Access to pornography via internet a major concern.

The availability and accessibility of illicit material ranging from pornography to demonology and Satanism over the internet is become a major concern, authorities were told in a regional meeting.

The National reported that a regional meet was hosted by the Censorship Office and Constitutional Law Reform Commission (CLRC) on the review of the 1989 Censorship Act in Lae and a major issue raised was the access of pornography via the internet.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church National Youth Director, Reuben Mete, questioned the regulation of uploading and sharing of pornographic and illicit videos on social media networks which he described as dangerous.

NICTA legal services manager, Ivan Milleng, responded that a cyber-crime policy would address these issues. He said sites that share pornography and illicit material would be blocked when the government endorses the policy.


The meeting which attended by the Minister for Community Development, Chief Censor, CLRC Secretary, officials from NICTA and PNG Customs, was a review of the Censorship Act to include electronic media.

Lutheran Life Care undergoes weeklong planning workshop on HIV and AIDS.

By Reuben Mete
 

The Lutheran Life Care (LLC), an arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC PNG) has been undergoing a weeklong planning workshop that begun on Monday 21^st and will continue on till Friday 29^th of October 2013. The aim of the workshop is to transform LLC activities and guidelines after realizing a drastic increase in HIV and AIDS epidemic in Morobe Province and Papua New Guinea in 2011 and 2012 analyzed data.

 

Lutheran Life Care is a ministry to propagate the Gospel of Christ as a Lutheran Christians as being justified by faith. It comes under the Evangelism Department of ELC-PNG which its current program is the HIV and AIDS. LLC was established in 2004 after ELC-PNG recognizes the changing environment concerning the HIV and AIDS in Papua New Guinea.

The Faith Base Organization acknowledges that HIV and AIDS is a treat to our nation and its development prospect as a whole as well as building its capacity to address the epidemic and to be a partner in the response.

Mrs Amad Uma, LLC National Coordinator in her opening remarks on Monday says Lutheran members within this country should now take the ownership of this program to see its continuation into the next few years. She also thank the Church Partnership Program under Aus AID to fund the programs over the past years and also provide funding assistance for the Evaluation, Reflection Workshop and now planning.

The Planning Workshop was well attended by the LLC Program Coordinators and officers from the Evangelism Department of ELC PNG and facilitated by the Melanesian Organization for Development (MODe). Department Secretary Rev. Binora when welcoming the workshop participants says Lutheran Church is not an emotional church but a faith church thus the workshop should reflect on the Bible teachings and guidance.

Incoming ELC PNG National Youth Director Mr. Reuben Mete says the rate by which the epidemic is growing in Papua New Guinea is very alarming at the moment. He says with the given figure of 416 new HIV positive cases detected in 2012 within Morobe Province, the province is now sitting on a time bomb.  “This clearly shows that there has been a social breakdown within all our communities despite Lae city being the Head quarter of many Christian denominations including the ELC PNG,” Mete says.   

Drug producers wants alternative life.

Part of the Workshop attendants who surrender and accept
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and wanted Change.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC PNG) through Evangelism Department under Social-Concern Division and Youth Division with assistance from Community Development and Land Rights Advocator Mr. Reuben Mete have embarked on a mission to reduce the negative impact of Drug and Alcohol that has posed in Papua New Guinea communities. The team strategically aims to teach, inspire and motivate mostly the young generation of PNG out of the Marijuana culture which has rooted in many societies.

The ELC PNG team piloted the campaign in Rihona Memorial Circuit of ELC-Kainantu District in the Eastern Highlands Province on the 25^th to 30^thAugust 2013. Rihona in the Dunatina Local Level Government is known to be the first and also the major centre of marijuana production and distribution in PNG.

The week long program of the interactive workshop and awareness involves mostly the youths, helping them to understand the negative social impacts of drug and alcohol on the societies and negative health impact drug and alcohol have on human body. The awareness was facilitated by ELC-PNG Social-Concern Director, Rev. Sere Muhuyu with accompanied powerful and inspirational bible studies by Rev. Matei Ibak at a self-built Youth Development Centre of Rihona Circuit, Hagere village.

One of the Marijuana Growers, consumers and distributors
who surrender his old habit and wanted alterative living.

The workshop identified and categorized the 121 participants into three groups. The first group being the non-marijuana consumers, non-producers and non-distributors while the second group being the distributors. The final group consists of producers, consumers and distributors.

