White evangelical voters show steadfast support for Donald Trump’s presidency

By — Peter Smith, Associated Press

Politics Nov 7, 2024 2:57 PM EST

After former President Donald Trump gave his victory speech early Wednesday, at the Palm Beach Convention Center, dozens of his supporters gathered in a lobby to sing "How Great Thou Art," reciting from memory the words and harmonies of a classic hymn, popular among evangelical Christians.

It was a fitting coda to an election in which Trump once again won the support of about 8 in 10 white evangelical Christian voters, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters. That margin — among a group that represented about 20% of the total electorate — repeats similarly staggering margins of evangelical support that T rump received in 2020.

Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas, one of Trump's most prominent evangelical supporters since the 2016 campaign, called the election a "great victory."

"Yes, there were some faith issues important to evangelicals, but evangelicals are Americans, too," Jeffress said. "They care about immigration, they care about the economy."

Jeffress dismissed concerns of those who predict a Christian nationalist administration.

"People who are not Christians are unduly worried he's going to institute some kind of oppressive theocracy. He has no interest in doing that," Jeffress said, noting that Trump has shown no interest in banning same-sex marriage or imposing an absolute abortion ban.

Trump's strongest supporters among evangelical leaders can likely expect the kind of White House access they had in the first Trump term.

Trump has proclaimed a sense of divine mandate.

"Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason," Trump said in his victory speech, referring to the widespread proclamations among evangelical supporters that he received miraculous divine protection in the near-fatal assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. "And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness."

Some Trump critics fear he will implement a Christian nationalist agenda they see as giving Christians a privileged position in the country and flouting the separation of church and state. Others wonder how such an agenda would look in practice.

On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to "protect Christians in our schools and in our military and our government" and in "our public square." Many church-state battles in recent years have focused on Christian symbols in public settings, such as displays of crosses.

The Republican platform pledged to defend Christians as well as Jews facing persecution. While it included a general pledge to protect the worship of all faith groups, those were the only two singled out by name. The platform also championed the right to "pray and read the Bible in school."

Trump is pledging to support other evangelical priorities, such as support for Israel and a pushback on transgender rights, saying, "God created two genders, male and female." Evangelicals have been dismayed that Trump has distanced himself from the strictest antiabortion proposals, though evangelical leaders saw Trump as preferable to Harris' strong advocacy for abortion rights.

Trump is pledging to support other evangelical priorities, such as support for Israel and a pushback on transgender rights, saying, "God created two genders, male and female." Evangelicals have been dismayed that Trump has distanced himself from the strictest antiabortion proposals, though evangelical leaders saw Trump as preferable to Harris' strong advocacy for abortion rights.

Pro-Trump rallies featured expressions that have been embraced by Christian nationalists, such as the song "God Bless the U.S.A." Many at Trump rallies wear shirts proclaiming, "Jesus is my savior, Trump is my president."

Evangelicals' support of Trump initially took many by surprise, given his casino ventures, multiple marriages, accusations of sexual misconduct and, more recently, his central role in fomenting the 2021 Capitol riot and his conviction on fraud charges. But many supporters dispute these accusations or see him as an imperfect but powerful champion.

"People support President Trump not for his piety but for his policies," Jeffress said.

John Fea, a history professor at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, who wrote a book on the evangelical backing for Trump in his 2016 campaign, said the persistence of that support was not surprising.

In this campaign, Fea said he spoke with evangelicals who were uncomfortable with Trump. They were "looking for any reason to vote for Harris," such as some moderation on abortion. "I don't think Harris was giving them much."

It wasn't just white, non-Hispanic evangelicals supporting Trump. So did about just over half of Latino evangelicals and about 6 in 10 white Catholics, according to AP VoteCast. Overall, about 6 in 10 Mormons also backed the former president.

Pastor Abraham Rivera of La Puerta Life Center in North Miami, Florida, attributed Trump's popularity among all Latinos, and evangelicals in particular, to their conservative values regarding morality and family.

"The gender identity issue that the left pushes a lot, I think it puts off a lot of Latino evangelicals," Rivera said. Members of his congregation voiced some concerns about Trump's "personality or things he says," but not his policies, Rivera said.

