World Water Day 2012: Pacific Islands

[Chris]

Water Security is Food Security: World Water Day Celebrated around the Pacific

World Water Day is an annual event to help focus the world’s attention on water, its development and conservation. It is observed every March 22nd. The global theme this year is "Water and Food Security - The World is thirsty because we are hungry”. The Pacific theme for World Water Day 2012 is:

"Water Security is Food Security"

Many celebrations are planned throughout the Pacific Islands - please include any news and photographs from national events below.

[andre.siohane]

Hi All -Hope everyone is set for this Annual Event-

Kinda like the Theme as how the two key sectors that driven the ecomony and population married -"Thirsty and Hungry" -I think
Suggetion if possible to have some photo or video competition for this year's event- Perhaps RCU to sponsor prizes at the next 4th RSC Meeting to go along with the Super Rugby Tipping Comp.

What you think brother Sam of Samoa!!

[Marc Wilson]

"Pacific IWRM World Water Day 2012 Photo Competition"

IWRM country teams get as many pictures online as you can in the Kava Bowl below – from these each team can nominate their best three photos for entry into the competition in April.

I've got some great prizes in mind – as Andre suggests lets present these during the upcoming 4th RSC meeting in July.

All the best from sunny Pohnpei Island!


Click thumbnails to view larger image

[Lee]

Kasehlel all,

Splendid idea from my friend in Niue, It seems like you are confidence that you are losing the Rugby tip Competition to Palau.

In deed it’s a great idea. High Five Niue from Pohnpei. Since I have the intimation for the prize, I am thinking to cobble together on the snaps. Guys, it is going to be the best prize so let’s work hard on that. Who ever win the prize he or she won’t regret it, I prefer the photo competition prize than I Pad 3. In fact, I am staying up late tonight to refresh on my Photoshop skills. LOL.

Actually it’s been raining since the arrival of Sir. Wilson.

Good Luck

[andre.siohane]

Thanks Mr Wilson and RCU staffs for supporting the idea- also brother Lee for the hint on the prizes!!
About the Super Rugby Tip- will see!!!

thanks again

[Ese Fulivai Lakai]

"BLUE RIBBON WEEK for Tonga"

Some of the photoes from the Week in Tonga.


The starting of the Blue Ribbon Week. Even ears can wear the Pacific Blue Ribbon.


Community Task Force Team doing a short drama on what are the threats that could contaminate groundwater resources as well as rainwater resources.


All Ministries in Vava'u where blues or the IWRM World Water Day T-shirts as part of the National Blue Ribbon Week. This is the Governor's Office.

[Ese Fulivai Lakai]

More photoes on BLUE RIBBON WEEK in Tonga


Customs Department with their IWRM WWD T-shirt during the Blue Ribbon Week


Ministry of Finance with their IWRM WWD T-shirt

[Ese Fulivai Lakai]

More on Tonga Blue Ribbon Week

How students of one High School response to the IWRM Community Task Force Team short drama during the BLUE RIBBON WEEK

[sam.semisi]

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture Practices in Watersheds in Samoa

It looks like I'm slow off the mark to accept this challenge because now its official from Marc. Let the best camera person win.

Oh and while all of you will sent your shots early even though we are now the first country to see the sun, the Samoan photos will still be on the old dateline time because we like to keep to the old tradition and have our WWD 2012 after everyone else (4/4/12).

Good idea Andre. Now bring it on.....

[afaaso80]

WORLD WATER DAY 2012 IN TUVALU

[lynna]

2nd Palau National Water Summit



Water Summit Participants

[lynna]

Director Joe Aitaro Leading discussion at the Water Summit to confirm Palau's Vision for its Water Policy

[lynna]

Consultant Scott Walsh discussing water issues with Ministry of Education Representative Yutaka Gibbons Jr.

[lynna]

EQPB Environmental Inspector John Kintaro Jr. with Melkeok Elementary School Principle Recheluul and Teachers during Water Day School Visits to hand over posters and introduce the "Palau World Water Day-Blue Ribbon Water Awareness Month "Water Security is Food Security" Drawing Contest

[russjkun]

For World Water Day in Nauru, all schools from infant, primary and secondary participated on short dramas and plays on this year's theme: Water Security is Food Security.








It was a great turnout, with the President of Nauru and Minister for CIE seating and watch throughout the programme. For more photos, please click below shortcuts:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=faf67502a3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=5d0011101a

[Lee]

Kaselehlie everyone from Pohnpei Island!

Hey great job, this is excellent to learn what happens in our neighbors place - before I start thought you might like this picture of the paradise of Pohnpei:


So on to a brief report …

Pohnpei, FSM, March 22: Building on last year’s inaugural National Water Day in the Federated States of Micronesia, where the President and all the state Governors signed a proclamation for a permanent National Water Day to be held every year. This year’s events were focused on raising awareness in the young through school visits in Pohnpei. Representatives from the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pohnpei Utilities Corporation (PUC), Department of Resources and Development (R&D) and SPC-SOPAC gave presentations on this year theme; Water and Food Security.



