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PNG in the News
Saving forests for the climate -- http://prismwebcastnews.com/2009/05/16/saving-forests-for-the-climate/
MP sorry for anti-Asian attacks in PNG -- http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=574327
House to look into riots -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090521/news01.htm
The second part of a special feature analysing recent attacks -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7f57a5
Pipe's $200m PPC-1 cable lands despite "personal threats" -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e9f100
PNG cult allegedly kills and eats woman -- http://giaman.com/pg/?49d58e
Ramu nickel mine work resumes after dispute -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0fe0f4
PNG Blogs
The Business Forum and the Chinese -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e593f8
Jill's Travel Journal Madang Market during Haus Kuk Weekend -- http://giaman.com/pg/?633e80
My Mobile Blog -- http://oakfly783.blogspot.com
Hello Madang - http://hellomadang.blogspot.com/
The Fords in PNG -- http://www.pngfords.com
Misc Links
Adventures in Paradise -- http://www.adventuresinparadise.com.pg/
Real Estate PNG -- http://www.realestate.com.pg
My Time in New Guinea -- http://www.mispelit.com/ecourse/index.html
Sunday Chronicle -- http://www.sunday-chronicle.com
PNG Advisory Support Facility -- http://www.pngasf.com/
PNG Institute of Directors -- http://www.pngid.org.pg
PNG Orchids -- http://www.orchidspng.com
Department of Health -- http://www.health.gov.pg
Department of Civil Aviation -- http://www.casr.gov.pg
Department of Minerals and Energy -- http://www.mineral.gov.pg
Kairuku-Hiri District web site -- http://www.kairukuhiri.gov.pg
Images
Air Niugini B757 -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/shebalso/3534621484/
Rain Forest Fire -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunapulej/2707912497/
Leaving paradise -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/11350112@N07/3342474723/
Ukarumpa -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunapulej/473866631/
Trailer for Rules of the Game - the film will premiere on the 31st of May 2009 -- http://www.pbs.org/itvs/globalvoices/rulesofthegame.html
Great photos from around New Britain above and below water -- http://www.oceanicexpeditions.org/photosvideos/oe2007/best157/index.html
Michael & Lori Johnson's Papua New Guinea Photo Gallery -- http://ebible.org/mpj/gallery/
Like my hairdoo?? -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/50059444@N00/474900682/
Wreckage of downed WW2 aircraft - PNG '86 -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/billd01/179614719
News Items
Operation Open Heart
The Port Moresby General Hospital has allocated three of the four operating theatres for dedicated heart operations while one will be for reserved emergencies during the annual Operation Open Heart program. The hospital focuses on this program because operations of this type were not normally conducted in the country. As in other years both closed and open heart surgery will be carried out during the program.
It has been reported that it costs $A20,000 (excluding other costs) to have closed heart surgery in Australia, while the open heart surgery would be around $A300,000 depending on the circumstances.
Deni Hines Visits
Australian singer, Deni Hines, has visited Port Moresby to help raise funds for the Operation Open Heart programme under the auspices of the PNG Orchid Society. Ms Hines stayed in Moresby for four days.
Visit Deni's site -- http://www.denihines.com
Referee Sent Off
A top rugby league referee has been told to leave the field by a team sponsor during the final of a pre-season competition in Port Moresby. The game was aborted when other referees at the ground refused to replace the top ref. President of the Masta Mak Cup challenge Leo Lahui issued an apology to the referee and said the game's result would be determined at a meeting to be held in the coming week.
Menyamya Receives New Cars
Menyamya and Aseki district health services in the Morobe Province have received two new vehicles. The vehicles will be used to carry out health outreach programs to the remote villages in the districts where children and mothers are dying everyday. Menyamya district has the highest child mortality rate in the country. Statistics have shown that over the years more than two mothers and two children die every week from birth complications while five children below three years of age die from curable diseases.
Mortality Rate
It has been reported that 10 mothers die every day while giving birth. 20 babies die every day and 28 children under five die. This means 21,200 mothers and children under five die annually.
According to the statistics:
- Half of all children are not immunised;
- 60% of mothers are not properly supervised when giving birth;
- 70% of people in PNG have no access to safe drinking water; and
- 220,000 children under five have no proper nutrition.
