Yapese Citizens Gather Signatures for Petition
/A group of Yapese citizens have been gathering signatures for a petition to be submitted to Yap State govenerment regarding the MOU with the Chinese Exhibition & Travel Group.
View the petition here.
Sea-level Rise, FSM & Hawaii
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The world recognizes that the climate is acting strangely. Polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate. Lands that once used to carry miles of running streams and rivers are no longer flowing. And the Oceans are rising to levels that may soon engulf countries. We take a look at how this global
Isaac V. Figir, F.S.M.'s Speaker, sends out a 25th Independence Message
/taken from the FSM Congress Website
A message by
Speaker Isaac V. Figir
Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia
FSM Census Project
/Survey by Micronesian Seminar.
To All FSM Citizens,
We are asking for your help on a survey of FSM citizens now living in the US mainland, Hawaii and Guam. This survey will be conducted by Fr. Fran Hezel, SJ, former director of Micronesian Seminar, and Mike Levin, who has managed many of the earlier
Limits to FAS entry pushed
/* US Senate wants cut in FAS costs
MAJURO – U.S. President Barack Obama was directed last week to convene within 45 days a National Security Council interagency group to reduce what the U.S. Senate says is the escalating cost of in-migration by people from the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
2011 Pacific Games
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The 2011 Pacific Games is underway. The event formally started in August 27, and will continue until September 10. 22 countries from the Pacific will be participating in this event. Including Micronesian countries listed to participate: the FSM, Guam, CNMI, Nauru, Palau, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands.
The host country, New Caledonia, is a heavy favorite to take in most of the medals. They tallied the most medals in the previous Games, taking in nearly 100 medals more than their closest competitor in the previous Pacific Games.
NEW U.S. IMMIGRATION INITIATIVE ALARMS MICRONESIA
/excerpt:
(By: Giff Johnson; Pacific Islands Report)
"MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, July 25, 2011) – United States calls for limiting the number of Micronesians and Marshall Islanders eligible to enter America under a visa-free treaty provision will be a top item on the agenda at the July 28 Micronesian Presidents Summit in Pohnpei."
Follow link to read the article: http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2011/July/07-25-01.htm
UPDATE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MICRONESIA
/Since 2010, Micronesia, specifically the F.S.M. has been marked as a tier 2, for countries involved in the trafficking of persons.
"TIER 2: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards."
Read More"TIER 2: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards."
All-Mike Women's Volleyball Tournament & Championship Highlights (Honolulu 2011).
/The All-Mike Women's Volleyball Tournament is brought to you by the same organization that organized the All-Mike Men's Basketball Tournament. The tournament featured over 10 teams from throughout Micronesia. The Championship game was played between the Palau "All-stars" and Chuuk's "Seres me Faan". For detailed information please visit the All-Mike Facebook page. (All-Mike Facebook page).
Volleyball Highlights:
The Fourth Branch sits with Evelyn Adolph, Project Manager for the FSM Tax Reform Project
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Evelyn Adolphby: Universe Yamase
The history of the tax reform dates back to 2005 where through "wide-ranging research" by the TRTF (Tax Reform Task Force), proposals for reform were given. The suggestions by the TRTF were approved later that year by the FSM Economic Policy Implementation Council (EPIC), the FSM Congress and the FSM President.
What is a Tax Reform? A modification of the ways taxes are managed or collected.
Why have a tax reform for the FSM? Mainly, to respond to changes in foreign aid funds due to the reduction of monetary assistance in the second compact.
Other features of the Tax Reform are listed in detail as a .pdf (see bottom of article).
Provided below is a submitted biography of Evelyn Adolph, the manager for the aforementioned project.
"The Blue and the Black" WW2 Oil Spilling in Chuuk Lagoon.
/Oil from World War 2 wreckage begin to seep into Chuuk's lagoon.
Please follow link for the complete article and additional footage: "The Blue and the Black"
"All Mike" Men's Basketball Tournament [Update]
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Click picture to visit websiteMicronesian sponsored basketball tourney in Honolulu Hawaii. Over 20 teams from Palau to the Marshall Islands.
Mission Statement:
"MHAC, through its collaborative leadership & guided by our unique cultural values, advocate for the health and well being of Micronesians to improve their quality of life in seeking justice and equality for the Pacific community."
photo gallery
Update
on 2011-04-14 21:51 by Fourth Branch
Championship Game Highlights.
Tsunami Debris to Hit the Pacific
/As we are all aware of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and its radiation problems, it seems that we have come across another issue. According to a computer simulation craeted by the scientists over at International Pacific Research Center in University of Hawaii at Manoa, the debris from the tsunami is in fact heading towards Hawaii.
Read MoreAre We Prepared For a Tsunami?
/The historic earthquake and destructive tsunami that crippled the nation of Japan raises concerns about the fragility of our own homes. Although earthquakes are near impossible to predict, they have not directly posed significant danger to our islands yet. Of more concern is the likelihood of a severe tsunami hitting our homes.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines tsunami as, "ocean waves produced by earthquakes or underwater landslides." The word tsunami is of Japanese origin and translates to "harbor wave".
Because of our locatin in the middle of the Pacific we are subject to tsunamis generated from earthquakes around the Pacific rim. A dangerous fact about tsunamis is that they can stretch across miles of ocean and affect regions in different timezones. Leaving us exposed from all directions.
Provided are videos from the NOAA that further explain the devastating magnitude and complexities of tsunamis:
Radiation from Japan Nuclear Crisis Unlikely to Affect Our Islands
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The national government of the FSM is urging its citizens to stop rumors of the possibility of radioactivity from Japan reaching our islands.
Below are links to a collection of reports assuring that radioactivity from Japan's nuclear plant is not a cause for concern for our islands.
Yap Day 2011 - Honolulu, HI
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(click photo to view photo gallery)1. Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011
2. Location: Lehua Community Park in Pearl City, 781 Lehua Avenue Pearl City, HI 96782
3. Time: 10:00 am to 5:00pm
Provided is a video recording of one of the dances:
NPR Reports: "Preparing For Sea Level Rise, Islanders Leave Home".
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click picture to visit websiteNational Public Radio reports on the rising sea level in Kiribati. Please follow link to listen, watch and read.
FSM Winners For National Elections 2011 & TFB Mock Polls
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Below is a listing of the national candidates for 2011. Below every Fourth Branch mock poll is the official winner of this year's elections as reported by the FSM government website. (FSM gov. website)