FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: WEDNESDAY, 06 OCTOBER 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
GERMAN GEOPHYSICISTS VISIT TRISTAN TO COLLECT ROCK SAMPLES
By James Glass (Tristan Times)
Juergen Matzka and Marko Leitner, geophysicists from the University Munich in Germany have visited Tristan da Cunha to do geological fieldwork. The men collected rock samples for paleomagnetic measurements in the laboratory in Munich. Such measurements on volcanic rocks allow reconstructing the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field in the past, at the time when the rock formed and "locked in" the magnetic field information.
The men further explained that when the rocks were laid down the earth’s poles could have been in a different place than they are today. And, that through time the poles have changed location, for example the South Pole, from an area in the Indian Ocean to somewhere off the tip of South America, the magnetism of the rocks points to the poles present when the rocks were formed and is a factor in discovering how old they are.
Rocks were sampled with handheld drilling equipment. The hardness of most of the rocks, known as "blue stone" to the Tristanians, was a real surprise for the two geophysicists because those formed by volcanism are generally easier to drill.
At home in Munich, Juergen is a scientist at University Munich and responsible for running its geomagnetic observatory. Marko is due to finish his diploma thesis soon. Marko and Juergen
Both scientists said they enjoyed their stay on Tristan with James and Felicity Glass and family a lot. But both say they missed a visit to the Octoberfest, the world's largest beer festival that was in Munich just during their stay on Tristan. However, the science was worth the sacrifice.
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 06 OCTOBER 2004
TWO VISITING FCO OFFICIALS:
HP: They are both here in the Falkland Islands for the first time and have come to learn as much as they can in the few days that they are here about the Islands and our economy, our key personalities, about how things work here and to gain a custom impression about what life in the Islands is like, what makes the Islands tick, so that they can do their prospective jobs more effectively. And, they will be meeting a wide-range of people while they are here. And, they will also be travelling outside of Stanley. In fact, I am accompanying them to West Falkland. We are going to fly to Port Stephens and will drive from Port Stephens to Port Howard, over-nighting there at the Lodge. The following day we will go on to Hill Cove before flying back to Stanley. I want to give them an impression, not least, of the size of the Falkland Islands. That’s something, which I think surprises most people who come here for the first time. And, to give them an impression of what life is like in Camp as well as life here in Stanley.
CG: The Governor says they had a busy day yesterday and will be working hard for the rest of the week.
EXCO NEWS:
Government’s going to approach the European Commission for aquaculture funding. They will be putting in a bid, which if successful, could result in 15 people being able to go on training next year. They are asking for money from the European Development fund as part of a joint bid with two other countries. Governor Howard Pearce (HP) explains.
HP: This really follows on from an initiative by Cllr. Mike Summers during a meeting in Brussels. I think it was last December. And, the result of that has been a joint proposal, which we are working on with the French Territories, St. Pierre and Miquelon in the North/West Atlantic and Kalaalit Nunaat (Greenland) and the Falkland Islands, three of whom have expressed an interest in having an aquaculture industry. The proposal is that the European Development fund should make the funds available to run a training course in about a year’s time. Probably some time in September next year for a significant number of people from the Falkland Islands and from these other territories. The course will probably take place in St. Pierre and Miquelon if we are successful in our bid. That will be submitted shortly to the European Commission. EXCO Members have looked at this proposal and were unanimous that it was an extremely good idea to use European funds in this way if we indeed can persuade the European Union to make them available.
CG: How money are we talking about?
HP: The total value of the project will be somewhere between E180,000.00 and E190,000.00 So, we will be bidding for just over E180,000.00 from the Development Fund. That will be split three ways between the three territories. The European Union quite likes these joint bids and it’s often in the interest of the Falkland Islands if we can get together with others with similar interests. We will have to see how this fares. Lets hope the bid succeeds.
CG: It might be a bit too early because it won’t happen for a year September now, There are places for 15 people but if 20 people wanted to go along, how would you select those more worthy to go on a course like this?
HP: I think it is a little bit early to answer that question. I guess it might be possible for the Falkland Islands Government to fund additional participants in the course. But that’s an issue, which really hasn’t been addressed yet. But I think we will be looking at people who are going to bring the most benefit to a future aquaculture industry in the Falklands and we will have to judge people and judge applicants on their merits.
EXERCISE:
Sirens and flashing blue lights might make you stop what you are doing this afternoon, causing you to wonder what’s going on. It will probably be the emergency services taking part in a major incident training day. During the morning, the Fire Brigade will be training at the station and during the afternoon will be carrying on at Stanley Airport. Police and Medical Services are also getting involved.
Further to this item, the Chief Fire Officer told FIBS that the exercise was cancelled due to the bad weather. The training exercise will be held sometime in 2005.
ROAD CLOSURE:
If you are planning to be travelling along Davis Street tomorrow, then you may need to re-plan your journey. The Public Works Department are closing off a section between the FIDC car-park and the entrance to Falkland Farmers in order to carry out road improvements. Drivers are requested to use alternative routes, unless you are wanting access to properties or businesses on Davis Street. PWD apologise for any inconvenience caused.
