SPC Geoscience Division

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Weatherman Rajendra Prasad Joins UNESCO

Tuesday, 30 November 2010 17:11 administrator
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Former Director of Fiji Meteorological Services, Mr. Rajendra Prasad has been appointed the National Programme Officer for UNESCO/IOC. Mr. Prasad will be based in Suva working within the SOPAC’s Disaster Reduction Programme.

His primary responsibilities are to initiate and oversee activities related to the development and implementation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning system both at regional and national levels for two years.

Mr. Prasad will be involved in Disaster Risk Reduction activities for both UNESCO/IOC and SOPAC.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 17:20
 

Satellite technology used in Tongan election

Tuesday, 30 November 2010 07:42 administrator
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Satellite technology has been used in helping to define voting districts put in place for the first time for the recent election held in the Kingdom of Tonga. The election was held on Thursday, November 25.

The technology was utilized by the  Royal Constituency Commission tasked with the responsibility of organizing voting districts throughout the country.

The Commission created an electoral boundaries map that defined the voting districts, based on the distribution of population.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 May 2011 16:59 Read more...
 

Regional Review of Progress in Disaster Risk Management

Monday, 29 November 2010 08:42 administrator
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Six Pacific island countries are in the process of reviewing the progress made in relation to their disaster risk management action plans and strategies.

The Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are carrying out the reviews to determine advances made towards disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery as well as the management of hazard risks.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 07:50 Read more...
 

2010 Pacific Islands GIS/RS Conference opens

Wednesday, 24 November 2010 09:18 administrator
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Close to 200 participants were told by SOPAC’s Director, Dr. Russell Howorth, that the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing will continue to be a major part of the SOPAC technical support service work programme.

SOPAC provides assistance to 21 island countries in the Pacific region through applied geoscience and technology.

Dr. Howorth was speaking at the 2010 Pacific Islands Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) Conference being currently being held in Suva, Fiji.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 May 2011 17:00 Read more...
 

Kiribati Addresses Sanitation Problems

Monday, 22 November 2010 12:38 administrator
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A recent outbreak of typhoid in Kiribati highlights how water borne diseases continue to be a major threat in the Pacific islands, especially in low-lying atolls. The capital island of Kiribati, Tarawa, has also received almost no rainfall over the last three months, putting additional stress on limited water supplies.

However, recent actions by Kiribati to put in place a National Sanitation Policy means it is showing the rest of the Pacific the way forward to address these problems.

Mr Riteti Maninraka, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works and Utilities, said that having a National Sanitation Policy and Implementation Plan in place should provide direction on how the nation will work with the community and development partners to help solve its sanitation problems in Tarawa and the country’s outer islands.

Last Updated on Monday, 22 November 2010 12:45 Read more...
 
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Page 61 of 74

Newsflash

Exploring for deep sea minerals and possible exploitation in future presents an emerging new economic opportunity for Pacific Island countries. But this opportunity must be balanced against protection of the ocean environment and preservation of rare and fragile ecosystems and ocean habitats.

Dr Russell Howorth of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) emphasised this point in his opening address at the Regional Training Workshop on Geological, Biological and Environmental Aspects of Deep Sea Minerals, saying that ‘the precautionary approach must prevail.’ Dr Howorth is Director of SPC’s Applied Geoscience and Technology (SOPAC) Division.

The workshop, held recently in Nadi, was organised by the EU-funded, SPC Deep Sea Minerals (DSM) Project and is part of the technical assistance provided to the 15 Pacific-ACP (African Caribbean and Pacific) states.

The 15 states are the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

He said that DSM Project team members have already completed 13 national stakeholder consultation workshops across the region, with plans to visit the remaining two countries, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, in September.