The group members were given opportunities to share their insight after being made aware of the many negative impacts they have posed on their societies thus it was an emotional sessions when some even wept openly and went down on their knees to apologies, confess and seeking God’s forgiveness after realizing how much negative impacts they have caused to the society and the country at large.

Rev. Muhuyu said the way forward now is to really help these young people become positively participate in the socio-economic development of their societies after they have willingly and fully give up on these negative attitudes. It is important to effectively isolate them and rehabilitate them for some period of time and to strategically refocus their energy and potentials on other positive economical activities. The youths can also be train and use as vibrant advocators against marijuana to also have more impact on others.

Rev. Sere Muhuyu pointed out that to achieve this it needs collaborative support from concerned government agencies, churches, NGOs and other organization. “We all need to mobilize resources together to see a positive outcome to this long dilemma that has decayed our society” Rev. Muhuyu said.

“We are expecting multitude of young people involved in marijuana who will be willing to give up these habits; but how do we move forward with them once they confess and express their willingness to contribute meaningfully to the society? This is the challenge we have before us and may God help us move forward with whatever resources we have” Rev. Muhuyu expressed.

"The successful outcome of this one week workshop is a result of a long and close interaction with the ELC-PNG National Youth Office through Ps. Matei and the youth leaders in ELC-Kainantu district and Rihona Memorial Circuit"

The Social-Concern Division and the Youth Division of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC PNG) now extends an invitation to all stakeholders interested to work together with them to reduce the impact of marijuana in Papua New Guinea Societies.

Community Development and Land Rights advocator Mr. Reuben Mete who was the guest facilitator in this weeklong workshop said the National Youth Office wanted to assist the surrendered youths to be more economically independent and more self sustainable and by getting them permanently out of Marijuana by giving them vegetables seedlings, appropriate agriculture tools and opening up vegetable markets for them as well as monitoring and evaluating the initiatives but this arrangements and plans cannot be implemented well given the minimal funding available, thus we now seek kind assistance and supports in cash or kind from any interested individuals and stakeholders to make it into a reality.

Contact Reuben Mete on mobile phone 72522667 or email reubenmete@yahoo.com.au for further information and or assistance.

Climate Change affecting Pacific communities and the self-determination of West Papua and Maohi Nui (or Tahiti) been discussed in Bavaria, Germany.

 By Reuben Mete

 

In bid to gain more International community to support and recognized the human rights of all people in particular the effects of Climate Change and the right to self-determination of all oppressed colonized indigenous people in the world, International Leadership Consultation delegate representing Pacific and Papua New Guinea Mr. Reuben Mete wasted no time to question the Head Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria Professor Heinrich Bedford-Strohm on this.

The International Leadership Consultation delegates were given the opportunity to meet with the Bishop only for an hour to discussed issues related to Tolerance in Societies and Churches as this was the theme of the three (3) weeks Consultation in Germany.

Mr. Reuben Mete
giving his Introduction.

“What is the roles of churches as the prophetic voice to the issue of Climate Change ... and De-colonization and self determination of the Maohi Nui (or Tahiti) and West Papua?” asked Mr. Mete.

Mr. Mete called on member churches and the World Council of Churches to support, through advocacy, efforts for the re-inscription of Maohi Nui on the list of countries to be decolonized and also address the human rights abuse and independence in West Papua.

Mr. Mete also calls on the governments to stand in solidarity with the people of the region who were struggling with the challenges and negative impacts of Climate Change and Mining impacts in their communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Delegates of the International Leadership Consultation

with the Bishop Professor Heinrich Bedford-Strohm.

 

 

Final Resolutions of PCC 10th General Assembly, Honiara, March 2013.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands
 

Tahiti self-determination
 

The Pacific Conference of Churches General Assembly has called on France, the United Nations, Pacific island countries and the international community to support self-determination in Maohi Nui (Tahiti). At its 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, delegates said decolonization was one of the PCC’s long-standing themes.

A request from the Etaretia Porotetani Maohi (Maohi Protestant Church) to the assembly called for support for the re-inscription of Tahiti onto the UN’s decolonization list. The church said the Maohi people must be allowed to decide for themselves on the sovereignty of their nation.

Delegates recognized God’s gift of freedom to be self-determining.

