Category Archives: Oceania

By Anna Ley

Trumps ascendance to presidency appears to have driven dystopian literature to new heights, from Huxley to Burgess to Zamyatin, whose glass encased one-state society captures the transparency of just how futile the Communist regime was, consolidating an increasing public realisation of the hollow hyperbole of current political language, such as Trumps declaration as the greatest creator of jobs since God.

But it was the again-bestseller, Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four, that specifically skyrocketed in sales. Trumps own adviser, Kellyanne Conways description of alternative facts resonates, with frightful familiarity, with the vacuum of knowledge that is the memory hole of Orwells Oceania in which inconvenient news is strained from our memories with a state controlled suction exerted by the Ministry of Thought. Trumps speeches carry the rhythms of Orwellian newspeak, Black is White, 2+2=5, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength which is defined as ambiguous euphemistic language used chiefly in political propaganda. Its very adoption into our language as a homophone for Kellyannes notion of alternative fact suggests an increasing awareness of the dangers Orwell posed.

At the core of Orwells narrative is the notion of an engineered English language, a vocabulary that is manipulated to not extend but to diminish the range of thought as Orwell himself states. Through the concept of Newspeak, Oceanias language, the state is able to strip back the terms of the dictionary deemed undesirable to Big Brother and consequently to the nation of Oceania, allowing unwanted and potentially threatening notions to be literally unthinkable. The monolithic vocabulary that emerges from this telescoped dictionary of dictatorship was common to the Totalitarianism of Orwells time in which the lexicon was contracted to the smallest number of syllables to ensure words are uttered without taking almost any thought, from the simple gestapo of the Nazi regime to Commintem of Communist International, both akin to Ingsoc Oceanias name for English Socialism. As Orwell feverishly states in his essay Politics and the English Language: If thoughts can corrupt language, language can corrupt thought. If an objection to the language, as depicted through Winstons keeping of a diary, is a signal of rebellion, then the forced adoption of an alien language may be seen as the suppression of identity and individual expression.

In which case we are forced to consider the current situation of English as a global language, that as more and more native languages become extinct and political discussion is engulfed by the English language are we not endangering the identity of thousands?

Though Big Brother has transcended into the comic consumption of other peoples thoughts and behaviours, darker currents of surveillance today swell beneath the surface. As the most watched country in the world, are we within the omniscient observance of Oceania even today? Surveillance sweeps the UK and the Investigatory Powers Act passed only last November, that legalized numerous hacking possibilities from the security services, was dubbed by Edward Snowden on Twitter, the most extreme surveillance in the history of Western democracy. It goes further than many autocracies. This kind of law is unparalleled by any other Western nation and in its enforcement, people can hear the eerie echoes of Himmlers Gestapos footsteps on every corner, they can see the two-way screens that litter the streets of Orwells Oceania, omnisciently watching and listening.

Orwells novel is a readable reminder of the threat that alternative facts place on democracy to those living in an age that just presumes democracy will prevail. Living in the technological era, Orwells fears of a fluctuating language have transpired in our ability to write, rewrite and delete language for our benefit. And so almost 70 years after its publication, the watchful eye of the Thought Police still looms over our heads, behind the pictures that hang above our beds.

Photograph: Wyrd & Wanderful via Flickr

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Are we living in an Orwellian Oceania? - Palatinate

Oceania Cruises has unveiled details of a new world voyage which is set to circumnavigate the globe in 180 days.

Scheduled to depart in January 2019, the world cruise will see the 684-passenger cruise ship, Insignia, sail more than 45,000 nautical miles (83,000km) across two oceans and 16 seas, visiting 90 destinations in 36 countries.

Having departed New York on 11 January 2019, the cruise will sail to Miami and through the Caribbean Sea and Panama Canal to Los Angeles. It will then sail across the Pacific to Hawaii, South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, before heading north to Asia.

Following visits to countries including Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar and India, the ship will then travel west to Egypt and the Holy Land, and then onwards through the Suez Canal to Europe.

The journey includes 14 overnight stays and a series of shore excursions. The 2019 world cruise opened for reservations this week.

