Dump asbestos our way
Power savings to the people
‘No’ for a nationally elected PM
Dump asbestos our way
Thu
4 Feb
Neigbouring nation Niue might follow the Cook Islands’ unorthodox method of dumping asbestos roofing at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Niue MP Terry Coe suggests that asbestos roofing from homes damaged during cyclone Heta in 2004 should be loaded on to a ship that is then sunk 2000 to 3000 metres down. He suggests that Niue follows the lead of the Cook Islands and dump the asbestos at sea rather than sending it to New Zealand. Burying the asbestos on the island is not optimal as it could cause problems later on, he said. A check on the internet yesterday shows a number of websites have picked up on the Niue story, most notably those dedicated to discussing mesothelioma, a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. On the subject of asbestos, in its preparations to host the 1985 Mini Games the Cook Islands as host country had to remove the white insulation coating from the underside of the roof of the Princess Anne Hall at Tereora to allow for the building to be used for the sport of boxing. The coating had to be removed because it was believed to contain asbestos. Workers undertaking asbestos removal have to be equipped with specialised safety gear to avoid inhaling asbestos dust, which causes mesothelioma. The disease may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.
ANOTHER USE FOR NICE MELONS
“Having just returned from my holidays back home in Rarotonga recently, a highlight that stood out the most was when 10 of my cousins and myself pulled up in a Nissan Terano to attend a night club,” a smoke signaller writes. “One of the females in our group decided that she would take along the massive watermelon that sat in the boot. When we all got to the door she addresses the bouncer: ‘Sorry I forgot my purse at home but I have a watermelon’, to which the bouncer replies, ‘How many of youse?’ My cousin replies ‘Ten’. The bouncer proceeds to receive the whole watermelon and stamps 10 people through the door. It’s great to see the old traditions of barter still alive and well in the islands lol. Then heading straight to the bar and buying 20 drinks first shout!”
Power savings to the people
Sat
6 Feb
It’s said there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but you can get something for free when you next pay your power account. In a project between the country’s electricity utility Te Aponga Uira and the Asian Development Bank, householders in the Cook Islands get a voucher for three energy-saving light bulbs. The only catch, and it’s not really a catch because you’re going to save on your next power bill, is that you have to exchange them for three of the traditional incandescent light bulbs from your home. The power-saving bulbs in stores start at 8 watts (light output equivalent to a 40 watt incandescent bulb, a little too dim for normal household lighting) up to 20 watts (same as an old 100 watt bulb but you’re only paying for 20 watts of power). The energy-saving bulbs are known as compact fluorescent lamps and like other fluorescent bulbs they rely on mercury vapour to produce the light, so be very careful when installing and disposing of these bulbs that you don’t break them. Choosing the bulbs is also important: if you want a CFL to have the same warm glow of a traditional incandescent bulb in your home, look for the words ‘Warm White’ on the packet. The CFL bulbs labelled ‘Cool Daylight’ produce a harsh sterile glow that seems more suited to daytime office lighting, but are not very good indoors in homes at night.
WE DODGED A BULLET
While the southern Cook Islands escaped serious damage this week as Oli made its easterly track to the north with tropical storm force winds, it regained strength on Thursday to a very intense category 4 cyclone as it approached the Austral Islands of French Polynesia. It stormed through the Australs to the east of Rimatara and Rurutu, and claimed the life of a 40 year old man who was washed into the ocean on the capital island of Tubuai. CINews readers will recall in 2007 the successful reintroduction of the endangered Rimatara Lorikeet (Kura) from Rimatara to the island of Atiu, to establish a reserve population of the colourful bird in the Cook Islands.
MAORI ON TV
“Bravo CITV” writes a signaller. “Finally you are putting sub-titles on your CI Maori News items – and congrats on taking the Learning Maori initiative for us – now we can learn every day!”
Keep the smokies rolling in! Smoke Signals will be accepted by e-mail (smokesignals@cookislandsnews.com), text to 188 or a phone call to the newsroom.
‘No’ for a nationally elected PM
Wed
10 Feb
On the subject of political reform, one signaller says in 2006 when prime minister Jim Marurai knew that he did not have the support, he called a snap election. “In 2010 he knows he doesn’t have the support of the MPs in the house but is willing to hold on as long as it takes before, surprise, surprise, he will ask the QR to dissolve parliament and call the next election. So should the PM be elected on a national basis? No way Jose! If the PM has an enormous amount of power now under the first-past-the-post system, imagine if the person is elected nationally and given the mandate to basically do what he or she wants – that’s scary.”
MAORI ON TV
“Bravo CITV” writes a signaller. “Finally you are putting sub-titles on your CI Maori News items – and congrats on taking the Learning Maori initiative for us – now we can learn every day!”
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