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Tonga: Fire destroys two rooms at Tonga Side School

Tonga: Fire destroys two rooms at Tonga Side School
Tonga/ abril de 2016/Matangi Tonga Online

Resumen: Dos aulas fueron arrasadas por un incendio la madrugada del  miércoles 20 de abril en el campus principal de Tonga Side School en Nuku’alofa. Una investigación realizada por la policía y los bomberos está en marcha para determinar la causa.

Two classrooms were razed by a fire early this morning, Wednesday 20 April at Tonga Side School main campus in Nuku’alofa. An investigation by police and fire services is underway to determine the cause.

The Acting Deputy Fire Commissioner Sinamoni Kauvaka said the fire was reported to them at around 1:45am by a phone call and a driver who stopped by the fire station.
He said there were no casualities but the esimated loss is more than $60,000 pa’anga.
When the firefighters arrived at the school a block of four classrooms was on fire. “Two classrooms were already engulfed and our firefighters could not save them but managed to save the remaining two and prevented the fire from further spreading to a neighbouring government flat, which was located just 5 metres away from this classroom block,” he said.
The Deputy Fire Commissioner said the origin of the fire seemed to have begun from the top or ceiling in one of the classrooms.
“At this stage we have nothing that would suggest anything suspicious but our investigation continues to determine the cause,” he said.
The two razed classrooms belonged to the students of Class 3-4.
Tonga Side School is a government school that teaches Class 1 to Form 2 levels.

T Fuente: http://matangitonga.to/2016/04/20/fire-destroys-two-rooms-tonga-side-school
Foto: http://matangitonga.to/sites/matangitonga.to/files/20160420-TSSfire-9181-650px.jpg

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Teenagers with Asperger’s are aware of being different

Oceanía/Australia/Abril 2016/Autor: Sylvia Thompson/ Fuente: irishtimes.com

Resumen: La adolescencia puede ser difícil de transitar para muchos jóvenes y sus padres. Sin embargo, si usted tiene el síndrome de Asperger, lo que es aún más complicado ya que las cosas que son desafiantes -como leer el lenguaje corporal, la comprensión de chistes sexuales y generalmente mantener el contacto con sus compañeros- se convierten en parte de la vida cotidiana.

The teenage years can be difficult to navigate for many young people and their parents. However, if you have Asperger’s syndrome, it’s even more complicated as the things that are challenging – such as reading body language, understanding sexual jokes and generally keeping up with peers – become part of everyday life.
Based in Brisbane, Australia, clinical psychologist Prof Tony Attwood is widely known for his writings and workshops with 40 years’ professional experience and, with his wife, Sarah, over 30 years’ co-rearing his son William, who struggles with life as an adult with Asperger’s syndrome.
Speaking ahead of the Sensational Kids conference in Dublin this month, he says that while he is not keen to speak about his son, it does give him huge empathy with other families. “It is harder to be objective about one’s own family and I often ask myself whether it’s better for me to be the psychologist or the father to him?”
In his best known book on the subject, The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley, 2006), Attwood writes: “I usually say to the child, ‘Congratulations, you have Asperger’s syndrome’ and explain that this means he or she is not mad, bad or defective, but has a different way of thinking.”
At the conference, which looked at how parents and teenagers with Asperger’s can deal with adolescence, Attwood teased out what those with Asperger’s find most challenging about adolescence. Things like dealing with the physical changes of puberty, working out what’s funny or not in casual conversations and understanding the different cues for friendly or romantic relationships.
Major emotional challenges
“Adolescence is a tough time for Aspies [people with Asperger’s syndrome]. They can be bullied or teased for their intelligence and they have major emotional challenges and can be anxious around academic performance and social situations,” says Attwood.
“The dating game has the most subtle form of non-verbal communication, and teenagers with Asperger’s don’t pick up on cues or misinterpret cues.”
He suggests a few strategies. “It’s good to recruit one or two peers who will look after the person; someone who understands that he’s a nice guy but can be vulnerable or gullible and who could step in and help in certain situations.”
The issue is that it takes longer to process comments. “They can have an excellent sense of humour and might have a fantastic comment five seconds later but it’s too late then,” he says.
It’s also important to teach teenagers with Asperger’s the importance of context – and how one joke might be appropriate with peers in school but not funny to their grandma.
Pressures
The social and academic pressures can lead to mental health problems.
“Teenagers with Asperger’s are very aware of being different and can become depressed. The depression can be related to emotional exhaustion from trying to fit in and be successful while also dealing with sensory sensitivities they might have (for example, to loud sharp noises or bright lights),” says Attwood, who finds cognitive behaviour therapy a useful tool in his Australian clinic.
Another strategy is to constructively use the special interest that many people with Asperger’s have. This can be anything from an exceptional ability in computer programming or gaming to a talent for drawing.
“Their specialist knowledge gives them a feeling of self-worth but it can become intoxicating so parents will have to ration things like time on computers when homework and chores are done.”
Social enterprises such as the Danish Specialisterne [The Specialists] have helped improve the work opportunities for some people with Asperger’s syndrome.
“Eleven people with Asperger’s have recently been employed to work alongside three guides in Brisbane to test software before it is installed in government departments,” says Attwood.
Specialisterne Ireland also assesses high-functioning people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to use their specialist skills in the workplace.
However, Attwood says the key to educational, training or work programmes is continued support. “The biggest problem nowadays is that people are expected to work in a team and people with ASD are not good at being part of a group.
“They need mentors in schools and workplaces who will teach them about the status quo, the dos and don’ts, the social hierarchy and social conventions.”

