Links
Warning: PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that it costs money to host a web site (try -- http://pngwebhost.com -- for an excellent, reliable but cheap deal) and there is not much return on the outlay to most businesses in PNG due to very poor e-commerce infrastructure. If you do click on a link and use the services or even have some comments to make then please contact the people at the relevant web site and let them know so they at least know that someone has gained some value from their efforts. If you are so inclined then mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.
If links in the newsletter do not work properly, copy and paste the URL into your browser and press Enter. Be sure to copy the entire link, as it may wrap to the next line. If this still does not work please send an email to the newsletter advising of the broken link.
Do you have a web site or link to a PNG related area on the WWW? If so do you want it mentioned here? Then send an email to -- pngnewsqueue @ pnggossip.com
PNG Blogs
Don't forget to look at the blog by Malum Nalu located at -- http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/ -- here is a link to a sample -- http://tinyurl.com/yuztwv
Surf is Up -- http://tinyurl.com/2cpdg9
Kumul lodge - place for nature lovers -- http://tinyurl.com/ywvaob
Up to Kundiawa -- http://koenvanbremen.blogspot.com/2007/12/up-to-kundiawa.html -- see also -- http://wiki.worldflicks.org/kundiawa.html
Alotau is a small coastal town in south-western PNG banked against dark green mountains. Wild banana trees grow everywhere. The people are very friendly and very curious. -- http://markcronan.livejournal.com/77969.html
Underground Japanese Hospital -- http://tinyurl.com/ypgxmd
Lukim yu tupela meri -- http://tinyurl.com/2fpq9w
Fun in the sun -- http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2007/12/fun-in-sun.html
The Ghosts of Soldiers Past -- http://midlife-journey.blogspot.com/2007/12/ghosts-of-soldiers-past.html
The Sepik River -- http://tinyurl.com/yw3wy8
PNG Photos - Thousands of Papua New Guinea Images and Photographs -- http://www.pngbd.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/218
The Huisinghs in PNG -- http://huisingh.blogspot.com -- see -- http://tinyurl.com/yqcaaz
Culture of Papua New Guinea -- http://tinyurl.com/244udo
PNG in the News
Shields and swords set cracking pace at Sotheby's auction - a Yuat River hardwood flute stopper from Papua New Guinea's East Sepik district acquired before World War II brought a stunning $81600 -- http://tinyurl.com/2blutg
Shortage of jet fuel and food stuff in Oro -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/121407/Nation%2014.htm
Supply distribution stalled -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/121307/Nation%2018.htm
Rice stock for distribution runs out -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/121307/Nation%2019.htm
The standoff between a foreign-owned oil refinery and the Papua New Guinea government over its decision to hike petrol and diesel prices continues despite the threat of legal action. -- http://tinyurl.com/ynnpmf
HMAS Wewak was deployed to Papua New Guinea following Cyclone Guba, which struck Oro Province. -- http://tinyurl.com/2ylsaf
Aussie pilot injured in PNG crash -- http://tinyurl.com/2yt5y7
Wewak court houses closed -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/121407/Nation%2022.htm
PNG police say situation dire for Papuan refugees in Port Moresby -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=37004
PNG's Ramu Agri-Industries' expansion plans will impact business -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36997
Papua New Guinea's Rural Development Bank is to pump over 3 million US dollars into agro-businesses in the next four years in Morobe province. -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=26135
Aussie Travel Alert
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller advisory service has amended its travel alert for PNG. Please visit -- http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Papua_New_Guinea -- to read the amended travel alert.
Miscellaneous PNG
Cyclone Guba Emergency Appeal No. MDRPG002 -- http://tinyurl.com/2zknzs
Portable Buildings PNG -- http://www.apibuildings.com
Papua New Guinea Travel -- http://www.pngtravel.com
Visit Papua New Guinea -- http://www.em.com.pg
PNG Jewellery by Kara -- http://www.bilasjewellery.com
Post PNG -- http://www.postpng.com.pg/
News Items
PNG News Feed
News Feed - for some of the latest headlines from around the world visit the PNG Gossip newsletter RSS News Feed located at -- http://pnggossip.com/news/pngrss.php -- At the moment this uses Yahoo and Google but it seems they pick up on the same news stories so there is not much difference between the two feeds and some of the links remain on the feed for days at a time.