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Oceania cruises around the world in 180 days | Cruise News UK - Travel Daily Media (press release) (registration) (blog)

Former Waitaki Girls' High School pupil Tara Willans (18) has been awarded the 2017 Oceania Dairy scholarship.

She will receive an annual payment of $3000 for up to three years, plus the opportunity for paid work experience at Oceania's milk factory near Glenavy during study breaks.

Tara is starting a bachelor of arts and science majoring in politics and environmental management, with a minor in accounting, at the University of Otago.

''We had more applications this year than any other year we have been doing this,'' Oceania Dairy general manager Roger Usmar said.

''The decision was made more difficult by the high calibre of submissions and we wish to thank all candidates for the amount of time and work they put into their applications.''

The scholarship was fitting recognition of Tara's hard work, he said.

''Tara is an outstanding young woman. Not only has she achieved excellence in both NCEA level 2 and level 3, but she demonstrated strong leadership skills within her school and community.

''In addition to this she has shown exceptional humanitarian skills by working as a volunteer with youth in Cambodia and India. Not many young people would give up their summer to teach English and promote environmental sustainability.''

Tara was interviewed for the scholarship via Skype during her six weeks in India, where she was living with a local family and teaching maths and cultural studies in their privately owned school. She learned she had won the scholarship by email.

Tara is the first female recipient. Last year's winner was former Waimate High School head boy Tayne MacMillan, and the 2015 winner was another former Waimate head boy, Dion Batchelor.

''Having our scholarship students working with us over their semester breaks is important to us,'' Mr Usmar said. ''We all really enjoy having them back and seeing their confidence and maturity develop. They are an integral part of our company and are valued members of the Oceania Dairy team.''

The scholarship was a significant part of Oceania's commitment to the communities in which it operated, he said.

''We are encouraging an organisational culture of investing in people and supporting local communities. We can think of no better way of demonstrating that culture by supporting young people as they move from secondary school education to further education or training.''

The Oceania Scholarship is available to young people in the Waimate and Waitaki districts who are completing their secondary schooling and moving into further education or training that can lead to a career in the dairy industry or enhance relationships between New Zealand and China. Oceania Dairy is owned by Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, China's biggest dairy company and the world's 10th-largest.

-By Sally Brooker

Originally posted here:

Otago student wins Oceania scholarship - Otago Daily Times

Aboard Oceania Cruises'Insignia, the Around the World voyage sails more than 45,000 nautical miles across two oceans and 16 seas, while visiting 90 destinations in 36 countries. The voyage will depart from New York on January 11, 2019; Miami on January 14, 2019; and Los Angeles on January 30, 2019.

The voyage begins by sailing to the islands of Hawaii and the South Pacific before heading to New Zealand and Australia. From there, guests aboard the Insignia will travel to Asia, various locations throughout the Mediterranean, Canada and Bermuda.

Additionally, the itinerary has 14 overnight stays, including: Bali, Indonesia; Hong Kong, China; Yangon, Myanmar; and Luxor, Egypt. For guests booked on one of the full world cruises, the Around the World journey will also include a host of free exclusive shore events in Tokyo, Japan; Jerusalem, Israel; and Bordeaux,France.

Our exciting 2019 Around the World Journey offers guests an expertly crafted route spanning the four corners of the globe, touching on nearly 100 captivating destinations and dozens of UNESCO World-Heritage sites, said Bob Binder, president and CEO of Oceania Cruises. Its truly the journey of a lifetime. The added convenience of three departures, new for 2019, brings guests greater flexibility and can help simplify their travel plans.

The Insignia caters to guests with 400 professionally trained staff, four open-seating gourmet restaurants, and 342 staterooms and suites. Oceania Cruises world journey also includes an array of valuable amenities including: free first class roundtrip airfare along with the Exclusive Prestige Package, perks such as free pre-paid gratuities, free onboard medical care and free laundry service.

Visit http://www.oceaniacruises.com

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Oceania to Sail New World Cruise in 2019 - Travel Agent

PHOTO: Oceania Cruises Insignia ship. (photo via Flickr/Roderick Eime)

On Monday, Oceania Cruises announced that it will be hosting another 180-day world cruise scheduled to depart on March 1, 2019, aboard the Insignia ship.