Fuente de la noticia: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/teenagers-with-asperger-s-are-aware-of-being-different-1.2618186

Fuente de la imagen: http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2610882.1461185916!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_620_330/image.jpg

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Vanuatu: Vt250 million Fee Exemption Paid

Vanuatu: Vt250 million Fee Exemption Paid
Vanuatu/abril de 2016/Vanuatu Daily Post

Resumen: Un total de VT250 millones ha sido transferido y compartido con las cuentas bancarias de todas las escuelas secundarias Algunas escuelas en Shefa, como Malapoa Colegio, Escuela de Epi y el Instituto de Tecnología de Vanuatu (VIT) confirmaron que recibieron su parte la semana pasada.
Este fondo restante cubre todo 2015 pendientes; 60% de plazo II, el 100% del término III y el 100% de 2016.

By Anita Roberts

A total of Vt250 million has been transferred and shared to the bank accounts of all secondary schools that were granted fee exemption.
Some schools in Shefa Province, like Malapoa College, Epi High School and the Vanuatu Institute of Technology (VIT) confirmed they received their share last week.
This remaining fund covers all 2015 outstanding; 60% of term II, 100% of term III and 100% of 2016 term one.
The fee exemption applies to schools badly affected on the islands of Merelave, Maewo, Pentecost, Paama, Ambrym, south and south east Malekula and every islands in the provinces of Tafea and Shefa.
It covers tuition fees and examination fees in all secondary schools and government institutions as the Vanuatu Institute of Technology, Vanuatu Institute of Teacher’s College and USP.
Following the declaration last year, the government was able to meet only 40% of the school’s tuition fees. The leftover 60% is now paid off.
With that, the Acting Principal Education Officer (PEO) at the Shefa Education Office, Jonathan Yona, is urging all schools to ensure that the funds are smoothly transferred to each students’ accounts.
He referred to students who enrolled in 2015 but are now transferred or selected to another school, for example, final year students.
This means that the school principals must work closely with the bursar to sort this out and must make sure that the money, in case of this year’s term one fees, reaches students in their new schools, said PEO Yonah.
Parents are also advised to approach the school authorities and ask if their children’s names are exempted from paying school fees or not.
The fee exemption initiative only targets children whose parents are farmers and do not have a means of regular income excluding those whose parents are working in the government or private sector.
The Ministry of Education and Training has clarified earlier this year that parents who have already paid fees will be reimbursed.
The Director of Education Services, Roy Obed, said schools are encouraged to work closely with parents to sort this out.
The Council of Ministers endorsed for the Department of Finance to release some money from the Tropical Cyclone Pam Recovery Fund towards the fee exemption.

Fuente: http://dailypost.vu/news/vt-million-fee-exemption-paid/article_3433b59f-c430-50c1-b76c-0776e71e2b71.html
Foto: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/dailypost.vu/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/21/62185578-ce6f-5ae5-b70c-864de593346c/5717f73d20f19.image.jpg?resize=300%2C225

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Samoa: Walking the talk and making a difference

Samoa: Walking the talk and making a difference

Samoa/ Abril de 2016/Samoa Observer

Resumen; Algunas personas encuentran molestos los vendedores ambulantes que deambulan por Samoa. Pero a los 14 años de edad, Quenjule Slaven de Moamoa no los ve de esa manera. Ella los ve como futuros líderes, hombres y mujeres jóvenes que sólo necesitan tener la oportunidad de aprender, es por esto que realizo un programa para ayudarlos, de allí comenta que «Estas personas son la columna vertebral y el corazón del programa y las cosas serían muy difícil sin ellos.»

