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Category Archives: Islands

Solomon Islands: OceansWatch helping in wake of Tsunami

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OceansWatch helping in wake of Tsunami

OceansWatch Solomon Islands Reef Guardian loses house in Tsunami

Joe Nokali is a resident of Tuwo village on Fenualoa Island in the Reef Islands, Temotu District of the Solomon Islands.

Over the last 3 years that OceansWatch has been visiting the area to help the community Joe has been an active member of the Reef Guardian team. The Reef Guardians are not paid for the work they do monitoring and caring for the reef, they are just a bunch of community minded folk who step forward to help their village. Joe is an active participant in the program and helps with the monthly monitoring that the Tuwo Reef Guardian team undertakes every month.

Unfortunately Joe and his disabled sister live on the most vulnerable part of Fenualoa, an area that over the living memory of the community has lost about 300m to erosion. We are not certain of why this erosion has taken place but we can see the results, most of the graveyard near Joes house has washed into the sea! The locals attribute the erosion, all of which has happened in the last 50 years to sea level rise and changing weather patterns, in other words they are victims of Climate Change.

The main Island of Santa Cruz bore the brunt of the recent Tsunami but it also reached Fenualoa, where Joe lives. We have still not had a report back from our friends on Fenualoa but one thing we do know is that the wave swept through the villages and Joe and his sister lost their house.

OceansWatch is NOT an Aid organisation however in this case we want to help our friend and his sister to get housed again as soon as possible. Joe has no job as such, like 95% of men on Fenualoa; Joe is a fisherman and subsistence farmer. He will build his house again and one for his sister but buying the materials will cost him and we doubt that he has any savings at all to cover this disaster.

Materials for a house will cost about NZ$320 each. They will also have lost pots and pans and bedding as will some neighbours. As we have not had a full report yet we want to set a target for a fundraiser of NZ$2,000. That will be enough for Joe and his sisters house and some cooking utensils and other essentials for them and a few neighbours.

OceansWatch New Zealand will collect the money and send it to our OceansWatch Solomon Island's account to be spent by OceansWatch Solomon Islands Directors specifically for Tsunami relief on Fenualoa Island.

Contribute here for the Fenualoa Fund

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Solomon Islands: OceansWatch helping in wake of Tsunami

Marshall Islands Among Those Petitioning UN To Address Security Issues Of Climate Change

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February 18, 2013

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, an official from the Marshall Islands argued that climate change is a threat to international security, citing the impact that global warming has had on his own island nation to illustrate his point.

Tony deBrum, a minister and assistant to the president of the Marshall Islands, petitioned the body on Friday to recognize the phenomenon as a potential hazard to the very survival of his country and of other low-lying island nations, Edith M. Lederer of the Associated Press (AP) said.

DeBrum spoke with members of the media after addressing the Security Council during their closed-door Security Dimensions of Climate Change conference, telling reporters he hoped that council members can be convinced that global warming is a security issue and not just an economic-political-social issue.

He said climate change has already taken a toll on the Marshall Islands, Lederer reported. Wells have filled with salt water, making drinking water scarce and in turn affecting food production. One small island in a lagoon is now under water, and coastlines are being eroded. The impact of climate change is also causing migration to other islands, as well as to Australia and the United States, he said.

However, she also said that deBrums petition is being opposed by China and Russia, both of whom are permanent members of the UN subgroup, as well as a coalition of 130 primarily developing nations who assert that climate change discussion does not belong at Security Council meetings.

According to Bloomberg News, Joachim Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, also spoke before the council in New York on Friday.

In discussing possible climate change-related security scenarios, he presented one which was set 20 years in the future, in which India has become the most populous nation in the world, but due to drought conditions and the resulting lack of crops, people begin to starve and the the seeds of conflict take root among the countrys 1.5 billion citizens, the news organization said.

