Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 61
New home for abused babies in Samoa
Samoa Victim Support Group officially open the new House of Blessings.
A state-of-the-art shelter for sexually abused and abandoned babies in Samoa has been opened, due to a large donation by Janice Bradnam, who is the Director of Bradnam Windows in Australia and New Zealand
Bradnam had visited the shelters in Samoa in 2010, and had decided to help upgrade the facilities - thus building the new shelters for the babies that need help. Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, The Samoa Victim Support Group's patron, says the organisation is seeing an increasing number of sexually abused babies.
The new shelter is on the Campus of Hope at Tuanaimato, and Samoa Victim Support Group plans to secure shelter facilities for all the children survivors of violence and sexual abuse who seek support with the Group.
Mauna Kea protesters arrested in Hawaii
12 protesters have been arrested on Mauna Kea in Hawaii following a 7 hour stand off against the contruction of what will be one of the world's largest telescopes.
The protesters were arrested this Wednesday 24th June after preventing workers from accessing a construction site on what locals say is land sacred to Native Hawaiians.
Construction on the $1.4 billion Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) was meant to continue today, but the protesters and the arrests have halted the workers from accessing the site, and so they turned around.
See more on this developing story here.
Eat My Lunch - Buy one. Give one.
Check out this new business venture that counts on Kiwis' love of food and big hearts to help fill the hungry bellies of children who need it the most.
Eat My Lunch was started by Lisa King with the help of award-winning chef Michael Meredith, and works on a "buy-one give-one" basis - Eat My Lunch will give a lunch to a child in need for every lunch that is bought from its website.
"The more we hear about children in other countries who go hungry, the easier it is to forget about children right here in New Zealand who live in poverty and go without lunch every day.
"We all know that kids struggle to concentrate and learn on an empty stomach."
It costs just $10 for both lunches, and the childrens meal is distributed by KidsCan to low decile schools - Mangere Central School is the first school to benefit from the service, but Eat My Lunch aims to expand nationwide.…more
American Samoans Denied Citizenship
A federal appeals court ruled last Friday that those born in American Samoa do not have a right to U.S. citizenship because they were born in the U.S. territory.
The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit preserves federal laws that make those born in American Samoa U.S. nationals, but not citizens like people born in Puerto Rico and other territories.
Leneuoti Tuaua, the Samoan Federation of America, and others born in American Samoa believe that as long as American Samoa is a part of the United States, people born in American Samoa have a constitutional right to U.S. citizenship. Under current federal statute, they are labeled as “nationals, but not citizens, of the United States.” Tuaua challenges the constitutionality of these federal laws.
With the American flag having been now flown over American Samoa for 113 years, American Samoans proudly serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and suffer casualty rates in Iraq and Afghanistan that are seven times the national average - yet still aren't considered citizens.…more
#WeAreMaunaKea - Protests continue as TMT construction starts on the Controversial Telescope project
Many Native Hawaiians believe Mauna Kea is the origination point of the Hawaiian islands, according to Mana magazine. There is a confirmed burial site on Mauna Kea, and Native Hawaiians have also been known to bury their umbilical cords on the mountain as a way of connecting themselves back to the sacred land.
WithTMT construction set to begin this morning on the controversial 30 metre telescope project, hundreds of protesters have arrived at Mauna Kea — several are lying on the ground to block potential vehicles from accessing the summit.…more
Heilala helps Tonga rebuild
Check out the awesome work still going on to help rebuild Tonga's Tongatapu and Ha'apai islands!
Founded in 2014, Heilala is non-profit organisation that helps disadvantaged communities around the world. Over the years, they have witnessed millions of dollars' worth of furniture, equipment and IT simply sent to landfill, and decided to established a not-for-profit organisation that does something worthwhile with all of that invaluable merchandise.
Heilala worked with the Government of Tonga to rebuild Ha'apai's infrastructure with retired and donated products from Australia.
To donate or contact Heilala, check out their website!
Australian Government moves to ban Kava imports
In a move that has shocked the Pacific Island community in Australia, the current allowance of 2 kilograms of kava per person will end in a bid to stop it's abuse.
Kava is already illegal in Northern Territory and Western Australian Aboriginal communities like Arnhem Land because of the health, social and financial impacts.
What do you think? Do you think that it's fair for a Pacific legacy to be banned? Read more on the story here!
"Represent and Perpetuate!"
Check out this recent Hawaiian University graduate rockin' his malo at Graduation!
When Kalā Kaawa graduated with his 2 bachelors degrees from the School of Hawaiian Studies, he was unsure of how people would react to him wearing the malo (traditional Hawaiian loincloth). But when he stepped out of his grad gown, he recieved a standing ovation, and they kept cheering as he made his way back to his seat.
Kaawa said he wanted to use the garment to remind people "not to be ashamed of your culture, whether you are Hawaiian, Maori, Samoan, Tongan, etc." and to "know your roots, represent and perpetuate! Not just for yourself, but for your family, your ancestors and the future generations of your culture."
Check out the full story here
Niuean Reverend Tom Etuata receives New Year's Honour
Reverend Tom Etuata, who has been involved with Pacific communities in Wellington since 1968, has received the Queen's Service Medal in the 2015 New Year's honours list.
"If we are not doing anything about our culture and our language the language can be extinct if we are not careful. You know, my generation will pass on and the new generation will here in New Zealand would have difficulty in speaking their mother tongue."
SUGGESTED LINKS:
Learn more about the 'Rock' island - Niue
#TeuilaTalks - Poly Tattoos
#TeuilaTalks is an ONLINE talk show featuring Teuila Blakely and some of your favorite Poly stars talking about topics that are considered 'too much' for conversation in our community... This week is all about 'Polynesian Tattoos'
Teuila and her panel ask the public and discuss their views on the hot topic for the week!
This weeks panel includes Writer/Actor Oscar Kightley, Actor Shimpal Lelisi, Singer-Songwriter Bella Kalolo and Mai FM Radio Host Nate Nauer.
Have your say online and join in on the conversation using #TeuilaTalks!
SUGGESTED LINKS
See more on the history of the Samoan Tatau Part 1 and Part 2
Check out some tatau from Tahiti!