Some people find street vendors annoying.
As the faces of hardship and poverty in Samoa, they are often ridiculed and frowned upon.
But 14-year-old Quenjule Slaven from Moamoa does not see them that way. She sees them as future leaders, young men and women who only need to be given an opportunity to learn.
So 11 weeks ago, Quenjule initiated a programme with the intention of teaching street vendors how to read. The programme started with a couple of children but it now has close to 20 children, many of them who don’t have the opportunity to study.
When Samoa Observer visited the programme, Quenjule was busy, pouring her heart out to the children.
Her passion is quite obvious. Asked for an interview, she politely said: “One minute please, I want to finish teaching my students first.”
So how did it start?
“It all started when I was in town and I would always see child vendors everywhere instead of being in school getting an education for a brighter future,” she said.
“I saw them at McDonald’s and Sunrise restaurant; I asked my mom ‘mom why aren’t they in school?’ and she said because their parents can’t afford it and these kids support and provide for their families.”
Not knowing the question she just posed was a germinating Good Samaritan seed, she continued on with life.
“After I participated in the human rights poster competition sponsored by the Ombudsman I realized that these kids also have human rights,” she said.
“The right to an education, the right to have a voice on the issues in their lives; and so my parents helped me, they were my inspiration.
“Once we decided what to do we came here and asked the manager of the library if we could use their facilities and once they approved we began the following Monday.”
Programme attendance began small but Quenjule was happy nevertheless.
“At first there were about five kids who showed up and were eager to learn, now we have many more” she said. “The kids didn’t know their dates of birth, they didn’t know how to spell their name, they didn’t know the alphabet but after just two weeks, they started to gain that sense of trust in us and so the fun began.
“Our main goal is to make reading fun for them so that they will continue to read and then in the end they would have that chance at a brighter future.
“We want to pull them off the streets so that when they grow up they know the value of education leading to them putting their future children in school which will break the chain of child vendors in Samoa.” When asked about the progress of her students Quenjule replied.
“They are doing very well; we just started up again yesterday because we had a 2 week holiday and there are about 16-18 children on average who attended before the break,” she said.
“A girl named Sulu was not ok with reading, she was shy and lacked confidence but now she shows so much enthusiasm when reading and she even took the initiative to learn her full A, B, C’s over the weekend.”
Quenjule continued with a message for the many people who complain about street vendors rather than try help.
“I feel that it is important to walk the talk; we shouldn’t get drawn in to only speaking about the problem but instead we need to act on fixing it,” she said.
“Martin Luther King once said ‘faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase’ it’s not about how bad the situation is; it’s what we do about it that matters most.
“I know that these children have a hard time on the streets, but I believe we all have the ability to turn each and every one of their lives around.”
Each of the children gather at certain locations where volunteers Fana and Soli pick them up and bring them to the Nelson Library, after each lesson they are given some food and juice before being dropped off home.
According to Quenjule none of this would have been possible without help from some special volunteers.
“I want to thank the following people who have volunteered their time to help this programme grow to what it is today: My supportive parents Juliann and Christian Slaven, Fana Lee Zumba, Soli, Lomia, Maima, Tanya and her daughter Amelia, Judge Vui and his wife for financial donations and great advice for the programme, Lorraine Williams, Stella M, Maiava Iulai Toma and the Ombudsman Staff,” she said,
“These people are the backbone and heart of the programme and things would be really hard without them.”
The programme runs every Mondays and Tuesdays at around 3:30pm at the Nelson Memorial Public Library.
Fuente: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/21_04_2016/local/5201/Walking-the-talk-and–making-a-difference.htm
Foto: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/images/cache/600×400/crop/images%7Ccms-image-000006013.jpg

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Firman 171 países en la ONU Acuerdo de París sobre Cambio Climático

La cifra de países firmantes, que representan más del 93 por ciento del total de las emisiones contaminantes en el mundo, es la mayor registrada en la historia en el día inaugural en que un acuerdo se pone a disposición de la comunidad internacional para ser firmado.

22 de Abril, 2016/ Naciones Unidas.-

Un total de 171 países se reunieron hoy en la sede de la ONU en Nueva York a fin de firmar el Acuerdo de París sobre Cambio Climático, un instrumento legal esencial para limitar el incremento en la temperatura global durante este siglo.

La cifra de países firmantes, que representan más del 93 por ciento del total de las emisiones contaminantes en el mundo, es la mayor registrada en la historia en el día inaugural en que un acuerdo se pone a disposición de la comunidad internacional para ser firmado.

De los países firmantes, 13 naciones depositarán asimismo sus instrumentos de ratificación del acuerdo, en su mayoría pequeños Estados isla, que son los territorios mayormente afectados por los efectos del cambio climático.

