eading responses to the Parliament of Tonga's decision of CEDAW at Matangi Tonga attracts one to think deeper and dig deep about our modern cultures, where Christianity is the cornerstone of our nation's foundation. If our nation has no reservations other than 100% compliance with all articles of CEDAW, our government has whole heartedly won my support. -Kisione Taufa
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Saturday 7 November 2009
1 comment
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Pago Pago, American Samoa
A city was burnt and lives lost to force a more democratic Tonga. But now the Demo-Movement leaders will not ratify the CEDAW.
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Saturday 7 November 2009
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Oku malie pea fakatupu fifili he taimi tatau e ngaahi felaafoaki fekau'aki mo e CEDAW 'i ho'o paenga kae tautautefito ki hono taukave'i e totonu 'a fafine Tonga. -Samiu Sika
Friday 6 November 2009
Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
Fakatulou atu ka e 'ataa ke u lulululu mo Sefesi Lutui (Fakama . . . 05 Nov 2009). Malo 'etau lava tangata. 'Oku ou fiefia 'i ho'o tali mai 'eku tohi. Faka'amu na'ake 'i heni kae palu hata kava. -Sione A. Mokofisi
Tuesday 20 October 2009
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Auckland, New Zealand
On the Tongan watermelon dilemma, your correspondent Sione Mokofisi of the US posed: Isn't there something wrong with this picture? Short supply of watermelons in NZ; high prices at the marketplace; but there is excess supply in Tonga ready to be shipped. -Sefita Hao'uli
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Monday 19 October 2009
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Salt Lake City, USA
The price of watermelons, or any commodity, has lots to do with everything in trade, and in international commerce. Changes in prices can send ripple effects around the world. -Sione A. Mokofisi
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Thursday 15 October 2009
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Auckland, New Zealand
Like your correspondent Sione Mokofisi from the US, I too would like to see more trade between Tonga and NZ and especially our agricultural exports. It will offer an opportunity for both countries to mitigate what is now a long-running multi-million dollar imbalance in favour of New Zealand. That's a commonly held fact which backgrounds the trade discussions between NZ and Tonga over the years. Which is why I'm surprised at the claims of a trade barrier and price-control policies restricting inflows of Tongan watermelons.- Sefita Hao'uli
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Monday 12 October 2009
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Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
I hope that NZ PM Key's visit (July 8, 2009), and Minister for Foreign Affairs McCully (July 20, 2009), to Tonga were not empty promises to removing barriers in Tonga-NZ trade policies.Tongan farmers are still handicapped by more trade barriers. -Sione A. Mokofisi
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Friday 9 October 2009
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Kataki kae faka'au atumu'a 'eku fakamalo 'i he loto hounga mo'oni k he si'i fiekaungamamahi 'oku ha mai mei he Matangi Tonga. akamalo atu kihe 'Eiki Minisista Labor and Commerce, Lisiate 'Akau'ola neu fakahoko 'ene popoaki ki he Kovana 'o Amerika Samoa 'i he Emergency Operation Center (EOC) he pongipongi pe hili 'a e Tsunami, pea lau pe ia ko e popoaki faka pule'anga mei Tonga. -Mafi 'o Amerika Samoa
Tuesday 6 October 2009
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Sydney, Australia
Thank you so much for your initiative to post on the Matangi Tonga News Online - "Tourteau, where are You?" - Madame Y. Robaux
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Tuesday 6 October 2009
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Auckland, New Zealand
Your correspondents Kik Velt, Dan Clem and Paul Kidd have all helped us understand a lot more about tsunami and their potential to wreak havoc. What I have taken from their contributions is that mother nature has already provided a perfectly good warning system for tsunamis. It's called an earthquake. We continue to ignore this at our peril.- Sefita Hao'uli
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Saturday 3 October 2009
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Pangai, Ha'apai
All theoretical information aside, when the tsunami wave struck Niuatoputapu, it resulted in seven or more deaths, and significant damage to the village. On the island of Lifuka, in Ha'apai, there was far more damage than "minor flooding." The initial tsunami wave itself was about one meter in height, followed by several waves of lesser height. The subsequent turbulence and the rapidly shifting currents in the Pangai harbor resulted in the sinking of 2 fishing boats, and the grounding of several others. - Tama Pangai
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Saturday 3 October 2009
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USA
While it is true that in the deep ocean a tsunami's wavelength is so broad that the wave's height is almost imperceptible, we all know that many small Pacific islands are barely above sea level, and many do not have the sheer drop-offs to the seafloor that would prevent a tsunami from slowing down and rearing up into a very perceptible and very dangerous wave. Both of these traits mean that tsunamis can be dangerous to many Pacific islands, whether the tsunami begins nearby or far away. -Dan Clem
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Friday 2 October 2009
San Diego-California, USA
Si'i fakaa'u atu mu'a 'a e lotu hufia 'o kinautolu Tonga pehe ki hotau kainga Ha'amoa ne si'i ma'ungatamaki 'e he Sunami, ki he Mafi 'o Pangopango pehe ki he Tonga kotoa 'i Ha'amoa 'oku 'iai 'a e faka'amu ne mou hao 'i he fakatamaki ne hoko. 'Oku tau 'ilo'i kotoa pe kapau ne hoko 'a me'a ni 'i Tonga 'e toe fakamamahiange.-Lou 'Uhila
Friday 2 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The recent red wave (or tidal wave) in Tonga will of course rake up the discussion again whether Tonga should spend money on an early warning system. My answer is clearly and definitely: no; as is very obvious if one considers the physical properties of red waves, which apparently are not very well known.- Firitia (Kik Velt)
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Thursday 24 September 2009
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Random house has finally given us two versions of a dictator. However we are still to hear from Mr Fale which definition leads his argument, because the second version is arguably applicable if for example Bainimarama did things like withholding health services and medicines to a certain region of the country that opposes him which then led to people there dying from preventable diseases. Corruption, nepotism and murder of minorities and political opponents are obvious weapons of choice that he will also not sit and twiddle his fingers on. - Sam Tupou
Thursday 24 September 2009
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Mr Kava claims some dictators are suitable for some countries (Democracy...23 Sep 2009), and would Mr. Kava like to be forced to live in one of those countries ruled by a dictator? - Sione Mokofisi
Thursday 24 September 2009
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
I have been defending the position that there have been "successful" dictators, not necessarily "good"; this is a totally different argument. I have also been stating facts that refute generalizing dictators as "failed wannabes", because in reality - as I have been arguing - even in our current world, dictators do exist and some continue to be successful. - Daniel Fale
Wednesday 23 September 2009
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Mata ki 'Eua,Tonga
How disappointing to see electricity prices increasing again. Even more disappointing is to hear of the plan to install 1mW of solar power which is probably an expense of around $20 million pa'anga to produce on average around 3% of total power and therefore no effect on the electricity price. For close to same sum of money one could build a plant using biomass to produce on average 15 times as much electricity and end up with a retail power price of around TOP 0.65/ kWh at current oil prices. -Peter Goldstern
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Wednesday 23 September 2009
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Webster defines a dictator as a person having absolute authority and supreme governmental powers. The nature and characteristics of a dictator is not part of the definition of the word. I fail to see where Mokofisi got the idea that murder, corruption and nepotism is part of the definition. On his part, he fails to realize that the same characteristics is present in all forms of government. The news is replete with accounts of these in democratic America. Read about corruption in Israel. - Sione Lousiale Kava
