Aubyn
nychic234@aol.com
USA
USA
29 December 2002
Here is an article I wrote for my website. it's pretty long but I think
you might like it.
You keep hearing in the media about how we're ruining our environment.
Unfortunately, most of those reports are true. If you're like most folks,
you'd probably like to try to help fix things. But do you really
understand the issues? Or even the terms? How can you help if you really
don't know what's going on-and why it's happening?
What a beautiful picture! Our lovely blue and green Earth with its
swirling white cloud patterns set against the stark blackness of space.
It's simply breathtaking. But back down on Earth, things aren't so pretty.
Radioactive emissions oil spills toxic chemical leaks strip-mined
landscapes clear-cut rainforests vanishing plants, birds, and animals huge
killer storms and mudslides increasing competition for dwindling resources
famine, disease, and poverty- the unhappy lists goes on and on.
All of these events are connected to a variety of environmental issues,
especially over-consumption of limited resources. What's more, the issues
are all related to each other in one way or another. It can get confusing
pretty quickly. While you might be tempted to stand there and scratch your
head in bewilderment, you don't need to hold an advanced degree in
environmental studies to grasp this stuff.
TO READ MORE OF THIS MESSAGE PLEASE CLICK HERE
Dame Jane Resture, Ph.D.
jane@janeresture.com
Australia
14 December 2002
I would like to take this opportunity to extend the compliments of the
season to Ken Sigrah, all the Banabans, and of course the friends of
Banaba. Thank you so much for your support and encouraging comments
received throughout the year - they are much appreciated.
As an I-Kiribati, my recollections of growing up on Banaba still remain
very clear, vivid and happy ones. Indeed, it was a great honour when I
received scholarships on behalf of Kiribati (including Banaba) and Tuvalu,
along with the Solomon Islands, to complete my Secondary and Tertiary
studies overseas. I thank you very much for this.
Finally, if I may, I would like to conclude by wishing everybody all the
very best in our own beautiful language:
Kam na bane ni mauri ma ami utu ni kabane n te Kiritimati 2002 ao kam na
kabwaia ma n tekeraoi n te Ririki ae Boou 2003 ao n taai nako! Kam bati n
rabwa.
Paulo Vanualailai
vanualailai@yahoo.com
Ibaraki Prefecture
Japan
12 December 2002
Mauri Aren Baoa and to the Rabi Toorak Methodist Community in Suva,
I would like to extend to you Aren and to all my Banaban relatives and
family friends who paid tribute to my father's passing away last month in
Suva my sincere and heartmost gratitude and thanks on behalf of my family
for the sad departure of our Dad, Josevate Pita Vanualailai. As you may
know, we really couldn't reciprocate the time and the amount of material
and financial gifts that you accorded our family during the sad occasion,
therefore as a token of our family appreciation, thanks and gratitude ,
please accept this humble and simple note of acknowledgement to you Aren
and your family and also to every Banaban relatives and family friends in
Suva and Fiji, as well as our very close family relatives from Maiana,
Kiribati, who were at the funeral gathering as well.
Please do know (on behalf of my family), that we will forever remember
your kindness and thoughtfulness to remember us and be part of us in the
passing away of our beloved father, in your prayers, tears and thoughts.
I would also like to take this opportunity to convey our sincere apologies
and regrets, if we have in anyway may have neglected moments and times
like these when similar tragedies do occur in your families, please do
know that it is not out of negligence on our part, but to be very frank,
it is just that we are still discovering and rediscovery our maternal
heritage as of now.
Therefore once again I thank all of you so much for your deep
understanding and tolerance on your part to be there with us during those
solemn moments and also not to mentioned the gift of your self expressed
in your presence, prayers and material wealth you freely give to our
family.
I pray that God the almighty will shower down his blessings to you all
during this Christmas season and that one day we will meet again to
celebrate the joy of having great relatives and family friends in the
likes of all of you.
Kam batin nraba ni kabwane
Bauro.
Marie Stinnett
neialoha@aol.com
Hawaii, USA
11 December 2002
I enjoyed this web page very much. I only heard a little bit about Banaba
from my mother who used to live there as a little girl when her father
Bauro Tikana was working there for High Commissioner in 1957? She talks a
lot about it and when I came across this page she was delighted to read
about it. It is very interesting and I hope to get my hands on that book
that was mentioned "Te Rii ni Banaba". Thanks for the knowledge of these
people.
Siau Smith
mauri@alphalink.com.au
Australia
09 December 2002
Greetings from Melbourne,
I would like to show my appreciation to this web site. In the early 1980s
I went to visit Rabi island, in Fiji. I'm not from Rabi but I do have
relatives there and I will never forget my first and last time I met my
second cousins. I was invited from one family to another, even travel by
boat to Buakonikai. Banabans are very friendly, they are kind, generous
and very hospitable. I have never actually thanked them after I left Fiji,
therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to say, Kam bati n rabwa
n ami akoi. If anyone out there know these relatives: Nei Eemwa & Enoka &
children Kaburee & Raeri & children: (Teuota,Bauro,Julian,Tete,Ako,Aretana)
Moniti Christopher & children, David Christopher & Fijian wife & daughter
Belinda
Nei Beturi & husband & children Brown & wife & children
Ingitae & Aro & children and a couple other families I can't remember
their names. Please pass on my appreciation. Also I would like to thank
Matakite & Dr. Taoruru & children. If you are reading this letter please
drop me a line. I will love to hear from you people. I hope to meet again.
Tekeraoi and all the best,
Nei Siau Smith (Melbourne).
