SIGNIS Pacific No. 3 November 2007

CHILDREN OUR FIRST CONCERN AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

By Agatha Ferei We try to empower people dignity of the human person SIGNIS to become pro-active me- by empowering the use of the dia users rather than passive in a way that enhances Parents and leaders need consumers, to equip them rather than diminishes that help to prepare children to with the skills they need to dignity. Some see this endea- live in and cope with the new be critical, selective as appre- vour as a valid form of pre- media culture as there is little ciative readers, listeners and evangelisation. doubt that the mass media is viewers. This has the added the dominant media culture effect of building personal throughout the world. This is autonomy and developing no less the case with the small critical thinking skills in a isolated Pacific island nations, country where the ‘culture including the Fiji Islands. of silence’ still holds sway. It encourages people to partici- At Fiji Media Watch, where I pate in community and public am Media Education Coordi- policy decision-making and so nator, our aims are to foster grow into mature responsible public awareness of the role of citizens. the media, to promote media education and to monitor the media for quality of con- Fiji Media Watch is non-de- tent. Established in 1993, its nominational and embraces members are educational and all of Fiji’s multi-cultural and religious organizations and multi-religious people. It is concerned citizens. committed to promoting

In This Issue About Us

SIGNIS Pacific News is published by: SIGNIS Pacific, Box 12, 16 Armstrong Street, Middle Park Vic. 3206, . Tel: 61 3 96821085, Fax: 61 3 86117956. Mbl: 0419899199 • Vale Bishop Michel of Email: [email protected] • Welcome Bishop Mafi of • Filmmaker Heads Regional Media Centre • South Pacific Facts President: Mr. Viliami Falekaono, Tonga. • Worth Reading Vice President: Mdm. Nicole Constans, New • Recommended Websites Caledonia • Regional Seminary Communications Seminar Secretary/Tres: Mr. Peter Thomas, Australia VALE BISHOP MICHEL

It is with great sad- from the Vanuatu is- the first indigenous ness that SIGNIS land of Ambae, north bishop of Vanuatu in Pacific members ac- of the archipelago 1997. knowledge the death and trained at New Bishop Michel Visi of Vanuatu’s, Bishop Caledonia’s St.Leon de was a great supporter Michel Visi who died, Paita and the Pacific of communication’s aged 52 years, at his Regional Seminary in work in Vanuatu. home in Port Vila on Suva. His media staff and Saturday May 19, He was ordained volunteers from the 2007. priest in 1982 and Katolik Media Center Bishop Visi was also studied Canon Law in have and continue to the Vice President of . Later he was make a great con- the the Pacific Epis- appointed Rector of tribution to SIGNIS copal Conference the Seminary in Suva. Pacific. (CEPAC). He came He then became May he Rest In Peace.

WELCOME TO NEW BISHOP IN TONGA

On October 4th Soane Patita Mafi Minister Dr Fred Sevele and gov- became Bishop of the Diocese of ernment representatives, Nobles Tonga and Niue in a ceremony at and commoners. the Malia Tupu ‘Imakulata Cathe- The Vatican appointed Bishop dral in Ma’ufanga. Soane Patita Mafi as the co-adju- Guests included His Majesty tor a few months ago to replace King George Tupou V, the Queen the ailing Bishop Foliaki. Mother, Halaevalu Mata’aho, Prin- SIGNIS Pacific members offer cess Pilolevu Tuita, members of Bishop Mafi our very best wishes the Royal Family, the Hon. Prime and prayers.

FILMMAKER HEADS UP NEW REGIONAL MEDIA CENTRE

Larry Thomas is the new Coordinator of the Regional Media Centre, South Pacific Commission, based in Suva, Fiji. Known throughout the Pacific as a playwright and filmmaker, he gained his degree in Communications from the University of Canberra.

His most recent documentary film, featured on Fiji television, “Bitter Sweet Hope” is about the history of the sugar industry in Fiji and the expiry of land leases and how this is affecting both land owners and cane farmers. Larry Thomas was featured in the SIGNIS Pacific production, “Media, the Pacific Way.”

SIGNIS Pacific News, Nov 2007, p 2 SOME PACIFIC FACTS ...

• The Pacific covers a third of the world’s surface, 165,250,000 Square Kms and has an average depth of 4,280 metres. • Highest mountain peak in the Pacific is Mt.William in , 4,509 metres. • Driest place in the Pacific is Mulka, Australia, annual rainfall 103 mm. • Wettest place in the Pacific is Madang in Papua New Guinea, annual rainfall, 3,344 mm. • Smallest country in the Pacific, Nauru, 21 square kilometers. • Total population of the SIGNIS Madang Pacific countries, 30,215,000.

