The fight against the dumping of toxic waste off the coast of Madang in Papua New Guinea suffered a setback when a court injunction against the Ramu nickel mine, which is building a pipe to dump its waste into the ocean, was reversed.
Former Forest Minister, MP Belden Namah, has spoken out about the Ramu mine waste dumping issue which he says reflects the fact the government is weak and has been captured by foreign investors and is failing to put the interests of the people first.
THE clock is ticking in New York. It's a large, illuminated clock in Times Square, not far from the United Nations headquarters, where 140 world leaders and countless development activists gathered this week to evaluate progress on promises they made 10 years ago to make the world a better place.
In Madang, a case which aims to stop mine tailings from being dumped into Astrolabe Bay stands on a precipitous peak. Three landowners have withdrawn from the trial, while another seeks to be joined. Punctuating this court room drama are threats and under the table deals, as the mine operator attempts to lambast its project through to production.
For most of us, the Pacific means exotic islands where the people are happy, beaches are lined with coconut palms and there is a unique genetic sequence for rugby players.
In many ways the Pacific has huge wealth - natural resources, cultural diversity and resilient, capable people. These are vital ingredients for a decent standard of living for all.
The red, black and gold, with a touch of the bird of paradise flew for the first time on Independence Hill, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 16th September 1975. I was 6 months old, and, I had no idea what had just happened!
Papua New Guinea will celebrate 35 years of Nationhood today - 16th September 2010.
We have problems. We have difficulties. But we are a country that can still make choices.
In this video, Students from the Divine Word University in Madang, Papua New Guinea, talk about what it means to be an independent country and to be Papua New Guinean.
The Australian based Lowey Institute says Papua New Guinea's massive new Liquified Natural Gas project1 and large mining investments will not reduce poverty unless there is a radical re-thinking of the government's approach.
The US$18 billion LNG project has been heavily hyped by the PNG government as providing a rich future for the country but the evidence presented by the Lowey Institute suggests otherwise.
