Silafaga Lalua

Introducing our Kid of the Year, Heman Bekele: The fifteen-year-old invented a soap that could one day treat, and even prevent, some skin cancers ti.me/3YFiQS6

@elonmuskADO Call it Twixter! 🫶

Periods are just as natural as breathing. Without periods, no one would be here. Let's end the stigma around menstruation. Tuesday is #MenstrualHygieneDay. unfpa.org/events/menstru… via @UNFPA

#SeaLevel-rise at #SIDS4: Our leaders hosted a side event today - ‘ Securing the future of all SIDS in the face of climate change and sea level rise’ with support from SIDS of the world and development partners and recalling PIF 2021 Declaration Preserving Maritime Zones #SDG14

Voice of America draws on my report from #RMI, about the US Congress' delay in allocating funds to the three Compact states, due last October. RMI President Heine: “Our nation has been a steadfast ally of the US, but that should not be taken for granted.” voanews.com/a/bill-to-fund…

Very good to hear #Tuvalu (pronounced to-vaa-loo) and #Nauru mentioned recently on @RestIsPolitics - check out my 2024 predictions for what we can expect in our part of the world this year: devpolicy.org/pacific-predic… @RoryStewartUK @campbellclaret

This journey is more than a technological leap; it's a call for global leadership and collaboration based on shared human values. It is a story of resilience, innovation, and hope in the face of climate adversity. Support us and learn more at tuvalu.tv

The leaders of the Pacific Island Forum have declared “that the statehood of its members shall continue & the rights & duties inherent thereto will be maintained notwithstanding the impacts of climate change” Groundbreaking & significant contribution to international on statehood

Here at @PIFLM52 the first of the high level dialogues is underway. The Minister for Tourism from Saudi Arabia thanks #Pacific countries for supporting their Expo bid and pledges $50million for the #Pacific Resilience Facility

Here’s the security section of the new Australia-Tuvalu treaty. Australia will help if Tuvalu faces military aggression or natural disasters, and has to “agree” to any “cooperation with other countries in Tuvalu’s security sectors.” Veto power, essentially.

Forum leaders confirm Baron Waqa as the next Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, commencing in 2024. Key decisions from Aitutaki retreat: adoption of 2050 Strategy implementation plan; updated Gender Equality Declaration; and Pacific Resilience Facility.

Absolutely necessary. Way to go Lady Minister #Bondy @LyndaTabuya Proud of you! 👏👏👏

Congratulations #BaronWaqa on your new appointment! Fakafetai lasi @henrytpuna Sir, for your outstanding service to the @ForumSEC. #ForumSecSG #PIFLM52 #PacificWay #Partnerships #PacificLove

History in the making: Big brother Australia offers refuge to Tuvaluans in the wake of climate change. Thank you #Australia. Here's hoping it will materialize soonest with realistic criteria. #SaveTuvaluToSaveTheWorld #climatechange #Pacific #Partnership facebook.com/share/v/dMnCCc…

"The Palestinian death toll has reached 9,061. Women and children are 62% of these victims." - @unocha "Settler violence has also escalated dramatically, averaging seven attacks a day. In more than a third of these attacks, firearms were used." - @unhumanrights

The Pacific press pack #Pacjourn prepares for the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting #PIFLM52 in Rarotonga. Great discussions this morning on reporting Gender Based Violence and corruption in the Pacific (I'll be reporting this week for @IBIupdate - check our website!).

First ever #triplets, all girls, born to Tuvalu parents, Nov 2023. If you'd like to help the triplet's family out, please purchase tickets in the link below. Congratulations to Lauti and Paufi Ako on their new bundles of joy❤️❤️❤️ #triplemiracle #Tuvalu m.facebook.com/story.php?stor…

Today the UNRC @DirkWagenerUN met with H.E. Ms Marie Damour, Ambassador of the United States to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu and Mr Michael Glees, Deputy Mission Director of the @usaidpacificisl. They discussed on the need for coordinated support for the Pacific.

@CalltoActivism Keep shining your lamp of empathy. Thank you.

"Today I went to Dunkin' Donuts and saw a clearly homeless guy sitting on the side of the road and picking up change. Eventually I saw him stroll into Dunkin, as he was counting his change to buy something I began to get super annoying and talked to him over and over again even when he didn't really want to talk. Since he had maybe $1 in change I bought him a coffee and bagel and asked him to sit down with me. He told me a lot about how people are usually very mean to him because he's homeless, how drugs turned him into the person he hated, he lost his mom to cancer, he never knew his dad and he just wants to be someone his mom would be proud of (along with another hours worth of conversation.) This lovely mans name was Chris and Chris was one of the most honest & sincere people I've ever met. After realizing I really need to get back to class Chris asked me to wait so he can write something down for me. Handing me a crumpled up receipt he apologized for having shaky hand writing, smiled, and left. I opened his note and this was it. 'I wanted to kill myself today, because of u I now do not. Thank u, beautiful person.' " Credit: Casey Fischer

Without action 95% of Tuvalu's land is projected to be flooded by routine high tides by 2100. Without the option to move to higher ground, w/ @theGCF @AusGov & @UNDP they're creating 7.3ha of new raised land in the capital Funafuti undp.org/blog/notes-tuv… #Pacific #ClimateAction