FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: MONDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2004

 

 

 

IS THERE CO-OPERATION OVER GIBRALTAR?

 

A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands” by Dee Palmer (DP) 29/10/04

 

On Wednesday, Jack Straw had talks in Madrid with his Spanish counterpart.  Not surprisingly, the subject of Gibraltar was on the agenda.  Some of the coverage in today’s British papers implied that Spain has started a climb-down from its claim to sovereignty over the territory.  But speaking on the BBC World Service Programme “Europe Today,” Peter Caruana,(PC)  Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, set the record straight, while restating his own position.

 

PC:  It is clear, however, that we understand the Spanish Government, regardless of whether it’s from the left or right is not going to abandon, much as we’d like it to be so, is not going to abandon its claim to the sovereignty of Gibraltar.  That is just a fact of life, which we will continue to oppose and they will continue to assert.  What we have been saying is, not withstanding our differences on sovereignty and not withstanding that they are irreconcilable let us nevertheless engage each other as modern European neighbours.

 

DP:  That interpretation of the issue is endorsed by Spanish MP Raphael Estrada, (RE) who is a Parliamentary spokesman on Foreign Affairs for the governing Socialist party. 

 

RE:  We are encouraging a new course in which, without giving up Spanish claims on Gibraltar, we want to start working on a new course and building a bridge and trying to establish confidence-building measures.

 

DP:  That will be done through a new forum where Gibraltar would have its own voice.  The exact structure of this forum is yet to be worked out.  Speaking after the Madrid meeting, Jack Straw (JS) had this to say about the position of the British Government.

 

JS:  We will always honour the wishes of the people of Gibraltar as to their future.  So, unless they are fully able to participate there is certainly no point in having discussions.  This is a very, very difficult issue for the people of Gibraltar, also a difficult issue for the people of Spain.  The only way to move forward is on the basis of democracy and consent.

 

DP:  That was Jack Straw speaking in Madrid earlier this week.

 

(100X Transcription Service)

 

 

POLL DORSET AND TEXEL PLUS: SHEEP MEAT FOR THE FALKLANDS

 

By J. Brock (FINN)

 

Three men, two from Uruguay and one from Australia, visited the Falklands last week to scout out business for meat sheep breeds.  Their company, Tattykeel, Uruguay, a joint venture with the Australian counterpart promote two breeds that have been developed in Australia - Poll Dorset and Texel Plus.  Graham Gilmore, Gunter Schmidt-Liermann, and Mario Aishemberg have visited farms on East and West Falkland and have given seminars with the RBA and Chamber of Commerce. 

 

Farmers have been diversifying into meat sheep ever since the market opened up to them when the Sand Bay Abattoir opened.  The two breeds could be the answer for quality sheep meat and skins.

 

Australian Poll Dorset Rams start working at an early age and have the ability to sire quality prime lambs.  Purebred Poll Dorset lambs have a phenomenal growth rate, with Rams exceeding 100KG at 12 months of age.  The Ewes are early maturing and prolific with 120% lambing rate being fairly normal.  They are capable of breeding at all times of the year from a young age.  Different climatic conditions from the sub tropics to cold highlands are suitable for this breed.  The Poll Dorset Ewe is an excellent mother with outstanding milking ability.  Added to this, they raise single lambs and twins with ease, with lambs being weaned at 14 to 16 weeks at an approximate weight of 60kg.

 

Poll Dorset wool is clean and white without coloured fibres, hairs or kemps.  This dense, Downs-type short wool, around 26 to 30 microns, is used for its blending qualities, adding the sponginess of its fibre to products such as pillows, doonsas and quilts, fultons, bulky pull-overs and the like.

 

The breed has responded to the challenge of change over the past decade, having become a larger, longer and leaner animal with excellent growth rates and muscling.  Average weight and carcass yield improves with the use of genetic and performance programmes such as Lamplan and Stockscan, as well as improved nutrition management.  They have an excellent ratio of meat to fat.  Superior meat results from bigger carcasses from very young lambs and it is not unusual to have a 60kg lamb at 4 months old.  In fact, 75% of Prime Heavy Lamb produced in Australia comes from Poll Dorset crosses.  The meat is recognised in high top markets because of the beautiful taste and tenderness.

