Samoa Association of Women Graduates posing at Kitano after their lunch seminar on Friday.

Red Cross meets in Savaii

By Cherelle S Jackson

[Saturday Observer] A better communication network system across Red Cross Societies in the Pacific has been one of the main focuses of the Red Cross Regional Partnership meeting held in Manase, Savaii this week.
Attended by more 41 regional representatives from 13 Pacific countries and international delegates from Geneva, China and Sweden the meeting discussed many aspects of Red Cross commitment in the region.
This included active measures to ensure reliable communication between societies.
According to Mr. Leon Prop, Head of Regional Delegate for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Pacific, an effective communication network would mean a quick and efficient disaster response system.
However there are barriers according to Mr. Prop: “Some of the challenges are quite well-known in terms of enormous distances and the problems in telecommunication and logistics and therefore at times very hard to do a quick assessment of what has happened after a disaster, what the impact has been and what the immediate needs are.”
The Pacific is especially prone to this as the islands are far apart and telecommunications and transport systems are unreliable during natural disasters.
“That is a key challenge if a cyclone strikes a remote island and there are no telecommunications links and it’s quite hard to decide what to do,” said Mr. Prop.
One of the discussions during the meeting has looked at how Red Cross can strengthen the network system which included the use of Radio links and satellite communication.
The main objective of the Regional Meeting according to Mr. Prop is to strengthen the regional Red Cross network in the international arena.
He said: “There have been talks with all Red Cross societies that are present here about a more global picture of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, there are important discussions going on as to where we want to go world-wide.”
Mr. Prop said he hopes the meeting can assist the regional movement in different ways.
“It very much about dialogue and learning from each other, the best practices, one of the things we have been doing is to ask the national societies to tell us a success story that can be inspiring for others and that they can take home and perhaps attach and do something similar in their own countries, so we hope there is a lot of learning and sharing in that regard.”
Perhaps more important is the regions hopes for a more common approach to problems which Mr. Prop said will ensure sustainability and effectiveness of Red Cross in the region.
“I also hope that by having a dialogue on some of the key trends that we can agree on a collective approach, I think that particularly for the Pacific Region and also for the wider world it’s important that we agree on common approaches where those make sense.”
According to him one society can help another Red Cross society in terms of disaster or in developing a particular programme, if there is an agreement on a number of key priorities.
The meeting will also decide on ways Red Cross and the Red Crescent movement can assist global efforts.
“We are discussing how the Red Cross link itself to global issues such as the Millennium Development Goals, what’s our role in meeting those, how can we assist Governments in meeting some of the objectives that have been agreed under the MDGs.”
Regionally Mr. Prop said: “The same for the Pacific Plan, the leaders are going to agree on the Pacific Plan and part of that is on Disaster Management, the question is what role we want to play as Red Cross in helping Governments meet the objectives of the Pacific Plan.”
According to him Red Cross has certain strengths which can be used by Governments in fulfilling some the objectives of the Pacific Plan.
“We can say as Red Cross you can count on us to do these and these things if everybody is in agreement with that, we will work very hard in making that happen.”Their hope is to make Red Cross part of the framework for these regional and international agreements so that their efforts are not only useful at the community level but contribute to relief and development on a much wider scale.

