Media Releases

ACT NOW! congratulates Acting Prime Minister on SABL Announcement

Submitted by Effrey on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 00:00

5 May 2011

Community advocacy group, ACT NOW! has congratulated the Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal, on his announcement of a Commission of Inquiry and an immediate moratorium on any further Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases.

“We applaud the Acting Prime Minister for recognizing these leases have been abused and the potentially devastating impacts on the lives of so many people,” says ACT NOW! Program Manager, Effrey Dademo.

Amet brings into question the Independence of the PNG Judiciary

Submitted by Effrey on Mon, 21/02/2011 - 00:00

21 February 2011

PORT MORESBY:  The hope of a nation is pinned on the strength of it’s Judiciary, and the final defeat of democracy is for the head of the Judiciary to bring into question the independence of the Judiciary.

Effrey Dademo, Program Manager of ACT NOW!, an advocacy group says, “ the  timing and reasons given by the Attorney General and former Chief Justice, Arnold Amet  in the sacking of the Public Prosecutor implies political influence exists within the judiciary…”

Attacks evidence of Australian Government's short-sightedness

Submitted by Effrey on Fri, 18/02/2011 - 00:00

February 18, 2011

PORT MORESBY:  The recent attacks on Australian aid workers is a shame for a country that relies on aid money from Australia.

While condemning the attacks, ACT NOW! a local advocacy group, says the Australian Government has been for a very long time confused on how to manage it’s relationship with Papua New Guinea.

Effrey Dademo, Program Manager, says, “…Australian citizens are suffering the consequences of their government’s own short-sightedness…”

ACT NOW! calls on Minister to take action on Deloitte claims

Submitted by Effrey on Thu, 10/02/2011 - 00:00

10 February 2011

Community based campaign group, ACT NOW!, is calling on Minister for the Environment Benny Allen to investigate claims of serious financial mismanagement and misuse of trust funds in his Department.

Four reports from international consultancy firm Deloitte have been published on the internet that are highly critical of financial management within the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).

Email action launched against Harmony and Newcest

Submitted by Effrey on Mon, 06/12/2010 - 00:00

6 December 2010

Community based campaign organization, ACT NOW!, has launched an email action against Harmony Gold and Newcrest Mining, owners of the Hidden Valley mine in Papua New Guinea.

ACT NOW! is asking the general public to send messages to the two companies through the ACT NOW! website, calling on them to ‘come clean’ about their acidification of the Watut river system.

Email action launched against Harmony and Newcest

Submitted by Effrey on Mon, 06/12/2010 - 00:00

6 December 2010

Community based campaign organization, ACT NOW!, has launched an email action against Harmony Gold and Newcrest Mining, owners of the Hidden Valley mine in Papua New Guinea.

ACT NOW! is asking the general public to send messages to the two companies through the ACT NOW! website, calling on them to ‘come clean’ about their acidification of the Watut river system.

Protestors deliver NO MARINE DUMPING message in Australia

Submitted by Effrey on Thu, 25/11/2010 - 00:00

25 November 2010

Campaigners are taking their ‘no marine dumping’ message to the streets of Australia in the first of a series of planned protests against the environmental performance of foreign mining companies operating in Papua New Guinea.

“Our message is simple”, says spokesperson Iona Reto, “foreign companies operating in Papua New Guinea need to clean up their act and stop their double standards. If they can’t do it at home they shouldn’t do it in PNG.”

ACT NOW! disappointed by Highlands Pacific reaction

Submitted by Effrey on Thu, 25/11/2010 - 00:00

25 November 2010

ACT NOW! community members were unable to deliver copies of more than 500 protest letters to mining company Highlands Pacific today because the company had closed its office.

“We are really disappointed,” said spokesperson Iona Reto, “members of the public are rightly concerned that Highlands Pacific wants to dump millions of tons of toxic waste into the sea, but the company doesn’t even have the decency to accept our protest letters.”

Protestors deliver NO MARINE DUMPING message in Australia

Submitted by Effrey on Thu, 25/11/2010 - 00:00

25 November 2010

Campaigners are taking their ‘no marine dumping’ message to the streets of Australia in the first of a series of planned protests against the environmental performance of foreign mining companies operating in Papua New Guinea.

“Our message is simple”, says spokesperson Iona Reto, “foreign companies operating in Papua New Guinea need to clean up their act and stop their double standards. If they can’t do it at home they shouldn’t do it in PNG.”

Parliament should reverse environmental law amendments

Submitted by Effrey on Fri, 12/11/2010 - 00:00

12 November, 2010

The ACT NOW! community is calling on the PNG Parliament, when it resumes next week, to reverse its controversial amendments to the Environment Act.

The amendments, passed by Parliament in May, removed landowner’s rights to be consulted and approve activities on their land in certain circumstances. They also denied any right to challenge those decisions through the courts and gave immunity to foreign companies from liability for environmental damage.