The Cook Islands rarely make the news, but this week US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is visiting them to attend a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum. Ahead of that meeting, the Cook Islands announced that it had declared the world’s largest marine reserve. Here’s a quick 101:
More here:
The Cook Islands, a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean, formally announced the creation of the world's largest marine park Tuesday at the opening of the 43rdPacific Islands Forum in the capital, Rarotonga.
Prime Minister Henry Puna said the more than 600,000 square mile reserve is the largest area in history by a single country for integrated ocean conservation and management and will cover a vast patch of the ocean nearly twice the size of France -- no small feat for a country whose combined landmass is barely larger than that of Washington, D.C.
"It is a major contribution to the well-being of humanity," Puna stated. "This is the Pacific challenge we face. Do we take this challenge on with a name and identity that makes us small and not linked with the ocean in our own eyes and the eyes of the world? Or do we stand together with renewed pride and commitment as the world's largest ocean-island states?"
The Pacific Islands Forum, founded in 1971, brings together 16 independent and self-governing states in the Pacific Ocean to work for a common cause. While they are often thought of as small island nations, their lands are mostly ocean, and their territories are some of the largest on earth, covering 8 percent of the planet.
These 16 members of the secretariat have been at the forefront of mitigating the effects of climate change, and the plan for the Cook Islands, to be legally established by 2013, is only the start. With the technical and scientific support of U.S.-based Conservation International, they have laid out an ambitious plan to protect some 25 million square miles of ocean, an area larger than the surface of the moon.
Follow us
"We believe, in fact, I know, that this is the largest multinational conservation initiative in history," Peter Seligmann, co-founder and CEO of Conservation International, said from his hotel room in Rarotonga. "This is the largest number of nations and the largest area geographically."
If you look at these island nations, he said, their waters are all connected, so what one does affects the other.
"What we are seeing is a rallying call, first with Kiribati, now the Cook Islands and New Caledonia, which will announce a 870,000 square mile marine protected area."
On Wednesday, New Caledonia, the Cook Island's Pacific neighbor and a former French territory, also announced that it would create a new marine park to protect an area roughly half the size of India.
View post:
Cook Islands, New Caledonia Unveil World’s Largest Marine Parks - And It’s Just The Beginning
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton headed Thursday to the remote Cook Islands on a rare trip to show renewed US interest in the South Pacific, where China has demonstrated its growing clout.
Follow this link:
Published: Aug. 30, 2012 at 1:50 AM
EDINBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- A new management plan for Scotland's remote St. Kilda archipelago was signed Wednesday, aimed at protecting the islands and the surrounding waters.
The plan's goals also include protecting the traces of human habitation on the islands, The Scotsman reported. St. Kilda, in the Outer Hebrides 41 miles west of the nearest island, Benbecula, was inhabited for several thousand years, but the last residents moved to the mainland in 1930 from Hirta, the largest island.
Those signing the management plan include the National Trust for Scotland, which owns the islands, two Scottish government agencies and the British Ministry of Defense. A radar station is located in the islands.
Kate Mavor, head of the National Trust, said the islands have a unique and fragile heritage that includes huge nesting colonies where about 5 percent of European seabirds rear their young, flowers and lichens surviving in tough conditions and including species unique to St. Kilda and the feral Soay sheep, "living relics of livestock from the Iron Age."
"It is for these reasons that St. Kilda is not only treasured by Scotland but by the world and we have a supreme obligation to conserve and protect it for all," she added.
UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, recognizes St. Kilda as a world heritage site for its natural environment, cultural history and marine environment.
See original here:
South Korea on Thursday formally rejected Japan's proposal that the two countries ask an international court to settle a bitter row over disputed islands, labelling Tokyo's stance "wrong".
Originally posted here:
The Cook Islands has launched the world's biggest marine conservation area, but the move is seen as largely symbolic as it is "impossible" to police.
Original post:
(08-29 14:08)
The Cook Islands announced the creation of world's largest marine park at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum today, a vast swathe of ocean almost twice the size of France, AFP reports. Prime Minister Henry Puna said the 1.065 million square kilometer reserve [is] the largest area in history by a single country for integrated ocean conservation and management''. Puna said protecting the Pacific, one of the last pristine marine eco-systems, was the Cooks' major contribution to the wellbeing of not only our peoples, but also of humanity''. The marine park will provide the necessary framework to promote sustainable development by balancing economic growth interests such as tourism, fishing and deep sea mining with conserving core biodiversity in the ocean,'' he said. The new Cook Islands protected zone will be the largest single marine park in the world, taking in the entire southern half of the nation's waters. The nation's 15 islands have a combined landmass barely larger than Washington DC but its waters include environmentally valuable coral reefs, seagrass beds and fisheries.
See the rest here:
Aug 29, 2012 3:10pm
Who hasnt dreamed of owning a private island? If youve got a few million to spend, theres not one, but two islands for sale off the Connecticut coast.