Climate Change Conference
Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare has attended the Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia.
PNG leads a group called the Coalition of Rain Forest made up of countries from Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. PNG is one of the six countries of the world that has a rich coral and fish species. As part of the Coral Triangle, PNG is meeting with Philippines, Indonesian, Malaysia, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands on Coral cooperation.
After severe criticism by many countries including PNG the USA signed a modified "Bali roadmap" towards climate change.
All Blacks
The New Zealand All Blacks are doing their bit for disadvantaged children in PNG. All Blacks Greg Somerville, Andy Ellis and Brendon Leonard are heading to PNG today (16 December) to help build a health clinic for some of the world's poorest children. The trio are the first All Blacks ambassadors to visit Papua New Guinea, where they will spend four days supporting the work of Save the Children New Zealand.
Save the Children is the official charity of the All Blacks
See also -- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10481922
Annual Teacher Fares
Every year teachers around the country attempt to go home for the Christmas holidays and year after year there are stories of teachers getting stranded and not being able to either get home or back to school. This year is no different. In the National Capital District (NCD), over 300 teachers are still waiting for their leave entitlements.
Tension around the offices of the Education Department at Fincorp Haus-Waigani has gradually subsided after the National Education Department stepped in to assist the NCD office in securing the needed K700,000 to cover the total cost for the teachers' leave fares.
Teachers in Mt Hagen have learnt that about K1.8 million is required to fully fund their travel, but they have learnt that only K1.3 million is available. The Western Highlands Teacher's Association has given the Department of Western Highlands until next week to sort out the issue or face disruptions in the 2008 academic year. Association president Aita Singape, speaking on behalf of 4,000 teachers in the province, said teachers were angry that funds might have been diverted, causing the shortfall.
The provincial administrator in Mt Hagen has submitted a letter to the Treasury Department to assist teachers in securing their leave fares.
Lost Beer
A hotel in Wabag, Enga province, has lost 2,600 cartons of beer. The hotel has claimed that about 20 villagers held up the driver of a semi-trailer carrying the beer as it was slowly moving up a hill after leaving Kukas village. A reporter of The National newspaper has reported witnessing a can of beer being sold for K1 and a carton for K10 in the area as he was travelling to Mt Hagen from Wabag.
More Oro Funding
The Australian Federal Government has announced a further $1 million aid to flood victims in Oro province. The airlift of relief supplies into Oro province by RAAF planes and helicopters is winding down after a two-week effort in the stricken region.
Bob McMullan, Australia's parliamentary secretary for international development assistance, announced extra cash yesterday on top of $1 million in humanitarian assistance already released through AusAID.
PNG Church Partnership
Chris Luxton, the secretary of London-based Papua New Guinea Church Partnership (PNGCP) said that the Diocese of Norwich, which is linked to the church in Papa New Guinea has given £5,000 of the £10,700 given to the Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea as the first part of the PNGCP response to the crisis, reports Church Times.
PNGCP held a fundraising event yesterday (15 December) which was to be attended by the PNG High Commissioner Jean Kekedo. The event featured film of helicopter rescues of people affected by the floods.
Mothers' Union members in Britain have also sent £2,500 worth of emergency relief to Oro Province.
PNG Bio Fuel
PNG's largest palm oil producer, New Britain Palm Oil, has said it plans to list on the London stock exchange and raise 88.9 million pounds. The firm hopes to benefit from a near doubling in the price of palm oil in the last year, driven by demand for biofuels and economic growth in China and India. Palm oil is also used for cooking and in products such as soap and ice cream. The shares are expected to start trading tomorrow (17 December).
