Environment
Climate solutions discussed in Apia
Wednesday 7 July 2010 | Published in Environment
“Climate Solutions: Invest in Biodiversity” is the theme of the 13th gathering of the Pacific Islands Round Table for Nature Conservation that opened in Samoa yesterday. The coalition of nature conservation partners works to improve collaboration and coordination towards effective conservation action in the Pacific region. Close to 100 participants will discuss effective biodiversity conservation […]
Poems and odes to our environment
Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Environment
Rarotonga school children played a big role in last week’s ‘environment week’ – drawing, photographing, dancing and writing poems and stories to highlight some of the environmental issues we face in our islands. There were some fantastic drawings displayed in the three banks and during the week’s performing arts competition – Avarua school opened up […]
Revolutionary sewage treatment for all homes
Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Environment
THE LOWERING of the water quality in the lagoon is a serious concern to everyone in the Cook Islands. Reversing the degradation of the water could mean that the people of Rarotonga can once again eat fish from the lagoon without fear of fish poisoning. Now help is at hand as Geoff Mavromatis and his […]
School kids tackle Lagoon Day questions
Wednesday 9 June 2010 | Published in Environment
The third annual Lagoon Day was held recently at Muri and nearly every schoolchild on the island visited the event over the course of the two days. Below is a compilation of answers given by students from both Junior (Italics) and Senior (normal) activity sheet which they filled in at Lagoon Day. Where answers were […]
Pacific fights to keep Kyoto Protocol
Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Environment
BONN, Germany, June 3Most Pacific Island Countries are fighting to keep the only legally binding agreement under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – the Kyoto Protocol – alive to ensure that the Adaptation Board serves its purpose. The fund, established under the Kyoto Protocol, was set up to finance concrete adaptation projects […]
Marine raui to be legislated
Friday 4 June 2010 | Published in Environment
A core group of local experts on marine protected areas is examining methods to strengthen the existing system of marine ra’ui in the Cook Islands. Representatives of the Koutu Nui, Ministry of Marine Resources and the National Environment Service have recently returned from a study of marine reserves and rahui in the South Island of […]
Evans excited in new environment role
Thursday 3 June 2010 | Published in Environment
The new program manager for Te Ipukarea Society Inc (TIS), Jacqui Evans, begins work this week at their Maraerenga Office. “I’m really excited to start this job. It’s the kind of work I love to do,” Evans said. “I’ll be coordinating a project aimed at protecting our native and endemic birds and other important species.” […]
Environment Week activities on
Wednesday 2 June 2010 | Published in Environment
Judging began yesterday for the photography, arts and performing arts competition held in conjunction with Environment Week t his week. Yesterday afternoon judging was held at BCI for the work by year 1-3 students Today judging will be held at ANZ Bank at 2pm for work by year 4-6 students while tomorrow at 9am judging […]
Priorities discussed
Wednesday 2 June 2010 | Published in Environment
Representatives from 15 member countries and territories of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) met in Nadi, Fiji, on May 24-25, to discuss Pacific environmental priorities for the next five years. Delegates from American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, USA and […]
Compost toilet saves water and environment
Tuesday 1 June 2010 | Published in Environment
The latest in eco-friendly toilet technology, the compost toilet, has found a home on Mauke. Andrew and June Hosking have elected to save the environment from pollution by using a Rota-Loo, a toilet that doesn’t require water to operate. June said that most people misunderstand the waterless toilet, and mistake it for a long drop, […]
Lagoon Day flows into Environment Week
Saturday 29 May 2010 | Published in Environment
This week’s Lagoon Day event on Thursday and yesterday was a natural beginning point to this year’s Environment Week which starts on Monday. All activities and competitions throughout the week are based on the theme ‘E tango maori te ao ora natura our biodiversity our foundation’. The week’s events will include the judging of five […]
Ban pollutants
Saturday 29 May 2010 | Published in Environment
Minister of health Apii Phio believes a good way to protect the lagoon is to ban washing powders containing phosphorous. Piho stood in on Thursday for Minister of the Environment Cassey Eggleton at Lagoon Day. Eggleton is still away in Uruguay at a conference with the Global Environment Fund. Phio took the opportunity to suggest […]
3rd lagoon day is a call to action
Saturday 29 May 2010 | Published in Environment
The third annual Lagoon Day event at Muri this week kicked off with a call to action from deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore. In his opening address, Wigmore said three years was a long time to research how we tackle the problem. “Now the time has come to do something,” he said. CIMRIS representative Geoff […]
LAGOON DAY
Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment
Dernice Rongo for Cook Islands General Transport Correct disposal of waste. Think about the rubbish you’ve buried over the years. If that rubbish includes chemicals, poisons, car batteries, oil based products like disposable nappies, they could be leaching into the ground water. Dernice Rongo for CIGT “/> June Hosking for kia TAERIA Change to a […]
Marine Resources calls CIMRIS a success
Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment
Water Works employee Daryl Rairi rakes and takes orders from Marine Resources officer Kori Raumea as both find the fun in clearing up the area in Panama a few years ago. 05020804
It's today!
Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment
The two-day ‘Lagoon Day’ environmental exhibition opens today at Nukupure Park. And you don’t have to be a VIP to be at the opening which starts at 8.30am. The community is urged to take advantage of this programme to better understand how to protect our environment and especially our lagoon. After all – we are […]
Community-based approach to climate change
Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment
Canadian environmental consultant George H. de Berdt Romilly is on the island to discuss community-based, grassroots approaches to managing climate change. He takes the position that climate change is an issue that affects everyone and especially in small island states, its management is a community initiative. Governments can’t always afford to repair recurring damage, and […]
Eggelton makes environment call
Thursday 27 May 2010 | Published in Environment
Minister for environment Cassey Eggleton, in a speech to the Fourth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Uruguay, has called for national institutions to be allowed to function as GEF Agents. She told the conference that misunderstandings and distrust had arisen because of insufficient communication, which could be rectified by giving national bodies […]
Students will flock to Lagoon Day
Wednesday 26 May 2010 | Published in Environment
Students from all schools around the island will have a chance over the next two days to learn how best to protect their environment and the lagoon they grew up swimming in. About 1400 pupils of all ages are expected to pay a visit. Buses will transport students from Imanuela Akatemia, Takitumu School, Te Uki […]
CITC goes eco friendly
Wednesday 26 May 2010 | Published in Environment
As a company CITC has made a conscious effort to be friendly to the environment. One major campaign that they are pushing is to get rid of plastic bags. They are doing this at all their stores by promoting purchase reusable shopping bags for both dry and chilled/frozen products, and by also using biodegradable plastic […]