Belden Island is listed for $3.95 million and Jepson Island for nearly $2 million, according to the William Pitt Sothebys web site, which is handling the sale.
The less expensive of the two features just over 1,000 square feet of interior living space in a contemporary-style house. The island itself is about a third of an acre. The description reads: Jepson Island offers a charming contemporary vacation home with natural materials, walls of glass and incomparable vistas. Stone steps to beach, dock and mooring.
William Pitt Sotheby''s International Realty/Shoreline Aerial Photography/AP
The colonial-style house on Belden Island is about twice the square footage ofJepson and the island itself a little more than an acre in size. Extraordinary vintage classic offers original wainscoted walls and ceilings, gas lights, fireplaces and wrap around porches overlooking manicured putting green lawn, windswept pines and new dock, the listing reads.
William Pitt Sotheby''s International Realty/Shoreline Aerial Photography/AP
It has a very original, beautifully preserved 1912 summer house, which is 100 years old this year, with gas lighting and water from the mainland but no electricity. It has all the original bead board and wainscoting, its own little private beach, stone steps cut out of stony creek granite, saidMargaret Muir, a real estate agent handling the listings for William Pitt Sothebys International Realty.
The houses are seasonal and rely on gas lights and solar power. Both are owned byChristine Svenningsen, the widow of a party-goods magnate,said Muir.
Shes been a preservationist, and treated these with great care. She restored them and beautified them, Muir said about Svenningsen.
Link:
29 August 2012 | last updated at 02:06PM
Prime Minister Henry Puna said the 1.065 million square kilometre (411,000 square mile) reserve (is) the largest area in history by a single country for integrated ocean conservation and management. Puna said protecting the Pacific, one of the last pristine marine eco-systems, was the Cooks major contribution to the wellbeing of not only our peoples, but also of humanity. The marine park will provide the necessary framework to promote sustainable development by balancing economic growth interests such as tourism, fishing and deep sea mining with conserving core biodiversity in the ocean, he said.
Australia announced in June that it was creating a network of marine parks covering 3.1 million square kilometres, more than a third of its territorial waters. However, they are dotted around its huge coastline.
The new Cook Islands protected zone will be the largest single marine park in the world, taking in the entire southern half of the nations waters.
The nations 15 islands have a combined landmass barely larger than Washington DC but its waters include environmentally valuable coral reefs, seagrass beds and fisheries. - AFP
Originally posted here:
Latest Press Statement 29 August 2012
43rd Pacific Islands Forum opens in the Cook Islands
PRESS RELEASE (106/12) 28th August 2012
Cook Islands Prime Minister and new Forum Chair, Hon. Henry Puna (left) sings
to welcome Forum Leaders to the 43rd PIF
Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 28/08/12 The 43rd Pacific Islands Forum has officially opened in the Cook Islands capital Rarotonga with Forum Leaders being carried to the entrance of the National Auditorium, where the ceremony was held, on a Paata ( a traditional platform) accompanied by their adopted schools.
There were traditional challenges along the way to the Auditorium with the beating of drums and chants. There were more tamure dancing with the new Chair of the Forum and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Henry Puna singing a song to welcome his Pacific colleagues to his country. Forum Leaders and their delegations together with the local community then joined together in a large feast.
Included are parts of the address by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade at the opening ceremony.
The Forum at 40 pressing forward
Excerpt from:
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) A woman who amassed a collection of small islands off the Connecticut coast is selling two of them.
Christine Svenningsen, a widow of a party-goods magnate, is selling Belden Island for $3.95 million and Jepson Island for nearly $2 million, her real estate agents said. They are part of the Thimble Islands off Branford, which have attracted celebrities and the wealthy for generations.
For anybody looking for privacy its got great appeal yet its very close to the mainland, said Clint Rodenberg, an agent at William Pitt Sothebys in Madison, where listing agents Margaret Muir and Tony Nuzzo are handling the sale.
Svenningsen, an artist who has restored many of the properties, spent around $33 million to buy about 10 islands in Long Island Sound.
Theyre like little pieces of art. I get to put my brush to them, Svenningsen said in 2006.
She does not plan to sell the other islands she owns, Rodenberg said.
Shes looking for someone who will respect them and enjoy them as much as she does, Rodenberg said. Shes simplifying her life somewhat.
The houses are seasonal and rely on gas lights and solar power, Rodenberg said.
Jepson Island is a little over one-quarter of an acre and has a 1,100-square-foot house with a wraparound deck. Belden is slightly over an acre and has a 1912 colonial with about 2,100 square feet and clam beds.
Of the hundreds of Thimble Islands, about 25 are considered habitable. Tour boats have taken sightseers among the islands for generations, while treasure hunters have combed them for Captain Kidds buried riches.