Puwo Gawe Cult
A retired Anglican Bishop has allegedly been named as one of the leaders of the alleged cult movement who are wanted by police in the flood-devastated Oro province. The police action comes after some group of people claiming to be members of Puwo Gawe reportedly disadvantaged other people when they claimed relief supplies meant for flood victims. These alleged action by the group breached the Oro Disaster State of Emergency's Order No.8 which states: "All complaints which are criminal in nature must be reported to the Popondetta police station". This includes misuse of relief supplies (food, medical drugs, non food supplies), and other criminal acts.
see -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36938
Volcano Monitoring
The ability of the Rabaul Volcano Observatory to monitor possible volcanic activity on Kar Kar island is being severely hampered by the theft or damage of the monitoring equipment.
An earthquake with magnitude 4.9 occurred near Wewak, New Guinea, PNG
at 18:24:41.20 UTC on Dec 7, 2007. -- http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/catalogs/cap/us2007kqa3
see also -- http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSN10390537
Boianai Mission Incident
Mike from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada is researching a UFO incident that occurred in PNG in 1959.
An Anglican Minister named rev William Gill was at the Boianai Mission in Milne Bay when a UFO hovered over the ocean on two separate nights (June 26 & 27).
He is trying to locate anyone who is familiar with the incident.. If you have any information please contact the newsletter so that the information can be passed on.
Propeller Accident
A man was beheaded when he ran into the spinning propellers of a light plane, owned by North Coast Aviation, in the remote Kabwum airstrip in Morobe Province last Saturday. Onlookers watched in horror as the man was decapitated when he ran up to the Islander aircraft as it taxied for take-off from the airstrip -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/121207/Nation%201.htm
Only three days earlier, a North Coast Aviation pilot suffered a broken jaw when the single-engine Cessna 206 plane he was landing at remote Agaun airstrip in Milne Bay Province crashed off the runway and into a gully. Agaun is in the Rabaraba area of the province.
Mt Hagen Hospital
Coral Sea Hotels have donated K60,000 to the Mt Hagen General Hospital to operate a clinic inside the Mt Hagen city's main market in the Western Highlands province. The clinic will provide health promotion and disease prevention programmes using written materials, audio-visual systems and audio presentations.
Fake PNG Bank Notes
Fake banknotes are being circulated in markets in Mt Hagen and unscrupulous people using those notes are targeting poor and illiterate people -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/120507/Nation%204.htm
ENB Karate Revival
see -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/120607/sports%204.htm
South Pacific Exports
If you need that hard to get part for your electrical / communications gear or even a special tool send email to Peter Goleby at < sp.exports@bigpond.com > - he might just be able to help you out or at least point you in the right direction. Peter claims he will attempt to get anything legal for you so long as he can add a small amount to cover his own costs.
Rabaul and Kokopo Police Stations
The Westpac bank has donated three full sets of computers worth about K7,000 to Rabaul and Kokopo police stations. Acting Kokopo police station commander, David Yapu, said the donation was timely and would make it easier for police to do their work. Despite PNG being in the computer age, most police stations were still using manual typewriters.
One computer will be used by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Rabaul and two by the prosecution section in Kokopo.
Aussie Rules Football
The best one hundred and ten young Australian Football League players in PNG have recently attended the National Institute of Sport in Goroka (30th Nov - 2nd Dec). There they were tested and assessed through a range of activities including games, skill and physical testing, mental challenges and lectures on the requirements to play AFL at the highest level.
Coming Events
11th University of Goroka Graduation - 7th December 2007
Christmas Day -- 24th December
New Year's Day -- 1st January
Coffee Festival, Goroka, Eastern Highlands -- May
40th anniversary of the PNG Institute of Medical Research - between the 18th and 22nd of June 2008 in Goroka
Hiri Moale Festival - September
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
Medical Symposium - September 2008
Morobe Show, Lae -- October
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
PNG Media
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Articles for this Newsletter
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