TARO IMPORTS FROM SAMOA SUSPENDED

Despite the assurance from the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture that the nation has nothing to worry about in terms of a new unknown virus found in taro in some parts of Upolu, American Samoa is not convinced.

And to show it, the American Samoa Department of Agriculture has suspended importing of all taro and taro shoots from Samoa effective immediately.

The Director of Agriculture, Filifaatali Mike Fuiava, said in a notice to the media in American Samoa yesterday that he received information of an unknown virus breakout in Samoa affecting taro crops in the islands of Upolu and Savai’i.

Reports from Samoa say that the disease is such that the taro shoot looks mature but when uprooted, the taro tuber itself has rotted away.

 Radio New Zealand quoted the director as saying he had to take every precautionary measure to make sure this unknown virus would not enter American Samoa.

(Source: Samoa Observer)

DIGITAL TECH DEBATED DURING SAMOAN LANGUAGE WEEK

The impact of digital technology on the Samoan language was debated as part of recent Language Week celebrations in Auckland.

Students and community members argued for and against on whether the Samoan language has any use in today's globalized world.

Some spoke about how the increased use of cell phones and social sites like Facebook influence the language, while others talked about the fact the language is what connects people to their culture.

AUT Professor of Pacific Studies, Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, said that it is not so well understood that technology impacts the quality of family life.

She said it was important to stay culturally connected in this day and age.

"There are so many celebrations and it is so important to lift up the language and reconnect to one's cultural roots as we also celebrate 55 years of Samoan independence," Tagaloatele said.

(Source: RNZI)

OCEANS CONFERENCE GETS UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK

As the Fiji hosted Ocean Conference gets underway in New York, the United Nations says it is expecting a surge in voluntary commitments to improve the health of the world's oceans.

Six-hundred commitments from countries, businesses and civil society groups have so far been received, that target issues ranging from protecting coral reefs, strengthening sustainable fisheries, reducing plastic pollution, and addressing the impact of climate change.

Fiji's president of the UN general assembly Peter Thompson says the conference will begin the process of reversing the cycle of oceanic decline by producing practical solutions.

The Conference will result in a Call for Action that will be formally adopted at its conclusion on Friday.

The Call for Action includes measures to protect coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, as well as enhancing sustainable fisheries management including the restoration of fish stocks.

Countries will be called upon to prohibit subsidies, which contribute to over fishing and illegal fishing.

Pacific island leaders have called for more help to fight illegal fishing and a worldwide network of marine sanctuaries at a major gathering on the world's oceans.

The Prime Minister of Tuvalu Enele Sopoaga says his country is probably the most fishery-dependent nation on earth with 24 square kilometers of land lying in 27 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. He called for action against pollution from plastic and shipwrecks and the exploitation of fish stocks.

"We must have human solution to reverse the woes humanity has put upon the oceans. We are all accountable as co-owners and co-inhabitants on this planet of whose blood is blue."

In an admonishment of the United States' pullout from the Paris Agreement, Sopoaga said no country should walk away from the climate deal. Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is co-president of the conference alongside the deputy prime minister of Sweden Isabella Lovin.

(Source: RNZI)

PM'S COMMENTS LED TO CHANGE IN NEWS APPROACH IN TONGA

A consultant for the Tonga Broadcasting Commission says threats by the Prime Minister against the state broadcaster affected its coverage of events.

The general manager and chair of the TBC were dismissed following comments by the Prime Minister that the broadcaster was an enemy of government and did not support his work enough.

He also threatened that its services would be taken over by another company if the relationship continued on the same route.

The TBC's Laumanu Petelo said the comments initially intimidated staff.

"As to changing our stories to focus more on things that will be positive to government, rather than getting stories that are balanced and unbiased. So we felt that we were kind of changing our roles to try to fit in to what the Prime Minister and government wanted."

However, Laumanu Petelo said, with court proceedings and media coverage of the affair, she felt things were starting to improve.

(Source: RNZI)