They also recognized the human rights of all people, in particular the right to self-determination of all people and in particular the right to self-determination of all oppressed colonized indigenous people in the world in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.They called on member churches and the World Council of Churches to support, through advocacy, efforts for the re-inscription of Maohi Nui on the list of countries to be decolonized.
 

West Papua independence
 

A programme implemented by Pacific churches will address human rights abuse and independence in West Papua.

The Pacific Conference of Churches 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands resolved to document effective advocacy on justice and respect for human rights in collaboration with ecumenical partners, civil society and governments.

It will incorporate the human rights situation in West Papua as a strong focal point of PCC’s programmatic work on self-determination for non-self-governing territories and communities and peoples who yearn to be free.
 

Freedom Sunday
 

Pacific churches will designate an annual Freedom Sunday to pray for island countries and people who are not free.

At its 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, delegates agreed to encourage the French authorities to fulfil their obligations and provide all necessary means for the economic, social and cultural, environmental development of the Maohi people.

The PCC delegates agreed to facilitate awareness building in churches, with their partners and networks about the injustices suffered by the victims of nuclear testing in the region. They agreed to design and implement advocacy activities at multiple levels targeting such injustices and using the thematic areas of praying, speaking out and acting together. And they agreed the PCC Secretariat would facilitate regional dialogue among its members to raise awareness on nuclear testing.
 

Nuclear testing
 

Pacific churches will fight for the compensation of people affected by nuclear testing.

At its 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, delegates agreed to advocate with the Maohi people a zero-tolerance stance on nuclear weapons and testing.

The assembly resolved to build awareness beginning in churches, with partners and networks about the injustices suffered by victims of nuclear testing in the region.

Members will design and implement advocacy at multiple levels targeting such injustices and using the thematic areas of praying, speaking out and acting together. And a regional dialogue tour among PCC members to raise awareness on the issues of nuclear testing.
 

Seabed mining
 

The Pacific Conference of Churches has called for an immediate stop to experimental seabed mining. At its 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, delegates said seabed mining was a matter of growing concern in the region. Over the next five years the PCC will conduct regional advocacy work to create a greater understanding of the long and short term effects of seabed mining. It will also act on behalf of member countries to advocate at the relevant global levels including the International Seabed authority.

The general assembly resolution came after concerns were raised by several island churches.

 

 

Solidarity on mining
 

Churches throughout the region will develop specific positions on mining, tourism, fisheries and forestry in a resolution passed in Honiara.

Member churches agreed to call on their governments to stand in solidarity with the people of the region who were struggling with the challenges and negative impacts of mining in their communities.

At its 10th Pacific Conference of Churches General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, delegates agreed there was a need to facilitate the concerns of members by engaging on the issue with agencies such as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Melanesian spearhead Group.
 

End HIV-AIDS stigmatisation
 

Pacific churches have called for an end to the stigmatization of people suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Delegates at the Pacific Conference of Churches 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, called for the inclusion of people with HIV and AIDS.They also called for the voices and concerns of those with HIV and AIDS to be heard.

To this end the PCC will develop and facilitate a programme on compassion and reconciliation and to include people living with HIV and AIDS in the design and implementation of the programme. It will work alongside member churches to help dispel stigmas and negative attitudes associated with HIV and AIDS.

 

 

Climate change and resettlement
 

Research into climate-induced resettlement will be a key area of work for the Pacific Conference of Churches over the next five years.

Leaders at the 10th general Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands supported the continuation of climate-induced resettlement research focussing on human rights. As part of this programme of action there will be an advocacy plan as outlined in the Moana Declaration of 2009.

This plan will look at options for displaced people, explore methods of relocation and ensure the protection of the rights of the displaced people.
 

Teachers for Chuuk
 

The Pacific Conference of Churches will provide teachers for schools in Chuuk to help with a shortage in the Micronesian territory.

Member churches will provide the teachers who will also work on youth evangelism and ecumenism. At its 10th Pacific Conference of Churches General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, delegates heard of the need for teachers in Chuuk. A number of countries, including Tonga, have agreed to provide staff members for the project.

The PCC secretariat will also establish a pool of resource people from among its member to assist with the capacity and emergency needs of regional churches.
 

Arms trade and nuclear weapons
 

Pacific churches will keep track of arms trading and nuclear proliferation in the region after a resolution passed in Honiara.

Church leaders agreed to monitor the arms trade and initiate awareness raising campaigns on the issue where necessary.The PCC Secretariat will also increase networking and consultation initiatives with human rights groups in an effort to address the unresolved nuclear legacy in the Pacific.