Women, essential in elections

By Cherelle S Jackson

[Sunday Newsline] "Women are an essential factor in winning elections," this is according to Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese in a seminar on Women and Elections late last week.
The lunch seminar was hosted by the Samoa Association of Women’s Graduates to fundraise for their annual education for women programmes.
Masiofo Filifilia is the Wife and Chairman of his winning campaigns of former Prime Minister and former Opposition leader Tupua Tamasese Efi and.
Filifilia spoke on her experiences and the methods that worked in her electoral adventures: "Women have a powerful influence in family and village life, in Samoa women have great interest in their families and their villages and if I had any success in this political winning it is because I have utilized the woman-factor."
Her secret to success is her understanding of the people and the committees she formed in each constituency.
"Because I do not live in a district I do not belong, I needed a committee for each village and all my committee members were women."
She said: "We weren’t just looking for anyone, what we need are hard workers who live in the village culture everyday of their lives and people who can lead family and village politics."
Filifilia says her selection was based on those qualities alone: "You don’t just pick anyone because you are related to them; you have to carefully select your committee."
According to her the success of using women was also due to the cultural values associated with females in the FaaSamoa.
"There’s a Samoan saying: E au le inailau o tamaitai. I found that women have an uncanny insight into the workings of village and church politics, the interplay of family network and what’s more, women are hard working and reliable."
She said a village in essence is one big family, and one of the most essential part in winning elections is "how you read the mood, the aspirations, the rivalry, the jealousies
within the family and we determine how to mold people and particularly their emotions because politics comes in many margins."
Filifilia says politics is really about people, human nature and about what makes people tick.
"It’s about the best and worse in human nature. Politics is a challenge which can be summed up with the question: How can you mold the emotion, the aspiration, the philosophy and the human nature of people into a winning combination? It is not easy."
In Samoa each district has a number of villages and each village has structures which according to Filifilia if you are a candidate you would have to be familiar with this structure in order to understand where voters are coming from.
At the end of her presentation she advised the audience that the cultural and traditional strengths of a woman in her family, community and the country should be used to guarantee a successful election.
"From my experience this has worked!"
Her presentation was well received by members of academia, by women’s rights activists in Samoa and the region and members of the public who attended the lunch.
The lunch seminar ended on a positive note on women and elections and with Filifilia’s hopes for more women behind the scenes if not in the forefront of political endeavors in Samoa.

Fish and the boy

I forgot how picturesque this country is until I went back to Savaii a few days ago. Everywhere you look there was photograph worthy of any National Geographic magazine. This is one of those moments, I saw these two boys returning from the ocean after a day of spearing, dreanched in sea-water they were not satisfied with their catch of the day, however they had this cute fish to make up for the dissapointment. This is the weird looking fish still on in its fatal position, and looking on is the brother of the culprit!

Red Cross meets in Savaii

By Cherelle S Jackson

[Saturday Observer] A better communication network system across Red Cross Societies in the Pacific has been one of the main focuses of the Red Cross Regional Partnership meeting held in Manase, Savaii this week.
Attended by more 41 regional representatives from 13 Pacific countries and international delegates from Geneva, China and Sweden the meeting discussed many aspects of Red Cross commitment in the region.
This included active measures to ensure reliable communication between societies.
According to Mr. Leon Prop, Head of Regional Delegate for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Pacific, an effective communication network would mean a quick and efficient disaster response system.
However there are barriers according to Mr. Prop: “Some of the challenges are quite well-known in terms of enormous distances and the problems in telecommunication and logistics and therefore at times very hard to do a quick assessment of what has happened after a disaster, what the impact has been and what the immediate needs are.”
The Pacific is especially prone to this as the islands are far apart and telecommunications and transport systems are unreliable during natural disasters.
“That is a key challenge if a cyclone strikes a remote island and there are no telecommunications links and it’s quite hard to decide what to do,” said Mr. Prop.
One of the discussions during the meeting has looked at how Red Cross can strengthen the network system which included the use of Radio links and satellite communication.
The main objective of the Regional Meeting according to Mr. Prop is to strengthen the regional Red Cross network in the international arena.
He said: “There have been talks with all Red Cross societies that are present here about a more global picture of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, there are important discussions going on as to where we want to go world-wide.”
Mr. Prop said he hopes the meeting can assist the regional movement in different ways.
“It very much about dialogue and learning from each other, the best practices, one of the things we have been doing is to ask the national societies to tell us a success story that can be inspiring for others and that they can take home and perhaps attach and do something similar in their own countries, so we hope there is a lot of learning and sharing in that regard.”
Perhaps more important is the regions hopes for a more common approach to problems which Mr. Prop said will ensure sustainability and effectiveness of Red Cross in the region.
“I also hope that by having a dialogue on some of the key trends that we can agree on a collective approach, I think that particularly for the Pacific Region and also for the wider world it’s important that we agree on common approaches where those make sense.”
According to him one society can help another Red Cross society in terms of disaster or in developing a particular programme, if there is an agreement on a number of key priorities.
The meeting will also decide on ways Red Cross and the Red Crescent movement can assist global efforts.
“We are discussing how the Red Cross link itself to global issues such as the Millennium Development Goals, what’s our role in meeting those, how can we assist Governments in meeting some of the objectives that have been agreed under the MDGs.”
Regionally Mr. Prop said: “The same for the Pacific Plan, the leaders are going to agree on the Pacific Plan and part of that is on Disaster Management, the question is what role we want to play as Red Cross in helping Governments meet the objectives of the Pacific Plan.”
According to him Red Cross has certain strengths which can be used by Governments in fulfilling some the objectives of the Pacific Plan.
“We can say as Red Cross you can count on us to do these and these things if everybody is in agreement with that, we will work very hard in making that happen.”Their hope is to make Red Cross part of the framework for these regional and international agreements so that their efforts are not only useful at the community level but contribute to relief and development on a much wider scale.

