My teen daughter and I went on a walk tonight and she told me something that stopped my heart. I am sharing it because it reminded me how important it is to talk to our kids about being aware of their surroundings.
She went to the outdoor strip mall today with a group of friends and they decided to have lunch at Panera. She said a man was standing by the door watching them while they ordered their food and then followed them around while they looked for a table. The girls mentioned briefly to each other that they felt uncomfortable, but thought maybe they were overreacting and tried to ignore him. While they were talking, an older woman doing work at another table called my daughter over saying she wanted to talk to her. The woman told her that she’d noticed the man watching them and she just wanted to make sure they didn’t go anywhere alone. My daughter thanked her and then sat down with her friends, where this man had now moved around to the barrier between their booth and the pickup counter and was staring through a crack at them. They tried to ignore him, but thankfully other ppl noticed his behavior at this point. A worker went over and asked him to leave, which he did. But they could see he was loitering right in front of the store. When they finished their lunch, they quietly went out the back and to the bookstore where they stayed until their moms came to pick them up.
Anyway, even if you’ve had these conversations with your kids before, it is not overkill to have them again. And thank you to the adults who were looking out for these girls, though I do think calling security would have been appropriate.
Heavy out-migration from both the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia has seen both populations decline by thousands the past 10 years. https://t.co/GZWm2Qo7Zj
Statement by Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Hon Mark Brown - Developments on the Political Situation in New Caledonia.
Read full statement here: https://t.co/jR0evVVfev
"To me Kanak independence is inevitable” /
"I think France is prolonging the inevitable." Sir Collin Tukuitonga
New Caledonia's fires for freedom https://t.co/PB0edo9XWg
@Miles_young20 Try queen elizabeth drive - them lot come park eat their fast food and just throw wrappers out the car - when there is bin just 6 feet away from them - I call them out on it and get a look like I am “nuts”.
Longstanding Pasifika health leader Sir Colin Tukuitonga made headlines this week when he stepped down from his role as the Te Whatu Ora National Health Pacific senate chair.
Despite multiple media requests to appear on cameron to explain his exit, he's declined them all. Sir Colin Tukuitonga and @moanatribe sit down for a kōrero.
I have no words! No matter which way it’s put - what is happening in Gaza - everyone deserves to be treated as human being, that’s just basic!! And some of our nations call themselves christian!! What did the vote get you!!
RELEASE: Government of the Cook Islands promote Pacific Partnerships for Prosperity Pavilion for 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting https://t.co/5Grl6Xeb06 #PIFLM52
If you’re in #development or planning to join the sector, this article reminds us the importance of a #critical eye - for the big picture at least eg calling out the goose: #funding is critical but must we be so fearful of risking its end at the cost 1/2
https://t.co/9P2TOZ9l77
The Pacific was discovered and settled thanks to the voyages of discovery mapped by our first settlers- today our country is taking another voyage of discovery- this time, beneath the ocean - Forum Chair @MarkBrownPM shares #economic#resilience aspirations at #FEMM2023 seminar.
Prime Minister @MarkBrownPM met with Fiji Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation the Hon. Viliame Gavoka. Discussions included sharing of 🇨🇰's and 🇫🇯 economic recovery efforts including tourism, airlinks, trade, shipping, labour and cruise ships.
The Australian government has released its new international development policy, setting the long-term direction for Australian ODA, “delivering $1.7 billion in new spending over five years and a commitment to long-term growth of the development program.”
https://t.co/eauZguYfAA
PM @MarkBrownPM met with 🇫🇯 DPM and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications the Hon. Manoa Kamikamica. Discussions included a commitment to progress with a view to conclude for endorsement a Bilateral Partnership Arrangement by November.