Arowe Resource International Association

I'm Arowe .. So the ocean is always close

There has been much talk over the concept of development and the lack of it in our area of the South Coast. It seem's that the government has completely forgotten about us. And our conversations are an outcry over the lack of help we are getting. It is very clear that we all want development and change.

We discuss the political reforms that need to be implemented, we debate over the right policies and strategies and the need for the right personnel in charge to implement these ideas.

We believe that are our biggest problems are the pervasive culture of corruption and the greed that feeds it and undermines everything we try to build.

It seems for us in the south coast, the hope of 'development' is so far from the reality of it, that she seems to evade us the harder we strive for her.

But can I encourage us that the concept of change is not impossible. That, far from being just an ideal we hope for, that within our lifetime it can be a reality.

What is development? And what does it look like? A better home, a better job, better services. The arrival of foreign investment and large sums of capital to do the things we envision. The skilling and equipping of our young men and women towards entrepreneurship.

Better funded clinics and medical services for our sick. Affordable and accessible transport linking our people and cargo to national and international hubs. Schools that produce high quality education through teachers that are supported and equipped. Arrival of tourism that brings investment and shows the beauty and culture of the Arowe to the world whilst protecting our flora and fauna. Training and development of our cash crops like cocoa and the idea of our homes, businesses, churches and industry being powered by sustainable hydro systems. We all want this and it's something that will arrive on our shores. However we haven't even discussed the key issue that undergirds this and will determine whether this development will be lasting.

The Australian government made the same mistake I fear we are making. Certain aboriginal landowner groups were crying out for development and in an attempt to bring about reconciliation and advance development amongst the Aboriginal community, they threw money and built large infrastructure for the land owners. They built and provided 'free' permanent housing. They built roads and provided transport. They funded schools and sent teachers from across the main cities and paid them extra to go to the bush to train the locals. Then they paid the landowners through a welfare system, so they had money in their pockets and the ability to budget for their homes.

Apart from a few success stories nothing much has changed. The houses provided freely became derelict and the timber used as firewood. The money given was used on alcohol, s*x and drugs and not properly spent on the family. Families were divided and the prison population grew. Too much too soon can become a curse you could say. But the problem wasn't the money. The problem wasn't the alcohol. The government initiatives were well meaning. What was it then?

I could take a pig out of the bush. I can clean and scrub all the dirt and filth from it so you could see it shine. I could dress it and spray the best cologne and make it look and smell beautiful. But the moment that hog sees mud it will dive right back into it. And all my attempts to 'develop' are in vain. Why? The nature hasn't changed.

We are trying to clean the cobwebs but no one has discussed the spider.

Spiritual development must precede and work alongside every other initiative that we bring. It is not just as important as economic and political development, it is more important than them all! Our hearts and minds must change. If not, we will make the same mistake as the Australian government with the aboriginals.

Our Men especially must see themselves the way God sees them. As the foundation. The ones who carry the weight of their families. Responsible and reliable. Hard working and accountable.

Our men must be like a Moses to their families and say that if God doesn't go before us we will not move. And it isn't a matter of denomination or faith, it's irrelevant if you are Catholic or Protestant, it's about the Love for God and for your people. That if we align ourselves with God that He will align us properly to bring about TRUE development and that if we continue to be stubborn towards His way of doing things He might have to wait for this unbelieving generation to die before he begins with the next.

Men, the the future of the south coast belongs to us. It is time we rise up and assume our responsibility first with God and second with our wives and children.

ideas.th

The south coast of West New Britain, ancestral lands of the Arowe, some of the most picturesque places in all of PNG. These pics are courtesy of Gizbert Walilio

We are moving forward, can't believe how far God has moved us from this point and the amazing people and connections He has bought along across our path.

Russell Valilio and Gerry Valilio are in Kimbe at the moment working on getting to Wasum area for the next part of the documentary.

There are some huge developments in the pipeline for 2016, I'd love to share but all in good time!!!!!

Arowe Resource International Group - The Mission An Interview with Russell Valilio and Matt Munro as they discuss the vision for ARIG.

More and more landowner groups in Png should take inspiration from this and take actual steps to come together and protect their resources. We need not look at the government to initiate development or protection or training and education. The will of the people is key to any development in any nation. Globalization has shrunk the world and information is now accessible to everyone. Where there is a will there is always a way.

Fiji: Wainunu Resource Owners Committee [WROC] says NO TO MINING. Wainunu District in Bua, Fiji Islands has formed a committee called Wainunu Resource Owner’s Committee [WROC]. The committee comprised of key district Chiefs and heads of landowning unit clans [Tur...