On Friday, the AP spoke with Rachel Kyte, the World Banks vice-president for sustainable development. During that interview, Kyte said that since the last round of talks on global warming, the sense of urgency had increased amongst UN officials.

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Marshall Islands Among Those Petitioning UN To Address Security Issues Of Climate Change

Bay Harbor Islands residents raise overdevelopment fears

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Bay Harbor Islands residents and town officials expressed concerns over the transfer of development rights of over 80 units to three new building projects at a monthly meeting on Feb.11.

Fear of over-development was on the minds of those who spoke out against the approval of these transactions.

Until what point do you continue to approve projects and TDRs? said Susan Luck, Bay Harbor Islands resident.

The transfer of development rights created for historical preservation and the creation and preservation of public open spaces in urban areas was first allowed in Bay Harbor Islands in 2005. Essentially, it allows property owners to sell their entitled development rights of the air above open spaces or undeveloped buildings.

Some Bay Harbor Islands citizens fear bigger and denser projects being built because of the use of TDRs.

I think we are thoughtful citizens. We are being mindful of the community we are growing old in, Luck said.

Some town officials justified the use of a TDR program as being controlled.

We have very low height limits. We have low density limits. You have very small lots. There is only so much you can build here, said town planner Michael Miller.

Miller spoke in response to concerns by some town council members such as Councilwoman Stephanie Bruder, who questioned him on whether the town was being mindful of avoiding a seesaw effect with one side of the island developed more heavily than the other.

Resident and professional designer Teri DAmico questioned town officials on the origin of the TDRs.

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Bay Harbor Islands residents raise overdevelopment fears

"Islands of Fire" trailer; kayaking in Sicily’s volcanic islands – Video

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"Islands of Fire" trailer; kayaking in Sicily #39;s volcanic islands
This award winning film joins an international group of kayakers paddling in Sicily #39;s beautiful Aeolian islands. Warm turquoise water, dolphins, fine food erupting volcanoes make this a wonderful paddling destination. As one of the local kayakers says "It #39;s not really fitness paddling, probably we go home with some more fat". The film is one of 8 adventure films on "This is the Sea 5" DVD is also available as a download from http://www.cackletv.com Winner of Best Sea kayaking Film 2011 in the Reel Paddling Film Festival the Waterwalker Film Festival.

By: Justine Curgenven

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"Islands of Fire" trailer; kayaking in Sicily's volcanic islands - Video

Mod Spotlight – Random Floating Islands – Video

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Mod Spotlight - Random Floating Islands
This random mod spawns Floating Islands all over your world! #9658; Random Floating Islands: http://www.planetminecraft.com #9658; Facebook: http://www.facebook.com #9658; Twitter: http://www.twitter.com #9658; Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com Remember to subscribe, comment like and favourite - it helps a bunch! Keep the ideas coming in about what you want to see next time! Thanks to http://www.royaltyfreekings.com for the background music used in this episode!

By: TheLegacyP7

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Mod Spotlight - Random Floating Islands - Video

Marshall Islands sees climate change as security threat

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By Edith Lederer

The Marshall Islands and other low-lying island nations appealed to the UN Security Council on Friday to recognize climate change as an international security threat that jeopardizes their very survival.

Tony deBrum, a minister and assistant to the Marshall Islands president, said the island nations are facing opposition from Security Council permanent members Russia and China and a group of more than 130 mainly developing nations, which argue that the UN's most powerful body is the wrong place to address climate change.

DeBrum told reporters after a closed Security Council meeting on the "Security Dimensions of Climate Change," organized by Britain and Pakistan, that he hopes more council members will be convinced that "this is a security issue and not just an economic-political-social issue."

The low-lying islands, which are already being inundated with sea water, want the council to bring its "political weight" to the issue and help their countries survive, for example, by harnessing new technologies and ensuring alternative energy supplies, he said.

DeBrum said it was "ironic, bizarre perhaps" that 35 years after he went before the Security Council to seek the independence of the Marshall Islands he was back again "to appeal for the survival of my country."