The Death of a Hero

By Cherelle S Jackson

Last night the body of fallen hero Missionary Rev, Dr Faitala Talapusi arrived at the Faleolo Airport to be awaited by family and friends.
"He was the dove that we let out to find hope, his return is not a failure, this return is a success, he has achieved his mission," said one Reverend last night.

The mysterious Pulemelei Mound in the village of Palauli in Savaii.

Sunset in Savaii, from my home in Safua.

Pottery found in Savaii

By Cherelle S Jackson

Samoa Observer - Fragments of Polynesian plain ware and complete stone tools were found at the village of Siutu, Savaii during an archaeological excavation.
The discovery was made by Tomo Ishimura a Doctoral Student and Tomohiro Inoue an undergraduate student from Kyoto University in Japan.
Ishimura said: “We dug a small pit, an extent of one by one meters and two meters deep and found a small number of artifacts, stone tools and fragments of pottery.”
The type of pottery they found is called the Polynesian plain ware, which is a successor to lapita Pottery.
“A rough estimation of the era of Polynesian ware is maybe 2500 to 1800 BP,” Ishimura said.
Also discovered at the site were shells and Ishimura was particularly thrilled about the pieces as it is directly involved with his interests.
“The shells will give me an idea about the eco-system of pre historic Samoans,” he said.
The shells could determine what people ate and how much they relied on the eco-system for survival in a certain era.
The artifacts have already been sent to Kyoto University for radiocarbon dating and will be returned to Samoa after the tests.
This excavation may answer some questions about the history of Samoa and the origin of its people especially the ones who first settled Savaii.
According to Ishimura, Siutu is a newly discovered pottery-bearing site.
He said they chose to excavate in Siumu because other sites were hard to work on.
“Mulinuu is submerged so we could not work there,” Ishimura said.
Despite the discovery of the items the two students were not fully satisfied with the results of their excavation.
“It was partly successful, the object of our study was to find lapita pottery but we haven’t!”
Still, their finds will benefit the National University of Samoa who will inherit the artifacts upon their return
The excavation is part of an Archaeological Field Research by the Department of Archaeology at Kyoto University.
In a report by the university it states: “This project aims at collecting fundamental archaeological data, such as artifacts, fauna/floral remains, samples from radiocarbon dating and other pertinent facts about Samoan past. Analyzing these data, the project intends to reconstruct the prehistory of Samoa archaeologically.”
The report noted the need for substantial research in Samoa as it “plays an important role in the history of Polynesian migrations.”
They said that the area has been the “least studied from the prehistoric viewpoint.”
Kyoto University works hand in hand with Dr Geoffrey Clark from the Australian National University and staff of Kon-tiki Museum in Norway on the archaeology of Samoa.
The research study is also affiliated with the Institute of Samoan Studies at the National University of Samoa.
Results of the radiocarbon dating will be publicly announced and published in a bulletin by the National University of Samoa as soon as they return.

