The Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and MiningWatch Canada and have released a new report called “Out of Our Depth”. It details serious environmental and social impacts expected as a result of unprecedented mining of the ocean floor in PNG.

Papua New Guinea's land grab is part of a global phenomina that is being resisted by indigenous people across the planet. The fight against land-grabbing is a fight against capitalism, neoliberalism and a destructive economic model. 

Nyeleni, November 19, 2011

By the Critic

Another story about our wrong model of development

Everyday I meet interesting people.

Two months ago, it was  a doctor - the Director of Medical Services at a provincial hospital. During our discussion, he  said  we – the PNG government – are putting money into areas that won’t improve the nation’s health.

From the PNG Exposed blog

Transparency International, which claims to be global watchdog on corruption, is in fact part of the corruption problem. TI misdirects attention away from many of the causes, beneficiaries and potential solutions to the theft of public monies.

By Grace Tiden 

Members of West Pomio landowner company Memalo Holdings Limited including other locals have been warned not to issue any threats or statements that can be seen as an assault to the Commission of Inquiry into the granting of Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs). 

CoI Commissioner issued the warning last week following allegations of threats being made against women landowners in the West Pomio area. 

Dr Ashby Monk from the University of Oxford and co-director of the  Oxford SWF Project has given a cautious welcome to Papua New Guinea's draft Sovereign Wealth Fund law (which can be downloaded below - 6.4mb).

Ashby Monk

Papua New Guinea has finally published a draft law for its new sovereign fund: “The Organic Law on the Sovereign Wealth Fund“. Here are some of the key points to take away:

By Junior Ukaha

A TEAM from the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) headed by former chief magistrate John Numapo is in Vanimo, West Sepik, to discuss land matters with the people.

Provincial police commander Tobby Hamago said the group arrived on Sunday.
The group invited people  affected by the inquiry and SABL matters to come to the Vanimo council chamber to discuss their concerns.

Hamago said discussions on the SABL with locals started on Monday with only a few turning up.

By Peter Kranz*

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT of self-congratulation in the Australian media about the proposed Asia-Pacific free trade agreement.

But has anyone considered the fine print, and the effect this may have on smaller countries like PNG?

One aspect of the proposal - so far overlooked - is the tightening of corporate interests and increasing their power to sue governments over restrictions on their operations.

By John Pangkatana

UP TO 94,000 hectares of land belonging to the indigenous people of New Hanover was sold to a foreign company for $US 1.6 million (K3.47 million).

Incredible isn’t it, but yes the inconceivable idea that the Post-Courier revealed earlier this year on March 4 under the headline ‘Island sold to foreigners’ was true.