The resolution came after concerns that gun ownership in the Pacific was 50 per cent higher than the global average and that firearms laws were inconsistent.

 

 

Source: Islands Business

Pacific Conference of Churches calls for reason in PNG religion debate.

SUVA, Fiji--- Christians must attempt to change the world through living Christ-like lives, not by forcing legislation on others, says the Pacific Conference of Churches. Responding to a motion in the Papua New Guinea parliament to review freedom of religion laws, PCC General Secretary Reverend Francois Pihaatae said it was important that legislators reflect on Christ’s message of love.

 

Mr. Reuben Mete and Reverend Francois Pihaatae
chating during the PCC 10th General Assembly
in Honiara, Solomon Islands early this year.

“While the PCC recognizes the sovereignty of all nations to create laws, we would – in all humility – suggest that whatever is done is in a way which reflects God’s appreciation of the diversity of His creation and His love for all people,” Rev Pihaatae said. “It is also helpful for legislators to reflect that Christ spoke about justice and inclusivity and in living lives which showed a genuine care for and of neighbor.”

 

A motion moved by Hela Province Governor Anderson Agiru and carried in the PNG parliament has allowed the setting up of a national consultation on whether to allow religious freedom in the country.

Rev Pihaatae said Christianity and Christian missionaries had played a major role in the history of PNG and most Pacific countries. “We urge Pacific leaders to value this contribution to our history. At the same time we call on church elders to teach their congregations that being a Christian is more than about worship.

It is about loving your neighbor, caring about the environment and taking practical steps towards reducing poverty,” he said. “There is also a need to look at developing economic models which are relevant to our people.”

 

Rev Pihaatae said violence against women and children must also be addressed. “This cannot be done through legislation but we can gain forward movement if we live the Gospel which is common throughout the Pacific.” And he said the PCC invited churches in PNG to provide clear moral directions to legislators on religious freedom and Christian responsibility.

 

Source: Islands Business

Imperial Castle Nuremberg - A Glimpse of World History



A visit to the Castle with the IYLC 2013 members.

Source: Adapted


The Imperial Castle Nuremberg is one of the most important imperial palaces of the Middle Ages. Between 1050 and 1571 it hosted the gatherings of the court, Diets and juridical sessions of all German emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire.

 

A Salian royal castle was build on the rock here as early the 11^th century. In the 12^th and 13^th century, Emperor Friedrich I. Barbarossa (1123-1190) and his successors build one of the largest and most magnificant castle complexes of the empire on the western rock. The Romanesque double chapel still dates fro this time, while the palace and other structures were converted and renewed from 1440 onwards in the Late Gothic style. The mighty bastions were first build one century later.

 

 

The Imperial Castle was only inhabited during imperial visits. The empiror’s permanent administrator lived in the Burgrave’s Castle on the eastern rock.
 

 

The Fruit of Partnership: A Letter to Papua New Guinea friends from Germany.

By Christine Schulz

 The letter, which we sent to PNG two weeks ago: 

Dear friends in PNG,

Some time ago our German group had the idea to send you a letter about what is going on in Germany at the moment and what we are doing for our partnership program. Today it´s my turn to send you best greetings and new information from the German group. I hope you all are well and the laplap which is going from parish to parish is still on his way. Many of us are still in contact with some friends from PNG, mostly via internet. That´s great!

I want to inform you a little bit about what we did the last months after our journey to PNG. We thought a lot about how we can inform people about the project and how we can share with them the fruits of our partnership. So we made some evening programs in some parishes. We showed them a lot of pictures and told them about our aims and ideas. Many people said that it is very interesting and that they feel our happiness concerning the PNG-relationship which was a great feedback for us Furthermore we organized some programs for youth groups: Every one of the German members prepared e little program which includes a theme of our project, e.g. about resources. This way we can share our ideas and maybe we can win some new members for our partnership group.

Another big project was the following: In Germany there exist many fruit trees who are not used, so we collected a lot of apples and made juice out of them. This juice we sold in the parishes and the money these people pay is used for our partnership project. Another important thing is that the person who made the juice out of these apples plants some new trees, so it´s good for the climate too, which is a kind of climate compensation for the flights to PNG. Now all the juice is sold and we hope we are able to collect many apples again this autumn.

