Petition

Indigenous advocates sign petition for a total ban on deep sea mining

More than one thousand signatures from 34 countries and 56 indigenous groups are calling for a total ban on this industry. 

The 28th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting resumed discussions in Kingston over a week ago, where delegates had to decide whether to give course to the first commercial plan to mine the seabed which could begin operations as early as this year.

PMN News reports the activists are challenging governments and the International Seabed Authority to enact a ban on Deep Sea Mining effective immediately.

HRPP loses seat via petition, by-election looms

It means the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) now has 24 seats with FAST on 26 and a by-election to come.

The court ruled the re-elected HRPP MP for Sagaga No.2 constituency, Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli, guilty of 13 bribery and two charges of treating.

The court also found the petitioner and former HRPP MP who ran in the general election as an independent, Mauailaivao Patelesio Ah Him, guilty of 10 bribery and one treating charges.

There will now be a by-election in Sagaga No.2 and both the petitioner and respondent have been barred from running.

Thousands back Japan high heels campaign

The petition was started by Yumi Ishikawa who says she was made to wear high heels while working at a funeral parlour.

Her tweets on the issue went viral with more than 30,000 shares.

In 2015, a London receptionist was sent home from work without pay after she refused to wear high heels.

Samoa group seeks support for anti-land law petition

One of the group's leaders the lawyer, Unasa Iuni Sapolu, said it is beginning village visits in Salelologa to get more signatures and build awareness.

The group wants to inform as many Samoans as possible about what it said is a need to repeal the Lands and Titles Act of 2008 because customary land could now be used as collateral for loans and mortgages.

Unasa Iuni Sapolu said the plan was to present the petition to parliament when it resumes on January 23.

Samoans to petition govt on customary land rights

The Samoa Observer reported members of the Samoan Solidarity International Group will present the petition when parliament opens on the 23rd of this month.

Group member Unasa Iuni Sapolu says they want the 2008 Lands and Titles Act to be repealed.

Unasa says many of their concerns surround the Torrens system of registry of land titles which is enabled under the Act but which they say is contrary to traditional Samoan land rights.

Unasa says Torrens systems have "wrecked indigenous land ownership in other countries".

Robin Williams' kids ask judge to toss wife's estate claims

Zachary, Zelda and Cody Williams are asking a judge to dismiss a petition filed by Susan Williams.

The December 2014 petition asked the court to exclude the contents of the Tiburon home that she shared with Williams from the jewelry, memorabilia and other items Williams said the children should have.

The children in their Aug. 14 filing say the estate's trustees have determined the division of all of Williams' personal property, and those decisions are final. They accuse Susan Williams of holding on to property that is theirs.