He expects the frequent contacts that Latino evangelical leaders had with Trump's first administration to continue, giving them a voice. In contrast, he felt doors "were shut closed" in the Biden White House, which seemed to disregard the values of many conservatives.

But Rivera added: "The idea that some evil Christian right is going to take over everything is just crazy."

Fea said a Christian nationalist agenda may be more rhetorical than substantive on the national level — whereas he said there are genuine cases of it on the local level. He anticipated that the Trump administration would not push back against such things as a new Louisiana law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools and an Oklahoma education official's order for public schools to incorporate the Bible into lessons. Both face court challenges.

Even if the administration's expressions of religion are in rhetoric rather than policy, that can have an impact in a country that is more secular and religiously diverse than in past generations, said Andrew Whitehead, author of "Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States."

"For those who do not embrace that expression of Christianity or the Christian religion or no religion at all, they will feel marked as 'other' and not truly American," said Whitehead, associate professor of sociology at Indiana University Indianapolis.

Whitehead anticipated that a Christian nationalist view will likely motivate restrictive immigration policies on the grounds of protecting traditional American culture, such as the first Trump administration's ban on travel from several Muslim-majority countries.

READ MORE: Putin congratulates Donald Trump on his election victory in first public comments on US vote

The 2024 Republican platform pledged to use "existing federal law to keep foreign Christian-hating Communists, Marxists, and Socialists," as well as "jihadists" out of America. On the campaign trail, Trump said he would form a federal task force to fight the "persecution against Christians in America."

Other groups, nationally and within local churches, are poised to push back on a Christian nationalist agenda.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State pledged to resist any Trump administration policies that privilege Christians and use claims of religious freedom as a "license to discriminate," said Andrew Seidel, the group's vice president of strategic communications.

He anticipates the incoming Trump administration has a plan to implement the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which he said has a Christian nationalist blueprint, despite Trump distancing himself from it.

"This time, they are ready for a win," Seidel said. "Last time they were the dog that caught the car. They didn't know what they were doing. They're going to be ready to go on day one."

The Rev. Tim Schaefer, pastor of First Baptist Church of Madison, Wisconsin, said he opposes Christian nationalism in part because it defies the separation of church and state – an important belief in his Baptist tradition.

"Our job then is to remind folks that we were not established as a Christian nation," he said. "There was a desire on behalf of the founders to be a religiously pluralistic nation."

NEW SOLAR ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARRIVING IN PORT MORESBY, PNG - DECEMBER 2024!

Solar Electric Vehicles (EVs) purchased from ODESH Ltd (local licensed/authorized dealer) will not disrupt your daily operations in situations where there is:

- No availability of diesel or petrol,

- Rising fuel prices, or

- Frequent power outages (no need for charging stations).

Thanks to recent technological advancements, various light sources, including sunlight and fluorescent lights, can be utilized to charge your solar vehicle's battery while on the move, in parking lots, or at home. Adverse weather conditions, such as cloudy or rainy days, will not hinder this charging process. Additionally, as a contingency, the solar EV is equipped with an electricity charging port that allows for recharging at home for a few hours if necessary.

If your solar EV is regularly used without recharge, it can travel up to 300 kilometers before the battery depletes and require recharging. For typical usage within Port Moresby, such as commuting to home, work, school, and shopping, you can expect to recharge after every 2-3 months! 

Moreover, the solar EV is designed without an engine, gearbox, or radiator compartments like fossil fuel vehicles, resulting in significantly reduced maintenance costs.

In comparison, similar brand-new petrol engine vehicles are available at K67,000.00 @ major new vehicle dealers. However, our drive-away price in Port Moresby, which includes shipping from China, customs, registration, and other fees, is considerably lower.

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Logging in Solomon Islands sees women 'sold' into relationships with foreign workers

By Solomon Islands reporter Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong in Makira, with Gabriella Marchant and Nick Sas Topic:Forestry, Logging and Timber Industry

Flying across the hundreds of islands that make up Solomon Islands, it's almost impossible not to see them.  

Patches of muddy and desolate ground in an otherwise lush and pristine green forest.

They are logging zones, and in Solomon Islands they are everywhere.

