The Solomon Star is reporting that landholders in the Solomon Islands have mounted a protest against the environmental damage caused by the Gold Ridge mine near Honiara. The mine is owned by Australian company Allied Gold, which is also the operator of the controversial Simberi mine in Papua New Guinea which was forced to close by a tailings leak late last year.

Please help Joy live a normal life

I READ with disgust about the sufferings and anguish endured by Joy Wartovo at the hands of her her husband last December. Then came the satisfying story that he was terminated from employment and behind bars and I thought these sufferings had come to an end. But for poor Joy, this was far from over. It was yet another disgusting story of abduction and abuse. She has been stabbed and hospitalised.

New Crisis, Old Story, by Martyn Namorong

The $14 Billion PNG LNG Project is viewed by many as the economic engine of Papua New Guinea. Does that ring any bells? Remember the copper mine at Panguna, it was set up by the Australians to be the economic engine of the newly independent State of PNG. A lot is at stake economically, with regards to the LNG Project in the Southern Highlands, just as it was with Panguna.

By David Fedele

For nearly 50 years the people of West Papua have suffered under brutal Indonesian colonial rule and up to 400,000 civilians have lost their lives in Indonesian military operations.

Thousands have fled across the border to seek sanctuary in Papua New Guinea.

The footage below was taken on Wednesday 16th February 2011, in the jungle near Vanimo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea - less than 50km from the West Papua border.