The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Hon. Henry Puna MP has launched the 43rd Pacific Islands Logo competition.
The Government and people of the Cook Islands will be hosting the 43rd Forum in Rarotonga and Aitutaki from 27 – 31 August 2012.
In announcing the theme for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum “Large Ocean Island States – the Pacific Challenge,” the Cook Islands Prime Minister said:
“As Pacific peoples we are the stewards of the largest ocean on the planet - nearly 40million sq km of the Pacific. Yet, more often than not we Pacific nations describe ourselves as small island developing states.”
“I support the special needs and vulnerability of Pacific island states, but I also think its time to seek a balance with the large ocean realm in which we live.
“On its own and without a balance to the ocean this small island mentality does not serve us fully. This is not how our ancestors saw themselves in the voyages of the past; it is not how they limited their domain of influence; it does not portray the marine realm at all or the connection between our peoples and the entirety of our environment,” Prime Minister Puna said.
Prime Minister Puna added that “our connection to the ocean realm is being highlighted by our very own Pacific navigators who have revived our ancient navigational traditions in their voyages from our islands states to the American continent and back. These young Pacific men and women prompt us to rethink our birthright, our responsibility and our duty to the ocean. They have brought to the fore what our ancestors saw and what we need to see again – our islands in a sea of islands – in an ocean of opportunity and value.”
With the announcement of the theme for the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum, the challenge now is to come up with a logo for this year’s Forum that reflects the theme - "Large Ocean Island States – the Pacific Challenge." The competition is open to everyone resident in the Cook Islands and to all Cook Islanders living elsewhere.
Time is tight! The competition will close at 5pm Friday 22nd June and by the end of Monday 25th June the Prime Minister will have chosen the winning logo. The designer of the winning logo will receive NZ$500.
The winning logo will be used extensively on products, printed material, uniforms, media releases, pretty much everything associated with the 2012 Pacific Forum. So, in designing the logo thought needs to be given to how easily the design can be applied to fabric, paper, and on-line. Apart from that requirement, your “ocean canvas” is wide open!
Entries, which we expect to be in a high resolution format and contain a descriptor, need to include a contact name, address and phone number and can be hand delivered, emailed, or posted (or 2 of the 3) to:
Forum Coordinator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, PO Box 105, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands; email forumcoordinator@mfai.gov.ck; any queries to Jaewynn McKay on phone 29 347; cell 55 486; or to the above email address.
(Ends)