For the developing country, it is a catch 22: Logging is its lifeblood; the country's biggest export and a source of income for thousands.

But it is destroying the unique forest environment, with recent reports suggesting if logging continues in Solomon Islands at the same rates as late last decade all forest will be "gone" from Solomon Islands by mid-2030.      

As well as the obvious environmental impact, on the ground in logging camps across the country major social impacts are playing out.

And it comes in the form of relationships at the logging camps, or what are known locally as "log marriages". 

"There's a saying we joke about out here," Angelline Maekasia, a long-time worker at one of the camps, told the ABC   

"We say 'log marriages are like instant coffee and noodles', which literally means the girls are so young [when they get married] they still can't cook a meal." 

'Sale' of girls in logging camps

Ms Maekasia works at a camp in Makira province, an island in the south-east of Solomon Islands. 

The logging staff she services are a mix of locals and international workers, who are brought in by foreign-owned logging companies. She said local women were often coerced into relationships or marrying foreign loggers "only for the money". 

She said when the foreign workers left to return to their home countries the problems started. 

"Women, some as young as [13], are left behind in the villages with the children," she said. 

The topic is a sensitive one in Solomon Islands, where marriage is a sacred custom and connection to "bride price" — a practice where families offer compensation often in the form of land, pigs or shell money for the marriage.

During the ABC's visit to the logging camp in Makira, the topic of forced or arranged relationships was not spoken about freely in the community for fear of retribution.  

However a 2023 UN report, found the "sale" of girls to foreign workers in Solomon Islands logging sector for the purpose of sex and marriage was often arranged by parents, other family members and young male peers.

The report said the social acceptance of "bride price" was being distorted to facilitate what it called "commercial child sexual exploitation and human trafficking".

The report also said the relationships were linked to high rates of domestic violence and women were also disempowered financially through their reliance on their partner, with little chance of employment in the male-dominated logging industry. 

For Jenny Nasihaa, her relationship to Johnny Kaya, a worker originally from Malaysia, has been both joyous and incredibly hard. 

The two celebrated the birth of their first child, Priscilla, and then Johnny returned home — what she described as "his holiday".   

"She was six months old when Johnny left," she said. 

"When he left he was away for a very long time, I thought he wouldn't return. 

"So when arrived in Honiara and phoned me, I was so happy because he'd returned for us." 

Priscilla is now two-years-old. 

Ms Nasihaa said despite the prospects of her partner being away for long stretches, she said the marriage was what was "best for her". 

And Johnny told the ABC he planned to bring back his partner and baby to his home when his work stint ended.   

When contacted, the Solomon Islands Forestry Department did not point the ABC to any initiatives it had for protecting women associated with the industry. 

Environment vs development

Arguments over the benefits and negative impacts of large-scale commercial logging have been a topic of heated discussion in Solomon Islands since companies began widespread commercial operations in the 1980s.     

For Paul Waisi, a church leader of a logging community of Arohane in Makira, the industry has brought many benefits. 

"One positive is we've been able to build our own church," he said. 

"Other families have been able to build their own houses. Logging companies have also helped us get access to running water."

But with the benefits he said there have been a multitude of issues he's had to deal with as a result of the industry dominating its community. 

"It causes lots of disputes in the community, even between brothers in the same clan, there’s arguments about logs and land," he said. 

"And now lots of young boys don’t attend church or church activities in the community. So logging brings social changes."

For community leader Salome Tauni, the logging company working in the Arohane community has been associated with broken promises.

"They said they would help with the school, help the church, housing but all that, you can see, nothing’s happened.

"The logging company said they would build a community hall. They started with iron posts, then stopped building."

But she said she was more worried about the long-term environmental impacts. 

Logging has long-been associated with an increase in clay and silt in the natural water, affecting runoff and accelerating soil erosion.  

In the river surrounding Arohane, the results of logging are obvious with a constant brown runoff into the ocean.    

"After logging began, there's been a decline in fishing because I think there's fewer fish," she said. 

"I think it's due to the effect of logging and oil and pollution to the river, so there's not so much for the people to use anymore."

The company logging directly at Arohane community left in 2022. It has been contacted for comment. 