Ken Sigrah & Stacey King
ken@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
05 December 2002
Hi Everyone,
Here is the latest news update from Gerard Hindmarsh the author of the
recent “ONE MINORITY PEOPLE – A Report on The Banabans” Commissioned by
UNESCO (Apia). Gerard has just returned from a recent UNESCO Pacific Arts
Conference in Fiji with the latest news on the report -
Here is Gerard’s news brief –
The UNESCO report on the Banabans is firmly on the agenda for discussion
at the UNESCO Annual General Conference in Paris next October. This means
it will come up for discussion for affirmative action amongst the 2,300
international delegates attending. Three other reports on minority peoples
will be considered, one each from Croatia, Caribbean and Africa.
The report has been well received in Paris and generated much interest and
discussion. In the short term, UNESCO will be investigating hooking the
Banabans on Rabi up to international development agencies that may be able
to help with some immediate project needs. Watch this space….
The download link for the REPORT file in now available on the Banaban
website at:
http://www.banaban.com/unescoreport.htm
Gerard has also informed us that the report will be put into official
print next year and will also be distributed to the 2,300 international
delegates next October. Meanwhile you are all welcome to read and
distribute this report to others you know who are interested in the
Banabans. We welcome your ideas and input.
I know that some of you reading this latest news will know how long and
hard many people have worked over the years to try and get the Banaban’s
plight brought to a world stage… now after all this time we have to thank
Mali Voi, UNESCO Cultural Adviser in the Pacific at the Apia office for
finally making this dream a reality.
We’ll never forget when we were researching our book “Te Rii ni Banaba”
and one of our late elders - Keith Christopher told us the story of
visiting Banaba back in the 1960’s to find his old house was still there
intact when the BPC had told them all their homes and villages had been
destroyed during World War II, and his surprise to find BPC workers living
in it. When we asked, “why didn’t you tell someone?” Anyone who knew Keith
will know what a noble Banaban elder he was and his very poignant words
are something we won’t ever forget – “BUT NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO ME?”
What a shame many of our elders who fought so hard to try and be heard
will not be here for next October’s UNESCO conference. When we look back
and think of the many interviews we have conducted over the years and how
the tears always flowed whenever our elders talked of the homeland, we
know that their spirits will be well represented at this truly historical
event when they finally will have a VOICE!
With Christmas looming we wish you all A Merry and Holy Christmas wherever
you are in the world and let’s pray we have some really more good news to
share with you all in the near future… as Gerard says… “Watch this
space….”
Regards
Ken and Stacey
Dr mugu guy lagos
Dr mugu guy lagos@togo.net
lagos
03 December 2002
|
The recent UNESCO Report on the Banabans -
ONE MINORITY PEOPLE
is now available to download at
http://www.banaban.com/unescoreport.htm
We welcome your feedback on this MESSAGE BOARD** IBO MAN NO MUGU
HERE** |
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Stacey King
stacey@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
28 November 2002
|
The recent UNESCO Report on the Banabans
-
ONE MINORITY PEOPLE
is now available to download at
http://www.banaban.com/unescoreport.htm
We welcome your feedback on this MESSAGE BOARD |
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Lesley Heywood
dougandbonnie@ntlworld.com
Surrey
England
10 November 2002
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My father Bertram Jones was an advisor
to the Banaban Council from 1970 and helped to bring the case for
compensation from the British Phosphate Commission to the High
Court in London. I lived with my parents in the guest house from
Jan 1970 until I got my work permit to work at Savusavu Travelodge
in June of the same year. I have an old photo album of Ocean
Island including at least one photo of Rotan Tito and would very
much like to bring these back to Rabi where they belong.
Tebuke and Neitong Rotan will remember my parents Bertram and
Hylda. I would very much like to hear from anyone who remembers
the Jones family and discuss the possibility of my return visit to
Rabi with these photos. I will try and add some photos to an email
later. |
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Stacey King & Ken Sigrah
stacey@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
05 November 2002
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Just to let you know that there has
been a fault here on the MESSAGE BOARD that has now been
rectified. Looking forward to receiving your message again and
sorry for the inconvenience. |
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kim charan
eg.kimo@net.com
L.A. county
U.S.A
11 September 2002
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I wanted to say I really
understand how you people must feel, my Fiancé is from Fiji
Islands, Hindustani. i am Italian, a different race, but i
feel we should all unite as one and help each other. There is
so many countries out there starving. Your web site is good.
Thank-you, Good Luck!!!! KIM |
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Iaone Betero
banaban2k@yahoo.com
Viti Levu
Fiji
07 September 2002
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Well first I would like to thank
everyone that puts messages on this board. It really shows
how we can unite as a people.
Well after reading some of the things posted on the
Internet I have to give my view of a few things.
First I would like to know why we have such a hard time
accepting help from other races of people. Because we
confine ourselves to just ourselves we don’t leave
ourselves open to growth. There is NO way that Rabi will
grow unless we accept help and business from other races.
I know that we have tried to build ourselves up on Rabi,
but we have tried in vain to make Rabi "a beautiful
island." we have driven away anyone that would have helped
us. We now wonder how we are going to keep money on Rabi.
There were many before that tried to bring business to
Rabi, but we as a people were to prideful and arrogant to
accept this. We wanted to so it all ourselves. The only
thing that we have really built up is poverty and debt.
Because we have driven so many races away, we have no
foreseeable way of building up Rabi. We need to face
reality and accept help from others. We need the students
of Rabi to learn real world skills that will help Rabi
grow.
It is no secret that Rabi is one of the worst places to go
to school. Anyone with any brains leaves Rabi to go to
school elsewhere. The schools on Rabi are a big waste of
money. We know that most of the students go to school to
play and not to learn. We could save a lot of money by
sending the ones who don’t want to learn to the gardens
while keeping the ones that want to so that they can get a
good education. It is very well known that most students
that go to Rabi high school don’t even go to school. A lot
of students go there to get drunk or to smoke marijuana or
to even sleep with each other. All they truly end up being
is a waste of space on Rabi and on the earth. They amount
to nothing and they normally bring others down with them.