Now I want to tell you some news about our group members. I think you now that Felix was going to Canada after our meeting in PNG. There he makes a voluntary service. He will come back this summer. In summer Charlotte will travel to some countries in Europe for one year, her first station is Spain. What is more, that Luise is in Bangladesh at the moment. She went in April and will come back in autumn, she makes a voluntary service in a christian community.

Last weekend Daniel was in Leipzig Mission where some members of different partnership programs met. They made a kind of exchange about their experiences. He met a man from PNG too. Hel was from Madang and stays in Germany for three months. He is very engaged against an experiment for the first under water mining in PNG which is very dangerous.

At least I want to tell you that we have a new group member: His name is Falk and works in our church youth like Heike. He supports her because there is a lot of organisation to do for the project. All in all we are hope- and joyful about our partnership and the next exchange in 2014! Many people supported us and we are very thankful that God makes all these great experiences possible! We often miss PNG.

We send you all the best wishes, God bless you all!

Christine and the whole German group.

Christian Churches in China urged to become the 'Salt and Light' of the World.

By Reuben Mete

Da Wei Ge, one of the Young Lutheran Youth Leaders from China attending the 05^th International Leadership Consultation currently going on in Neuendettelsau, Germany concluded the individual participant’s introduction session presentation of national, individual and leadership backgrounds today. Mr. Ge was the second last presenter before South Korean’s Kim.

Young world leaders share their passions and talented openly during the 30 minutes introduction presentation and also share a lot of gifts. Nicaragu’s Sergio Rios Carillo was the first presenter beginning the sessions yesterday on a very high note. Brazil, Tanzania, Mozambique, German, Singapore, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Malaysia also made very impressive presentation.

“Christianity first entered China in 635 A.D” said Mr. Ge. Afterwards Christianity entered China two more times, in the 13^th and 17^th Century. In the 19^th Century, Protestant Christianity was brought to China, but unfortunately it was associated with colonization and was seen as a ‘foreign religion’. In the 1950s, in order to change the image of Christianity as a foreign religion, Chinese Christians initiated the three-self Patriotic Movement. The churches in China took the road of self-administration, self-support and self-propagation and thereby earned respect and recognition from the Chinese people.

In 1958,Chinese Christians begun the practice of United Worship, based on the principle of mutual respect, brothers and sisters ‘bear with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’Ge also mentioned that during the period of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), church life was eliminated. In 1979, with the implementation of the policy of religion freedom, church life resumed and the churches in China endeavored to move beyond ‘three-self’ to ‘three-well’ that is administering it, supporting it and propagating it well. 

Mr. Da Wei Ge trying out a Beijing Opera at the Presentation.

During the last 30 years, the development of Christianity and growth of the church in China have been obvious and various and ministries are taking root onward and bearing fruit upward. The church in China is really fully of God grace, and many new and unprecedented developments in the fields of theological renewal, church administration, theological education and training, publication, social service and international tiesare taking place. In 1998, a theological renewal movement was launched, showing that the church in China is growing not only in years, but also in wisdom, establishment its own theological voice to better spread the gospel and build up the churches in China and also to contribute to the voice for better spreading the gospel and building up the churches in China and to contribute to the ecumenical church movement. 

“The Churches in China are young but God is always accomplished abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. Under the guidance of God, the churches in China will develop further and enhance every kind of ministry, endeavoring to be ‘the light and salt’ of the world and striving to promote social harmony and world peace” said Mr. Ge. He also mentions that churches in China faces heavy responsibility and has a long way to go. “Our hope is in God’s guidance and protection. We also hope for the prayers and support of brothers and sisters from ecumenical churches,” Ge said.

Official Oppening of the International Leadership Consultation.

By Reuben Mete

 

Mission EineWelt (Mission one World) Reverend Dr. Peter Weigand officiate the official opening of the 05^th International Leadership Consultation held here in Germany. “We are all part of the house of God, the family of God and thus ‘family’ is a symbol of protection. We are not strangers but are family, members or citizens in the house of each other.” Weigand said. He was addressing about fifteen (15) young International Leaders from twelve (12) different countries who were being present.

Director Reverend Dr. Peter Weigand .

Mission EineWelt (Mission one World)

Reverend Dr. Peter Weigand says the only problem is that we don’t meet each others. Our objective now in this Consultation is to learn and know from each other. “We together are householders of God (family). You need contacts, agreements and mutual understanding of simple things. Care together those that are sick and in need of resources. We can never be citizens if we do not show we care.”