The Insignia vessel will carry 684 guests during the 180-day world cruise that covers more than 45,000 nautical miles across two oceans, five continents and 16 seas. In addition, passengers will visit 90 fascinating destinations in 36 countries.

For added flexibility, passengers will be able to embark from New York, Miami or Los Angeles.

The 180-day voyage will feature a total of 14 overnight stays in cities including Bali, Indonesia; Hong Kong, China; Yangon, Myanmar; and Luxor, Egypt. There will also be shore excursions in Tokyo, Japan; Jerusalem, Israel; and Bordeaux, France.

Our exciting 2019 Around the World journey offers guests an expertly crafted route spanning the four corners of the globe, touching on nearly 100 captivating destinations and dozens of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Oceania Cruises CEO Bob Binder said in a statement. Its truly the journey of a lifetime. The added convenience of three departures, new for 2019, brings guests greater flexibility and can help simplify their travel plans.

READ MORE: Oceania Cruises Reveals Additional Cuba Cruises for 2017

While the Oceania Cruises Insignia ship holds 684 guests, it also boasts an astounding 400 professionally trained staff members who are onboard to make the luxurious voyage even more pampered and elegant.

Passengers will be treated to four open-seating gourmet restaurants, compelling lectures by engaging experts and unbelievable views only found on an around-the-world voyage. Included in the price of a ticket are first class roundtrip airfare, prepaid gratuities, onboard medical care and laundry service.

Passengers will also be able to choose from 72 shore excursions, a beverage package or a $7,200 shipboard credit. For more information on the 180-day voyage, check out the official website of Oceania Cruises.

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Oceania Cruises Announces New 180-Day Cruise for 2019 ... - TravelPulse

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Refining Industry Outlook in Asia and Oceania to 2021 - Capacity and Capital Expenditure Forecasts with Details of All Operating and Planned Refineries" report to their offering.

The report provides refinery details such as the refinery name, country, and refinery operator name, with in-depth coverage on crude distillation unit or, CDU capacity and other major unit capacities for all active and new build (announced, planned and stalled) refineries in the region. The report also provides refinery capital expenditure outlook by key countries, year on year, till 2021 in the region.

The report also provides key country comparisons within the region based on contribution to regional refining capacity. Further the report also offers recent developments and latest contracts awarded in the refining industry across different countries.

Scope:

- Updated information relating to all active and planned refineries

- Provides historical data from 2011 to 2016, forecast to 2021

- Information on refining, FCC, hydrocracking and coking capacities by refinery and country

- Provides operator information for all active and planned refineries

- Latest developments and contracts related to refineries across different countries

Key Topics Covered:

1 Table of Contents

1.1 List of Tables

1.2 List of Figures

2 Introduction

3 Asia and Oceania Refining Industry

3.1 Asia and Oceania Refining Industry, Overview of Active Refineries Data

3.2 Asia and Oceania Refining Industry, Total Refining Capacity

3.3 Asia and Oceania Refining Industry, Overview of Planned Refineries Data

3.4 Asia and Oceania Refining Industry, Planned Refining Facilities

3.5 Refining Industry in China

3.6 Refining Industry in India

3.7 Refining Industry in Japan

3.8 Refining Industry in South Korea

3.9 Refining Industry in Singapore

3.10 Refining Industry in Thailand

3.11 Refining Industry in Indonesia

3.12 Refining Industry in Taiwan

3.13 Refining Industry in Malaysia

3.14 Refining Industry in Australia

3.15 Refining Industry in Pakistan

3.16 Refining Industry in Philippines

3.17 Refining Industry in Vietnam

3.18 Refining Industry in New Zealand

3.19 Refining Industry in North Korea

3.20 Refining Industry in Myanmar

3.21 Refining Industry in Sri Lanka

3.22 Refining Industry in Bangladesh

3.23 Refining Industry in Papua New Guinea

3.24 Refining Industry in Brunei

3.25 Refining Industry in Afghanistan

3.26 Refining Industry in Mongolia

3.27 Refining Industry in Cambodia

3.28 Refining Industry in East Timor

4 Appendix

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nvd7cq/refining_industry

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Refining Industry Outlook in Asia and Oceania to 2021 - Capacity and Capital Expenditure Forecasts with Details of ... - Business Wire (press release)

SCOTT DONALDSON

Last updated12:40, March 1 2017

John Hawkins/Fairfax NZ

Sam Miller of Invercargill, is in the NZ U19 cycling team to ride in Australia.