El acuerdo entrará en vigor luego de que al menos 55 países ratifiquen este instrumento legal, negociado y adoptado por 197 países en diciembre pasado en París.

El compromiso central del acuerdo es que la temperatura aumente menos de dos grados centígrados durante el presente siglo. El objetivo informal es que se incremente en 1.5 grados centígrados.

Todos los países que ratifiquen el acuerdo se comprometen a tomar medidas en los próximos años y décadas para reducir sus emisiones contaminantes, evitar la deforestación e instrumentar mecanismos para impulsar una economía baja en carbono.

Entre los jefes de Estado presentes destacaron Francois Hollande (Francia), Justin Trudeau (Canadá), Matteo Renzi (Italia), Evo Morales (Bolivia), Dilma Rousseff (Brasil) y Ollanta Humala (Perú), entre otros.

Asimismo el secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, John Kerry; el viceprimer ministro ruso, Alexander Khloponin; y el vicepremier chino, Zhang Gaoli. Por parte de México, acudió a la firma del acuerdo el secretario de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Rafael Pacchiano Alamán.

Ban Ki-moon, secretario general de la ONU, expresó en la ceremonia de firmas, que el mundo se encuentra en una carrera contra el tiempo, como lo revelan los recientes récords relacionados con el alza en la temperatura y los niveles de carbón en la atmósfera.

«Urjo a todos los países a moverse rápidamente para unirse al compromiso a nivel nacional para que el Acuerdo de París pueda entrar en vigor tan pronto como sea posible», pidió.

Declaró que «la era del consumo sin consecuencias ha terminado», y que es momento de descarbonizar las economías y de que la comunidad internacional apoye a los países en desarrollo a lograr estos objetivos.

«No olvidemos que la acción en torno del clima no es una carga, y que ciertamente ofrece beneficios. Nos ayuda a erradicar la pobreza, crear empleos verdes, derrotar el hambre, prevenir inestabilidad y mejorar la vida de mujeres y niñas», afirmó el titular de la ONU.

Organismos civiles reaccionaron de manera positiva a la firma del acuerdo. Andrew Steer, director del Instituto de Recursos del Mundo (WRI), consideró que el acuerdo debe ahora pasar de su fase diplomática a la fase de la implementación.

«El reto es encontrar la manera de trabajar juntos para acelerar el trabajo que ya han comenzado gobiernos nacionales, alcaldes, directores de empresas, grupos de la sociedad y ciudadanos alrededor del mundo», afirmó Steer.

Por su parte, el organismo civil Human Rights Watch (HRW) asentó que el Acuerdo de París es el primero en reconocer que el cambio climático tiene un profundo impacto en la capacidad que tienen los pueblos y los gobiernos en garantizar el respeto a los derechos humanos.

Mientras tanto, el ex presidente de México, Felipe Calderón, expresó en su calidad de director de la Comisión Global sobre la Economía y el Clima, que la firma del acuerdo demuestra que las negociaciones son más que palabras y que los países muestran sus compromisos.

«Ahora necesitamos movernos de la retórica a la realidad. Financiar la transición a bajo carbón es nuestro siguiente reto. Sabemos que existe el capital, sólo necesitamos liberarlo», enfatizó Calderón.

Notimex

Fuente de la noticia: http://www.radioformula.com.mx/notas.asp?Idn=588051&idFC=2016#sthash.R5ou2eSs.dpuf

Foto: Reuters

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Oceania: Busy lead-up to school workshop

Oceania: Busy lead-up to school workshop

Oceania/abril de 2016/ Islas Cook News

Resumen: Los estudiantes de cinco de las islas del grupo sur de Oceanía se encontraron en Rarotonga para un taller de una semana de duración coordinado por el Servicio Nacional de Medio Ambiente (NES) proyecto de Ridge-a-Coral y la resiliencia de las Comunidades Island de proyecto de Cambio Climático (SRICC). El proyecto tiene como objetivo proporcionar apoyo técnico a las escuelas sobre la base de propuestas de ideas que les gustaría verlas convertidas en realidad para sus islas. Cada escuela ha llegado con un concepto y proyecto relacionado con sus respectivas islas

Students from five of the southern group islands are on Rarotonga for a week-long workshop coordinated by the National Environment Service (NES) Ridge-to-Reef project and the Resilience of Island Communities to Climate Change (SRICC) project.