Reverend Dr. Peter Weigand highlights that citizens have Rights and also Duties to do which leads us to other people not only to give but also having the rights to receive. We should become good householders of God striving to achieve common understanding to walk and grow together in order to keep the house clean and function.

I hope we have done the right thing by walking in the same direction and together we want to bring together people on the table as our lord leads us to His table in eukaryotes.  

Reverend Dr. Peter Weigand officially opened the International Leadership Consultation which starts today and ends in August 10^th 2013. The theme of the consultation is Tolerance in our Societies and Churches.

Challanges of being a Youth of 21st Century Papua New Guineans and Pacifica.

By Reuben Mete

 

Finding solutions to Papua New Guinea and South Pacific difficulties today and into 2050 does not lie in words and more words but in solidarity in word and deed.

I’m humble by the opportunity given to lead Papua New Guinea and South Pacific delegates to participate in this year’s International Leadership Consultation as a Global Youth Leaders gathering for solidarity and to cooperate for justice as opportunities of such are given to voice our concern.

The most compelling witness to the strength of young people in the Papua New Guinea and South Pacific is to be seen as tomorrow leaders having the opportunity to discuss issues affecting them today. Thus, when the weaker members are made strong and well, the stronger members will grow even stronger to maintain their trusting-caring relationship.

1.       Insecurity affecting our Societies

Insecurity is one of the latent issues increasingly amongst the younger populations in many of our Pacific Island countries. In most countries, the youth accounts for about 30 to 40 per cent of a population of almost a million people. This is a telling statistic mainly because of the impact it will have not only on services and infrastructure but also on the nature of politics and socio-economic in the near future. Further, our young people are bored. School students have little to do after school. Unemployment is high which means many have nothing to do after they leave school. They wander the streets; they hang around the shops and cinema on weekends. There is an incidence of experimental sex and crimes - girls with babies and boys with guns.

The crux of the matter is there are not enough employment opportunities and hence, they do not feel they are meaningfully participating and gaining from the economy. Our highly educated young people will turn to violent means to fulfill their aspirations if they stay at home or move overseas. This will undermine not only our fledgling democracies, but the source of creating and distributing wealth – our economies.   

There has been breaking down of the institutions of marriage and family, where recent statistics suggest that about 1 in 5 marriages do not last for 10 years.

Moreover, there is an explosion of squatter settlements in and around the urban centers in our islands. Those who came and settled in these settlements have either lost their land leases or moved because of increasing rural poverty or simply did so to give their children a better chance of quality education and health services that they would not otherwise get in the rural areas. Consequently, there is an increase in the population of homeless and landless families, street children and the violent physical and or sexual abuse of women and children in some of our Island Countries.

Adding to this is a particular development within the area of urbanization and migration. A growing number of people now have two or three homes, in the village, the city and overseas. This may be leading to some confusion in the values because of the strong possibility that children will grow up with uncles and aunts rather than parents. The generation affected by this will soon form their own sub-culture thus contributing to a context of insecurity.

2.        Climate Change in our Societies

There is the issue of climate change and sea level rise that is threatening the very existence of some of our people. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has declared that our region is three times more at risk to climate change than the developed countries of the north.

The World Health Organization (WHO) regional advisor to the Pacific reported that up to 10,000 people will be affected or could be dying each year as a result of factors associated with global warming such as severe weather and mosquito-borne disease. Moreover, the number of deaths due to natural disaster – droughts, floods and storms – increased by 30 to 40 per cent.

Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and recently Solomon Islands, have certainly seen our fair share of devastating cyclones, tsunamis and floods in recent years. It is interesting to note that a new phenomenon is emerging and that is what some called climate induced resettlement.

However, climate change just does not endanger human beings and their socio-political environment. It equally threatens to obliterate many life forms that the natural and human ecosystems depend on for survival and continuity of existence. As John van Klinekn notes, “…from 1850 – 1950, one animal species vanished per year. In 1989, it was one per day and in 2000 it was one per hour. Within 50 years, 25 per cent of animal and plant species will vanish due to global warming and climate change,”

Yet, it is not climate change as such but the unchecked intrusion of human beings, often driven by greed for wealth and power, into the delicate balance of natural environment; from indiscriminate logging and mining to over consumption and inappropriate application of bio-technology. The disturbing and yet challenging lessons here for us, as young people, is that we cannot afford to deny the gravity of the present ecological crisis.