Palolo "no longer respected"

By Cherelle S Jackson

As locals from all Palolo reaping villages made their way to the sea in the early hours of the Sunday morning in search of the much- valued delicacy old grandmother Faleasiu Tiatia is near tears at home.
She sighed: “It is sad what has become of our people during the Palolo season, they no longer respect the old traditions of welcoming the fish.”
As a child growing up in Avao, Faleasiu is well aware of the local tradition of waiting for the Palolo.
“Back then we had respect for the catching and everyone wore good clean clothes, wore mosooi ulas or ula maile to welcome and attract the fish,” Faleasiu said.
These days it is a rare sight to see a Palolo catcher wearing good clothes or ulas to catch Palolo.
“Now people just go in with dirty clothes, there is no respect whatsoever, zero!”
She said that the Palolo catch was always an event to look forward to in her days because it was a celebration of a gift from God.
“Palolo is food and God gave it to us for free, to show our appreciation we dress up so that the gift would keep coming.”
That is no longer the case and the belief has been described as “old fashioned” by some but Faleasiu still sticks to her beliefs.
“You see the reason why the Palolo does not come strongly nowadays is because people have no respect for the fish anymore,” she said.
But the seasons have changed and peoples perception have changed with it.
Rarely would you see a local dressed well to catch Palolo and a ula of any type is now only just a memory on the oceans during the Palolo season.
To Faleasiu the most painful stab of change is the sale of the Palolo for money.
“It hurts me to see that people are selling Palolo for money. It is no longer treated as a gift from above, now it has become a commercial product for our people whose ancestors valued it like gold in our time,” she said.
Samoa still values Palolo like gold, but unfortunately this time it’s not for the taste but for the money.
Faleasiu knows that the traditions of catching the Palolo will never return but she is thankful that the Palolo is still faithfully arriving despite of the ‘hostile reception’ and ‘selfish people.’
“Someday our people will go out to the see to find nothing because of our selfish ways, but lets hope that day will never come,” she said.
Faleasiu has very strong feelings about the Palolo tradition and so as many other elders of our country.
What was once an event of cultural thanksgiving, celebration and sharing has become just another way to make money.
Palolo is still a delicacy as it was when it was free and respected only now it has become a scarce and expensive one.

Township will endanger "the best lowland forest in Samoa"

By Cherelle S Jackson

Samoa Observer [2002] The proposed new Salelologa Township for the island of Savaii will be built on what is described by O le Siosiomaga Society as: “The best remaining lowland forest in Samoa.”
The location of the proposed development is on the southern side of the island of Savaii, taking up 3000 acres of untouched forest in the village of Salelologa.
Government wishes to enlarge the already existing town of Salelologa to something bigger, which means more buildings, and infrastructure.
Director of Lands Survey and Environment Tuuu Ieti Taulealo was asked if the whole 3000 acres will be used he said: “The size of the town depends on what sort of opportunities for investment turn up.”
Four million tala is the price of the Salelologa forest and three million has already been paid by the government to Salelologa village with the remaining amount to be settled in “the next financial year.”
In an environmental assessment report by the Siosiomaga Society several facts are stated about the Salelologa forest which makes it not only the “best lowland forest in Samoa” but also priceless.
“The forest contains at least 226 vascular plant species of which 72% are native to Samoa. Twenty species of native Samoan birds and one non-native species were recorded in the forest representing 65% of all native-land and water birds in Samoa.”
The loudest statement on the report says: “The study clearly reconfirms the high biological value of the Salelologa forest. These values have already been clearly identified by a number of scientists over the past ten years.”
That indicates that the land is worth more than the government thinks, taking into consideration that foreign expertise’s fully have recognized it.
A matai from the village of Salelologa who did not wish to be named for personal reasons said: “I think this land is valued much more than four million, the government should take into consideration the traditional, social and of course economic value of this land.”
Plans for the new township will be finalized as soon as the last million is paid to the village and then the whole 3000 acres are in the hands of the government.
“We (the Government) are finishing deals with the village,” Taulealo said, “and then plans for the town will be made.”
He was asked if the Government was taking the EA report into consideration and he said: “The report was submitted to us, we are taking it into account.”
He mentioned that there are indications of forest preserves on the 3000-acre land and that the town will be built near the road and not directly in the forest.
But there a road already surrounds the set area for the town and that is already posing threats to the Salelologa forest.
“The road that now borders the project area already is a vector for non-native birds and plants and is intensively used by hunters as well.”
The EA report states the effects of roads in the forest: “Roads create exposed hedges that are undesirable habitat for many birds and bat species and provide pathways for invasion of the forest by non-native species.”
In a bid to develop and possibly improve the economy of the Samoa the government will have to use part of the lowland forest at Salelologa thus threatening the existence of all that lives within it.
A suggestion made in the EA report might sound like a dream at the moment but if taken into consideration will be the best thing the Government has yet to do: “Discontinue all logging and leave intact the native rainforest on Salelologa customary lands. Redesignate the area as a rainforest preserve, as outlined in the convent signed with the villages in 1990 and 1991.”
The convenant was an agreement between the Swedish Society for Nature and Conservation and the villages of Tafua, Salelologa and Palauli to preserve the rainforests in their villages.

