Links
PNG Photos
If you are interested in seeing some of photos from PNG then I recommend the following
Dancing -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/tway76/2222246761/
Michael & Lori Johnson's Papua New Guinea Photo Gallery -- http://ebible.org/mpj/gallery/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/2211921371/in/photostream/
Papua New Guinea Pictures -- http://www.pbase.com/chris67/papua_new_guinea
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/225861641/in/set-72157594335412748/
Satellite images show Papua New Guinea deforestation at critical level -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/02/forests.conservation
Simbu Sunset, Tropical Rhododendron -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/stubzee/2128337274/
like my hairdoo?? -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/50059444@N00/474900682/
Papua new guinea boy -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinapix/106959643/
Worried -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/dramaqueennorma/131022554/
Wreckage of downed WW2 aircraft - PNG '86 -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/billd01/179614719/
Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo Poses for me -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/7533960@N02/753008248/
These are just a sample of what is available.
PNG in the News
The Government is planning to appoint four women to represent the women in Parliament by the end of this year. -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080529/news01.htm
'The National' leads in newspaper sales -- http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2008/05/the-national-leads-in-newspaper-sales.html
Harley Dickinson, kiap, MP, dies at 70 -- http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2008/05/harley-dickinson-kiap-mp-dies-at-70.html
During World War II, more than 2,000 American pilots and crew members were lost over Papua New Guinea. Now a Pentagon team is trying to bring them home. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1b08a4
Siblings in search of closure -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8baa03
Rotarians build new medical centre for the people of Ioma in Oro province, PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e870c1
Black Knights to declare 'mission complete' Wednesday after 40-year tenure at Robins -- http://www.macon.com/149/story/362458.html
Madang communities right wrongs to save giant leatherback turtles -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/052608/wkender9.php
Meeting in Mary's name -- http://www.infoans.org/1.asp?sez=1&sotsez=13&doc=2797&lingua=2
Slides and CDs of more than 80 different PNG women are circulating in the country -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080529/news02.htm
Moresby police are aware of the pornography ring at the University of PNG -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080529/news03.htm
Papua New Guinea Landowners Warn China-Funded Nickel Project -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0e4c9c -- see also China's PNG mine bid falters -- http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23805114-2703,00.html
Rabaul Volcano Erupting -- http://geology.com/news/2008/rabaul-volcano-erupting.shtml
Activity on Rabaul Volcano, New Britain -- http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=14866
Earthquake Magnitude 5.1 -- http://vinnyswebsite.com/blog1/earthquakenew-britain-region-papua-new-guinea/
PNG Blogs
Paddle your canoe - http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2008/05/paddle-your-canoe.html
Mt Hagen Daily Photo by Jules -- http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2008/06/mt-hagen-daily-photo.html
Baining Fire Dance by Owen -- http://owenoleary.blogspot.com/2008/06/baining-fire-dance.html
The Chapman's in PNG -- http://chapmanconnection.com/blog/
Kundiawa -- http://www.offexploring.com/jrosenthal/blog/papua-new-guinea/kundiawa
After we had visited the volcano and the mask store in Rabaul we had to find something to do for the next five Sundays -- http://owenoleary.blogspot.com/2008/05/sundays.html
Misc Links
PNG Agriculture and Livestock website -- http://www.agriculture.org.pg
Department of Agriculture and Livestock -- http://www.agriculture.gov.pg
Coral Sea hotels -- http://www.coralseahotels.com.pg
Adventure Kokoda Treks -- http://www.kokodatreks.com/
Niu Ailan Surfriders Alliance -- http://www.surfingpng-newireland.org.pg
http://www.green.com.pg/ -- not yet ready but could be for Green Communications?
Data Comms -- http://www.datacomms.com.pg/
Toshiba PNG -- http://www.toshiba.co.pg
Insect Farming & Trading Agency web site -- http://www.ifta.com.pg/
Rainforest Habitat website -- http://www.habitat.org.pg/
Kairuku-Hiri web site -- http://www.kairukuhiri.gov.pg/
Port Moresby Weather -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4e027b
Interior, Office and Shops Boroko -- http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:12943
News Items
UFO's in PNG
Mike Bird is searching for information about the report by Anglican priest, Reverend William B. Gill about a Close Encounter of the Third Kind at the Boianai mission in June 1959.