They have no motivation to succeed as anything. Normally
the top score in a class is in the low 70's, while the
rest of the western world is in the high 90's. If we keep
this up we will never be able to compete with others and
we will never see Rabi become what we all want it to be.
We really need to get our heads on straight if we intend
on having a future on Rabi. If we don’t we will not have
Rabi to call our own in the future. We need to work will
all races of people to make sure that we keep Rabi as our
own forever
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tom
southasiapromo@elvis.com
Quebec
Canada
21 August 2002
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Please visit our site @
http://ifa.ipfox.com/ for frequent updates
Indo-Fiji Action International Awareness Committee |
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Ken Raobeia Tororo
Sigrah
ken@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
20 August 2002
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Kam na mauri!
Te moa ni bwai ae I kan taekina bon au kaitau ae moan
te bati nakoia te roro ni I Banaba n reitaki ma koraki
ake atia ni boutokoa te Banaban website aio. Oin
kateimatoan te website aio Irou ma Stacey bwa ti
tangiria bwa aio te tabo are ea kona iai te Roro ni I
Banaba ni kaota bwanana iaon aba bwa aonga ni kinaki. I
taku naba bwa aio te tai ae te Roro ni I Banaba ea riai
n teirake iai man ukora te kawai ae tina kabwaia iai ma
roro aika imwaira. I kakoaua naba bwa te Roro ni I
Banaba ngkai ea uamae nako iaon te aonaba aio, ma engae
n anne te bwai ae moan te kakawaki bwa ti naki mwaninga
ae antai ngaira. Ti naki mwaninga naba ae ngaira I
Banaba bon te reti ae kaokoro ma reti nako, iai ara
katei ma aroarora ao boni iai naba aoin abara ae arana
Banaba ao aio raoi bukin korean te boki ae arana "Te Rii
ni Banaba" bwa ena reke te boki aio bwa katean atun tei
I Banaba ngkana e kakarabakaua kateina ma aroarona ma
reti nako.
Abati nano ni kani ibuobuoki mai irouia koraki aika
tiaki ara reeti ma te kabuanibwai bwa ngaira moa ti tuai
ni kona moa ni bootira n ti teuana bwa tina tabeka rake
abara mani biriakin waki aika ana reke iai kabwaiara ao
butaki nakon abara ae Banaba mai iaan babaire aika aki
eti.
Ea bwabwaki te kakarabakau ao eaki kona ni moti
mangaia are ngkana iai nanom ibukin am reeti ma abam ao
koroboki rinanon te website aio (in English) bwa eaonga
n tanaoata nanom ma am kantaninga iaon aba. Tai mwaninga
ni korea aram (write your name after your message) bwa
eaonga n toma raoi te kakarabakau.
Ngkana ko kani koboa te boki ae "Te Rii ni Banaba" ao
kokona ni kaboa man te U.S.P. Fiji ao am itoman ikanne
Linda Crowl (publisher). Iai te discount nakoia I Banaba
ni kabane ngkana kam bon nako ni kaboa ami boki (in
person).
"Korakoran Bwanam boni Katei matoan Inaomatam."
Tao tingaia moa anne ao ia manga ongora mai iroumi.
Tia boo!moa.
Ngai, Ken Raobeia Tororo Sigrah.
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Jocelyn Chrisropher
drjocy@yahoo.com
Suva
Fiji
20 August 2002
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Thanks for setting up this
website. I am a Banaban medical student and I haven't
had the privilege of having my elders around to tell
me the history of my people as should be the case for
every growing child. I've had to read up on history
books and ask around if anyone has a piece of history
on Banaba that might interest me. Imagine my surprise
and joy when I came across the book "Te Rii Ni
Banaba". I was so happy I forgot all about my quiz on
Monday and spent all of Saturday night and the best
part of Sunday just reading the book before I got back
to studying for the quiz! I must say that was all new
stuff to me. I can only sympathise with others like me
who will not have access to such information.
I figure I owe the authors much gratitude for their
extensive knowledge shared to everyone in such a
moving book that illustrated the plight of this
people.
I have very strong feelings on the subject of my
people and would like to help out with the move to
bring justice around where it should have been all
those years back.
By the way, my mum was just telling me that my
great-grandfather's name was one of the ones listed in
the book as being shot by the Japanese. I'll be
revisiting this website every now and again for any
extra information on the island of Banaba itself.
Who knows? Maybe I'll take the time to go there
myself in the near future! |
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27 IDX 106 - Odinn
Akranes
ICELAND
17 August 2002
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Very good webpage you
have here, and best greetings to all your visitors.
You Are also --> WELCOME <-- To Visit My Webpage
as well Have BIG fun...
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Aren Baoa
arenb@spc.int
Rabi
Republic of Fiji
06 August 2002
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Dear All,
The issue on compensation have become a serious
topic amongst members of the Banaban Community
Association (BCA). The association supercedes the
former Rabi Community Association. The current
members of the interim committee consist of me as
Chairman, Nawaia Touakin as Deputy Chairman and
Bauro Kabure as the Secretary.
We believe that inorder for us to strengthen our
spiritual ties with our ancestral homeland, the
name "Banaba" should be used rather Rabi. It
became obvious to us that Rabi is not truly our
God-given home, but Banaba is and will always be.
One of the main objectives of the association is
to assist RCL in advising them on projects and
activities that will be beneficial to the Banaban
people both in Rabi and Banaba.
