No subject

the PNG telephone system.


"The isolation of Paruparu is not unusual in Melanesia, where most of
the population is isolated to varying degrees", said Tony.


"Their connection to the internet, via email, is particularly notable
given the recent history of Bougainville where there was a total
destruction of communication infrastructure during the 10 year
Bougainville crisis. The system is yet to be restored despite almost
seven years of peace. The reality is that even in pre-crisis times,
when Bougainville was considered one of the more developed provinces
in PNG, communities like Paruparu still had very little in the way of
services.   


"The use of this type of communications technology, delivered through
peoples' organisations like CRMF and PF Net (People First Networks, a
telecommunciations NGO) in Solomon Islands, is very exciting as it can
be an important tool to help to break down the barriers and problems
that have led to increasing conflict and frustration for rural
communities across Melanesia." 


PEDC is part of the Melanesian Farmers First Network (more info on
MFFN: http://www.terracircle.org.au). The Network links NGOs in the
Solomon Islands (Kastom Gaden Association/ Planting Material Network),
the PNG Southern Highlands (Community-Based Health Care, Tari),
Vanuatu (Farmers Support Association) and Bougainville. A number of
participants in the Network are associates of TerraCircle, which is
based in Australia and Solomon Islands.


PEDC achieved remarkable feats during the Bougainville crisis,
mobilising local communities to improve their health, agriculture and
to make use of appropriate technologies at a time when they were
totally isolated from the outside world and received virtually no
assistance (more on PEDC:
http://www.terracircle.org.au/reports/boug.html). During the conflict
with PNG, PEDC's Linus Sia ran a communication workshop where he
trained bush technicians to build and repair HF radios and other
electronic equipment.  


"It is important that PEDC's ideas, experiences and lessons learned
are shared with Bougainville and other parts of the Pacific and the
world", said Tony. "The Bougainville email station follows one that
went online at the Tari (PNG Southern Highlands) associate of MFFN
just a few weeks ago". Other email stations in the network exist in
the Solomon Islands at the Kolombangara seed centre, the village of
Silolo, Maliata Province, and other locations.


MFFN and PEDC's connection to the world was made possible with the
assistance of Oxfam Australia in its support for the Melanesian Farmer
First Network as well as PFNet Solomon Islands, CRMF Goroka and others.


<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>FFFD,0000,0000</param>.............................................................................................</color>

<color><param>FFFD,0000,0000</param>TerraCircle - people-centred
development</color></fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>

PO Box 446 Kogarah NSW Australia 2217

T: 02 9588 6931

E: info at terracircle.org.au

WWW: www.terracircle.org.au

<bold><color><param>FFFD,0000,0000</param>..............................................................................................</color></bold>


More on PEDC: http://www.terracircle.org.au/reports/boug.html

Russ Grayson: http://www.pacific-edge.info</fontfamily>
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