I ensured my personal popularity by handing out chocolate bars to students asking "good" questions, Louis Sahle (PUC) described to students how they got water to their homes and got to answer the question "why do we need to pay for water?", Clayton Santos from EPA explained how water quality was monitored for pollutants and unsuccessfully dodged questions relating to action against polluters, Gibson Susumu from R & D encouraged students to demand local foods as it would both save water and improve their health …

[Lee]

…. and CSP’s Iakop Ioanis reminded students of the important role watersheds play in the supply of clean water and the need to protect the catchments into the future and Mathew Johnston (SPC/SOPAC) informed them about the role IWRM plays in trying to integrate all the competing demands on the catchment and water. The students were engaged by Marc Wilson learning about the amount of water required to produce meat, bread and fruit and vegetables, and the actions required to sustain water and food security.





This year the focus was also put on engaging community and religious groups. We visited a Seventh Day Adventist Church gathering and facilitated a discussion on water and food security. Questions were covered on the potential issues of water and food security on the island and what practices individuals and organizations can take to combat these issues as well as the sensitive local issue of is it necessary to pay for water and subsequently is an increase the water rate required? World Water Day showbags were given out to participants who contributed to answering the questions.

Plans for next year’s National Water Day have already begun, with plans to hold a National Water Summit to Launch FSM’s National Water Policy and IWRM Plan.



As this is the Kava Bowl … here is a photo of some of our local sakau … can you see the forest clearing? The guys here clear forest to give more sun to the sakau plants but it causes big erosion problems and sedimentation that costs us at the utility a lot of money to clean up from the water ... also not too good for spearfishing on the reef.



A video on the project produced by our brother Jeff at OTV can be found here:

Video of Nett Watershed IWRM Demonstration Project in FSM

[lynna]

Double Rainbow over the Palau International Coral Reef Center: A Beautiful Ending to World Water Day 2012

[vinesh]

Fiji Celebrated the World Water Day in style - one week road show , eight districts - two in the remotes. National celebration was held in Nadi. This year World Met. Day was also celebrated together with WWD.
Team West headed by Commissioner west hosted events in each venue- a colourful entourage on the road with dispalys in every venue . All town /city administrators in the west , Library service, Agriculture Dept, Ministry of Information, Dept. Education, Fiji Military Forces, Police department, Fiji Met. Services, Water Authority of Fiji , Medical department and many other joined forces for the road show... (every venue was rocked... )

Quizes, oratory contest, skit , marches , dances , poster competition , cake cutting , water fruit day , waterbreaks , NCD screening , blue ribbon launching etc etc.. were some of the actvities...

This is what the chief guest -The minister for Primary Industry said :

Production of all forms of food, from crops, livestock to inland fisheries and forests requires water, says the Primary Industries Minister Joketani Cokanasiga.

Mr Cokanasiga made this comment while opening the World Water Day celebrations at Prince Charles Park in Nadi last week.

With the theme for 2012 "Water and Food Security - The World is thirsty because we are hungry”, members of the Nadi Basin Catchment Committee, representatives of Government agencies as well students from several schools in Nadi participated in the World Water Day celebrations.

World Water Day is celebrated world-wide every March 22nd as a means of drawing attention on the importance and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Mr Cokanasiga told the participants that food security means when all people, are able at all times, to have enough, safe and healthy food to meet their needs and be able to live an active and healthy life.

This year the Department of Agriculture partnered with SOPAC-SPC in Fiji to celebrate the World Water Day.

A road show was organized with the whole team travelling to some of the areas that were worst affected by flooding earlier this year.

Starting in Rakiraki on March 19 the road show visited Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi and concluded their activities in Sigatoka on Friday 23rd.

The road show visited schools and villages to raise awareness of the importance of water for food security and how it related to their lives. Exhibitions on the importance of water were also set up at the Fiji National University (FNU) and University of Fiji in the West.

Events were also organized for two remote districts in Keyasi and Nadarivatu.

[andre.siohane]

Niue World Water Day 2012 and Launching of the Pacific Blue Water Ribbon--Photo of Hon Premier Toke Talagi and Niue Primary School Children with Government Officials including Staffs from Sopac Div of SPC-Photo by Hivi Puheke

[andre.siohane]

Early Childhood Education and Niue Primary School Chidren with the Water household Leakage Display by Water Supply Division-PWD at the World Water Day Event Photo-by Hivi Puheke

[andre.siohane]

Niue Hon Premier Toke Talagi-Address the opening of the World Water Day 2012 Celebration in Niue and Opening Statement for the official Launching of he Blue Water Ribbon. Photo by Clinton Chapman

[andre.siohane]

Niue Primary School kids washing their hands before lunch on Water Division's water wastage display on the World Water Day event. photo by Hivi Puheke

[andre.siohane]

Opening Address by the Director of Public Works-National IWRM Focal Poit- Mr Deve Talagi of the World Water Day 2012 Celebration in Niue and Launcing of the Blue Water Ribbon-Hon Premier and Government Official including invited guests and Niue Primary School- Children -Photo by Clinton Chapman