New Zealand under-19 cyclist Sam Miller is looking forward to testing himselfatthe 2017 Oceania Road Championships in Canberra.

The Southland rider is attending the event as part of a 12-strong New Zealand under-19 squad.

He previously enjoyed a taste of the Oceania Road Cycling Championships in theunder-17 event, along with the experience ofthe Oceania Track Cycling Championships, which have given him an idea of what to expect.

EUGENE BONTHUYS/SUPPLIED

Southland rider Sam Miller on his way to finishing second in the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland.

"When I went over to the Oceania Track Champs it was like completely different racing to over here, a lot more aggressive and faster, so I am expecting a similar thing for the road," he said.

READ MORE: Promising southern cyclists named in Southern Performance Hub intake

For Miller, the Oceania Champs includes a 25km time trial on Thursday March 9, followed by a 120km road race on Saturday March 11.

"It is a one off event, the race will be quite long, just two one off races and you get medals at the end of it," he said.

While the 18-year-old picked up gold medals in the team sprint and team pursuit, along with a bronze medal in the points race at the 2017 NZ Track Cycling Championships in Invercargill, he prefers hitting the road.

"I find it more interesting biking around different places and up hills as opposed to around a velodrome.," he said.

"I do quite like the speed of the velodrome though I guess."

The architect puts his selection down to some promising performances over the last 18 months.

"They have a Calder Stewart series and we had a development team in that for the last few rounds of last year and I got a couple of good placings there because it was up against elite riders, I placed quite well in comparison to them I guess," he said.

The Invercargill-based rider has plenty of goals in his second year as an under-19 rider.

"For track I am aiming for Junior Worlds this year, but that is up to selectors now," he said.

"For the road it is to keep participating in these tours, and eventuallytowards the end of under-19, get picked for pro teams overseas or here and hopefully opportunities will come."

He is also looking forward to his first chance to ride in the Tour of Southland, after finishing on the podium in last year's Yunca Junior Tour of Southland.

"I haven't been old enough, I am excited because I get to ride it this year," he said.

-Stuff

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New Zealand cyclist Sam Miller looking forward to aggressive racing at 2017 Oceania Road Championships - Stuff.co.nz

Image: Teams hard at training with a set to be played

A total of 15 senior teams have already started their trial matches for beach volleyball in preparations for the Commonwealth Games qualifiers.

2015 Pacific Games Gold medalist, Moha Mea says with numbers picking up during the trial matches, training and preparations for the seniors will be a must, with only limited time to the Oceania Championships.

Making time to ref the U-15 and U-18 teams each weekend, Mea said great potential have come through the competition since the federation decided to boost the interest and make beach volleyball a priority in 2017.

Selections will also be carried out for the juniors after the national event to select top players in preparations for the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas this year.

Meanwhile, with the construction at Ela beach, Mea is calling on Sports Minister and Sports Foundation to allow beach volleyball competition to use the official volleyball courts that were used during the 2015 Pacific Games.

The main focus for PNGVF this year is to concentrate on Beach Volley, as the code will encounter many international fixtures, and a chance to qualify for next years Commonwealth Games.

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Beach Volleyball Trial matches for Oceania Championship starts - EMTV Online

The CNMIs Carol Lee showed poise in her toughest singles match in the 2017 Junior Fed Cup Asia Oceania Pre-Qualifying Zone to lift Pacific Oceania to the title win against Sri Lanka last Saturday at the R.K Khanna Tennis Stadium in New Delhi, India.

Lee eked out a 7-6 (5) victory over Anika Seneviratne in the first set of Singles 1 play and the Commonwealth player rode on the momentum of her close win in the second to ease past her Sri Lankan opponent, 6-2. Lees triumph sealed the deal for Pacific Oceania, as Tahitis Naia Guitton earlier posted a similar hard-earned win over Savini Jayasuriya in the Singles 2 match, 7-5, 6-3. Had the 15-year-old Lee dropped her singles game, she and Guitton would have been forced to play in the deciding doubles match over Seneviratne and Sathi Siyara Silva Mirissage just a few hours after the second singles tiff.