One of our on-going projects that has received
good response from our community is Banaan Rabi (a
bi-weekly radio programme for our people in Rabi
and Ocean Is.).
RCL is yet to release a letter of consent and
consequently give us a mandate to put to do
research and lobby on their behalf, but according
the Chairman of RCL last night, he said that our
letter was well received and an official MOU will
be drawn up to recognise this collaboration. One
project that is high on our agenda is
compensation.
As the interim-chair of BCA I urge you all to
forward us information that will be vital in this
case. Just recently I have received verbal
assurances from my Nauru contacts to provide us
with all the necessary documents we need for case.
Yours truly,
Aren Baoa
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Stacey King
stacey@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
05 August 2002
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Hi, Mauri and
Greetings!
To all those who have left a message here on
the BANABAN MESSAGE BOARD...
Sorry I have not been personally in touch with
you via email. I have been very busy with work
and family commitments the past months.
It's great and encouraging to see more
Banabans now coming on-line and the future
potential to network is very important if there
is any hope of re-activating any type of legal
action or seeking justice for a better future
for the Banaban people.
I know the problems Banabans face every day in
surviving on Rabi and the Banaban homeland. Also
the work commitments young educated Banabans
will face as the new doors of opportunity become
open to you. But unless we all pull together and
work with the full support of Banaban elders and
leaders we stay fragmented.
Ken and I will be on Rabi at Christmas with
our family, and hope to discuss many of these
issues while there.
As many of you will realise, communication (or
lack of it) with our islands makes it extremely
difficult and very expensive to just keep in
touch with our loved ones back home. This has to
be one of the first issues to address to give
the Banabans some type of voice that can be
heard.
In the meantime, I would like to encourage ALL
Banabans, young and old, who have the fortune of
education and the use of internet technology to
network together and take the first step in
supporting and encouraging all their family back
home to believe that we can make a difference by
working together towards a common goal.
Please remember that this Banaban website is
yours and feel free to use it to network and
build ideas across this broad international form
of media.
Ko raba,
Nei Titeiti Naking |
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Bureita
Ofati
bureita.ofati@tfl.com.fj
Fiji
30 July 2002
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Stacey I find that
there is a very good issue regarding the BBC
history magazine as quoted by Jeremy Cooper,
is there a way of getting what is rightfully
our in terms of compensation to the issue as
stated in the maqazines? Is it possible to re
address the British on the issue? Please get
back to me on the issue |
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Micheal
Christoph
sound4you@mail.com
California USA
26 July 2002
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Hello!!!! My
niece & I want to do a Banaban dance at an
up coming fundraising in Sept. Is there
Banaban living in Bay Area CA who can help
us with this .Pliz contact me with the above
e-mail address. Thank you so much in
creating this web site. |
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ob1gr81
ob1gr81@yahoo.com
USA
20 July 2002
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Bul Vinaka ao
Kam na mauri. I taku bwa kam mararung n te
tai ae moan te raoiroi aio. I bon ongora
bwa e kekerikaaki te waaki iaon Rabi ao I
tangira n onora iroumi. Tera ti kona ni
karaoia bwa e kona ni rikirake Rabi. N na
bon roko ibukin tebwi ma nimaua ao I
tangira ni uota teutana te ibuobuoki. RAbi
bon te tabo ae tangiraki irou ao I tangira
bwa e na rikirake n ai aron taai are e
nako. Tera am iango iai. Kam kona n kanako
te e-mail nakoiu n te tabo aio. ob1gr81@yahoo.com
Keiaki n bwai ni kabane ao e na reke
iromi te mauri, te raoi, ao te tabomoa.
tekeraoi n bwai ni kabane |
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Nabeia. Natu
natu@worldemail.com
Labasa
Fiji
20 July 2002
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bula vinaka
Ken. kona mauri l taku ba komarurung
give my regards to Stacey and all gangs
in Austraia. hope to here from you and
your beutiful wife.about the book please
if you can sent one to me in Labasa to
my address .Nabeia Natu. public works
dept. p.o.box 106, Labasa, Fiji. |
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Nabeia Natu
natu@worldemail.com.
Labasa
Fiji
20 July 2002
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please
send some information of how to
migrate in Australia and
e-mail to me to the above address.
thanks very much for creating a
website of BANABA |
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Faye Longo
longof@,ail.ccv.vsc.edu
United States
11 July 2002
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I am
writing a final paper on the
European influence on Native
American Mythology. I am looking for
specific examples where a Native
American myth may say something
about a European, the change in a
tradition of some sort because of
European pressures, and so on. This
is a big subject but I am having
trouble finding info. If any one can
help me I would really appreciate
it. Thank you. |
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Margaret & Jim Broadhead
Victoria
Australia
05 July 2002
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Hello
from Jane, Mark, Jim & Margaret
Broadhead. We lived on Banaba from
1962-1977 and would love to hear
from some of our friends.
It was good to see news of
Emeretta Cross (McGrath) who lived
not far from us in Tapiwa and went
to school with Jane and Mark. Jane
remembers many happy times playing
with her in the playground.
Margaret ( neé Hilton) taught at
the staff school from 1963-1966
and then part -time till we left
the island. I wonder how many ex
students read this message board.
Jim worked in the power station
and on the cantilever.
Regards, the Broadheads. |
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Paul Radnor
paul@coolaroodesign.com.au
Adelaide
Australia
29 June 2002
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Hi
all,
Just passing by. I thought
someone on the WWW may be
interested that I have a web
site full of photos of Banaba at
the URL that I provided with
this entry:
http://www.coolaroodesign.com.au/ocean_island/index.html
I built this site a few years
ago because the stay that my
family had was unbelievable. I
and my sister were only 8 years
old and my brother was 11 years.