In religious language, as Ed Ayers writes, “God has given us an offer: to see the consequences of our actions and assume moral responsibility for them, or to be consumed by them.” This is an offer that we cannot afford to ignore.

Pacific Leaders in various sectors of our island nations – governments, churches, NGO and civil society groups; have expressed concern that Pacific communities contributes very minimally toward global warming and climate change, and yet we are amongst the most affected and vulnerable. The eroding of shorelines due to sea level rises is not simply about geomorphic changes. Rises in sea level and the resultant eroding of shorelines have direct effect on people’s lives in many ways. In part, one can agree that the growing despair among our people has to do with the sheer pace of the changes we are experiencing now. And consequently, a huge gap has opened up between the transformations happening around us and our people’s ability to respond.

It is a state where the material culture such as technology, is being transformed faster than non-material culture such as the modes of governance and social norms. When the external (material) world is changing faster than the internal (ideology and spiritual) world – in our mental and emotional response; our environment becomes intensely bewildering and threatening. Societies take time to change and so do people. The point is that while we and our people may be adaptive we are not made for constant and relentless change.

3.       Breakdown of the institutions of social life

Another more significant factor, which alluded above is the breakdown of the institutions of social life, and hence the increasing loss of a sense of permanency. In the past, our people were helped to cope with change because we have what Alvin Toffler calls “personal stability zones” or can be referred to as “life anchors”.

These were aspects of our lives that do not easily change, if at all. Of these, the most important were a job for life, marriage for life, and a place for life. Not everyone had them but they were not rare. These gave our people a sense of economic, personal and geographical continuity and permanency. Today, however these things are increasingly hard to find.

Paid job are become less permanent and employment in general is increasingly part-time, short-term and contractual.

Marriage, as religiously and socially accepted and recognized by law as between man and a woman, and which is the very matrix of community for any society, is being eroded by serial relationships, same sex unions, cohabitation and divorce.

The very concept of belonging to a village, a community, a neighborhood – somewhere we call home; is slowly disappearing. Our people travel and move often in search of work and employment, and or for better healthcare and educational opportunities. The result of this increasing fluidity of our existence in the region is that we face an increasing level of uncertainty with the minimum of resources to protect us against insecurity and external changes.

Change has become systemic and consequently we begin to feel that we no longer have control over our lives. Such a situation gives rise to what social scientist call “social poverty”. It relates to the degree of apathy or indifference to the plight of the most disadvantaged among us.

Up until now, our neighbor is the one who shares our ethnicity, denomination, and religion. That works well when our horizons do not go beyond the boundary of our village or settlement. We know exactly who we are, our role and our status; it was on these relationships that our ethics were constructed and applied.  However, when our world becomes larger than our villages or settlements as it is now, ethics becomes more problematic. As young people of Pacific, our response to these deep underlying changes and challenges may become an oppressive burden.

Our response cannot lie at the level of detail, faced with choices as we are now, our people need wisdom. Our young people are one of the rich resources at this time. It sustains reflections of our place in nature and what constitutes the proper goals of our societies and personal lives. It builds communities; shape lives and tell the stories that explain us to ourselves. It frames the rituals that express our aspirations and identities. We must now possess the power to choose, act and take responsibility for our destiny.

Conclusions

Revolutionary, yet extraordinary about rediscovering our self as young men and women – future leaders for tomorrow. We must reclaim the belief that the source of action and responsibility lies within ourselves. That is the first step.

The second step is we should start think globally and to think of humanity as a single moral community linked by mutual responsibility. Our present Pacific context compels us, as young people, to seek a new way of engaging with our people’s struggle for meaning and purpose. Because we are not products of forces beyond our control, we need a moral vision that situates the source of action and responsibility within ourselves. The construction of such a vision will, therefore out of necessity, include the key values of human dignity, justice, compassion, hope and peace.

Suggestions and Consideration

 

Firstly, there is a need in a Youth Network Program on formation in ethics and morality, governance, social justice and stewardship at the International, Regional, National and Local Levels.  However, such a program would be more than just another meeting or conference but would involve lifestyles and perspective changes over a number of years.

Secondly, there is a big need to encourage Youth population to participate more actively on this journey. The older we are, the deeper our roots are in the past and the less able we are to see ways in which the future is developing.

Do we want to keep hearing opinions from the past or aspirations for the future?

 

 

 

God Bless Papua New Guinea.