Author Archives: w3media

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NSW State Body Working Group formed

state-body-group

WANTOK 2015 – Lismore, NSW State Body Working Group formed and elected through registered organisations as a means of good governance for our ASSI communities. Thank you to ASSI organisations from Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Bundaberg and Sydney. National ASSI Assoc constitutional consultations were also a positive outcome of the 3 day forum. Shelly Nagas ‘One Voice One People’ coordinator for Wantok Lismore 2015.

CONFIRMED WORKING GROUP REPS:
LISMORE REGION – Bundjalung / ASSI Ministries – Gordon Johnson, Emmanuel Roberts.
TWEED HEADS – Tweed ASSI Association – Fiona Mount & tbc 1 more delegate.
SYDNEY – ASSI Port Jackson Ltd – Emelda Davis (Sydney City), Zac Wone (Western Sydney).
COFFS HARBOUR – ASSI delegate through registered organisation – Emmanuel Fewquandie

A strategy team will be announced in due course.

A big Congratulations to those who participated and have committed to the process in actively seeking our NSW community groups in other regions of NSW to join the developments as representatives.

The NSW working group have adopted a positive working strategy in progressing the ASSI agenda that is:
Under no circumstances will negative feedback, slander, sarcasm or otherwise be entertained. Emails containing negative feedback/comments will not be considered and deleted immediately by the new committee as we stand in solidarity of ‘One Mind, One Voice, One People’. Peace love and respect for each other and our passion for our cause will always prevail.

If you are from a ASSI registered organisation or an ASSI community group and would like to participate in supporting NSW developments please feel free to contact us via a group email using the below email addresses:

Emelda Davis – assi.pj@gmail.com
Shelly Nagas – ruthnagas_bundy@hotmail.com
Lois Johnson – loisjohnson59@yahoo.com
Zac Wone – zwone130@gmail.com

Human Rights for Good Governance

denarau-2015-outcomes

The Australian South Sea Islanders community are urged to read about this pinnacle achievement for our Pacific Island communities. Is this something to consider for our National Constitution… ‘Human Rights for Good Governance’ ?

11 January 2015, Suva:

Members of parliament (MPs) from 11 countries across the Pacific region have affirmed their commitment to good governance and human rights with the release of a formal declaration. The MPs echoed the Pacific leaders’ vision in the new Framework for Pacific Regionalism (2014), calling for a Pacific region ‘known for its quality of governance and respect for human rights’ in a statement called the 2015 Denarau Declaration on Human Rights and Good Governance.

The first of its kind for the Pacific, the declaration also states the MPs’ commitment to Pacific culture and traditions, noting that human rights and good governance can be achieved when politicians embrace culture, and engage its evolution and its many values that are linked to principles, treaties and conventions of human rights. The declaration was the main outcome of the Pacific Members of Parliament Consultation on Human Rights for Good Governance, organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) late last month in Nadi, Fiji.

“Human rights and good governance are mutually reinforcing, and this, being the first ever Pacific human rights declaration by Members of Parliament, demonstrates strong political will and commitment by our Pacific leaders,” the Deputy Director of SPC’s Human Rights Programme (RRRT), Mark Atterton, said. “The 2015 Denarau Declaration is a bold and visionary statement that speaks to the dignity and lives of Pacific islanders,” Mr Atterton said.

In the declaration, MPs acknowledged their role and responsibilities to champion and guide the national application of United Nations human rights treaties, and to submit treaty reports in compliance with their state reporting obligations. The MPs noted the progressive steps taken by Pacific governments in the ratification of core human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

In respect of women’s rights, the MPs attending the consultation urged parliamentarians and governments to act boldly to ensure that women’s human rights are realised through laws, policies, and social and community norms and values that reject all forms of discrimination.

The MPs also agreed that climate change and Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a real and immediate threat to human, cultural and health rights, and are central to the future of Pacific communities. They declared their commitment to working collaboratively across sectors of government and society, and to be effective at the local, national and international levels. The consultation concluded with the MPs requesting SPC RRRT to build upon the success of the regional consultation to organise further MP consultations at the national level to progress human rights, good governance and sustainable development.

Download a copy of the MPs outcomes poster HERE (1.3 MB pdf file)

SPC – Secretariat of the Pacific Community – Regional Rights Resource Team is funded by the Australian Government. You can visit their website HERE.

Our south seas sin

Shireen Malamoo with SMH article

Shireen Malamoo with SMH article entitled “Our south seas sin”

Back in August, 2008 Sydney Morning Herald’s Asia Pacific Editor, Hamish McDonald, wrote an article entitled “Our south seas sin” which talked about a regional approach of connecting Australian South Sea Islanders with their roots through a system where Pacific people can use the “main islands” of Australia and New Zealand to lift their lives, through seasonal labour, education and some settlement.

The complete original article can be read HERE.

Faendem Baek Famili – Solomon Islands participant 2014

faendem baek famili pr

Graham Mooney, who was a participant in the workshop, says “I hale from Mackay in far north Queensland, which is home to our largest ASSI / Solomon Island descent community. I have both Aboriginal and South Sea Islander ancestry from my father and mother’s lines.

My father was brought up strictly in Solomon Islander culture and still speaks pijin today. I was given the role as our biological family historian both on my father’s (Percival Mooney (senior) ancestry and lineage into the Solomon Islands and my mother’s (Jessie Darr) ancestry and lineage into my Vanuatu heritage.

This will be my first time to visit the Solomons in my over 60 years. Our great grandfather, Kwailiu, and great grandmother, Orrani, were brought to Queensland as indentured workers to grow sugarcane in Innisfail in far North Queensland.

They came from Fataleka, Malaita, Solomon Islands in 1888. My father’s lineage as a Solomon Islander comes through his mother Cecily Fatnowna, the youngest daughter of Kwailiu and Orrani.”

Mass Deportation

Mass deportation

Mass Deportation – Historical facts extracts from powerpoint for – INDENTURED LABOUR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, Port Louis, Mauritius compiled by Emelda Davis and Professor Clive Moore

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