The reason we were able to stay
on the island was because my
father, Ken Radnor, took up the
position of Anaesthetist for 6
months during 1960.
This was a time of all our
lives that we will never forget
with very fond feelings for the
natives. |
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Russell
Pritchard
russp1au@yahoo.com.au
Sydney N.S.W.
Australia
29 May 2002
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Hello all,
I found the site very
interesting as my father was
born on the island in 1929.
His father Walter Pritchard
was a supervisor on the giant
swinging wharf building
project, the purpose of which
was to allow the loading of
ships out past the reef. I
have always been interested in
the island because of my
fathers birth there and would
like to visit the island one
day. Could you please tell me
if there are any possibilities
of taking my father back to
see the island, as he is now
in his 70`s and often
expresses a desire to see his
birth place before he dies. Is
there a flying boat service
from Nauru as I have been led
to believe or is the only way
to get there by boat as some
other people have told me. I
would be keen to hear from
anyone who could help me.
Kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Russell C. Pritchard J.P.,
Macquarie Fields N.S.W.
Australia 2564 |
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Guy Slatter
guy@minehill.demon.co.uk
United Kingdom
21 May 2002
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This message arrived from
Guy Slatter in UK informing
us of the good news for
Michael and Felicity Laritz
who were also with us on the
HOMECOMING trip back in 1997
when they announced their
engagement. Congratulations
to you both and the rest of
the Lartiz family in
Australia and U.K....
I'm sure you'll be
delighted to know, if you
haven't heard from
elsewhere, that Michael and
Felicity Laritz have a
daughter, Teagan, born on
Friday and weighing in at
7lbs 13oz. According to
Michael all are well, though
exhausted! |
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Stacey King
stacey@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
21 May 2002
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Please find the following
message from Lucia Linkels
of Mundo Etnico regarding
the tragic death of her
beloved husband Adje. On
behalf of the Banabans in
Rabi and Fiji who spent
time with Lucia and Adje
in December 2000 when they
were recording Banaban
music - Our Condolences to
Lucia, and we know your
work and love of Pacific
Island music will be a
lasting legacy to Adje's
memory...
Tilburg 25 April 2002
It is with great sadness
that I tell you of the
sudden passing away of my
dear Adje. With
perplexity, disbelief but
unfortunately true, at the
age of 52 Adje suddenly
died after only a short
stay in hospital.
Early last week Ad was
complaining of pain in his
ear and eardrops didn't
help. Soon after, Ad went
to the hospital for
observation and went into
a coma the next day after
the diagnosis of
meningitis was made. Ad
did not regain
consciousness.
Within a week he passed
away peacefully.
Lucia Linkels
MUNDO ETNICO FOUNDATION
Sibeliusstraat 707
5011 JR Tilburg
The Netherlands.
Email: info@mundoetnico.nl
To see some of Adje &
Lucia's work with Pacific
Islands communities
including Rabi, please
visit their website at:
http://www.mundoetnico.nl |
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Jeremy
Cooper
jeremy@olio.demon.co.uk
Milton Keynes
UK
08 May 2002
|
Here is the text of a
short article which
appeared in the BBC
History Magazine.
Best wishes to all,
and condolences on the
recent tragedy in
Rabi.
Jeremy.
_______________
From BBC History
Magazine Vol 3, No 5,
May 2002, page 7
PACIFIC
Island dug to
destruction
Mine row evidence
was suppressed
To King Tamati of
Banaba, the offer of
£50 a year to dig bird
droppings from his
tiny Pacific Island
probably seemed
generous. But his
agreement in1900 was
the death warrant for
the island, dug from
under his people's
feet to provide cheap
fertiliser for farmers
in Britain, Australia
and New Zealand.
Seventy years later,
the dubious deal came
back to haunt
administrators.
Government files
newly released at the
Public Record Office
in Kew show that when
the islanders claimed
£40 million
compensation in 1971,
evidence in their
favour was suppressed.
Even government
lawyers were kept in
the dark. Civil
servants tried to have
records reclassified
as secret. W.E.
Musgrove of the
Records Department
wrote: 'We would be
batting on a very
sticky wicket were we
to request the closure
of papers originated
during 1926-33 or even
earlier, which have
been available to the
public'.
From 1920, the
British Phosphate
Commission dug up to
500,000 tons a year.
The islanders were
paid a pittance while
farmers got their
fertiliser for
two-thirds the
international price.
BPC revenues paid the
annual government cost
of running the Gilbert
and Ellice Islands -
now Kiribati and
Tuvalu - into which
Banaba had been
absorbed. The Banabans
had been promised
restoration of their
home, but instead were
moved to the Fijian
island of Rabi, 1,000
miles away.
Foreign Office
Minister Lord Shepherd
refused a public
inquiry. In 1971, with
the phosphates running
out, the Banabans
hired former Labour
Attorney General Elwyn
Jones to pursue their
claim in the High
Court. The files show
that the government
recognised the
islanders had a case
for claiming up to £18
million. Foreign
Office official
Eleanor Emery noted:
'We must be careful to
avoid giving them just
cause to say again
that the powerful
British are taking
advantage of the poor,
small, Banaban
community.' JW Moffatt
of the Commonwealth
Office concluded that
the agreement with
King Tamati was
legally doubtful and
that certain communal
deals were probably
defective. His report
was withheld. In 1983,
the Banabans were
awarded £7 million
they struggle to this
day to re-establish
themselves on their
island.
Peter Day
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Natalie Minnis
natalie@ecosse.net
UK
26 April 2002
|
I've been very busy
moving into my new
flat, but I've had
time to read the
first 50 pages of Te
Rii Ni Banaba. It's
absolutely
fascinating - I'm
enthralled!
