18 02 May 2016 Australia Samoa Newspaper
18 02 May 2016 Australia Samoa Newspaper
Samoa voted in the top ten most ethical places to visit
Miss Samoa’ s Easter visits Unsung Heroes
Miss Samoa, Ariana Taufao with staff and residents of the Goshen Mental Helath Trust.
For the second year in a row and for the third year since 2013, Samoa has featured in the Ethical Traveler’ s Top Ten List.
Ethical Traveler is a non-profit organisation and a project of the Earth Island Institute which survey’ s the world’ s developing nations and assesses their performance in the areas of Social Welfare, Human Rights and Environmental Protection. Each year, Ethical Traveler releases a list of countries that excel in these areas in a bid to encourage travelers to visit destinations that contribute to a safer and more sustainable world. Ethical Traveler utilizes information provided by sources such as Freedom House, The Millennium Challenge Corporation, Reporters without Borders, UNICEF, the World Bank, Amnesty International and various LGBT sources.
In order to make this list, each country must also offer unspoiled natural beauty, great outdoor activities and the op- portunity to interact with local people and cultures in a meaningful, mutually enriching way. Needless to say, Samoa fit the bill in every category.
Samoa received a perfect score from Freedom House in the areas of Social Welfare and Human Rights. Samoa issued a State of Human Rights report in 2015, the first of its kind in the country, which aims to increase measures already put in place to further protect women, children, people with disabilities and prisoners.
In another step to preserve and protect its natural resources and beauty, Samoa scored high in the Environmental Protection category with the country launching new solar plants in 2015, on its way to meeting its objective of plans to providing 100 % sustainable energy by 2017.
“ Climate change affects our islands dramatically and we feel the effects of that first, so we have an important role to play in educating the world on this front and to continue to lead by example, especially in sustainable tourism development” says Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi, Minister of Tourism.
“ We have a unique culture found nowhere else in the world, the foundation of which is based on respect – for each other, for visitors and of course our surroundings. Visit Samoa and see for yourselves why it is so important for us to protect and preserve what we have – our culture, our people and our surroundings- to live as one with nature, sustainably and with respect so that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty we are blessed with.”
2016 is Visit Samoa year. For the latest events and deals visit www. samoa. travel.
“ Look up! Is it a bird? Is it a plane?” Typically speaking, the word hero conjures up images of men in capes and women with muscles, everyday beings living an inconspicuous double life; citizen by day, champion by night. Something along the lines of protagonists found in comic books and today’ s action films. They portray them as a select few in the world and rightly so the particular traits of super-strength, speed and flight would be reserved for an elite class. But what about the elements that identify them as humans? Compassion, compatriotism, and hope, can those not be found in each and every one of us? Over 2000 years ago, one man inspired the world in an act of such selflessness we continue to honour His sacrifice in a period we call Easter. Jesus got the ball rolling and to this day we are moved by acts of kindness that emulate the same spirit of love.
The delivery team at the Paediatric Ward of Moto’ otua Hospital.
A spirit of love I was witness to whilst delivering hot cross buns and chocolate eggs during the Easter weekend, where I visited Goshen Mental Health Trust, the Little Sisters of the Poor Mapuifagalele, Home for the Aged and the Paediatric Ward of the Moto’ otua Hospital. To give a general idea of their work:
• Goshen Trust helps mental health consumers and their families;
• Mapuifagalele provides care for free to elderly residents; and
• Paediatric wards specialize in the care of critically ill infants, children, and teenagers. But as I was constantly reminded during my visits, it goes beyond that. Approaching the different staff about their day, they give me honest answers. No pretence, just a frank“ e pisi kele”, and I suppose it’ s because there’ s nothing more frank than committing your life so wholly to another. Where I spend a few hours getting to know the treated men and women, cutting up vegetables, and distracting a parent’ s anxiety, they’ ll spend the next 24 bathing individuals, ensuring there is a warm meal set three times a day for over 100 people, and warding off near death experiences. Resources are stretched, overtime is a limited option and children in hospital beds will always seem like an unnatural sight but we can still count on them to be there the next day. A collective‘ we’ because all these groups provide access to the love, care and support the people of Samoa as a whole need in order for our country to continue to be emotionally, mentally and spiritually aware. In a world rife with confusion, people are looking for miracles. But let us not forget the true miracle of the season and acknowledge its reason; Jesus Christ. For through Him, we were given meaning and at that, opportunity to proceed with His legacy of compassion and hope. There’ s one thing about heroes that you’ ll find whether you read about them in the newspaper or meet them in real life, and that is they always get the job done. As for my part, it would have been incomplete without the kind donations of hot cross buns and Easter eggs from Frankie’ s Supermarket and IMEX Samoa, and rugby balls from the NRL in Samoa. To you all, I would like to say fa’ afetai tele lava. Ia ufiufi ifo Ieova ia te oe i ona apa’ au. So is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’ s not Superman either, just someone making a difference one moment at a time.