Comments

Very interesting article. While it is great news that the mine is reopening, it is also sad to see that the Government will not be able to get any dividends for the first ten years which is half the estimated life of the mine. A good lesson learnt to inform on future decision making on closing down investments by Government.

Porgera has a lot to learn from OK Tedi, especially on setting up a long-term fund like SDP.

A great article. Wondering if there’s any comparison with OK Tedi and the Sustainable Development Program? Or lessons to be learnt from SDP? https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/billion-reasons-future-png-s-sustainable-development-fund

Hi Ian. A few points on this, as someone with lived experience. This report in general is pretty light on, and doesn't acknowledge the complexity of this issue, nor any insight into what works. And to me it is a huge, huge issue that the report is funded by pharma. The World Obesity Foundation that publishes the Atlas is funded by a number of drug companies that are currently making very large profits from pushing the new generation weight loss medications such as semaglutide etc. Novo Nordisk for example, the manufacturer of Ozempic, which has had a worldwide shortage last year due to off-label usage as a weight loss drug, is listed as a key funder of the report! It is worth noting that there is a huge financial incentive for these companies to continue to frame obesity as a curable condition stemming from individual choices or behaviours, rather than advocating for better health access for people with bodies of all sizes or examining the structural drivers, for example. There is also a financial incentive for these companies to see health systems frame obesity in this way instead of looking at more holistic or 'health at any size' approaches in their health systems. Access to appropriate, quality, accessible, non-stigmatised medical care continues to be a huge issue for people with fat bodies in developed countries -- is the same framing we have used in the West around this issue actually going to help in developing countries or just replicate the same issues? Thinking and language around this issue is evolving in Western medicine practice (albeit incredibly slowly) -- this report makes a nod to some of this language to seem like they 'get it' in the priority section for example, but doesn't really engage with it, particularly on what it might mean in a developing country health care setting. Obesity as measured in the report is based on BMI solely, which is a measure with many known problems, particularly around race and ethnicity. The American Medical Association just last week adopted a new policy on the use of BMI, acknowledging its deep flaws. This report makes no acknowledgement of the limitations of the measure. That's just a few very quick things that concern me about the report that I just had to attach here. I think looking at NCDs themselves is much more useful -- not all fat people have an NCD, not all people with NCDs are fat, etc. NCDs can be managed or prevented even if people remain in an overweight or obese weight category, etc. Obviously we want to reduce incidence of NCDs and support people's health (in a holistic sense, which I don't think the BMI captures with accuracy or nuance). But Novo Nordisk has some strong perspectives on the best way to do that and it involves a once a week injection into your upper thigh that currently retails for about $300 AUD a pen if you can even buy it. (For those who want to learn more on some of these issues I highly recommend the Maintenance Phase podcast episodes, particularly the ones on BMI.)

Why were there a decline between 1996 and 2007?

Thank you so much young man. It shows how hard work and commitment pays off regardless of our background and up bringing.

The book reflects the changing trends of development and what development can do in the midst of a growing nation like PNG. The best description or outcome of the Bougainville crisis is the fight for freedom which was spearheaded by Francis Ona to liberate his people from the slavery of the mine by Rio Tinto Mining Giant who would have dug up the gold and copper and leave behind a huge crater with nothing for the people. PNG Govt under Sir Julius Chan in bringing in the mercenaries was the secret plot that was uncovered by Major General Singirok. In this book, Major Singirok should be honoured as a hero who gave Independence to Bougainville.

There are multiple other very similar examples across the region but zero accountability - especially involving the ADB. The worst is probably not even this one, a look at the similar investment in Vanuatu tells a potentially even more frightening story in terms of poor practices of the development partners. The ADB head of infrastructure at the time has now left the ADB - but what is more worrying is that the they deliberately turned a blind eye even when warned repeatedly about many of their investments during this period.

Inspirational and motivational. Thank you for sharing the piece of your life journey to encourage the youngers ones to prosper in life and accomplish their dreams. Proud of your brother. For PNG and Jiwaka #Leadership_Wahh

Having just returned from Cairns, I was very pleased to learn that it is free from dengue for the first time in many decades. Not "expanding" as claimed in this article. This has been due to a program surely also relevant to these problems in Africa, involving Wolbachia mosquitoes. As noted by the World Mosquito Progam - https://www.worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/news-stories/stories/far-north-queensland-essentially-dengue-free#:~:text=A%20new%20scientific%20paper%20has,locations%20in%20northern%20Queensland%2C%20Australia. "This means that Far North Queensland is essentially dengue-free for the first time in well over 100 years, according to Dr Richard Gair, Director and Public Health Physician, Tropical Public Health Services Cairns. Short-term releases of Wolbachia mosquitoes were undertaken up to 8 years ago in some communities, and monitoring in these areas has shown that Wolbachia has since remained in the local mosquitoes with no further releases required. Importantly, there has been reduced dengue transmission in these areas, with a 93 per cent reduction in reported dengue cases. This follows the 5-year success of the World Mosquito Program method in the city of Townsville. World Mosquito Program Director and Monash University Professor Scott O’Neill is thrilled with the result. “We’ve seen almost the complete collapse of locally acquired dengue in previously high-risk transmission areas in cities and communities across Australia’s far north, despite imported dengue cases continuing to rise. In fact, local dengue transmission has essentially disappeared from Cairns for the first time since the early 1980s.” Local Wolbachia-mosquito populations were established using a variety of methods, including direct involvement of school children, householders, community groups and businesses, who assisted with growing and releasing Wolbachia mosquitoes. "

Thank you brother for sharing your experience and challenges that you overcome, it also motivate me to be, and also goes to others too. I hope our good Lord have future plan for you 👍🏼🙏🏼.

Seems like the blog focuses on the expatriates who became Ministers. Did Harry and Peter Humphrey holds Ministerial Portfolios during their terms in Parliament?