Marshalls Billfish Club: All Micronesia Fishing Tournament Marks 10th Anniversary

Pacfic Islands October Edition: In this year’s 10th annual Mobil All Micronesia Fishing Tournament in Majuro a 301-pound marlin won first place.

Language barrier as solid as ever throughout state

Honolulu Advertiser: There are nine languages represented by the tiny Micronesian nations, in a place already coping with a full array of largely Asian and Pacific immigrant groups.

Port talks on West Coast break off indefinitely

Honolulu Advertiser: Nine ships will be making their way to Hawai'i despite the lockout, including five Matson vessels, as part of an exemption to the lockout granted to Hawai'i late Friday evening.

No Deal for Guam Shipments

Guam Pacific Daily News: 80 percent of the island's food and as much as 95 percent of all off-island merchandise passes through those ports.

White House Initiative On Asian Americans And Pacific Islanders town Hall Meeting

Pacfic Islands Report: Pacific Islander populations in Hawai‘i have an opportunity to provide testimony to the President’s Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islanders at a Town Hall meeting in Honolulu, Hawai‘i on Friday, October 11.

”The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations” Comes into Force

PAC News: PACER sets out the basis for the future development of trade relations among all 16 Forum members. The three Forum countries with ties to the US - Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Republic of Marshall Islands - have been given three extra years to sign up.

State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and the Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002

NOAA has released the first-ever national assessment of the condition of US coral reefs; includes Marshall Islands.

National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Report to Congress

A status report on implementation of the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.

Climate Outlook for the Pacific Islands for September 2002 - February 2003.

Of relevance is the prediction of warmer than average conditions in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific for the next 6 to 9 months.

Opening Statement, 31st Annual Session of the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission

Of all the Water Utilities in the Pacific only one reported unaccounted for water losses of less than 35%. Some had losses of more than 70%.

Unusually Small Antarctic Ozone Hole this Year

Scientists say ozone hole split into two separate holes during late September.

Republic of the Marshall Islands Marine Science Report

Summer 2001 Field Studies: Likiep Atoll Marine Research Survey and Majuro Atoll Lagoon Survey; also includes CMI Questionaire.

U.S. Pact Strangling Pacific Islands: Time For Marshall Islands, Micronesia To Be Treated Justly

Since that compact was signed, at least two studies and reports have been released that show that Marshallese and Micronesians were not aware of significant factors which greatly impact their lives and relate directly to their relationship with the United States.

South Pacific Island Ready for the Adventurous

Estranged natives are finally returning to their homeland and looking to bring eager fishermen and divers with them.

King Copra in the Marshall Islands

"There is nothing else," says Jerry Kramer, the CEO of Pacific International, Inc (PII), the company that holds the contract with the Government of the Marshall Islands to manage the Tobolar Copra Processing Plant in Majuro.

Chinese Fishermen Going All out to Protect Sea Resources

This rising scarcity of fish has driven some fishermen to look for a catch as far as Marshall Islands, 4,000 sea miles away from home.

Census shows English is second language for 27 percent in Hawai'i

The DOE reported that last year, Filipino, Samoan and Marshallese children made up the largest segments of its English-as-a-second-language program.

Marshalls airline faces problems recovering money from German plane manufacturer

An Air Marshall Islands official says the bankruptcy of German aircraft manufacturer, Dornier, will complicate efforts to collect a four point one million court judgement.

Listen to Marshallese Music at Yokwe Online

Hear the sounds of the islands right here while you chat and read the news! Several Marshallese music groups are now available for your background music enjoyment through streaming audio.


WEEK THREE FEATURE::

• JUBILEE PRAISE
- from Maui Assembly of God!



Also, listen to the last two week's featured groups:


• CHANINWAY
- the popular Marshallese Band!


• Rairok Youth Choir

For all the Marshallese Music Selections, CLICK HERE at Yokwe Online Marshallese Music's Streaming Audio. Also, you can click on the Main Menu's MARSHALLESE MUSIC link to go directly to the Music page.

We are appreciative of the music groups who have given permission for our audio presentations at Yokwe Online.


PLEASE NOTE: If you have a Marshallese musical group and would like some of your group's music to be featured at Yokwe Online's "Marshallese Music," please send an email to:

YokweNet@aol.com

Cover story from Sept. 16, 2002

RALGOV is beginning the return of the Rongelap community to its home island. As part of the return, tourism activities on Rongelap and Ailinginae atolls are now available featuring diving, sports fishing and eco tourism. Ailinginae Atoll is part of the Rongelap Atoll municipality in the northern Republic of the Marshall Islands. RALGOV has designated the entire Ailinginae atoll for conservation. The atoll is uninhabited and, in recent years, rarely visited. As a result, it is a near pristine atoll system.

