The Prime Minister’s promise to stop issuing new forestry licences will do nothing to stop illegal logging destroying Papua New Guinea’s tropical forests, says ACT NOW!

Addressing the recent meeting of the Green Climate Fund in Port Moresby, the Prime Minister is reported to have said no new forestry licences will be issued after 16^th September, the 50th anniversary of PNG’s Independence. 

However, stopping new logging licences is an empty gesture that will have no practical impact.

Eddie Tanago | Campaign Manager

A recent news story about communities in Morobe using their profits from cocoa farming to pay for solar powered street lights for their villages is very encouraging and positive. Such initiatives drive economic independence, a sense of community and self reliance.

By Eddie Tanago

World Press Freedom Day is observed every year to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to uphold and maintain freedom of expression.

Papua New Guinea is one tough environment to be a journalist or an advocate for good governance and human rights. PNG is riddled with corruption that has grown tentacles into every sphere of life and trying to expose it can mean facing death threats and expensive lawsuits.

Commentary by ACT NOW!

ACT NOW! welcomes the recent government announcement of extra funding support to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) to allow physical inspection of district projects funded under the Service Improvement Program. But ACT NOW says the department must be transparent about which projects get inspected and the inspection reports must be made public for transparency and accountability purposes.

Source: Post Courier 15th April, 2025

By Scott Waide

In the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, a quiet revolution is brewing—one that could reshape the future of coffee production and rural economic development. 

Source: Post Courier March 26 2025

The Media Council of Papua New Guinea convened its latest Press Club event focusing on the alarming increase of Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuits.

Held at the Lamana Hotel, in Port Moresby, earlier today, the council highlighted the detrimental impact these lawsuits have on freedom of speech and public discourse.

ACT NOW! in collaboration with Starbox Production has launched a new music and video as part of the wider campaign to protect and promote customary land in Papua New Guinea.

Source: CIVICUS Monitor

Source: Post- Courier January 31st 2025

Joseph Ketan, Anthropologist ad Social Scientist

THE Year 2025 marks the 50 Anniversary of Constitutional Independence for Papua New Guinea. No doubt, many of you are thinking of ways to celebrate this significant milestone in the history of our country.