The Solomon Islands Forestry Department said it was drafting a new bill to broaden regulations to "protect the beneficial interest of the indigenous people". 

It also said it had revised the logging code of practice to minimise environmental impacts. 

Saying 'no' to logging

Some communities have fought back, resisting the urge to give in to logging.    

In Solomon Islands Western Province, which is the opposite end of the county from Makira, the community people of Zaira on Vangunu Island have fought for years, with the help of scientists, to protect areas described as a "precious relic" of untouched biodiversity.

Back in Makira, one community has taken inspiration from the people of Zaira and gone on a different path, only allowing a tiny parcel of land to be logged in its community. 

But for village leader Paul Taeniara it hasn't been easy. 

"Ever since logging came to this region, [resisting] has been our main challenge," he said. 

"We've had a land surveyor and a licensee director approach us [wanting to log].

"They try to get permission from our village elders but luckily, we've already educated them to resist."

He said he believed the choices now would pay off in the future. 

"Though conservation takes patience, we’ll wait, one day we’ll reap the benefits," he said. 

"Even though other tribes have money from logging, we're all the same. 

"I haven't seen any tribe better off than we are."

Posted Sat 19 Oct 2024 at 3:49amSaturday 19 Oct 2024 at 3:49am

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/

𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐔𝐀 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐂 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐂

Approved for release: Monday 28th October, 2024

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso, accompanied by a delegation of senior ministers and government officials from Papua New Guinea, participated in the first-ever PNG-USA Strategic Partnership Dialogue in Washington, DC earlier this month.

This historic meeting marks the first bilateral dialogue between Papua New Guinea and the United States, signaling the beginning of a new era in the diplomatic and strategic relations between the two countries.

The dialogue underscored the shared commitment of both nations to deepening their partnership across a range of critical areas, including economic cooperation, security, education and training, business investment and climate change.

The discussions highlighted the mutual benefits of strengthening these ties and the importance of a close, ongoing partnership between Papua New Guinea and the United States.

Deputy Prime Minister Rosso expressed his gratitude to the US government for hosting the dialogue, describing it as a crucial step forward in enhancing Papua New Guinea's international partnerships and addressing some of our country's most pressing challenges.

One of the key focuses of the visit was improving internal security and sovereign assistance to combat illegal fishing, drug smuggling and illegal trade on high seas. During their time in Washington, the PNG delegation had interactions with the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard of whom we have a ship-riders agreement with.

These visits provided valuable insights into security frameworks that could be adapted to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s internal security systems. 

Discussions were held on capacity-building opportunities and collaborative efforts to address transnational crime, maritime security, and intelligence sharing.

“This dialogue is a significant milestone in our relations with the United States. It is the first of what we hope will be many such discussions as we build a strategic and mutually beneficial partnership.

“From trade and investment to security and environmental cooperation, the opportunities for collaboration are vast, and look forward to strengthening these partnership.” Deputy Prime Minister Rosso said.

The dialogue also covered key areas of economic growth, with both countries agreeing to explore further cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and trade. The importance of collaboration on climate change and environmental protection was reaffirmed, with both parties committing to working together on sustainable development initiatives.

“Education and capacity building were also central topics of discussion, with both sides expressing interest in expanding exchanges and training programs to enhance skill development in Papua New Guinea.” Deputy Prime Minister Rosso explained.

The first PNG-USA Strategic Partnership Dialogue marks the beginning of a formal, structured approach to bilateral engagement. The dialogue paves the way for closer cooperation and underscores both nations' commitment to achieving shared goals of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

An Appeal to All Christian Denominations in Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In these challenging times, we turn to our faith and the power of prayer to guide us. Our beloved nation, Papua New Guinea, stands at a crossroads with the proposed construction of a new casino. As a Christian country, we must unite in prayer to seek God's intervention against this initiative that threatens to bring harmful practices into our communities.

We know that gambling establishments can lead to addiction, financial ruin, and social decay. They can lure our fathers and young girls into lives of prostitution, drugs, and other destructive behaviors. This is not the future we envision for our families and our nation.

Let us come together in prayer, asking God to protect our land from these evils. Let us pray for wisdom and discernment for our leaders, that they may make decisions that honor our Christian values and promote the well-being of all citizens.