Mink Recently Sponsored Legislation to Help Micronesians in US

Congresswoman Patsy Mink, longtime Democrat Representative from Hawaii, died today, Saturday, September 28, at Straub Clinic, according to a statement issued by Mink's office. The Congresswoman had been hospitalized in intensive care since developing viral pneumonia following complications with chickenpox.


Mink served the 2nd District that includes rural O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands, and was a strong supporter of Pacific Islander concerns, recently working toward legislation that would assist RMI and FSM citizens who have migrated to the Hawaii and the Mainland.

HIV Diagnosis on Ebeye

The HIV virus has been confirmed on Ebeye Island, ending the Marshall Islands claim to be an HIV/AIDS-free country.

Problems with RMI's 2001 Audit

The recent audit found 22 problem areas. Also, 8 different agencies did not summit audited financial statements and therefore were not included in the audit.

Audit: Marshall Islands Embassies Don't Account for Money

The Marshall Islands government-wide audit for 2001 reports that the six embassies did not provide required financial reports for $298,700 in petty cash funds.

Chinese Nationals Jailed for 3 Years on Majuro

Two of five who were chargedwho appeared were sentenced to three years in jail for overstaying their visitors’ visas; 30 still being deported.

RMI Bank of Hawaii to Close November 29

FSM branches - Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap - and its Majuro branch in the Republic of the Marshall Islands now set for Friday, November 29, 2002.

Bechtel-Lockheed Martin Team Awarded Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site Operations and Management Contract

USASMDC, Huntsville, Alabama

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command has awarded a $626 million, four-year contract with the potential for 15 years valued at $2.5 billion, to Kwajalein Range Services, LLC, for logistics support and integrated range engineering support services at Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site.

U.S., islands probe abuses in labor recruiting

Baltimore Sun reviews the RMI & FSM responses to its series of articles published Sept. 15-17.

Micronesia exempts U.S. from new war crimes court

FSM & RMI join 10 other countries in "Article 98" agreements with the United States.

Marshall Islands Fishing: Thinking about Tomorrow

Locally based and sometimes village-based commercial fishermen are also helping to wipe out fish that have been a staple in the diets of hundreds and sometimes thousands of islanders.

General Assembly Concludes General Debate Dominated by Terrorism, Iraq Issue.

The Assembly heard 33 heads of State, 14 heads of government, 14 Deputy Prime Ministers and 110 Foreign Ministers. Ambassador Alfred Capelle represented Marshalls.

A Statistical Analysis of Public and Non-Public Employees in the RMI

ESSAY SERIES - Part One: Educational Attainment and Wages

By Ben Graham

A common and longstanding opinion in the RMI holds that the public sector - rather than the private sector - attracts and employs a disproportionate share of educated people. What causes this? Some attribute the lure of the public sector to job security, overseas travel, and other job-related benefits. Most, however, attribute it to higher salaries offered by government jobs. But surprisingly little analysis has gone into proving or disproving this assumption. Does the public sector really employ a disproportionately large share of the RMI’s educated population and does it pay higher wages to its employees?

We can easily test the validity of this assumption through analysis of RMI census and survey data. If the assumption holds true, then statistics on public employees will show higher levels of both educational attainment and earned wages relative to non-public employees.

Listen to Marshallese Music at Yokwe Online

Hear the sounds of the islands right here while you chat and read the news! Several Marshallese music groups are now available for your background music enjoyment through streaming audio.


WEEK TWO FEATURE::

CHANINWAY

- the popular Marshallese Band!


Also, listen to last week's featured group, Rairok Youth Choir


For all the Marshallese Music Selections, CLICK HERE at Yokwe Online Marshallese Music's Streaming Audio. Also, you can click on the Main Menu's MARSHALLESE MUSIC link to go directly to the Music page.


We are appreciative of the music groups who have given permission for our audio presentations at Yokwe Online.


PLEASE NOTE: If you have a Marshallese musical group and would like some of your group's music to be featured at Yokwe Online's "Marshallese Music," please send an email to:

YokweNet@aol.com

VIDEO: MARSHALL ISLANDS H.E. Mr. Alfred CAPELLE,

Ambassador Capelle, the Chairman of the Marshall Islands Delegation to the Fifty-seventh General Assembly of the United Nations was the last nation representative to address the General Debate before the Assembly adjourned. As a fitting gesture, Ambassador Capelle concluded his statement with a prayer for world leader's as they make decisions for "peace and well being of all peoples."


The transcript of the Speech follows>>>

Pacific island nations accused of undermining shipping security

Vandenberg missile launch provides spectacular light show

30th SpaceWing Release: Successful Launch

Marshall Islands holds talks with FATF on blacklisting

MISSA Earns an A-Plus from Auditors

EDITORIAL: Marshall Islands: Let’s Resolve Medical Referral Crisis

EDITORIAL: US-Marshall Islands Partnership Pays-off