 

Secondly, the Australian Texel Plus developed by Tattykeel, has similar breed characteristics as the Texel but with a longer carcass, bigger body and higher growth rate.  In fact, this breed of sheep is 20% bigger, larger and heavier than the normal Texel.  At 9 months old, a Texel lamb is about 85kg with weight at 13 months at 120kg.  Like Poll Dorset, lambing rate is 120%.  The average eye rib area is 30cm2 with 5mms fat at 10 months.

 

If there were business, farmers would be using Tattykeel, Uruguay for Rams, Embryos and Seamen.

 

With the wool market as it is, more farmers are seeing profit in the sheep meat trade and are co-ordinating their pasture and flock improvement programmes so they can, at present, have both wool and meat.  Poll Dorset and Texel Plus information can go a long way in showing farmers that there is more to sheep than wool.

 

For more information farmers can contact Tattykeel, Uruguay at [email protected] or [email protected]. 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY SCHOOL CONCERT: EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT

 

By J. Brock (FINN)

 

On Wednesday and Thursday of last week, the Falkland Islands Community School students performed an excellent evening concert at the Town Hall.  Thanks to Music Teacher, Mrs. Shirley Adams-Leach, the concert was an exciting event with dancing, choral music, instrumentals and solo pieces - vocal and instrumental. 

 

Mrs. Adams-Leach opened the concert with a welcome for everyone and a brief apology for the lack of heating and praise for all of the hard work the students put in to the evening’s entertainment.

 

“Vocalise,” the School Choir, began the evening with a 12-minute choral rendition of “Medley from Les Miserables.”  Karen Minto’s piano solos “Unchained Melody” and “Water Lillies” was followed with Frances Douse’s flute solo, “Aria” by Handel.   The Recorder group then played “The Super-cool Swing,” followed on by Edward Freer with “Carnival of Venice.”  “Adios” was then performed by the Guitar Group, followed by the song, “Beautiful, performed by Lizzie Newton.  Rebecca Arthur-Almond finished off the first half with “Harvest Melody.”

 

Refreshments provided by the Astronomy Club during the 20-minute interval kept everyone well fed. 

 

Due to a technical hick-up, both bands ran back to back.  Marcus, Sam, Nathan and Josh played two numbers, “By the /way and “Rolling Sly Stone.”  “Ten Years Gone” performed “Lithium” and “In Bloom” and in contrast, the Woodwind Group played “Gimme 5 No. II and IV.  Danielle, Emma Teryn and Andrea followed on with “”Bubblin.”  Jane Clark then played, “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” and “Merrily We Roll Along” on the piano.  “Hamilton House” and “Dumfries House” by the Folk Group Followed.  Dion Robertson played “Gypsy Dance” on the accordion; followed by the Year 10 and 11 Singers, with “There’ll You’ll Be.”  Hannah Arthur Almond then played “Andante” on the piano with Lizzie, Megan, Marcus and Sam with “Behind Blue Eyes.”

 

Students performed exceptionately well, with talent showing during the opening 12-minute piece, where no music or words were seen.  Despite the problems cold causes some wind instruments, the tuneful renditions of all the music was pleasant and enjoyable.  If any mistakes were made, the students recovered well and their work was seamless.  Truly, this was a super evening and those who participated in the concert in any way deserve a debt of gratitude.  Well done all.

 

 

Press: 01 November 2004

 

Top news today is of course the result of the Uruguayan election where the left-wing Tabaré Vázquez, candidate of the Encuentro Progresista-Frente Amplio, won easily.

 

But of more interest to the Falklands are the reports in several papers, Clarin, Ambito Financiero and the Tierra del Fuego papers Surenio and El Diario de Tierra del Fuego of the events in Marambio, Argentina's principal base in Antarctica, over the weekend. There, deputies and others of the province of Tierra del Fuego (that claims “Argentine Antarctica” as part of it) were flown in and held the first meeting in Antarctica of the Provincial Forum (to support their claim to the territory).