An article called "Papua, New Guinea close encounter" can be found at -- http://tinwiki.org/wiki/Papua,_New_Guinea_close_encounter
PNG Forests
PNG is losing its accessible forests so quickly to logging and farming that more than 80 per cent will be gone within 13 years. In fact, they are disappearing faster than those in the Amazon. That's the conclusion of a team led by Phil Shearman of the remote sensing centre at the University of PNG in Port Moresby. PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare, whose family is involved with the logging industry, declined to comment.
See -- http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/life/endangered-species/mg19826593.000-new-guinea-forests-shrinking-faster-than-the-amazon.html
and see the satellite images showing PNG deforestation -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/02/forests.conservation
As PNG's population increased from 2.7 million to 5.6 million between 1972 and 2002, 3.6 million hectares of forest were lost to subsistence farming.
Forest fires destroyed a further 347,000ha, and 150,000ha were lost to tailings pollution from the Ok Tedi copper mine.
Hybrid Rice
The Ramu Valley is not the place where you would expect to find fields of hybrid rice. The people of PNG do not traditionally grow although it has become a staple food off the trade store shelf. But last year some local communities in Ramu, as well as Usino/Bundi and parts of the Raicoast areas of Madang, started planting hybrid rice seeds imported from China mainly as a result of the Chinese-owned mining company, Ramu Nico Management Limited, which is in charge of the massive Ramu Nickel Project. The mine introduced hybrid rice cultivation to villagers in the mining impact areas to help supply its Chinese work force.
see -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/120307/WEEKENDER_7.htm
Kayaking around PNG
Don't forget to follow the exploits of Andrew Hughes who is currently kayaking, right now, around the coast from Port Moresby to the top of PNG. His web site -- http://www.expeditionclass.com -- is being updated via satellite telephone as he paddles around the country.
Thanks to Sue Hoffman for reminding me of Andrew's adventure. see -- http://pnggossip.com/news/g080506.html#ske
Solo Sea Kayak Voyage
A bad leg infection has halted Tasmanian adventurer, Andrew Hughes, attempt to paddle around PNG. Hughes has been taken to Alotau, the capital of Milne Bay province, where he is receiving medical treatment. He hopes the infection will be under control by the end of the week so that he will be able to continue his voyage.
see -- http://www.expeditionclass.com/june
Kokoda Track Mining
An Australian company has not given up on its plans to explore and mine near PNG's Kokoda Track. see -- http://news.smh.com.au/world/frontier-hasnt-given-up-on-kokoda-plan-20080430-29i8.html -- for full story from the Sydney Morning Herald web site dated the 30th of April 2008.
Drilling Contract
High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (TSX:HWO) has won a two-year drilling services contract in PNG with a subsidiary of Australia's Oil Search Ltd. worth an estimated US$25 million in revenue per year. The oil services firm said it will provide a helicopter-portable drilling rig currently under construction in China.
"As the primary drilling contractor in PNG, High Arctic is well-positioned to benefit from increased exploration and production activity in this exciting region, particularly in light of the recent liquefied natural gas and exploration announcements by a consortium of major integrated oil companies," president and CEO Jed Wood said in a release.
Heyden Constructions
The former boss of Heyden Constructions, Danny Heyden, passed away at the age of 79 in the Queensland town of Gin Gin on the 26th of April.
Rising Sea Levels
Frank Earley has this to say about the article in the last edition (http://pnggossip.com/news/g080526.html#rsl) about the rising sea levels in the Duke of York Islands in East New Britain.
quote
Hi and thankyou for the news.
The article re rising sea levels at just the Duke of York Islands should be debunked surely, and the suffering people should be told that it is --- NOT --- Global warming? The answer is simple science and if (more likely -- WHEN) the sea levels do rise, it will be global, not local, because water finds its own level.
So how come Rabaul, Moresby, Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney are not suffering from the same fate as the Duke of York Islands?
The whole area up PNG way is so active re moving plates and this has to be the reason. Rabaul and surrounds could potentially be sinking (or rising) because of its proximity and known activity.
So many places are identified that will suffer when the sea levels start to significantly rise and "most major cities in the world will be inundated", but this is NOT happening yet.
