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SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (SPREP) Apia, Samoa

PRESS RELEASE August 29, 2002

A project to protect threatened indigenous wild life in the Pacific from a major cause of extinction has been launched by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

In acknowledging US$ 25,000 in support from the United Nations Development Fund/Global Environment Facility, SPREP’s director, Mr. Tamari’i Tutangata, said invasive species (new species introduced to a country that then impact negatively on the ecosystem) are regarded globally as a major threat to the survival of land species in their natural habitats.

"Most of the species that have become extinct since the 1800’s have been birds, the vast majority of these located on islands, that died from the impacts of introduced species" he said.

Invasive species can either be out and out predators, such as the black rat, or can attack species indirectly, such as noxious weeds,...

ISSUE NO. 21 - 30TH AUGUST 2002 
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

American travelers prefer environmentally-friendly holidays Approximately 80% of American travelers feel it is important that hotels actively take steps to preserve and protect our earth's natural resources according to a recent study conducted by Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH). It reveals that 70% of Americans surveyed are willing to pay an extra US$50-$150 more for a two week stay in a hotel with a responsible environmental attitude and 55% are more likely to book a hotel with a responsible environmental attitude. Particularly popular are hotels that look after wildlife (64%) and are sensitive to marine life (46%). American travelers feel that purchasing local souvenirs (69%), seeking employees from local communities (57%), and providing job priority to them (62%) all enable local communities to improve sustainable travel. The survey also showed that 64% of American travelers feel it is important that...

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i (September 2, 2002 – Yokwe Online)---The Republic of the Marshall Islands and United States negotiators have just completed a formal round of Compact of Free Association talks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu.

On August 28, 2002, the opening session with the two Compact Negotiation Teams, led by Foreign Minister Gerald Zackios for the RMI and the U.S. State Department's Colonel Al Short for the United States, was held.

On the second day of talks, the United States team met in the morning with the representatives from the four nuclear atolls: Bikini, Enewetak, Utrik and Rongelap).

In the afternoon, the RMI/U.S. Compact talks continued with the initialing of the Law Enforcement Agreement.

After a packed room watched the KNC (Kwajalein) hand over their rental proposal to the U.S. government, the meetings concluded.

Both sides mentioned that progress was made all around, and that they would be issuing a joint communiqué...

TOWNSVILLE, Australia (September 2, 2002 - AP)---Survivors of an ambush that killed two Americans and an Indonesian didn't see their attackers in the misty highlands near the Indonesian mining town where they worked, an official from the mine said Monday.

Seven Americans and an Indonesian, including a young girl, remained hospitalized Monday in northeastern Australia, recovering from injuries they sustained in the shooting in the restive Papua province on Saturday.

"Most of the patients are doing extremely well now, which is great," said Geoff Hocking, the mine's town manager. He refused to detail their injuries.

"Some are more serious than others. There is nobody in intensive care now," he added.

Their injuries ranged from "relatively minor" to "very serious," a hospital spokeswoman said after their arrival in the early hours of Sunday morning. Two underwent surgery shortly after being airlifted to Australia.

Hocking said none of the survivors...