The match against Seneviratne was Lees longest as it finished after nearly two hours (1:42). It was also Lees first singles match that went over an hour and the Sri Lankan top singles player was the first to score three points against the CNMI bet.

Lee, in pool play, shut down the Philippines Gennifer Lysandra Pagente (6-0, 6-0) and Vietnams Ngoc Minh Phuong Nguyen (3-0), and then also blanked Singapores Joelle Goh in the semis before getting a scare from Seneviratne in the first set. The world ranked No. 352 also played against Tajikistans Anastasiya Tursunova and although Lee cruised to a 6-0 win in the first set, the latter gave the CNMI bet a good fight in the second set (3-6) as their singles match took a little over an hour to wrap up.

Lee credited her success in the pre-qualifying tournament to her training in Fiji and the series of tournaments she had been through in New Zealand.

I think I have improved my play since the training and my ITF tournaments in New Zealand. I was confident about myself, knowing that I could win all my singles matches no matter how strong my opponents are, said Lee, who will return to Lautoka to resume her training and prepare for the 2017 Junior Fed Cup Asia Oceania Final Qualifying Zone.

The final qualifier will also be held in India in April with Lee and company joining New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, and 12 other countries from Asia in the battle for the three slots to the world competition.

Im going back to Fiji to train until the main qualifying comes again in India. There will be a lot more good players there so and Im excited to play against them, said Lee, who will be playing in the final qualifier for the second straight year.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Davis Cup pre-qualifier, the Philippines won over Singapore, while Lebanon and Vietnam completed the Top 4. The CNMIs Robbie Schorr and his teammates Clement Mainguy of Vanuatu and Jeremy Guines of Tahiti topped their pool (battle for No. 9 to 14 finishers) after prevailing against Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

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Lee powers Pacific Oceania to title win - Saipan Tribune

26 FEB 2017 Report Auckland, New Zealand

Competing on her home track, Eliza McCartney broke the Oceania record in the pole vault, topping 4.82m at the Auckland Track Challenge on Sunday (26).

With her leap, the Olympic bronze medallist, 20, added one centimetre to Alana Boyd's Oceania record, and two to her own New Zealand national record. Her performance is also an early season outdoor world lead.

"I was supper happy to get that," said McCartney, speaking with Stuff.co.nz. "Not only because it's my all-time PB, it's also a massive PB for the run-up I was on."

McCartney used a shorter 12-step approached, four less than her standard run-up. She ended the competition with three tries at 4.90m, but said she was emotionally and physically drained by the time she resumed jumping.

"I think I would have been able to give 4.90m a much better crack if I hadn't had all that emotion in the competition beforehand."

Alysha Newman of Canada was second with 4.50m.

Meanwhile, Ryan Crouser of the US, the Olympic shot put champion, extended his own world lead and streak of 22m-plus early season competitions with an impressive 22.15m effort, a ten centimetre improvement on his world lead and New Zealand all-comers record he set a week ago in Christchurch.

Competing against Olympic bronze medallist Tom Walsh before a large vocal crowd for the second week in a row, Crouser dominated the event, sending four of this six efforts beyond the 22-metre line.

Opening with 21.71m, Crouser improved to 22.03m in the second round, to 22.08m in the fourth, before capping the event with back-to-back 22.15m throws in rounds five and six.

"I was just hoping to match Christchurch here and managed to be really consistent," Crouser told Stuff.co.nz.

"This is probably my most consistent meet outside of the Olympics and it's still really early so I'm really, really happy."

Walsh finished second again with a consistent series of his own. Opening with 21.58m, he reache 21.67m in round three and 21.80 in the fourth, another season's best.

Jacko Gill was third with 20.92, just nine centimetres shy of his personal best set in Wellington five weeks ago.

Elsewhere, Brett Robinson of Australia won the 5000m in 13:22.93.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

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McCartney tops 4.82m Oceania record in Auckland, Crouser throws 22.15m - International Association of Athletics Federations