Savaii: An update

By Cherelle S Jackson

“She is blue and green, lush with beauty and hospitality.” That’s Savaii in one phrase, coined by Jerome Grey in the hit song, “We are Samoa.”
Savaii has been described as a hidden paradise, the island you never hear of, honeymooners dream, pack packers delight, the native part of Samoa, the island where there are no Mars Bars and some went so far as to say it is Hawaiki, the birth place of Polynesia.
Savaii with all her fierce volcanic peaks, green landscape, idyllic beaches, historical sights and friendly people is well known as the Big Island.
But what is really in the big island apart from the dreamy paradise image portrayed by tourism advertisements and word of mouth?
The island is like a separate entity in itself, apart from the supplies from Upolu it otherwise runs daily by itself.
More often than not Savaii is isolated from the main events, which is celebrated on the main island of Upolu.
It has in the last five years has seen more development than in the last twenty years put together.
Transportation, communication, infrastructure, health and education facilities, labour and even fashion has changed so fast that the town of Salelologa is almost unrecognizable to the returning Savaiian.
With a population of 42,824, not even quarter of the total population Savaii is creating that small island state mentality combined with its eco-tourism approach.
The island is divided into 19 Faipule districts with the smallest being Gagaemauga II consisting of one village, Saleaula with a population of 609.
The largest district is Faasaleleaga I with 15 sub-villages amounting to an overall population of 5920.
It Island has three airports, two wharfs and a sturdy tar sealed road surrounding the island.
Ten years ago it would have been hard to even buy a shaver at a store, now you can choose between several brands, buy extra blades and still have more choices.
Five years ago some in the tourism industry had to travel to Apia to get supplies, now there’s no need to do that most of the products in Apia are available in Savaii.
Salelologa as many may know is the center of commercial activities in Savaii.
The town area itself has a population of 976.
It hosts the Salelologa market, which is a combination of food, fish and flea market in one building surrounded regular in shops.
The front lot of the market is the main bus station although it is not properly tarred or designated for the purpose it has worked well throughout the years.
On the left of the market is the ANZ Bank and on its right, the newly relocated and renovated Samoa National Provident Fund Building which was originally the Vailima headquarters until they moved nearer to the wharf.
Salelologa has the only mall in Savaii, the Bluebird Mall which in turn houses the National Bank, a store, Jetover Motel, a travel agent, Foto Land, a Doctors office and other small businesses.
The only wholesale based in Savaii is Ah Liki Whole Sale behind the market although most wholesalers from Upolu have an agent and send regular truck supplies to Savaii.
The major shops are Morris Hedstrom, Naumati’s Store, Avau’s, CCK and Taylor Mariners down at the Wharf.
There is a furniture shop, several tyre repair and sales shops including WestEnd.
The Wesley Bookshop and the Ia Malamalama remains to be the only bookstores on island.
The Salelologa Library behind the market still remains to be the best place to study and a great source of information.
There is one dial-up taxi stand in Savaii, most patrol or wait for passengers at the wharf, airport or hotels.
To this date most of the businesses in Savaii are owned by native Savaiians.
The Mariners, Naumati, Avau, Pele’s and Ropatis are some of the oldest business names.
Apart from Salelologa the second base of activity is Tuasivi where the Malietoa Tanumafili II Hospital is located.
The Police Station, SamoaTel Post Office, Court House, Registration Building and Naumati Store are also located in Tuasivi.
Tuasivi in the last census recorded a population of 372.
But there’s more to Savaii then the buildings and infrastructure, there’s the people, the sights and sounds and the culture, the things that really make Savaii.