Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 8 guests online > April 22 2005 - News From Niue First And Foremost > Search On For Missing Boats Off Niue > > A sea and air search is underway for two missing Samoan alia > fishing boats off Niue. Two of four boats from Samoa are > believed to be drifting after battling Cyclone Sheila which > swept past Niue last night, said the island's acting chief of > police Inspector Maria Tongatule. One boat is reported to have > capsized and sunk but the crew are safe after being taken > aboard the FV Sweet Dolly. > > The Sweet Dolly moored at Alofi this morning and has > refuelled. It has put to sea to search for the two missing > boats and their crews. A small aircraft from Samoa is on its > way to the area hoping to pinpoint the drifting vessels before > darkness. > > Inspector Tongatule told Niue News that a New Zealand > airforce Orion is on standby at Whenuapai, Auckland and will > commence searching at first light tomorrow if today's search > is unsuccessful. > > The boats planned to be long-line fishing to supply the joint > venture fish processing plant at Amanau. The small convoy got > caught in mountainous seas created by Cyclone Sheila about 30 > kms off Niue and believed to have run out of fuel. > > Cyclone Sheila, the combination of two tropical > depressions, passed south east of Niue and west of Rarotonga > last night bringing high winds and rain to both islands. > Disaster Management officials on Niue issued a Blue Alert as > winds reached 110 kmph. Today the weather on Niue is fine. > > Greenpeace Signs Up With Niue? > focussing on solar and wind energy generation. But Greenpeace > appear in the dark over the deal. [Story in main news below] > [date.gif] Saturday, 23 April 2005 > Niue Agreement Surprises Greenpace > > Greenpeace is in the dark over an agreement Niue claims it has > signed with the Australian organization for renewable energy > assistance. > > Greenpeace would not comment this week on reports of the deal > that apparently provides technical funding and expert advice > for moving the island away from fossil fuel towards clean > energy sources focusing on solar and wind generation. It said > it was unaware of the agreement being signed by Niue which was > announced by Niues finance minister TokeTalagi. He predicts > the island community could become fossil fuel free with 10 > years or less. > > Niue already has an agreement with Greenpeace to assist with > organic food production projects. > > The Niue government sees the relationship with Greenpeace as > potentially significant, because Mr Talagi claims the > organization has 1.7 million members who could provide a base > for eco-tourism market. > > But a warning has been issued to Niue by Australian Dr Gary > Johns of the Institute of Public Affairs. He said Greenpeace > does not have a membership of 1.7 million it has a group of > supporters who contribute to the funding of the organization. > > He also said Niue should make a careful economical analysis of > its present fuel costs to make sure it isnt left in the dark. > "Only a careful analysis will reveal if the current power > production is no longer viable," he said. > > Dr Johns said the arrangement seemed "extraordinary" and > questioned why the European Union that funds alternative fuel > projects was not involved. > > Greenpeace is reported to have undertaken not to instigate any > of its so called "radical projects" in Niue. > > Since 1974 diesel engines have generated the islands power > supply residents pay 32 NZ cents a unit but the actual cost of > producing the unit is around 72 cents. > > Research into wind generators was carried out four years ago > by a Danish company who tested areas on the east coast of Niue > near Hakupu. It's understood the high costs involved in > installing the wind generators halted any progress on the > scheme. > > Last Updated ( Friday, 22 April 2005 ) > 42184 Visitors
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