May our collective prayers rise to heaven, and may God hear our plea to keep our nation free from the influences of gambling and other vices. Together, we can stand strong in our faith and ensure a brighter, safer future for Papua New Guinea.

WE NEED GOD IN OUR COUNTRY! NOT EVIL BREEDING CASINO!

In Christ's love and unity,

Dag Hammarskjöld and the Congo Crisis and West Irian

Dag Hammarskjöld played a pivotal role in the Congo Crisis, a period of political turmoil and violence that followed the country's independence from Belgium in 1960.

Key Points about Hammarskjöld's Involvement:

 * Mediation Efforts: Hammarskjöld was instrumental in mediating negotiations between the central Congolese government and the secessionist province of Katanga. His goal was to prevent the Congo from descending into a full-scale civil war.

 * UN Peacekeeping Force: Under Hammarskjöld's leadership, the UN deployed a peacekeeping force to the Congo to maintain order and prevent further violence.

 * West New Guinea: While Hammarskjöld was involved in the Congo, he was also working on the issue of West New Guinea, which was then a Dutch colony. He played a role in negotiating a peaceful transfer of the territory to Indonesia.

The Mysterious Plane Crash

Hammarskjöld's death in a plane crash in 1961 remains a subject of speculation and controversy. While the official investigation concluded that the crash was accidental, there have been persistent theories that he was assassinated. Some of these theories link his death to his involvement in the Congo crisis and his efforts to maintain the Congo's neutrality.

While there is no definitive proof of foul play, the circumstances surrounding Hammarskjöld's death have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories.

How much should a level 5 Hospital cost?

Sunday 6th October 2024

By Governor Allan Bird

First of all, let me acknowledge that NCD, Gulf and Central Provinces need level 5 hospitals and they should get them. This will take pressure off PomGen which is full of patients mostly from Central and Gulf provinces.

I am extremely alarmed to learn that a consultant has a K64m design and documentation contract for the proposed NCD hospital at Gerehu.

I am even more shocked that this new hospital will cost K800m to build.

If Vamed, an internationally recognized medical service provider can build a world class level 5 facility in Wewak for K210m, why does the one in Gerehu have to cost K800m?

I would think for K800m, NCD, Central and Gulf can all have a brand new Level 5 hospital each. Someone needs to come clean on these deals.

As a former hospital Chair who presided over the design and build of Sir Michael Somare Specialist Hospital Boram, I can say that K800m is exhorbitantly high. Someone is definitely making a killing on the side.

Vamed built Boram Level 5 for K210m with everything shipped from Europe. This includes all equipment from the CT Scan to the screws in the building. This also includes two standby generators and a stand by 50,000 liter water tank because we can't rely on the utility companies.

Vamed will also provide 4 years of training for the technicians to maintain the new equipment.

Since then, I have been involved in oversight of the building of Ambunti level 4 District Hospital for K28m and Wirui level 3 Polyclinic for K4.6m.

To operate all these facilities, we need about 40 doctors and many other technicians and support staff. So from the village aid post up to the level 5 hospital we need 1,641 medical workers (730 positions are currently filled).

I am sharing this information because I believe the new Gerehu Hospital will need around 400 staff including 40 doctors. Have we got enough Drs? Or do we build the facilities first and worry about the staff later? Boram hospital is still struggling to recruit staff because Treasury can only fund a certain number of positions each year.

Staffing, water and reliable power supplies are critical for hospitals to operate. Has anyone thought of fixing our power issues yet?

Finally, why can't we spend K5m each and upgrade all the clinics in Port Moresby and Central Province to help deal with the workload? We should also ensure we have enough staff at those facilities to care for our people so they don't all end up being referred to PomGen in the first place.

Our people need quality health services available close to them. We need to rethink how we are providing this service and ensure that we are following the National Health Plan.

Building a hospital at an enormously inflated price only means an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. Someone should investigate this situation and tell the country why the same type of Hospital can cost K210m in a remote part of the country and K800m in the capital.

And while they are at it, can the PNG Institute of Engineers tell us if K64m is a reasonable design, documentation and supervision cost?

We can't keep doing this to our tax payers. Someone needs to properly justify how we are using tax payer money.