Briefs

Temu serious about women
DEPUTY Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu last week reaffirmed the lead he is taking to support efforts by women MPs within the Asia-Pacific region to address the causes of discrimination and abuse of women. In his role as chairman of the Asia-Pacific male parliamentarians standing committee on the prevention of violence against women and girls, Sir Puka said that this was the commitment the committee had made when it met in Bangkok last month. Part of the commitment by all member countries were  six key actions to be taken under the campaign which are to encourage male leaders and parliamentarians to be role models and speak up against all forms of gender-based violence; ensure active participation in violence prevention and public awareness campaigns by men and boys; advocate for other parliamentarians to join the regional network; enact and support legislation, policies and programmes that bear impact on reducing violence against women and girls; support and work in partnership with NGOs and community initiatives to promote good practices and effective interventions; and provide and share information across the regional network and throughout respective  parliaments.

PNG media team in China
A MEDIA team from Port Moresby left on a familiarisation trip on Monday to China to increase knowledge of PNG media on China and its culture. The trip, funded by the Chinese Embassy in PNG, will provide opportunities for PNG media to exchange skills, experience, knowledge and technology with the people of China that will contribute towards promoting good relationship. The team, headed by the  Media Council of PNG vice-president Michael Asagoni and the executive director Nimo Kama, will return on Nov 3. Members of the delegation include Sunday Chronicle managing director Wesley Raminai, Kalang Advertising and FM100 chief executive officer Reuben Kautu, FM100 chief of staff Belindah Kora, PNGFM news director Titi Gabi and Wantok Niuspepa editor Neville Choi. The invitation from the Ambassador Wei Ruixing was a gesture of commitment to a mutually rewarding relationship between the MCPNG and the People’s Republic to China.

Journalist award launched
A MEDIA award for climate change reporting by the Pacific journalists was launched by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) recently. The 2009 Vision Pasifika Media Award (VPMA) on climate change is to commemorate the efforts of Pacific journalists to raise climate change awareness throughout local communities. It was formally launched last month by John Taito Roache, officer in charge of SPREP. The launching coincided with the media and climate change training for Pacific journalists also in Apia.

Lecturer represents PNG
A SENIOR academic at the University of Papua New Guinea represented PNG in the meeting of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) held last Sept12 in Shanghai, China. Dr Basil Marasinghe also represented PNG at the general assembly of the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS). The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss the 2011 International Year of Chemistry. Out of more than 100 countries in the Greater Asia region which also includes Australasia, South Pacific and the Middle East, PNG is one of the 16 countries which publish a chemistry journal. Dr Marasinghe is also the chief editor of the Journal of the Institute of Chemists, PNG.

Justice course in trouble zone
A TWO-week community justice course was conducted in two different locations in the troubled Tambul-Nebilyer electorate in Western Highlands province. Leading peace advocator in the Highlands region and non-governmental organisation, the Peace Foundation Melanesia, (PFM) went into area and conducted two separate courses to minimise law and order issues affecting the lives of the people. Southern Highlands provincial PFM coordinator Alois Ekape who was asked to coordinate the training, said for the first time, the Hapwara people of Upper Kaugel in Tambul and Kuskomb people in the Upper Nebilyer underwent community justice training aimed at breaking the strong patriarchal attitudes in the community.  Mr Ekape said 86 male and 10 females attended the inaugural community justice training from Sept 28 to Oct 9 at Purare village in Tambul.