HARBOUR, FISHING AND SHIPPING NEWS:
The St. Brandon sailed to Punta Arenas on Tuesday and the Frio Canary arrived in this morning to tranship. There are currently 11 vessels in the zone, as the Loligo catches have dwindled. Toothfish catches are good and the Suremi vessel is catching over 100 tonnes a day. Finfish catches are averaging at 11 tonnes, with most of the catches being Hoki.
TOURISM NEWS:
Three members of the Tourism industry have returned from representing the Islands at the 28th annual Travel-mart in Latin America. Connie Stevens, from the Falkland \islands Tourist Board, said attendance in these events keeps us in the public eye perhaps to upgrade our growing tourism industry and generally raised the profile of the Islands as a significant destination, saying the future tourism industry development in the Falklands, it is clear we need to improve and develop our interest in product on offer and insure the business of existing clients. Connie was joined by Sally Ellis of International Tours and Travel and Jenny Luxton from Stanley Services, who travelled to Brazil to attend the event. Interest in the Falklands is said to be high and feedback from North American countries is that the Islands need to promote themselves more and make contact with operators, who can increase the numbers of visitors to the Islands. Jenny Luxton commented that there was a lack of awareness of our fantastic wildlife and generally how to get to the Islands. Sally Ellis felt that it was an ideal opportunity to meet with the operators and several companies she talked to will be including the Falklands in their brochures for the first time.
NARROWS BAR CHARITY NIGHT:
Planning is well underway for the narrows bar charity night on Saturday and will be raising funds for children and families of the Beslsan Hostage Crisis. A Book of Condolence will be opened for you to sign at the Narrows Bar. If you give them a ring on 27223, they will bring the book to you. There will be cocktails and Curry on the night and live music courtesy of “Extra Smooth.” The entry is £3.00 on the door and the money raised will go towards the Red Cross Appeal Russian School Hostage Crisis and the Stephen Jaffray Memorial Fund. A raffle will be drawn on the night. Tickets are available from all Kelper Shops.
SEPTEMBER WEATHER:
Cold, snowy periods with above average temperatures is how September’s Weather stats read. The second half of the month was windier than normal with a mean speed nearly two knots above average and a highest gust of 65 knots. It was sunnier than usual and nearly a degree warmer as well. The highest temperature recorded was 14.3C on the 5th. The lowest temperature was -4C. There were 8 nights of frost and 22 nights with a ground frost. Rainfall was average with a highest daily total being 4.4mil.
DARTS:
Local Darts player, Tooty Ford, is this year’s league champ without losing a single leg all season. He finished having scored 150 top, 113 tonnes - 38 more than the next man, Peter Goss. Gary Clement says the Rose Nixes and Globe Taverners will play for the challenge shield. Tornados finished top of the league and FI Darts Limited at the bottom with a difference of 50 points between them. Pale Maidens were the highest placed ladies team.
(100X Transcription Service)
Argpress: Wednesday, 06 October 2004:
There’s been a minor piece of Falklands news in the Argentine press this morning and yesterday late. President Kirchner received a group of Falklands war veterans at the Casa Rosada (the Presidential palace) yesterday to mark a large rise in the Argentine war veterans pensions from 400 pesos a month to 924 pesos, plus other health benefits, etc. Kirchner was quoted as telling them that the “Falklands were an un-renounceable cause”.
A small group of these veterans had been demonstrating in the Plaza de Mayo (which is the square outside the Casa Rosada) for four months to draw attention to their grievances, with a tent and a model of the Argentine cemetery at Darwin. Now that they have what they want, this demonstration is now over.
Several days ago Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa repeated Argentina’s demand for a direct flights to the Falklands from Argentina (or from the “continent” as Argentines like to phrase it). He again made it clear that Argentina wants this before it would consider allowing the resumption of non-Argentine charter flights to the Falklands that he suspended last year. Making the point that he would not discuss this with the Islanders he said: “We talk to Great Britain. We don’t talk to Crown subjects who inhabit Argentine territory”.
In other Argentine news demonstrations by unemployed “pickets” are still continuing to plague Buenos Aires and kidnappings for ransom are reported almost daily.
Note: Argentina’s objective over flights is well known. It wants Islanders to begin doing business with Argentina instead of Chile. If it could get Argentine scheduled flights in to the Falklands it would be fairly easy to eliminate the weekly Chilean flights currently guaranteed by the 1999 Communication Accord. Then Argentina would have a stranglehold on Falklands communications with South America. But as long as the LanChile flights are the only ones there are, Argentina needs them for its own access to the Islands.
Chile/Argentina Quarrel
It might be worth mentioning that there has been a rather childish spat between the Chileans and Argentines recently. The newly appointed Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker had written an article in the top Chilean newspaper El Mercurio back in May severely criticising Argentina. He had said that the real wall between Chile and Argentina wasn’t the Andes but the “legacy of Peronism and its perverse logic”. He said that since the time of Peron, this and Argentine militarism had destroyed Argentina. He said that Kirchner’s only asset was his popularity (which is about 60%) and that Kirchner would break treaties to preserve this (a reference to Argentina’s breach of its gas supply contracts with Chile which was in the forefront of the news back in May).
Anyhow Kirchner was furious when Argentine newspaper Clarin published Walker’s views after he was sworn in as Chilean Foreign Minister last Friday. The result has been diplomatic friction for the last few days. This is only just beginning to subside now.
(100X Translation Service)
