There are significant unanswered questions about the socio-cultural and environmental impacts of seabed mining and of its underlying science. We need to adopt a precautionary approach and lets decide how we can better balance corporate profits with the need for conservation, human rights, advancing scientific knowledge and sustainable development.

*Bipo bipo tru, long taim blong tumbuna, we were Warriors.

When we were warriors there would be certain people that were skilled at fishing or hunting or were skilled in gardening or some other craft. When we were warriors we lived in harmony with plants, the rivers, the fish, our *masalais and Mother Nature knew us like we knew her. When we were warriors we did things that would benefit our family, tribe or our clan. When we were warriors honor and self-respect were extremely vital in all parts of Papua New Guinea.

THE National Court has quashed a decision by the National Lands Board and the Minister for Lands in awarding a company, Vitroplant,three agriculture leases to plant palm oil on Woodlark Island.


By Oala Moi*

Professor Andrew Lattas responds to criticism from Australian National University academic and industrial logging advocate, Tim Curtin, of his expose of the land theft and violence experienced by communities in PNG at the hands of foreign logging companies.... 

Professor Andrew Lattas*

Goodbye April 2012, we shall miss you- there will never be another April 2012 (thank goodness)!

Take a deep breath now Papua New Guinea…nine months is a long time to be lugging around a weight that seems to grow ever heavier with each passing day. Nine months since we somehow, whether we like it or not conceived the O’Namah government, that has been our burden to bear. Only we can change this burden come June 23^rd and hopefully the next government we bear is a lighter, more compliant burden then this current one.

THE Umi-Atzera and Onga-Waffa people in Markham Valley, Morobe, are urging the government to repeal the Special Agricultural Business Lease (SABL) policy because it “regards landowners as mere slaves”.

“In Markham district, we will never invite and entertain government’s SABL policy,” provincial agriculture chairman and Umi-Atzera president, Daki Mao said.

More than 5,000 people gathered at Mutzing station to witness the launching of pioneer Morobe palm oil project last Friday.

via The National

SOME landowners want all logging operations in the Turubu log pond area in East Sepik province to stop until the Special Agriculture Business Licences (SABL) report is completed and the government makes its recommendations.

They want to know why the report into SABLs is still pending and logging operations going on in areas not consented to.

Thursday. The second last day of the working week and the political situation in this awe inspiring nation of ours is ever turbulent, yes we are truly a vibrant democracy.

By Dr Kristian Lasslett*