But I'm so sorry
to hear about the
terrible landslide
on Rabi. I'd like to
offer my condolences
to all involved.
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Joe Veramu
Savusavu
Fiji
23 April 2002
|
Six perish as
mountain comes
down on homes
By Verenaisi
Raicola (Fiji
Times 2002/04/23)
FOUR siblings
and two adults
were buried alive
in their homes
early yesterday in
what is believed
to be the worst
landslide on Rabi
Island.
The tragedy,
which happened in
Buakonikai Village
on the southern
side of the
island, claimed
the lives of four
siblings, their
aunt and a
neighbour.
Florisa Ieremia,
a Class Six
student, Tarai
Ieremaia, Class
Four, Patrick
Ieremaia, Form
Four, and Felix
Ieremaia, Class
Five, never had a
chance to escape
the collapse of
the nearby
mountainside.
Their aunt, Wewe
Tuongo, who was
asleep with the
children in the
bedroom, died with
them. Another
villager, Eneti
Samuelu, died in
the adjacent home.
Speaking from the
island yesterday,
Rabi Island
councillor Iowane
Tabuariki said the
island was in a
state of shock.
He said heavy
rain from Saturday
caused the
landslide which
buried the two
homes. "This is
the first time for
a landslide this
massive to hit us.
It is just
devastating,'' he
said. Rabi is
situated north of
Taveuni and east
of the northern
tip of Natewa
Peninsula on Vanua
Levu. The
children's
parents, Karebo
Ieremaia and
Ieremaia Tanian,
managed to escape
unhurt because
they were sleeping
in the sitting
room of their
concrete home.
"The children
were sleeping with
their aunt in a
separate bedroom
while their
parents were using
the sitting room
when the landslide
occurred,'' Mr
Tabuariki said. By
yesterday
afternoon, the
islanders were
still searching
for the bodies of
the two boys.
Mr Tabuariki
said the whole
mountainside
"simply covered
the concrete homes
when it came
down''. "It all
happened in
seconds,'' he
said, adding that
it happened too
fast for the
parents to save
their children.
"The parents
themselves had to
escape as fast as
they could. They
had no time to
worry about their
children.'' Roads
to Buakonikai were
closed yesterday
as villagers
worked to clear it
of debris.
Water supply was
disrupted by the
landslide and
residents were
using water
sparingly, Mr
Tabuariki added.
Police on the
island were still
investigating the
incident last
night.
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Ken Sigrah
ken@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
23 April 2002
|
The latest news
from Rabi
regarding the
landslide...
... this
morning
(22/4/02)there
was a major
landslide in
Buakonikai,
towards
Matantubu just
past the
methodist
church, which is
said to have
buried two homes
(Teuongo and
Binaoro).
There is no
sign yet of the
occupants of the
houses whom many
refuse to
believe have
been buried in
their homes.
Meanwhile heavy
rain hasn't
eased yet on the
island... |
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Joe Veramu
joe_43@hotmail.com
Savusavu
Fiji
22 April
2002
|
Recent Death
News in Rabi
(As compiled
by FM 96 April
22, 2001)
6 dead after
landslide
Heavy rain
is believed to
have caused
the death of
six people
early this
morning, while
two are in a
critical
condition at
the Rabi
hospital due
to a
landslide.
The incident
occured in the
village of
Bokonikai in
Rabi, where
two houses
were
completely
covered by the
landslide.
Amongst the
dead is a 42
year old
woman, a 3
year old girl,
a 6 and 8 year
old boy, a 60
year old man
and a 16 year
old boy.
The weather
office has
predicted more
rain in the
next couple of
days and
warning those
living in low
lying areas to
expect
flooding from
the continuos
rain.
Meanwhile
flooding has
occurred at
Viwa flats at
Korovou
Tailevu,
forcing the
closure of
Kings Road at
Korovou.
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louise.mclean
louise.mclean@bbc.co.uk
uk
22 April
2002
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Dear Tebuke,
If you get
this please
email me.
Many years
have passed
since we saw
you in
London. Mac
and I now
have 5
children who
are nearly
all grown
up.
Hopefully
next year we
might get to
pay you a
visit over
there. Hope
all is well
with you and
Nei Tang.
Much love
Louise
McLean
(Richardson) |
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Emeretta
McGrath
(nee
CROSS)
emeretta.mcgrath@holden.com.au
Australia
16 April
2002
|
Dear Ken
and Stacey
I am so
glad to
discover
your
website
and know
of your
publications.
I am going
to order
my copy of
your book
- NOW.
After
reading
the many
reviews -
I know you
have done
a superb
job.
I also
had a look
at the
site RE:
"Coming
Home to
Banaba".
There was
one
picture
that
brought on
a flood of
memories...the
boat
harbour.
I was
born there
in 1966
and left
when the
BPC began
slowing
down
mining and
withdrawing
in 1976.
I
remember
quite
vividly my
early
childhood.
Places I
explored
like
'Buakonikai',
and
spending
the
weekends
in 'Untereen',
with my
local
relatives
- Kiribati
and
Tuvaluans.
I lived in
Uma and
moved 'Ieta'
(or up to
the hill)
when they
began
excavating
Uma.
A group
of us
(myself a
3 other
boys)
played and
lived in
the
pinnacles
where they
kept pet
pigs and
around the
caves that
cut into
the
mountain
wall which
mark the
start of
the reef
and was
our play
ground. I
was
Tarzan...
and the
boys could
be whoever
they
wanted on
the day. A
cowboy, a
cop,
batman or
robin. We
hunted
gecko eggs
and would
swing off
the vines
that hung
from the
giant
Pandanus
trees.
