By Jo Chandler, The Age

THE clock is ticking in New York. It's a large, illuminated clock in Times Square, not far from the United Nations headquarters, where 140 world leaders and countless development activists gathered this week to evaluate progress on promises they made 10 years ago to make the world a better place.

By Dr Kristian Lasslett*

In Madang, a case which aims to stop mine tailings from being dumped into Astrolabe Bay stands on a precipitous peak. Three landowners have withdrawn from the trial, while another seeks to be joined. Punctuating this court room drama are threats and under the table deals, as the mine operator attempts to lambast its project through to production.

By Barry Coates, Oxfam* 

For most of us, the Pacific means exotic islands where the people are happy, beaches are lined with coconut palms and there is a unique genetic sequence for rugby players.

In many ways the Pacific has huge wealth - natural resources, cultural diversity and resilient, capable people. These are vital ingredients for a decent standard of living for all.

By Effrey Dademo

The red, black and gold, with a touch of the bird of paradise flew for the first time on Independence Hill, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 16^th September 1975. I was 6 months old, and, I had no idea what had just happened! 

Papua New Guinea will celebrate 35 years of Nationhood today - 16^th September 2010.

We have problems. We have difficulties.  But we are a country that can still  make choices.

In this video, Students from the Divine Word University in Madang, Papua New Guinea, talk about what it means to be an independent country and to be Papua New Guinean.  

It is a  land worth fighting for! 

BY ALEX HARRIS (via PNG Attitude)

The Australian based Lowey Institute says Papua New Guinea's massive new Liquified Natural Gas project¹ and large mining investments will not reduce poverty unless there is a radical re-thinking of the government's approach.

The US$18 billion LNG project has been heavily hyped by the PNG government as providing a rich future for the country but the evidence presented by the Lowey Institute suggests otherwise.

By Reg Renagi

Since Independence, Papuans New Guineans have taken their own country for granted. 

As citizens, the people are somewhat tolerant about the way PNG is presently being cleverly manipulated, if not controlled for many years. 

But I hope this will soon change for the better.

It is very important that citizens have every right to be concerned at the overall direction PNG has been heading for over three decades. 

This is  despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently.

By ALEX HARRIS (PNG Attitude)

I HAVE BOTH the final and draft copies of the Scottish Association for Marine Science report for the PNG government of expected impacts of the Ramu Deep Sea Tailings Disposal (DSTP) plan for Basamuk Bay.