Prevention is better than cure. With many parts of PNG experiencing similar destruction of natural resources as a result of little to no accountability by foreign mining companies the greatest need for landowner groups that remain largely untouched is both education and legal representation.

The governments role is to uphold the rights of the people and to ensure the rightful custodians receive maximum benefits out of their resources. They are the door, so to speak, allowing the good that comes in and preventing the bad.

Sadly, in PNG, the government has become a bed fellow with many foreign multinational companies to the detriment of the landowners. Greed has overtaken many of our men and women in position and like Esau of the Bible, we have sold our future and birth right just to feed our tummies.

Landowners must come together and their local MP''s must initiate within their own constituency education programs and training so that the fisherman, the teacher, the mother, the busineman KNOW what their rights are and UNDERSTAND the agreements set in place.

Presenting the Basamuk Red Sea A lot has been said about the toxic chemical spills into ‘Beautiful Madang’s’ Basamuk Bay seawater, but have you pictured how it might look like from how the people described it? Brace yourselves a...

This could be PNG if we let the oil palm industry and the Government come and take what is not there right. It destroys the valuable and fragile ecosystems and leaves nothing for the future but a wasteland...

Photos confirm Indonesia being burned for palm oil Mongabay is the world’s most popular rainforest information site and a well-known source of environmental news reporting and analysis.

I am Arowe
This is who I am
This is what God made me to be
Nothing or no one will ever take away my Identity
I am Arowe
My culture is Beautiful and my Land Unmatched
I was placed here
These are my People
This is my Home
This is my Language
I am Arowe

So the environmental effects of palm oil are huge, the article below outlines the full spectrum of what happens to Paradise when money is more important than the environment.

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil/environmental_impacts/

Environmental & social impacts of palm oil production If we are to all live on our one planet, we must all live sustainable lives.

We believe that every LO has something individual that God has given them different from their neighbour, that will put WNB and particularly the South Coast on the world map for green environmentally sound economic development!

It's time to rise up as Landowners, as Arowe and think outside the box, be daring with what God has given you!

Keep paradise PARADISE! Don't sell out innovate!

What do you have in your hands that God has given you!

This is not good for us register your say now!

Makes you think...

To engage the development of the south Coast of WNBP we on need a fraction of that again....

Don't fall for the counterfeits!

Award winning Australian chocolates using PNG cocoa

Excited to see PNG cocoa is the finest in Australia. This brand from Melbourne using PNG cocoa won first place for the finest dark chocolate in Australia. The cocoa was sourced from the Markham valley.. but why can't we produce the finest cocoa from the Arowe region?!

In the Arowe tribes of West New Britain Province one of the customs practised by the people long ago was head binding. When a male baby was born they would wrap their heads with cloth and leave it wrapped for years until the head began to take a more oval type shape. This was because in the days when Tribal fights were fierce the main weapon used in the Arowe region were long spears called the Pelpel. These spears measured 7 feet in length and an elite warrior could propel a spear at such a speed that it could split certain tree trunks in half. The reasoning behind the head binding was purely for warfare .. you were more likely to dodge these spears if your head had been binded and elongated than if had a more rounded shape head. In this photo you can see my grandad Aduyo and his oval shaped head - Gerald Valilio

The Oswa design on the ILO shield of the Arowe. The circular pattern that encapsulates the red circle is a representation of the shells found in the waters off new Britain. The hard coral shell protects the soft membrane that hides inside from all the elements in the ocean .. The shield is not made up of one solitary plank but three planks woven together .. So the ILO with the Oswa design stands for protection through unity 👊🏾

A guest house on Cus Cus island - incredible!

The South Coast of West New Britain is truly paradise

On our recent trip to Kandrian it was a pleasure to have Scott Patterson of International Water Projects, Matt Munroe of The Valilio Group and Nickson Samblap from the E.D.E.N Group.

Investment without the change of mind sets causes more destruction than good and has been the downfall of many landowner groups not just in PNG but all over the world.

Education MUST accompany investment if proper lasting development is to be realised.

To pour money into projects and developments and not invest into the people first and foremost is to jeopardise the investment and corrode the social culture.

The most important resource to build on are the people. Investment in the people ensures not only that your investment is not lost but that the people are competent and able to pass it onto the next generation

Arowe Resource International Association in partnering with The Valilio Group, International Water Projects and the E.D.E.N Group hopes to bring the necessary education and skill sets to take hold of the investment opportunities that will arise in the future.