global Platf...

By: UNISDR

See more here:

Cook Islands: Statement made at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (2013) - Video


  1. Islands