How can the newspaper carrying this article be advised to get the facts correct?
I have heard documentaries involving those islanders from nearby areas to the Duke of Yorks and they are also bitter against the world's polluters. Someone is telling them pork pies.
Cheers
Frank Earley
end quote
Human Trafficking Blacklist
PNG has been placed on a blacklist of countries trafficking in people by the United States. Fiji, Moldova and PNG have been added to the blacklist contained in the annual report which analysed efforts in 170 countries to combat trafficking for forced labour, prostitution, military service and other purposes. The 14 countries on the blacklist could face sanctions, including the withholding by the United States of non-humanitarian, non-trade related foreign aid.
The report said that PNG is a country of destination for women and children from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and the People's Republic of China, trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation to brothels in the capital and at isolated logging and mining camps.
PNG Power
PNG Power is owed K90 million by the Government, businesses and householders, built up over many years. Residents of Port Moresby will have more power available from January next year. Moresby residents currently have access to a maximum of 80 MegaWatt (MW) of power but this is being increased to 105 MW. There are a total of 41,542 PNG Power customers in the capital.
Nasfund
Nasfund have a 50% share in the Heritage Park Hotel - Honiara Solomon Islands. Both Nasfund and Lamana developments have agreed to expand the under construction hotel in Honiara to incorporate an additional six apartments and a two story head office for Bank South Pacific Limited. The Heritage Park hotel is well under construction with the completion date set for May 2009.
Nasfund has bought K21 million worth of shares from Airlines PNG (APNG). APNG is currently floating half of its 210 million shares on issue. Nasfund contributors are now entitled to get a 10 per cent discount on airfares and other benefits under the airline's shareholder discount program.
Aviation Cost Increases
For years aviation in PNG has had very reasonable costs charged by the Civil Aviation Authority but with the advent of PNG Air Services Limited this is rapidly changing. Unfortunately this means that the passenger will have to foot the bill along with the ever increasing cost of fuel for the aircraft. Last month Air Services increased charges by over 100 per cent. For domestic enroute charges the cost per passenger rose from K1.95 to K4.00 but that is not the end to the charges in April, 2009, the cost will further increase to K6.00 and in 2010 it will go up to K8.00. For overseas travel the enroute charge will go from K6.00 to K7.00 this year and to K8.00 in 2009. It would go up another Kina to K9.00 in 2010.
Special Airfares
Airlines PNG have announced some special fares for their customers to take advantage of.
Flying Cairns to Port Moresby
Friday 13JUN - Departs 6.15pm Arrives 8.25pm
Friday 20JUN - Departs 6.15pm Arrives 8.25pm
Flying Port Moresby to Cairns
Sunday 08JUN - Departs 4pm Arrives 6.10pm
Sunday 15JUN - Departs 4pm Arrives 6.10pm
Sunday 22JUN - Departs 4pm Arrives 6.10pm
SPECIAL Discounted fares
AUD259.00 ONE WAY (including taxes)*
AUD518.00 RETURN (including taxes)*
You can book online at www.apng.com or if you are in Australia call their reservations on 1300 00 APNG (1300 00 2764) during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm)
Special Note: Fares are based on Value Saver Economy airfares and are subject to the standard fare rules of this fare type. Please refer to fare rules on -- http://www.apng.com
Coming Events
2008 Sepik Iron man -- Queen's birthday weekend (8th of June)
21st of June 2008 - PNG Reunion - see -- http://www.pngreunion.com
40th anniversary of the PNG Institute of Medical Research - between the 18th and 22nd of June 2008 in Goroka
Tolai Warwagira Cultural Festival - July 9 - 15 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
14th National Mask Festival - July 16 - 19 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
PNG Tourism Expo -- September
Hiri Moale Festival -- September
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
16th September - NBC to launch its National TV Station.
Medical Symposium -- September 2008 -- http://www.medsymp.org.pg
Morobe Show -- 18th and 19th of October -- the Show is held on the weekend closest to the full moon in the month of October each year in Lae, Morobe Province. -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg
Milne Bay Canoe Festival -- always held during the first weekend in November
Anti Corruption Day - 9th December
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
PNG Media
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