31 October 2022
Radio New Zealand today, Monday, reported four regional news stories that I believe are worthy of the SIG’s attention, if not participation, in the areas of alcohol abuse, crime reduction, climate change adaptation and resilience, and a united effort to combat Non-communicable diseases.
I quote each report
NZ Considering alcohol reform
31 October 2022
A report on alcohol by former prime minister and law commission head Geoffrey Palmer more than ten years ago said alcohol had significant social costs on the nation, especially in crime and health. It recommended measures to curb access such as increasing the price.
Copyright @ 2022, Radio New Zealand.
Pacific states sign strategy on diseases
31 October 2022
Fourteen Pacific nations have endorsed a framework to reduce the rate of noncommunicable diseases in the Western Pacific region
Delegates from the region signed the Regional Action Framework at a World Health Organisation meeting in Japan on Thursday.
It sets out five strategic action plans, focused on improving the design of national health systems.
Cook Islands delegate Bob Williams said the framework would help address the increasing rates of Non-communicable diseases such as mental illness.
Copyright @ 2022, Radio New Zealand.
Leaders meeting in Rarotonga for tourism summit
31 October 2022
Regional leaders will be gathering next week in the Cook Islands for a sustainable tourism summit.
Led by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), the inaugural Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit is the culmination of efforts to develop and showcase the Pacific as a global leader in sustainable tourism.
Chairman Petero Manufolau said the summit would be the driving force to make the tourism organisation into a global leader in sustainable tourism.
He also said it would promote a clean and sustainable tourism sector.
Copyright @ 2022, Radio New Zealand
South Korea has made a commitment to increase its climate and development funding assistance to the Pacific.
31 October 2022
The announcement was made during a meeting with Pacific Islands foreign ministers in Busan.
The Cook Islands associate minister for Foreign Affairs, Tingika Elikana, welcomed Korea's commitment to increase contributions to climate finance, including an increase in Green Overseas Development Assistance.
"The Cook Islands particularly welcomed Korea's commitment to increase contributions to climate finance, including an increase in Green ODA," said Elikana.
"The Cook Islands has been at the forefront of Pacific efforts to develop the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and we look forward to working closely through the PIF with
Korea to capitalising the PRF in the near future."
Copyright @ 2022, Radio New Zealand.
End of Quotes.
Source – Radio New Zealand.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