The Ridge to Reef (R2R) project is taking a step up and supporting the southern group island schools on biodiversity conservation and climate change issues.
The project aims to provide technical support to the schools based on proposals for ideas that they would like to see become reality on their islands.
“The students come up with the idea, the idea gets developed further by the teams here and then support is given to them via their island council so that there is continuous buy in and support all the way through proposal development and implementation,” says R2R project coordinator Maria Tuoro.
In the lead-up to the workshop opening, students and two teachers from Mangaia, Mitiaro, Mauke, Atiu, and Aitutaki will meet with NES and SRICC staff to discuss their topics and presentations, and the agencies will offer technical advice.
Each school has come up with a concept and project relating to their respective islands and has captured each stage on camera. Footage will be edited and ready for screening next week in Rarotonga.
Atiu students will focus on endemic species, Aitutaki on lagoon quality and activities on land, Mauke, invasive species, Mangaia, Raui and ecotourism, and Mitiaro, the Maroro Tu.
Meanwhile, Rotaract has offered to compile and edit the school’s video footage and photos and a mini film festival has been organised to screen short documentaries at the Punanga Nui Market next Thursday.
Along with the schools, NES in partnership with SRICC and the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) will compile a 20-minute documentary of the overall workshop to showcase along with the Katu-Kanga series from Cook Islands Tourism Corporation and other locally-produced programmes.
The workshop starts this Friday at the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa and ends on April 29.
– Release
Fuente: http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/environment/item/57908-busy-lead-up-to-school-workshop

fotor: http://www.cookislandsnews.com/media/k2/items/cache/e4bf86e128bf5c870392738b0b80f2de_L.jpg

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Micronesia: Officials open the Sekere Multi-Purpose Gymnasium donated by Japan

Micronesia: Officials open the Sekere Multi-Purpose Gymnasium donated by Japan

Micronesia/ Abril de 2016/The Kaselehlie Press

Resumen: Pohnpei, Estado Federado de Micronesia , ahora tiene otro gimnasio y centro de usos múltiples situada en la propiedad de la escuela primaria Sekere. El gimnasio fue donado al Departamento de Educación del Estado de Pohnpei por el pueblo de Japón a un costo de $ 194.628. La finalidad de la concesión era para la educación de jóvenes y desarrollo de la comunidad mediante la promoción del deporte y la cultura tradicional.

By Bill Jaynes
The Kaselehlie Press
February 17, 2016
Pohnpei, FSM—Pohnpei State now has another gymnasium and multi-purpose center situated on the property of the Sekere Elementary School. The gym was donated to the Pohnpei State Department of Education by the people of Japan at a cost of $194,628. The purpose for the grant was for youth education and community development through promotion of sports and traditional culture.
This morning was the ribbon cutting ceremony which was attended by dozens of local community members as well as State and National officials, and Ambassador Masaki Sakai of the Japanese Embassy. At the end of the ceremony, Ambassador Sakai demonstrated his basketball dribbling prowess before delivering a ceremonial jump ball to two Sekere Elementary School students.
Before entering the multi-purpose center, some of the students of Sekere Elementary participated in the State Anthem.
Ambassador Sakai, FSM Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs Lorrin Robert, Governor Marcelo Peterson, Acting Director of the Pohnpei Department of Education Destry Tom, Pohnpei State Senator and Lepen Sekere Rensper Liwy, and Sekere Community Youth Association President Nixon Ludwig ceremonially cut the ribbon for the new center.
Immediately following, all of Sekere’s Church leaders blessed the building and the dignitaries were ushered to their seats.
Sekere Elementary School Principal, Pastor Loriano Martin served as the Master of Ceremonies and introduced the invited dignitaries several times during the ceremony which lasted for two hours.
Juan San Nicolas of APSCO Construction handed over the symbolic key to a long line of recipients ending with Mr. Tom handing the key to Nixon Ludwig of SCYA.
Ambassador Sakai has participated in each ceremony for the Sekere Community Multi- Purpose Gymnasium. He and his staff drove the grant process through. He spoke of the friendly relations between the FSM and Japan, the “Kizuna”, the tight bonds of friendship. He spoke of the two ceremonies he had attended before on the site and the fact that it had rained on each occasion and had been told that rain indicated a blessing on the project.
Governor Peterson spoke about the benefits to all Pohnpeians as the people of the State battle against non-communicable diseases.
Before Ambassador Sakai tossed the first basketball into the air for the symbolic jump ball, there was a dramatic moment as the basketball hoops were lowered into position and the score board was lit up with all of its buzzers and bells.
Since the date of the opening of the gym it has seen consistent use in the community

Fuente: http://www.kpress.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=archive&year=2016&month=3&Itemid=103
Foto:
http://www.kpress.info/images/MAR_2016/gymnasium.jpg

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