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Peter Thomson December 2015 His Excellency December 2015 Peter Thomson Permanent Representative of Fiji to WHO WE ARE the United Nations The Office of International Affairs & Diplomacy actively supports UVU’s global engage- ment efforts by advancing Ambassador Peter Thomson took up Fiji Visitors Bureau, Fiji TV and Fiji UVU’s presence and prestige in office as Fiji’s Permanent Representa- Broadcasting Commission. From 1988 the International community; tive to the United Nations in February to 2009 he worked in private helping UVU students become 2010. He serves concurrently as Fiji’s enterprise as a company director and globally competent graduates; Ambassador to Cuba. He held office as investment/management consultant Vice President of the UN General specializing in Pacific affairs. He promoting cultural literacy and Assembly for the 2011-2012 session was a founding director of Tabua diversity both on campus and in and as President of the Investments Ltd, the the community. Assembly of the Inter- Denarau Island Resort national Seabed. For "We are greatly honored to development company. the duration of 2013, he have Ambassador Peter He is a founder member chaired the United Thomson at our of the executive commit- Nation's largest negoti- university. He comes to us tees of the Australia-Fiji ating bloc, the Group of Business Council and the 77 and China. From with vast international New Zealand Fiji Business CONTACT US January 2014 January business and diplomatic Council, and in 2007 was 2015, he served as experience. We look Office of International Affairs made a life member of the President of the Execu- forward to this opportunity latter council. He is a pub- LA111f tive Board of UNDP/ for him to share his lished author, with one of UNFPA/UNOPS. He is 800 West University Parkway thoughts and insights on his books, ‘Kava in the currently the President the recent UN General Blood’, being the winner MS 263 of the Council of the Assembly with our of a Montana book award International Seabed Orem, UT 84058 for non-fiction. In 2014 Authority for its 2015- students.." he was made an Officer of Phone: 801-863-7191 2016 session. Associate Vice President the Order of Fiji, an E-mail: [email protected] The Government of Fiji for UVU International award bestowed by the posted him to Tokyo in Affairs & Diplomacy, President of Fiji recogniz- www.uvu.edu/intlaffairs 1980 as Charge d’Af- Rusty Butler ing contributions and faires. He remained in achievements by Fijians Tokyo thereafter as to the nation. First Secretary Eco- Born in Suva, Fiji, Thomson graduated nomic until 1984, when he was ap- from Auckland University (B.A. Politi- pointed Fiji Consul-General in Sydney. cal Studies) in New Zealand, and In 1986 he returned to Fiji to become Cambridge University (Post-Grad Permanent Secretary of Information. Diploma in Development Studies) in In May 1987 he was appointed the United Kingdom. He married his Permanent Secretary to the Governor wife Marijcke Thomson and has two General. children and three grand-children. He has been a board member of the INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT Fiji Fiji is in the process of replacing their 45 THE FLAG OF year old flag with a new flag representing FIJI an Independent and democratic republic of Fiji. The majority of Fiji's islands were formed through volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago. Fiji has been inhabited since the second millennium BC, and was settled first by Austronesians. Europeans visited Fiji from the 17th MEANING century and, after a brief period as an The flag of Fiji is light blue with the independent kingdom, the British established the Colony of Fiji in 1874. Fiji Yaqona, otherwise known as kava, is an flag of the UK in the upper hoist- was a Crown colony until 1970, when it infusion prepared from the root of Piper side quadrant and the Fijian shield gained independence as a Common- methysticum, a type of pepper plant. centered on the outer half of the wealth realm. 'Having grog’ is used for welcoming and flag; the blue symbolizes the Pacific bonding with visitors, for storytelling ocean and the Union Jack reflects sessions or merely for passing time. the links with Great Britain; the English is the official language. However, shield - taken from Fiji's coat of Fijian and Hindi are also taught in schools arms - depicts a yellow lion above a as part of the school curriculum. white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters More than half of Fiji's population are depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm Christians (52.9%), Hindus (38.1%), Muslim (7.8%), Sikhs (0.7%), others tree, bananas, and a white dove. (0.5%). The Sri Siva Subramaniya temple is The sulu, is the traditional clothing in Fiji a Hindu temple in Nadi, Fiji. It is the worn by men (sulu vakataga) and largest Hindu temple in the Southern women (sulu-i-ra or sulu jaba.) hemisphere. Fiji is situated on the International Date Line (on the 180 degree meridian), which means that it is one of the first places in the world to usher in a new day. There is a particular spot on Taveuni Island where a person can stand with one foot in the current day and one foot in the day before. https://www.cia.gov ; en.wikipedia.org/ If one counted every single island that wiki/Fiji ; www.go-fiji.com / ; belongs to the Fijian archipelago, this www.fijiembassy.be ; https:// en.wikipedia.org number would be in thousands. Still, only about 322 are seen as big enough to support human habitation. These 322 islands, only 106 are inhabited. .
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