Huge response to petition to strengthen PNG literature
12 July 2019
At last count, 315 people from around the world have signed a petition asking the Marape government to make home-grown literature in Papua New Guinea a powerful cultural & social force.
Many of PNG's best known writers have shown their support and have been joined by supporters of a strong PNG literature from within PNG, across Australia and around the world.
These people understand the struggle of PNG's authors, short story writers, poets and commentators to have their books and magazines available especially in schools, universities and libraries.
Prime minister James Marape will be asked to help bring PNG's talented writers to the world and, more importantly, to the people of Papua New Guinea.
If you want to know more about the unsteady development of PNG literature, you can buy Phil Fitzpatrick's enthralling 'Fighting for a Voice' from Amazon here
I support
Posted by: Johnny Blades | 14 July 2019 at 09:16 PM
National literature begets community cohesion.
__________
That's true, Col. And aided and abetted by pride in country - KJ
Posted by: Col Young | 13 July 2019 at 04:35 PM
Strongly supported
Posted by: Paul Flanagan | 13 July 2019 at 10:19 AM
I am with you. Please add my name to the list.
Posted by: Arthur Smedley | 12 July 2019 at 09:56 PM
I am with you.
Posted by: Robert Muka | 12 July 2019 at 12:37 AM
Sorry I am late but include me in, I am for it.
Posted by: Arnold Mundua | 12 July 2019 at 12:33 AM
I am in.
Posted by: Imelda Iyabara | 11 July 2019 at 10:59 PM
Make it 251.
Posted by: Harry Topham | 11 July 2019 at 01:11 PM
The only way in preserving our history, culture, tradition, lifestyle and livelihood is true PNG literature. I fully supported the initiative.
Thank you
Posted by: Robert Seneka | 11 July 2019 at 09:54 AM
I am in full support.
Posted by: Richard Toyou | 10 July 2019 at 02:37 PM
Wanbel stap
Posted by: Gina Samar | 10 July 2019 at 12:54 PM
The soul of this nation
Posted by: Gideon Endo | 10 July 2019 at 11:11 AM
I support
Posted by: Craige Brown | 10 July 2019 at 08:30 AM
"The proper study of mankind is books" -Aldous Huxley
Count me in
Posted by: Bernard Corden | 09 July 2019 at 08:31 PM
Worthy cause.
Posted by: Kenny Pawa Ambaisi | 09 July 2019 at 03:21 PM
I am in support of PNG literature.
Posted by: Cyril Atung | 09 July 2019 at 03:16 PM
A worthy cause indeed.
Posted by: Robin Lillicrapp | 09 July 2019 at 11:27 AM
Total support from the colder climes of the Pacific. Wan solwara.
Posted by: Faumuina Felolini Tafunai | 09 July 2019 at 09:55 AM
This call on the PNG Attitude website and the history of our struggle for the Crocodile Prize will go down in history as significant milestone events marking the awakening into a new era for Papua New Guinea, an era of culturally relevant literary development.
We writers already know this to be true and right, for we will write it and live it from this day forth.
Thank you to our early staunch supporters for being there for us as readers and commentators, and joining in our cultural change, our literary revolution.
Assistant Pig Keeper
Posted by: Michael Dom | 09 July 2019 at 09:44 AM
Important
Posted by: Monica Minnegal | 09 July 2019 at 08:26 AM
Lock me in
Posted by: Ed Brumby | 09 July 2019 at 06:16 AM
I would love to have my name included as well. 203 is not the number!
Hon Prime Minister James Marape
This manifesto is our story
It is our story of love like in 'Agape'
Please let us make it our history
That will be remembered as your story
Posted by: Raymond Komis Girana | 09 July 2019 at 02:06 AM
Wardley Barry
Posted by: Ward | 08 July 2019 at 11:44 PM
Write on!
Posted by: Simon Ellis | 08 July 2019 at 08:09 PM
Count me in.
Posted by: Tanya Zeriga-Alone | 08 July 2019 at 03:43 PM
I fully support this call. Count me in.
Posted by: Kenta Pora | 08 July 2019 at 08:55 AM
Very important
Posted by: Peter Dwyer | 08 July 2019 at 08:16 AM
Dave Ekins
Posted by: Dave Ekins | 08 July 2019 at 06:47 AM
Count me in!
Posted by: Barbara Short | 07 July 2019 at 08:40 PM
Full support.
Posted by: Elizabeth Cox | 07 July 2019 at 08:33 PM
I fully support this call. Count me in.
Posted by: Almah Tararia | 07 July 2019 at 07:06 PM
I support this - local voices need to be heard in all their diversity.
Posted by: Nicole George | 07 July 2019 at 03:29 PM
I've always loved reading and writing so I fully support this menifesto, as I would like to see books and libraries come to life one day. Please add my name.
Posted by: Daisy Daurobona | 07 July 2019 at 03:07 PM
I support this manifesto. More than any nation, Papua New Guinea needs to develop written story-telling.
I spent three years telling PNG stories on radio & TV. It frustrates me how little there is about PNG in books and literature.
You have great stories, and PNG people are great story tellers. Do it now. For your country, your children, your future.
Tell your stories - develop a thriving literature in English AND in language.
Richard Dinnen (ABC PNG correspondent 1999-2001)
Posted by: Richard Dinnen | Cairns | 07 July 2019 at 12:15 PM
History is stories. Writers write stories. A nation is invisible if its stories are (perhaps) being written and yet not available to be read. Writers and readers together imagine a nation.
Posted by: Wendy Glassby | 07 July 2019 at 11:57 AM
I wish my name to be added to those supporting this petition.
Without an indigenous literature, how can Papua New Guineans know their own history and tell their own stories?
The creation of a body of indigenous literature is a prerequisite for the nation to be able to discover and define itself as something greater than its constituent parts.
Posted by: Chris Overland | 07 July 2019 at 10:51 AM
Hannah Brimstone
Posted by: Hannah Brimstone | 07 July 2019 at 10:29 AM
Having books in schools is equally important to increase intellectual ability rather than emphasising too much on infrastructure development. Books transmit knowledge and wisdom. The education department needs to buy books produced by local writers.
Posted by: Philip Kai Morre | 07 July 2019 at 09:52 AM
What is a nation, without words to tell its story! Reader and supporter.
Posted by: Dino Naing | 06 July 2019 at 09:09 PM
Count me in!
Posted by: Raymond Sigimet | 06 July 2019 at 05:56 PM
Murray Bladwell
Posted by: Murray Bladwell | 06 July 2019 at 04:08 PM
I'm a supporter of PNG literature.
Posted by: Pole Kale | 06 July 2019 at 07:52 AM