We were
the best
at
climbing
the Mango
tree
between
ours and
the
Buchanan's
house, in
Uma. We
use to
stay in
the tree
and eat
green
mango's
with
vegemite.
Some
afternoons
we never
came out
of the
mango
tree,
until the
sun went
down and
our
mother's
started
screaming
at us for
our baths.
Other days
we
scrummaged
throught
the
tropical
forests
that
surrounded
our homes
for 'te
kunikun',
a long
almond
like nut.
I
remember
the Staff
club. What
a grand
building
that was
upstairs,
with the
giant,
wooden
staircase
with
polished
floor
boards
throughout
and the
chandeliers.
I remember
the annual
themed
balls that
my parents
would get
dressed up
to go
to...one
year Mum
and Dad
went as
'Cavemen'
in potato
sack bags.
I
remember
the staff
pool,
where I
smashed my
two front
teeth
diving in
the
shallow
end the
tennis
courts
(where my
Tuvaluan,
athletic
mother
gave the
British
and
Austrlaian
Mums a
serious
workout)
the open
theatre,
where they
also held
the staff
Christmas
celebrations
and one
year when
my belief
in Santa
Claus was
crushed.
We use to
do the
whole
christmas
theme...all
of us kids
from the
Staff
school
involved,
some were
shepherds
while
others
were
angels,
etc. We
rehearsed
the carols
and our
places, at
school for
the grand
performance.
Then
after,
we'ld join
our
parents
and sing
louder so
Santa
would know
where to
find us in
the
Central
Pacific.
He would
ride in on
a minimoke
that had a
huge
papermache
reindeer
head and
then start
calling us
up for our
pressies.
Yes there
were
scared
toddlers
in tears,
but us
older ones
were
competing
for the
best
pressies.
The one
year after
I had been
up and got
my pressie
(a Barbie)
was when
one of the
kids said
"Emeretta
- Santa is
your
father!" I
didn't
believe
them and
we had a
fight. I
confronted
my Dad
that
night, but
he just
laughed.
The next
year I
studied
Santa as I
sat on his
lap, it
was one of
my Dad's
colleagues
from the
BPC.
I love
Banaba and
I remember
the
Banabans
that lived
on the
beach.
When you
came out
of the
boat-harbour,
you had to
go hard
right and
follow the
'low'
bitumen
road (the
'high'
one, went
up the
moutain -
towards
the
hospital)
until it
turned to
gravel and
then keep
driving
until it
turned to
sand. At
the end of
the
driveable
part - you
walk until
you see a
village of
thatched
huts. This
is where
the
Banabans
lived. I
use to go
there with
my Mum
(who was a
nurse) -
to visit
her
friends.
They often
invited us
to their
celebrations
and had
the best
dried fish
and
seafood
dining. As
a child my
unanswered
question
was, "why
do they
live in
huts"?
Were they
waiting
for
something?
Were they
going
somewhere?
Was this
just a
temporary
camp? -
how cool
that that
they were
always
camping.
Now I am
older... I
can answer
those
questions.
They were
waiting
for the
damn BPC
to get off
the
island,
then they
could
re-settle
properly.
If the
BPC never
went to
the
island, my
father
would
never have
been sent
there. If
he never
went
there, he
would
never have
met my
mother. If
this
didn't
happen, I
would
never have
been born.
My life is
due to the
BPC. My
destiny (I
strongly
believe)
is due to
Banaba. I
don't
belong in
Australia
- my
native
tongue is
the
Kiribati
language -
but the
Kiribati
laugh at
my
dialect. I
don't
belong on
Tuvalu - I
have no
memories
like the
ones I do
have of
Banaba. My
home is
Banaba -
but do the
Banaban's
think
that? I
don't
know. I
would love
to find
out
though. I
want to go
home and I
know how
those who
live on
Rabi feel.
We tread
very
carefully
in the
return,
this
island
cannot be
opened up
to the
world,
incase
prospectors
for mining
promising
(and
wanting)
greedy
profits
that don't
go
anywhere
it should,
like back
to the
island.
They are
already
sniffing
around -
but we can
keep them
away and
return the
island to
the
Banabans
and those
who will
be
beneficial
to the
island and
it's
inhabitants.
It's not
to be
exploited
again...
it is
somebody's
home.
Regards
Emeretta
McGrath
Norm and
Tongafiti's
oldest
daughter. |
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heatherr
brownlie
(nee
mclellan)
heather_brownlie@hotmail.com
bishopbriggs
scotland
16
April
2002
|
Having
been
born on
Banaba
(ocean
island)
i would
like
some up
todate
information
on the
island
and If
there is
anyone
reading
this,
who was
born on
banaba
1952 and
remembers
me or my
sister,
Janette
Mclellan,
please
email
me. I
would
love to
hear
from
you.
Best
wishes
to all
on the
island .
Heather |
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Guy
Slatter
guy@minehill.demon.co.uk
United
Kingdom
10
April
2002
|
Kam na
mauri!
I
thought
I'd
send
you a
few
lines
to say
how
fascinated
I was
to
read
the
book -
Te Rii
Ni
Banaba,
a copy
of
which
I'd
obtained
from
Colin
Hinchcliffe
here
in UK.
Congratulations
to you
both.
I'm
sure
that
the
Banaban
people
will
be
eternally
grateful
to you
for
your
efforts.
You
certainly
had a
wealth
of
material.
Having
things
explained
from
the
islanders'
point
of
view
provides
a
totally
different
picture
about
so
many
aspects.
It has
made
me
even
sorrier
that I
never
managed
to get
there
during
my two
years
on
Tarawa
from
'68-'70.
I
visited
all
the
other
islands
in the
G&EIC
apart
from
Nonouti,
Washington,
Fanning
and
the
uninhabited
ones.