He said climate change has already taken a toll on the Marshall Islands. Wells have filled with salt water, making drinking water scarce and in turn affecting food production. One small island in a lagoon is now under water, and coastlines are being eroded.

The impact of climate change is also causing migration to other islands, as well as to Australia and the United States, he said.

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Rachel Kyte, the World Bank's vice-president for sustainable development, said that since the council's last discussion of climate change "the sense of immediacy and urgency has increased."

"The question is: Do you want to keep on cataloguing all of the terrible things that are going to happen if we continue on a business as usual track, or are we actually going to start doing anything about it?" she said

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Marshall Islands sees climate change as security threat

Islands Want Climate Change Seen As Security Threat By UN

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) The Marshall Islands and other low-lying island nations appealed to the U.N. Security Council to recognize climate change as an international security threat that jeopardizes their very survival.

Tony deBrum, a minister and assistant to the Marshall Islands president, said Friday the island nations are facing opposition from Security Council permanent members Russia and China and a group of more than 130 mainly developing nations, which argue that the U.N.'s most powerful body is the wrong place to address climate change.

DeBrum told reporters after a closed Security Council meeting on the "Security Dimensions of Climate Change," organized by Britain and Pakistan, that he hopes more council members will be convinced that "this is a security issue and not just an economic-political-social issue."

The low-lying islands, which are already being inundated with sea water, want the council to bring its "political weight" to the issue and help their countries survive, for example, by harnessing new technologies and ensuring alternative energy supplies, he said.

DeBrum said it was "ironic, bizarre perhaps" that 35 years after he went before the Security Council to seek the independence of the Marshall Islands he was back again "to appeal for the survival of my country."

He said climate change has already taken a toll on the Marshall Islands. Wells have filled with salt water, making drinking water scarce and in turn affecting food production. One small island in a lagoon is now under water, and coastlines are being eroded.

The impact of climate change is also causing migration to other islands, as well as to Australia and the United States, he said.

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Rachel Kyte, the World Bank's vice-president for sustainable development, said that since the council's last discussion of climate change "the sense of immediacy and urgency has increased."

"The question is: Do you want to keep on cataloguing all of the terrible things that are going to happen if we continue on a business as usual track, or are we actually going to start doing anything about it?" she said

Kyte said she explained to the council on Friday that "it is possible to stop the worst from happening but it will require real, concerted policy action globally at every country level."

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Islands Want Climate Change Seen As Security Threat By UN

Islands want UN to see climate as threat

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The Marshall Islands and other low-lying island nations have appealed to the UN Security Council to recognise climate change as an international security threat that jeopardises their very survival.

Tony deBrum, a minister and assistant to the Marshall Islands president, says the island nations are facing opposition from Security Council permanent members Russia and China and a group of more than 130 mainly developing nations, which argue that the UN's most powerful body is the wrong place to address climate change.

DeBrum told reporters on Friday after a closed Security Council meeting on the 'Security Dimensions of Climate Change,' organised by Britain and Pakistan, that he hopes more council members will be convinced that 'this is a security issue and not just an economic-political-social issue.'

The low-lying islands, which are already being inundated with sea water, want the council to bring its 'political weight' to the issue and help their countries survive, for example, by harnessing new technologies and ensuring alternative energy supplies, he said.

DeBrum said it was 'ironic, bizarre perhaps' that 35 years after he went before the Security Council to seek the independence of the Marshall Islands he was back again 'to appeal for the survival of my country.'

He said climate change has already taken a toll on the Marshall Islands. Wells have filled with salt water, making drinking water scarce and in turn affecting food production. One small island in a lagoon is now under water, and coastlines are being eroded.

The impact of climate change is also causing migration to other islands, as well as to Australia and the United States, he said.

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Rachel Kyte, the World Bank's vice-president for sustainable development, said that since the council's last discussion of climate change 'the sense of immediacy and urgency has increased.'