 

 Several Congressmen including Eduardo Menem from the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee were there too, but without sufficient members to form a quorum for that body. That Committee will be meeting properly in Marambio on November 11th. Vice Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana was there too.

 

The meeting marks the 35 anniversary (on October 29th) of the completion of the airstrip at Marambio by what the Argentines call the “Sovereignty Patrol”, the men from the Air Force that set the base up and maintain the airbridge to Argentina. This is the date when the crew there changes too. The new commander of the base is vicecomodoro Lianza

.

The national anthem was sung, and the flag raised and important visitors indicating support for the Antarctic Treaty and, more importantly, and of course contradicting this, for Argentine sovereignty over the territory, made several comments.

 

 A good quote was from provincial Councillor Abel Sberna was that the session of the Forum "brought Tierra del Fuego together in a real way, because we cannot forget that Antarctica is part of this province”?

 

Note:  One paper mentions that the base used to be called Vice-comodoro Marambio, but that that was changed to just Marambio during President Menem’s time (probably to make it sound less military). The paper also mentions that Marambio is the “ex-Seymour” island.

 

(100X Translation Service)

 

BAS PRESS RELEASE: DECLINING KRILL STOCKS

 

The Antarctic food chain could be under threat in the Southern Ocean.  The stock of Antarctic Krill is declining due to the dramatic decline in sea ice, this according to a British Antarctic Survey press release.  Sea Ice helps with the production pf plankton, on which Antarctic Krill feed.  According to the press release, the Antarctic Krill stocks have dropped by 80% due to less sea ice during the winter.  Dr. Andres Atkinson, a BAS scientist states that this is the first time the full scale of the decline has been understood.  Among the plankton Antarctic Krill feed on are algae that grows on the bottom sides of sea ice, which acts as a kind of nursery.  A key breeding ground for Krill is the Antarctic Peninsula.  The area has warmed by 2.5C in the last 50 years, with a striking decrease in sea ice due to the melting of the Larsen and Ronne ice shelves.

 

Note: South Georgia has a commercial Krill fishery but it is not known whether there is any decline in stocks there.

 

INTERNET NEWS

 

As part of this year’s poppy appeal, Coventry Cathedral has placed a Remembrance Garden in one of the churchyards.  The garden consists of crosses that are placed in the cathedral grounds to remind people about those who died during several wars, including the Falklands Conflict.  Chairman of the Coventry Branch of the Royal British Legion, Mr. Jimmy Kirster, said that the Branch wanted the Garden so that people would have a place to reflect in a city centre location.  The garden is in addition to the existing memorials at Coventry Cathedral to those who died on foreign battlefields or during the German Blitz.  One grave is dedicated to unknown civilians killed during wars.  First to plant a cross in the new garden at a ceremony last Thursday was Falklands War veteran, Denzil Connick.  He lost his leg on Mt. Longdon and he is now Secretary for SAMA ’82.  A German clergyman lead soldiers in the reciting the Lord’s prayer.  Coventry Cathedral was destroyed during WWII and the Germans participated in re-building the Cathedral.  A cross of nails with the inscription “Father Forgive” features in the Cathedral.  Crosses in tribute of loved ones can be laid until 15 November.

 

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

Mineral Resources Committee:  Monday, 01 November 2004 at 1030 in the Department of Mineral Resources

 

Health and Medical Services Committee:  Monday, 01 November 2004 at 1215 at Gilbert House.

 

Police Committee:  Tuesday, 02 November 2004 at 1000 at Government House.

 

Housing Committee:  Wednesday, 03 November 2004 at 1330 at Gilbert House

 

Planning and Building Committee:  Thursday, 04 November 2004 at 0900 in the Liberation Room of the Secretariat

 

Stanley Lands Committee:  Thursday, 04 November 2004 at 1330 at the Liberation Room of the Secretariat

 

Stamp Advisory Committee:  Thursday, 04 November 2004 at 1530 in the Post Office

 

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 01 NOVEMBER 2004

 

DAYS OF SURVIVAL FOR STUDENTS:

 

Community School students have been busy with the FIDF since Friday on a three-day course based on survival techniques.  The students, who have finished their GCSEs but are still at school due to the change in the academic year, spent their time on Friday in a series of lectures and demonstrations on universal survival techniques in the wild.  Six of the students have been spending the morning in the FIDF rigid raiders on a tour of Stanley Harbour.  Tonight, they will take a short walk to beach areas, where they will build shelters and forage for food and put the survival techniques into practice under supervision.  Tomorrow, they will continue using their survival techniques before heading back to town.