NEWS IN BRIEF

TONGA: Tonga, like many Poly- for the actions of their forefathers nesian and Melanesian nations, who killed and ate four Fijian mis- has an insatiable diet for Rugby, sionaries in 1878. so in July when Tongans could Tonga.. watch the Rugby World Cup live, it Papua New Guinea.. AUSTRALIA: When you go online Australia.. was a great boost to the national to www.australianscreen.com. Fiji Islands.. morale. The equipment to encrypt au you will get a good look at Aotearoa New Zealand the Rugby to paying customers the Australian film and television didn’t arrive in time, so for a while industry, from its earliest days to Tongans enjoyed their rugby free. the present. There are clips from Rugby comes to Tonga via Fiji’s Australian feature films, documen- AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND: Sky TV through China Central taries, TV programs, home movies, A second Maori TV channel, to Television Channel. (CCTV) newsreels, advertisements, other broadcast 100% te reo Maori dur- historical footage and much more. ing primetime, 7.30–10.30pm, will PAPUA NEW GUINEA: With the The site currently contains 1,489 be launched in early 2008. Maori entry of the telecommunication’s clips from 573 film and TV titles Television Chief Executive, Jim company, Digicel in August, the and is constantly being added to. Mather, said the second channel mobile phone usage in the PNG will suit fluent Maori speakers has risen by 69%. In the first three and those learning the language. weeks of operation the number FIJI ISLANDS: In August the Fiji “Fulfilling our statutory obligation of mobiles in PNG went from Cabinet gave their approval for of promoting te reo Maori me nga 160,000 to 315,000. three additional free-to-air televi- tikanga Maori in both Maori and Meanwhile, according to the sion broadcast licences. If all the English is our priority.” The new BBC World Service, 16/8/07, the stations go to air this will mean channel is to be programmed to descendents of 19th century PNG people in Fiji will have five free-to- complement the successful Maori cannibals have expressed sorrow air services. Cable is also available. channel currently on-air. SIGNIS Pacific News, Nov 2007, p 3 WORTH READING ...

Ancient & the Lost adventurer and author David City of Nan Madol: Including Childress researched Nan Madol Palau, Kosrae, Yap, Chuuk, Pohn- to discover that it contains over pei and . 250 million tons of basalt columns strewn, partially submerged, over This is a rather lengthy title to an 11 square mile area of artifi- David Hatcher Childress’ 1998 cial islands. Strange underwater book published by Adventures buildings of this incredible city Unlimited Press. “Ancient Micro- are found at 80 feet. Local legends nesia” explores the astonishing insist the hugh volcanic rocks, array of megalithic ruins found in weighing up to 50 tons, were the Northern Pacific, including the levitated into place by mysteri- Latte Stones of the Northern Mari- ous island ancestors. A book of anas, the menhirs of Paulau, the adventure and a book that reveals megalithic canal city on Kosrae Is- something of the great richness land, and the ever-mysterious Nan of these ancient cultures of the Madol on Pohnpei Island. Intrepid northern pacific.

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES

www.dioceseofthecarolines. www.pacificmagazine.net/ www.catholicvi.com/new-pag- org/news.htm people es/pages/signis.html The official website of the Diocese ‘Pacific Magazine’ is an important Those of us in the countries of of the Caroline Islands is attractive media and information publica- the Pacific have much in common with a menu that is very easy to tion with an equally impressive with our Island brothers and sis- navigate. It has the usual diocesan online presentation. Currently in ters in the Caribbean, so it is with listings of ministries and religious ‘Pacific Magazine’, available on- much joy that we welcome them congregations together with line, is a list of “293 Pacific Leaders to the SIGNIS family. SIGNIS Caib- plenty of news from the diocese, You Need to Know”. Community bean was ‘born’ in Port of which because of its vastness and leaders, business, entrepreneurs, in August, 2007. Its membership distinctive culture of different is- church personnel, politicians, includes representation from na- lands, e.g. Pohnpei/Kosrae, Palau, human rights activists, academics tions across the region, including Yap and Chuuk, is very important. and more are in this list of people Trinidad, , Belize, Virgin Graphically imaginative there from across the Pacific. The entries Islands, Barbados, , St are just enough photographs to are ordered by country or territory Vincent & Grenadines, St Lucia compliment text. for ease of reference. and Antigua. SIGNIS Pacific News, Nov 2007, p 4 PACIFIC REGIONAL SEMINARY COMMUNICATIONS SEMINAR

SIGNIS Pacific President, Viliami Falekaono and World Vice Presi- dent, Peter Thomas with Arch- bishop Charles Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, Cook Is, Fiji Is, Marshall Is, Fed. States of Micronesia, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Palau, Vanuatu and Apostolic Delegate to the Pacific Ocean.

PRS students learning the finer points of radio presenta- tion at the 2007 Seminar

Enthusiastic scholars at the SIGNIS Pa- cific PRS 2007 Communica- tion’s Seminar

SIGNIS Pacific News, Nov 2007, p 5