Other statistics 55% of Papua New Guineans do not read or write
50% of school age children either do not have teachers, do not have school fees or live too far from schools.
See -- PNG Medical Society wants maternal mortality rates addressed -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/15/2304485.htm
Taking all the above into account does PNG really need a K128 million Falcon Jet?
Shops Looted
Many shops owned by Asian businessmen around the country have been looted. Quick action by police prevented opportunists from looting shops and supermarkets in Mt Hagen, Kundiawa and Goroka. The action by the looters has been condemned by politicians and other leaders. The Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby has also expressed grave concern over the safety of its nationals and their businesses. The police were not so quick in Lae and two men have been reported as being killed in the mad rush to break into Chinese-run shops at Eriku. Police closely monitoring business houses owned by the Chinese in other areas such as Wabag town and Porgera
Special Visas
Some of the recent troubles at the Ramu Nickel Mine have been caused by the special visas being issued to the Chinese employees of the nickel project. Other foreigners working in PNG must be able to speak one of the three languages (English, Tok Pisin or Motu). It has been alleged that the Chinese workers have not been attending the special Tok Pisin classes at the Divine Word University in Madang.
Many PNG employees at the mine also report Chinese workers carrying out jobs reserved for nationals of the country. Recently a PNG worker was run over by a tractor being driven by a Chinese worker.
Outside the mine, in many of the towns, you can also see foreigners carrying out jobs reserved for PNG nationals such as in trade stores and food shops. This has created a resentment that has been simmering for a long time. It appears this has now boiled over.
The Governor of Goroka said the problem was not with the Asians but with responsible government departments and leaders who allowed foreigners to enter the country.
Control Violence Against Chinese
Radio Australia's Sean Dorney reporting from Madang says China wants PNG to take effective measures to bring the present string of attacks on Asian-owned shops under control and safeguard the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese people.
Listen to Sean -- http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/stories/m1743049.asx
Madang Governor says cultural differences a key factor in tensions -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=46484
Former Vanderbilt Professor Convicted
Lason Lain Watai, from Enga province, has been convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor in the USA. The former Vanderbilt assistant professor has pled guilty to soliciting sex from a Shelbyville detective who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. Watai was caught in an electronic sting conducted by the police. He will serve just one year on the sexually related charges.
see -- http://www.t-g.com/story/1531997.html
and -- http://eecs.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/people/people.html#W
Gerehu Hospital
The Gerehu St John Hospital, formerly an urban clinic, has been reopened as a level five public health facility. Residents of Gerehu will no longer have to travel all the way to Port Moresby General or other clinics and health centres in the city for treatment. The hospital is a major achievement for the Order of St John. It is expected that the hospital will serve up to 10,000 patients a month. The facility has been designed to take up to 30,000 general patients a month. It also has a 20-bed ward for general inpatients and a 12-bed maternity ward.
Coming Events
Operation Open Heart - On now at the Port Moresby General Hospital
The International Cricket Council (ICC) East Asia Pacific (EAP) Under 19 Cricket Trophy tournament will be held from the 1st to the 7th of June.
2009 Pride of PNG Awards - celebrating the power of women -- nominations close on the 12th of June. This is sponsored by City Pharmacy but their website is out of date -- http://www.cpl.com.pg/pride_of_png/pride_of_png_1.htm
Walk against corruption - Port Moresby and Kokopo - 14th of June. The Governor General, Sir Paulias, a grand champion in the fight against corruption will lead the Walk Against Corruption in Kokopo, East New Britain province.
5th National Tourism Conference - June (date to be confirmed) - to be held at Madang Resort Hotel.
Tolai Warwagira from 8th to 14th July and Mask Festival from 15th to 18th July at Kokopo East New Britain.
Trukai Olympic Fun Run - 12th of July.
PNG Remembrance Day - 23rd of July.
45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 30th of Aug to the 4th of September.
31st October and the 1st of November - Morobe Show - see -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg/ -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2f4583
6th to 8th of November - National Canoe and Kundu Festival, Milne Bay -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab7f63
25th April 2010 - World Malaria Day. Malaria affects 90 per cent of the PNG population.
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012.
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.
PNG Media
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