'The question is: Do you want to keep on catalogueuing all of the terrible things that are going to happen if we continue on a business as usual track, or are we actually going to start doing anything about it?' she said.

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Islands want UN to see climate as threat

Islands want UN to see climate as security threat

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) The Marshall Islands and other low-lying island nations appealed to the U.N. Security Council to recognize climate change as an international security threat that jeopardizes their very survival.

Tony deBrum, a minister and assistant to the Marshall Islands president, said Friday the island nations are facing opposition from Security Council permanent members Russia and China and a group of more than 130 mainly developing nations, which argue that the U.N.'s most powerful body is the wrong place to address climate change.

DeBrum told reporters after a closed Security Council meeting on the "Security Dimensions of Climate Change," organized by Britain and Pakistan, that he hopes more council members will be convinced that "this is a security issue and not just an economic-political-social issue."

The low-lying islands, which are already being inundated with sea water, want the council to bring its "political weight" to the issue and help their countries survive, for example, by harnessing new technologies and ensuring alternative energy supplies, he said.

DeBrum said it was "ironic, bizarre perhaps" that 35 years after he went before the Security Council to seek the independence of the Marshall Islands he was back again "to appeal for the survival of my country."

He said climate change has already taken a toll on the Marshall Islands. Wells have filled with salt water, making drinking water scarce and in turn affecting food production. One small island in a lagoon is now under water, and coastlines are being eroded.

The impact of climate change is also causing migration to other islands, as well as to Australia and the United States, he said.

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Rachel Kyte, the World Bank's vice-president for sustainable development, said that since the council's last discussion of climate change "the sense of immediacy and urgency has increased."

"The question is: Do you want to keep on cataloguing all of the terrible things that are going to happen if we continue on a business as usual track, or are we actually going to start doing anything about it?" she said

Kyte said she explained to the council on Friday that "it is possible to stop the worst from happening but it will require real, concerted policy action globally at every country level."

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Islands want UN to see climate as security threat

Yabause, AE v2.0 – Bubble Bobble Featuring Rainbow Islands – Video

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Yabause, AE v2.0 - Bubble Bobble Featuring Rainbow Islands
I don #39;t own the pic(s)! With that being the case, I #39;d like to thank all of the authors of the pic(s) I used in the videos. Also, especially thanks to Sega and both Paul and Zack for producing this emulator. And I know, the on-screen button are big...

By: Onij Jokuma

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Yabause, AE v2.0 - Bubble Bobble Featuring Rainbow Islands - Video

Tiruchi roundabouts, traffic islands sport greener look

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A traffic island getting a facelift near the Coleroon checkpost in Tiruchi. Photo: A.Muralitharan

Beautification initiative through public-private partnership mode

Some of the traffic islands and roundabouts in the city are sporting a greener look over the past few days as work had got underway on the city beautification initiative taken up on public-private partnership mode.

The Corporation has identified about 28 roundabouts and traffic islands which are to be developed in the city. Apart from carrying out landscaping works, other necessary infrastructure would also be created. Appropriate lighting arrangements are also planned.

Civil works have begun to clearly demarcate the traffic islands in some parts of the city. Simultaneously, lawns are also being developed at some of the islands with grass patches being laid in some of the traffic islands, including the ones near Thiruvanaikovil, the Head Post Office and Palakkarai.

The initiative comes in the wake of a series of meeting to discuss the city beautification initiative through public-private partnership. N.R.Sivapathi, Minister for School Education, Law, Youth Welfare and Sports, chaired a couple of meetings to discuss the modalities over the past few months and the initiative has been taken forward under the supervision of Collector Jayashree Muralidharan and Corporation Commissioner V.P.Thandapani.