Read more from the original source:
Taiwan's navy has taken a group of academics to contested islands in the South China Sea, the second such trip in five weeks, the defence ministry said Wednesday amid mounting tensions in the area.
View post:
The irony of the ABC News report that Mitt Romney's campaign held a Tampa fundraiser on a Cayman Islands-flagged yacht was absolutely delicious, but it couldn't be that simple. Shortly after ABC News showed a screenshot of the yacht with what looked like a Cayman flag in a Web report accompanying a broadcast by Brian Ross, the conservative Washington Free Beacon joined ABC's commenters in ...
Go here to see the original:
Much Ado About Romney Fundraising Yacht's Cayman Islands Flag
NEW HAVEN, Conn.A woman who amassed a collection of small islands off the Connecticut coast is selling two of them.
Christine Svenningsen, a widow of a party-goods magnate, is selling Belden Island for $3.95 million and Jepson Island for nearly $2 million, her real estate agents said. They are part of the Thimble Islands off Branford, which have attracted celebrities and the wealthy for generations.
"For anybody looking for privacy it's got great appeal yet it's very close to the mainland," said Clint Rodenberg, an agent at William Pitt Sotheby's in Madison, where listing agents Margaret Muir and Tony Nuzzo are handling the sale.
Svenningsen, an artist who has restored many of the properties, spent around $33 million to buy about 10 islands in Long Island Sound.
"They're like little pieces of art. I get to put my brush to them," Svenningsen said in 2006.
She does not plan to sell the other islands she owns, Rodenberg said.
"She's looking for someone who will respect them and enjoy them as much as she does," Rodenberg said. "She's simplifying her life somewhat."
The houses are seasonal and rely on gas lights and solar power, Rodenberg said.
Jepson Island is a little over one-quarter of an acre and has a 1,100-square-foot house with a wraparound deck. Belden is slightly over an acre and has a 1912 colonial with about 2,100 square feet and clam beds.
Of the hundreds of Thimble Islands, about 25 are considered habitable. Tour boats have taken sightseers among the islands for generations, while treasure hunters have combed them for Captain Kidd's buried riches.
Read more:
TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government on Monday refused to let Tokyo metropolitan authorities land on islands at the centre of a territorial dispute with China, a move aimed at defusing tensions that led to biggest anti-Japan protests in years. Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara has proposed buying the islands from their private Japanese owners and has sought central government permission to ...
See original here:
Japan blocks landing on disputed islands to diffuse China tensions
TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government on Monday refused to let Tokyo metropolitan authorities land on islands at the centre of a territorial dispute with China, a move aimed at defusing tensions that led to biggest anti-Japan protests in years. Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara has proposed buying the islands from their private Japanese owners and has sought central government permission to ...
Excerpt from:
Japan blocks landing on disputed islands to defuse China tensions
IT MIGHT seem brave, but at least a few Cook Islands locals see a chance for the tiny Pacific nation - population barely 12,000 - to ''play off'' superpowers China and the United States against one another.
With a summit of Pacific leaders about to get under way, a daily gossip column in the Cook Islands News known as ''Smoke Signals'' had one reader sending a message that this was a chance for Prime Minister Henry Puna to shine.
He is certainly in the spotlight. Hillary Clinton is the most talked-about guest at this week's Pacific Islands Forum, the most senior US official ever to attend.
It has sparked speculation the US is worried about China's influence in a region traditionally seen as America's backyard.
Advertisement
China has sent an 18-strong delegation, led by senior Vice-Minister Cui Tiankai.
In the Cook Islands alone, Chinese money has built the courthouse and police headquarters - part of China's total aid to the Pacific estimated at $600 million in recent years.
Reporters have been told to expect another big Chinese announcement during the forum, but officials remain coy.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Willy Telavi, for one, is bemused by talk of a US-China Pacific rivalry.
''Well, this is a hard question,'' he told The Age. ''We are not really sure about the visit of the US Secretary of State, as to what she is going to discuss with us when she comes.''
Continue reading here:
China is firmly opposed to the US' stance that the Diaoyu Islands fall within the scope of the US-Japan security treaty, under which Washington would provide assistance if Tokyo's territories came under an armed attack, a senior Chinese military official told his US counterparts on Friday.
Go here to read the rest:
Prime Minister John Key will lead the New Zealand delegation to the
43rd Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands this week.
"The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting is an opportunity
for the region to come together and work on the issues we jointly
face," says Mr Key.
"It is also a chance to put the Pacific on the international agenda
and meet with partners from outside the region."
New Zealand hosted the 2011 Forum in Auckland, and this year Mr Key
will formally hand over the chairing of the Forum to Cook Islands
Prime Minister Henry Puna.
Originally posted here:
The fledgling Islands High School football team may not have many experienced players, but the Sharks have a veteran coach who will prepare them well as he begins to build the program. Karl DeMasi has coached all over the Coastal Empire.
Read more here: