|
Sports |
Track is worth more than gold
THE Kokoda Track is increasingly
becoming a tourist destination especially among Australian and
Japanese tourists to commemorate their fallen heroes during
WWII.
Many people made the 96km track for various reasons. Some as a
challenge while for others, as a pleasure, health and fitness
exercise; promotion and awareness for certain social issues like
HIV/AIDS; fundraising and walkathon; sight seeing, bird
watching, nature walk; and many more.
One memorable and unique feature, which attracts tourists, is
that it is a living testimony to the generation of today and
years to come to the memories of WWII heroes.
The track signifies courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice
of the Japanese, Australian and Papua New Guinean soldiers and
carriers.
It is of great importance for both the Japanese and Australians
because PNG was their common interest.
I would like to appeal to the current Government, concerned
authorities and local landowners to be mindful of the proposed
mine and its negative impacts in the area by Australian company
Frontier Resources which is planning to extract an estimated
A$1.3 billion worth of gold.
Bear in mind that mining companies are here for a short period
of time and will leave us dry in the long run.
We must not measure and trade our sovereignty, value and
identity with monetary and pecuniary values.
Please do whatever you can to preserve the Kokoda Track.
Joshua Konga
Port Moresby
 
|
