Coco Talanoa — Pacific Blog / Page 13

‘It is critical for donor countries to see the bigger picture, to see that this really is a time not to profit, but to be stepping up to support all countries to come through this…. the vaccine needs to be a gift to the world.”  - Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand & former United Nations Development Administrator

* Cover image Samoa vaccination Drive via Radio New Zealand 

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It's the same old - haves and have nots - story. Only this time it stars ‘The Vaccine’. 

The plot; Wealthy nations hustle to get their citizens vaccinated, while the poorer countries are left to feed off the scraps of vaccine donations.

The only problem is, this isn’t a movie. It’s real life and the reality is vaccines are expensive and not easily accessible. Especially for the smaller countries in the Pacific.…more

via the Cause Collective 

Cover image of Manu Sina assistant coach Cynthia Ta'ala at the Rally Your Village event at the Vodafone Events Centre, via South Seas Healthcare 

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A community group of passionate Manurewa residents has responded to the rallying call to increase the vaccination rate for Samoans in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. 

The Samoa I Manurewa Tutū Fa’atasi (Samoans in Manurewa Stand Together) was formed less than ten days ago but is taking a lead to encourage and mobilise Samoans living in the Manurewa area to make the decision to get vaccinated. 

Made up of local church leaders, community representatives and young people, Samoa I Manurewa Tutū Fa’atasi will be hosting a two-day vaccination drive through event in Manurewa from tomorrow, Friday 8 October - Saturday 9 October, 9am - 4pm. 

Bookings won’t be required for the event held in the Northcrest carpark, 1-13 Maich Road, which has been made available through the Manurewa Business Association.…more

Via Pasifika Medical Association Group 

#Opinion by Taualofa Totu'a

The phrase Kia Manawanui means to be strong, steadfast, tolerant, brave, unwavering, and committed.

To be honest, like so many in our Moana community, I have been uncomfortable with remaining ‘tolerant’ during this lockdown, let alone committed. But not in the way you may think. I am but one of many Pacific youth fully vaccinated, committed to keeping lockdown rules.  The worthwhile highlight of scrolling through petty arguments on Twitter, is seeing other youth like Hele and Fili amongst the vaccination volunteers, encouraging our people to get the vax.  

Bubble life for my family this time round has improved in some ways and decreased in others. We have 4 of us challenging our internet strength by streaming school, 1 Zooming with their distracted students, another with their patients, and an elder glued to her Radio Samoa Live Facebook stream. My intergenerational bubble has become more reliant on technology than ever before, (our poor power bills). Our once regulated lockdown cooking schedule seems to have given way to mea’ai saiga, Maccas share boxes and toast at 10pm.…more

By Dahlia Malaeulu 

The contributing authors for the Tama Sāmoa Project from top left corner in the photo above clockwise: Okirano Tilaia, Emmanuel Solomona, Saul Luamanuvae-Su’a, Aleki Leala, Liko Alosio, Senio Sanele, Darcy Solia, Elijah Solomona, Dr. Sadat Muaiava, Israel Risati Sua-Taulelei, Isaac Sanele, Mikaele Savali, Simati Leala, Atama Cassidy.

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Our forthcoming YA book, Tama Sāmoa, is a story based on Sione, Lima, Tavita and Filipo who are high school friends, uso or brothers. They are part of a special letter-writing project that helps to start a brave new conversation, an open and honest talanoa with themselves starting with the words, Dear Uso … Here they share the cultural challenges they face, and without realising it, their need to belong, to be accepted and the impact this has on their wellbeing overall.

The book also includes student study questions #LiteracyIntegration #RichLiteracyResource #VersatileText and the amazing Tama Sāmoa Project.…more

* TW COVID/Tubes/Hospital Images.

Young Samoan woman Rebecca Sang Yum is based in Sydney.  She tested positive for Covid and shares her frightening experience after she was admitted to hospital.

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Some of you may or may not know but I tested positive for COVID and was diagnosed with severe COVID pneumonitis. I was admitted to Liverpool Hospital and was taken care of by the doctors and nurses in ICU. The inflammation of my lungs as a result of COVID made it almost impossible for me to breathe. Every day and night I had nasal prongs in-connected to oxygen so that I could still operate. I had a urinary catheter inserted in me, wore adult diapers and got changed and dressed by the nurses.

I couldn’t eat and my body was weak. I had fevers, a productive cough, sore throat, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Most times I felt like I was suffocating and that when I close my eyes I wouldn’t wake up.…more

Mālō e Lelei, My name is Vea Mafile'o and I am Scottish, English, Māori and Tongan from Tongoleleka, Ha'apai.

We need to have a voice on screen, so Pasifika women get to see stories on screen from our perspectives. Society puts us in such a box especially women of colour, we are all so judgy (I am too) about how we should look, think, act, behave, but as we all know there is no one size fits all.

So we need to know that it's ok to be a mixture of things, to be influenced by many different things, to be made up of different cultures that all have different values, challenges and to adapt to our environment. 

We have the right to chose what fits us best, there is no right or wrong way, you are never going to please everyone and so we shouldn't have to. What we go through as women most men will never ever understand, and as brown women, that's adding a whole other layer.…more

By Lefaoali'i Dion Enari 

Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa (Samoa language week) is not only a time to celebrate, but also reflect upon and address our language issues. Although Samoan is the second most spoken language in Auckland, and the third most spoken in New Zealand, it is experiencing decline. The decrease in language usage is both visible in statistics and everyday interactions, particularly among those who are New Zealand born. Sadly, if we are not careful, ‘it will die’ in 3 generations. The fact that many Samoans would not be able to understand this article if it were written in Samoan, is in itself concerning.

Before looking at ways to sustain the Samoan language, I believe we must first remember why it’s important. As I reflect upon my discussions with Matai, scholars, families and educators, we were unanimous, in our belief that it was a measina (treasure). We also identified this measina as the window into the Samoan world. It is through our language, that we are able to fully access, marinate, and explore the wisdom we inherit.…more

** Trigger Warning - this story that you're about to read contains references to topics such as cyber bullying and youth suicide ** 

A recent family tragedy has highlighted the need for greater awareness and positive action, writes Nah Folasa.

Just this week our family was devastated by the suicide of my 15 year old cousin. Her crime: A victim of on line bullying. 

Like most Samoan families we live close. There is always an intergenerational mix around the dinner table, we share our love, food, land and resources and we help one another.

As a family we cannot ever understand the hopelessness which she must have felt and the only way to escape this harassment was to take her own life. We never contemplated that this would ever occur in our family.…more

Last night the Samoan head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, revoked the results of the general election held on the 9th of April and has instructed the nation to vote again on the 21st of May due to the continued deadlock in Samoa (both parties are on 26 MPs each) 

The leader of FAST, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa does not agree with this decision and has spoken out about actions that she calls wrong and unlawful - “We denounce this behaviour, and the misuse of resources and public officials to hold on to power. We must follow this process without diversion or trickery,” she said in a press briefing.

However, the caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has commended the Head of State for his decision to call a fresh election and said that his party leaves the results of the next election "Up to the Lord" 

Journalist Va'ai Nah Folasa asks the question "What if Gods plan doesn't suit your own personal plan?" 

Last week I wrote an article on Samoa's spiritual and constitutional foundation on God.…more