The Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea has voted to accept the Anglican Communion Covenant. Writing to the Secretary General of the decision on behalf of the House of Bishops, the Bishop of Port Moresby, the Rt Revd Peter Ramsden, said the decision was based on their understanding of the name Anglican Communion. “Anglican” was Read more
At conference last week in Tahiti some delegates claimed climate change could to drown some Islands in French Polynesia. The effects of rising tides in the region were part of discussions involving politicians and scientists from France, the European Union and the Pacific Island region in Papeete. Delegates have heard that French Polynesia’s 270,000 inhabitants Read more
A self assessment of transmission risks in Fiji has revealed that a number of people, including health workers, believe prayer a cure for HIV infection. Of the respondents who voiced opinions on the matter, most expressed belief that most other Fijians believe in the efficacy of religious faith, herbal medicines, laying on of hands, Christian prayer Read more
A memorial mass in Guam was celebrated on December 8 to recall what happened seven decades ago, when mass to commemorate Santa Marian Kamalen was abruptly cut short. It was 70 years to the day since the Japanese began their invasion. Carmen Artero Kasperbauer was just six years old at the time. She was one Read more
Papua New Guinea church leaders called on Thursday for a “grand coalition” to end the PNG crisis. Such a coalition would be a “Melanesian way” of solving what appears to be an intractable crisis with both Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his opponent Peter O’Neill refusing to back down. “If they are to release Read more
Population control was under discussion in two places in the Pacific region last week Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Health and HIV, Jamie Maxtone-Graham, has called for proper plans and strategies for population control to cater for the increasing population in the country. Quoting reports from a demographic health survey carried out in 2006, Maxtone-Graham Read more
Young people from the Pacific Islands joined those from Africa to march to the United States government delegation office at the UN Climate Talks in Durban last Friday to deliver a letter asking the super-power to “not sign our death sentence in Durban”. The letter urged the nation to either lead or get out of Read more
A hearing has been set for four senior Methodist leaders in Fiji to face charges of organising and participating in a meeting in contravention of the Public Emergency Regulations in 2009. Suva lawyer Aseri Vakaloloma, who is representing Methodist leaders Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi and Reverend Manasa Lasaro, submitted an affidavit with Reverend Kanailagi’s medical report, Read more
A Macuata chief has called on men of her district to reduce kava consumption and increase the utilisation of land. Tui Labasa, Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma, in an interview with The Fiji Times yesterday said it was time her people increased cultivation of land. “We need to make use of available resources and cultivate the land Read more
Credible local sources in West Papua have reported that Indonesian troops have razed a village while conducting a massive offensive against National Liberation Army guerrillas of Goliat Tabuni. Undercover local human right sources have claimed that at 1530 local time on December 3, two platoons from the “Coconut” brigade of Gegana Brimob anti-terrorist police, set Read more