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Thanks so much for the magazines sent for the month of Feb and January. I appreciate your efforts and commitment. I returned from the Christmas break two days ago.
Posted by: Joe Wasia | 08 February 2011 at 07:19 AM
I came across your website while trying to find information on learning Tok Pisin.
I am a Geography teacher in Sydney and I would like to learn the language.
If it is not too much trouble would you know of anyone who has worked in PNG who offers lessons or might know someone who could assist me?
__________________
If you can assist, contact Paul at
[email protected]
Posted by: Paul McCartan | 07 February 2011 at 09:39 AM
I am a Papua New Guinean and was lucky enough to be a recipient of one of the copies of your magazine, and very interested.
It truly opened up my stubborn and ignorant mind and knowledge about PNG. It is a great informative magazine.
Please kindly include my name on your distribution list and advise me accordingly. God bless your great work to benefit worldwide mankind.
Posted by: Jack Mais | 04 February 2011 at 11:08 AM
Phil Fitzpatrick, you are a treasure!
Posted by: Lydia Kailap | 02 February 2011 at 12:06 PM
Further to Graham Dent's and Peter Cahill's observations about the negative aspects of reporting about PNG, I was moved to consider the motivations of readers who follow this kind of reporting.
I'm sure the writers have the best intentions, to reveal and debate the issues in the hope of some sort of resolution. For a lot of readers, myself included, there is almost a morbid fascination in watching the place go downhill.
The thing that prompts this contemplation is the current fascination in Australia with disaster as entertainment. As I write this there are at least two television stations and several radio stations broadcasting full time the unfolding events as the cyclone bears down on North Queensland.
I'm not a great watcher of television but it seems that the commercial breaks are longer and more frequent. Presumably there are people sitting in their lounge rooms munching potato chips glued to their TV screens - this is better than Oprah for commercial revenue I suspect.
I wonder how it would be possible to commercialise the breakdown of PNG - would potential sponsors buy it?
And Graham, the "scholarly tone" is far from intimidating; it is better described by a word beginning with the letters 'wan' and ending in the letters 'king'.
This was always in the armoury of many kiaps and they haven't lost the ability as they slide into senility. You of all people should know that.
Posted by: Phil Fitzpatrick | 02 February 2011 at 11:39 AM
I really enjoy a good read of Attitude when I have peaceful hour or more. Some beaut articles.
Oh, by the way, loved the idea of the title for your website as it took me back to my Welsh Guards days.
You could be in serious trouble if your Sergeant suspected you of having an Attitude. We were supposed to be merely robotic fighting machines.
I was known as an educated bastard because I was one of only three who had completed high school with any passes in GCSE exams. I had most with a mere four.
Posted by: Arthur Williams | 31 January 2011 at 09:27 PM
A bit more, and some corrections, on Kuru.
When I arrived in Goroka April 1953, John McArthur was in the Okapa area. He had reported on Kuru in a patrol report that year.
I became aware of Kuru, as a conversational topic among kiaps, later that year or maybe 1954.
In 1956 I was posted to Kainantu, where Dr Vin Zegas was the medical officer (not district medical officer, that was John Jameson). He had arrived the year before and immediately became aware of and interested in Kuru.
He used to spend weeks at a time at Okapa while a medical assistant looked after the Kainantu hospital.
I don't recall when Jack Baker was at Okapa but I do know that it was John McArthur who first reported Kuru.
Vin Zigas's wife Gloria has written a small book about her time in PNG and mentions Kuru several times and the arrival of Dr Carlton Gajdusek to start his research.
The book is 'Kundus, Cannibals and Cargo Cults' by Gloria Chalmers (she remarried) and it was published by Books and Writers Network Pty Ltd in 2006.
Posted by: Bob Cleland | 30 January 2011 at 10:49 AM
Just finished reading February Attitude and have finally been moved to comment! I am not sure it fits any particular article as it is a general comment. I leave it up to you if you find it useful.
There are so many articles that are interesting and some I could comment on but have felt intimidated by the scholarly tone of many of them.
Reading back over a number of issues I was struck by the ongoing theme of continuing breakdown of delivery of service, infrastructure and rising corruption.
Keep up the good work, Attitude is certainly a worthwhile Journal.
Posted by: Graham Dent | 30 January 2011 at 06:46 AM
Thanks Keith. This is another provoking analysis on Sino-US energy diplomacy in the Pacific region.
Posted by: Francis Hualupmomi | 30 January 2011 at 06:41 AM
Informative, frightening, depressing all at once. Although I remain deeply interested in colonial PNG I am so glad I left current PNG, and completely support Jeffrey Kebi's disgust.
Posted by: Peter Cahill | 29 January 2011 at 12:47 PM
Thanks for your good job.
Posted by: Lahm Nick | 29 January 2011 at 11:58 AM