 

WENDY MARTIN SAYS HELLO:

 

New Speech and Language therapist, Wendy Martin (WM), says she is settling well into her new surroundings.  Liz Elliot asked her about her unusual accent.

 

WM:  I say I come from Australia because I have lived in Australia for the last 23 years.  My husband, my sister and my family are there.  But I actually come from Canada.  And, that’s where I did my Speech Pathology training.  And, then I moved to Australia when I married.  I’m a little bit of both.

 

CG:  Staying on accents, what does she think of ours?

 

WM:  It’s interesting because so many of the people have different accents.  It’s just like all across the UK they have different accents.  Falkland Islanders have a different accent and there are people from St. Helena.  It’s very interesting and I am keeping my ear tuned.

 

CAR LOTTERY:

 

Lottery tickets are going on sale soon for the chance to win a car.  Money raised will go towards “The Falklands Suite.”  Corina Goss (CG) asked Director of Education, Sylvia Cole (SC), to tell her more.

 

SC:  The intention is to raise some money to enable the youngsters at FICS, who have an interest in music, to work with Shirley Adams Leach and a composer to compose a suite of music, which will be called “The Falklands Suite,”  This is quite a costly business so Shirley requested and I agreed to Education involvement, we would actually run a lottery to make up the amount of money that’s still needed, following a number of very generous donations and charity fundraising. 

 

CG:  How much money are you hoping to raise?

 

SC:  We are hoping to raise for the Falklands Suite around £4,000.00

 

CG:  How are you going to go about that?

 

SC:  We had a proposal that we should actually raffle a car - a Toyota Hilux Surf car.  It’s a 1996 model.  It looks in very good condition and people are going to see it anyway.  The idea is that we raffle this with an absolute limit of 1200 tickets.  And, those tickets will be £10.00 each.  It seems a large amount of money for one ticket but it is a very good prize at the end of it.  What we will then do is out of that lottery money we would pay for the car.  And, the remainder proceeds would go towards the completion of the Falklands Suite.

 

CG:  What are the rules surrounding who can buy the tickets?

 

SC:  Anyone can buy a ticket.  We shall start selling those at 0830 on Wednesday, 03 November 2004.  The tickets will be available from the Education Office at Stanley Cottage on Ross Road.  We will make those tickets available from 0830 to 1230 and from 1300 to 1700 after work.  We are trying to give people who are working an opportunity to get the tickets.  They will be for sale on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week.

 

CG:  What about people who don’t live in Stanley, if they want to buy a ticket?

 

SC:  I would advise residents of Camp to actually contact a friend or relative in Stanley and ask them to get a ticket for them.  What we will do is ask that the ticket be paid for at the time of purchase.  We cannot take e-mail of FAX requests because we need the tickets to be paid for as people buy them.  People can pay for the tickets in cash or by cheque, payable to the Falkland Islands Suite.  At the end of the week, if there are some tickets still available, the actual car and some of our staff will be at FICS on Saturday, 06 November between 1500 and 1700 to sell any remaining tickets.

 

CG:  Sylvia says that when the 1200 tickets are sold, the lottery will end and the draw will take place.  That’s happening on the FIBS Lifestyle Programme.

 

HARBOUR, FISHING AND SHIPPING NEWS:

 

Falkland Islands registered trawler the Golden Chico, was in on Saturday for a health inspection and to bunker and has now left for the fishing grounds.  The tanker, Libra, is in Berkley Sound.  On Sunday, the experimental scallop trawler, Holdberg, came in to change observers and is now back fishing.  There are currently 17 vessels in the zone.  Catches have been average to reasonable over the weekend at an average of 13.5 tonnes for the trawlers.

 

(100X Transcription Service)