The
opportunity
to
go to
Banaba
never
came
up.
I'm
sorry,
too,
that I
wasn't
able
to
make
it in
'97.
One
thing
I did
find
rather
strange
was
that
it was
possible
for
the
original
te Aka
clan
to be
able
to
continue
to
live
on the
same
pretty
small
island
as
Auriaria
and
his
followers
- one
might
have
expected
that
one
side
would
have
wiped
out
the
other.
There
must
have
been
some
pretty
sensible
leaders
on
both
sides!
Anyway,
I hope
that
all is
well
with
you
both -
I just
wish
the
Pacific
wasn't
so far
away
from
here!
Tiabo,
Guy |
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seth
leonard
bf983@scn.org
turtle
island
...
usa
29
March
2002
|
English
(for
translation,
see
www.freetranslation.org)
This
is
an
ongoing
email
for
‘development’
and
hopefully
for
peace.
This
email
should
be
useful
for
community
leaders
on
poverty
issues
in
rural
and
urban
areas.
This
email
is
intended
for
community
leaders
and
interested
parties
that
are
working
on
poverty
issues,
human
rights
issues,
development
problems,
farmers
and
urban
residents
trying
to
avoid
the
worst
problems
of
unfair
conditions.
Some
of
this
information
may
also
be
useful
for
members
of
our
family
who
are
in
real
need
and
have
access
to
the
internet.
This
is a
European-American
approach
to
help,
and
you
should
use
your
discretion.
I
hope
it
has
value
for
you.
Click
here
to
view
the
rest
of
this
message
in
full
The
internet
is
very
finicky.
If
you
have
trouble
visiting
a
site
try
again
later
or
contact
me
for
more
information
at
Please
forward
this
information
appropriately.
This
website
is
located
at
www.geocities.com/developeace/development_humanrights.html
Peace
and
love,
Seth
Leonard.
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Noel
Howlett
nollwark@hotmail.com
Cheshire
England
25
March
2002
|
I
was
Relief
Assistant
HarbourMaster
some
time
in
1971/2,
while
working
for
BPC
as
2nd
Officer
on
their
ships.
I
remember
with
pleasure
the
friendliness
of
the
Banabans,
and
regret
my
ignorance
(at
the
time)
of
the
Banabans
loss
of
territory.
I
am
now
older,
wiser,
and
saddened
by
my
own
government's
shameful
part
in
the
destruction
of
your
home
for
pure
financial
gain.
If
there
is
anything
I
can
do
to
help
bring
this
scandalous
affair
into
the
public
eye,
please
contact
me:-
nollwark@hotmail.com |
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Raobeia Ken Sigrah
ken@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
24 February 2002
|
I would like to bring it to the attention of all those wanting to learn abour Banaban history that there is another Banaba/Banaban website administered by a Jane Resture that gives a FALSE history about the Banabans. We as Banabans have our own identity and heritage that has been well preserved amongst true Banabans. Jane's information has been taken straight from the writings of Maude, especially THE BOOK OF BANABA. Though the recent release of "TE RII NI BANABA - The Backbone of Banaba" the true history of our people has finally been published in line with our elders and Banaban community wishes.
I therefore would like to stress that I as a Banaban, clan speaker and historian condemn this false history on behalf of the Banaban people.
For those who want to learn true Banaban history please contact me or visit our website www.banaban.com
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Ken Sigrah
ken@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
21 February 2002
|
Thank you to all those who left a message on this BOARD during 2001. Because of the amount of mail last year the board really had slowed down and we have now archieved all your messages into HTML pages that can be viewed by clicking onto the link at the bottom of this page.
We hope with the board now cleared off for this year you will again find it easy to post your messages quickly without the long delays you have experienced in the past.
We look foward to hearing from you in the future and don't forget to check out the Archive files to read all the interesting comments we have received over the years.
Ko bati n rabwa! |
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Neil Sutherland
sutherlandne@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Canada
22 January 2002
|
Hi. I'm trying to get a message to Teanibuti Moanikaiwa (Nuku, Rabi Island) to say hi and ask her if she received Megan's letter. Megan, Scott and Heather are all wondering how Teanibuti is doing.
To those who might be interested:
While I was on an oceanographic research trip on board a Canadian government research ship doing work from Alaska to Samoa, as part of a lark, many of us threw bottles with messages in them overboard as we were crossing the equator. Believe it or not, approximately one year later, Teanibuti found my bottle and subsequently mailed me a letter. The kids and I mailed her back and have received another letter from her a year ago. We're all very interested to find out how she is doing. One of my kids is thinking about planning a trip to Fiji within the next year or two.
If anyone one is going to Nuku and knows her, please stop by and send our regards. We'd love to hear from her. She has our address.
Thanks, Neil |
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Stacey King & Ken Sigrah
stacey@banaban.com
Gold Coast
Australia
15 December 2001
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To everyone who ordered a copy of "Te Rii Ni Banaba' the first batch of books were airmailed off on Monday 3rd December (9 days ago). We would expect this despatch to still arrive to those who ordered in time for Christmas.
We now have received our second shipment of books for those who would like to order a copy. They are $35USD which includes economy airmail. After Christmas mail rush this usually will only take 1-2 weeks at the most anywhere in the world. Of course this does not include remote place like Banaba or Rabi islands.
We look forward to receiving your book reviews in the future... Enjoy your reading!!! |
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michelle goodall
michellegoodall67@hotmail.com
England
14 December 2001
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hello stacy i have lost your email address so i hope you get this when you check the board,I ordered the book from you and you called me to check my cc details i am just getting a little concered that the book has not arrived yet the date is the 14.12 could you email me and let me know if it has been posted yet thanks Michelle.
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