Bishop Luciano Capelli of Gizo, the Solomon Islands’ second-largest city, has expressed concern over his country’s ability to remain independent, with China investing heavily in the island nation. Capelli says many Islanders see China as a liberator when it offers to bring a certain degree of development. The nation lacks hospitals, infrastructure and airports. However, Read more
Solomon Islands has launched its first poverty map. It has found nearly 13% of the population is poor. Most of the poor live rurally. It’s the first time officials have been able to measure poverty in the Islands at a village level. As a result, the survey found that the poor number 78,500. That compares Read more
An innovative pilot project aimed at replacing diesel power with quiet and constant renewable energy systems has been established at The Bishop Koete Rural Training Centre on Nggela Sule Island in the Solomon Islands. For Rural Training Centres in the Solomons, the money saved by not having to buy costly diesel is a huge benefit. Read more
This year’s discussion at the Synod on Family tended to be reduced in Western media to two issues: communion for divorced-and-civilly remarried, and Church teaching and pastoral care regarding homosexuality. Actual topics brought up during meetings were much broader. As well as the ‘Western’ topics, Synod fathers also developed themes such as domestic violence, violence against Read more
The country is not ready for mining, says Anglican Church of Melanesia’s Bishop and Isabel Paramount Chief James Mason. He made the observation during last week’s National Conference on Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. “I felt that there’s no justification for the poor land owning tribes who were always the losers in their own lands. “The Read more
The Catholic Church of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands launched its first child protection policy on February 24. The policy outlines clear steps for investigating abuse within the Church and encourages members of report abuse. Br Frank Hough, who helped formulate the new policy, said he hoped Church members would find reporting abuse less Read more
The spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Justin Welby, has prayed before a monument to seven Anglican martyrs in the Solomon Islands. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who was making brief visits to Asia and Oceania Anglican primates, was in the Solomons before departing for Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia. On August 11, Archbishop Welby Read more
The Salesians through Salesian Missions, Australia, have funded the manufacture of drum ovens, tables and chairs for the victims of the recent floods in Solomon Islands. The machine fitting students at Don Bosco Technical Institute are making drum ovens for the most needy families in the Foxwood and Nalibiu area. The carpentry students will Read more
I arrived at Challenge 2000 in Johnsonville, a night with friends in a cosy cardboard box beneath a starlit sky was too good to pass by. The Wellington wind had fled; stillness paired with the embers crackling, huddled closer, marshmallows devoured in flame as stories swept us elsewhere and nothing mattered anymore save each other, Read more
The Don Bosco Technical Institute, Henderson, Solomon Islands commenced Term 2 on Tuesday 8th April, with 80% of its students in attendance. Everyone has been personally affected – directly or indirectly – and the weeklong floods have left painful memories that will be hard to heal. The rector, Fr. Dominic Kachira, invited those who were Read more