The Corporation has identified banks, hospitals, hotels and other commercial establishments to develop and maintain the structures. Specific traffic islands and roundabouts have been earmarked for the private sponsors, depending on their choice of location. Among the roundabouts identified for development are the ones around the Chathram Bus Stand, Head Post Office, Railway Junction, Central Bus Stand and Cantonment. Traffic islands on the Tiruchi-Chennai Trunk Road, Karur By-pass Road, Madurai Road, Bharathidasan Road, Puthur, Thillai Nagar and Palakkarai have also been identified and allotted for development to sponsors.

According to Corporation sources, the traffic islands and roundabouts would be given to the private sponsors for a three-year period. They would be allowed to put up advertisements as per specifications. When contacted, Mr.Thandapani said the works have already commenced in many islands and the civic body was planning to complete the works by the end of this month.

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Tiruchi roundabouts, traffic islands sport greener look

Survey Results Support Bay of Islands Freedom Friday

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Survey Results Support Bay of Islands Freedom Friday

Results from a survey released today back a call for employees to finish work early on Fridays as part of a new Bay of Islands Freedom Friday campaign.

Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands, Northlands largest sightseeing tour and cruise operator, is spearheading the innovative new campaign. It is designed to reignite New Zealanders love affair with the Bay of Islands and increase visitor numbers to the region.

Research on workplace productivity patterns was carried out by Perceptive Research using a sample of 452 respondents. Findings are expected to be music to the ears of employees but may be greeted with less enthusiasm by employers.

Not unsurprisingly, 83% of workers surveyed believed that finishing work early on a Friday would decrease stress levels and increase workplace morale.

Research findings confirm that 70% of workers admit to being most easily distracted by non work activities on a Friday afternoon. 51% also owned up to giving priority to their social arrangements over work tasks on a Friday afternoon.

Charles Parker, General Manager, Fullers Great Sights Bay of Islands, says, This research confirms that two thirds of Aucklanders would be more likely to get out of the city for the weekend if they finished worked early on a Friday and a number of those have the Bay of Islands in their sights.

Savvy employers have the opportunity to motivate staff by allowing them to leave early on a Friday. The Bay of Islands is an easy three hour drive so whether you leave work at 1pm or 6pm on a Friday you can still get there in time for dinner before enjoying a relaxing weekend away.

Karen Sew Hoy, Human Resources Director, DDB Group New Zealand, says, Formalising the call for early Fridays with the Bay of Islands Freedom Friday Campaign is a fantastic idea. At DDB Group we have been trialling summer hours and not only do staff love it but overall staff engagement levels have increased. Our clients have also supported the initiative.

Leadership and people development consultant, Lesley Slade, says, Smart employers like advertising agency DDB Group have tapped into a motivator that is more powerful than money ie: time. Many organisations expect staff to work extra hours when required so this is a way of rewarding them.

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Survey Results Support Bay of Islands Freedom Friday

Sino-Japanese islands crisis deepens

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A ROW over islands in the East China Sea has left ties between Japan and China severely strained.

Reuters/BBC Online

In the latest development, Japan says a Chinese frigate locked weapon-targeting radar on one of its navy ships in waters near the islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

The incident has added to tensions between the two nations over the disputed islands.

Japan will consider how much normally classified data it can release, media reports said, citing comments by Japan Defence minister Itsunori Onodera on local television.

China has accused Japan of smearing its name with the accusations. Japan and China have been involved in a series of incidents in recent months in the East China Sea where Chinese and Japanese naval vessels regularly shadow each others movements.

Both countries claim small clusters of islands, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, believed to be rich in oil and gas. Controlled by Japan, possession of the uninhabited outcrops and the sea surrounding them would provide China with easier access to the Pacific.

Hopes had been rising for an easing in tensions, including a possible summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Communist Party chief Xi Jinping. But the radar issue has seen China and Japan engage in a fresh round of invective.

Four experts assess how serious the situation is.

Overview: Christopher Hughes The situation is certainly the most serious for Sino-Japanese relations in the post-war period in terms of the risk of militarised conflict.

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Sino-Japanese islands crisis deepens


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