Island-Sity

The river reached record high levels in the worst flooding to hit the region in 150 years. It can usually be forded on foot during summer, but was flowing at 3500 cubic metres a second at the peak. The 100-year-old Salisbury Swing Bridge was also swept away, and the river had changed course in the lower Aorere Valley, Tasman District Council spokesman Chris Choat said yesterday.

It was not clear at this stage whether people were cut off, but 25 houses were affected. Farmers were worst affected in the Pelorus area northwest of Blenheim and the Marlborough Rural Trust was trying to get generators to dairy farmers. As well, drenched campers were forced to flee the Pelorus Bridge campground as the river surged through the ground, lifting a caravan and tents before receding. Other parts of Marlborough were also badly hit, including the Rai Valley, Canvastown and Northbank.

One site in the Marlborough Sounds measured 230mm of rain in 24 hours, Mr Wheeler said, and there was extensive flooding of small rivers and streams.

The rumor mill was also in full revolve with sniping from off-the-record sources who claimed to know for a fact that slowdowns and sickouts were under way. Deputy Mayor of Operations Stephen Goldsmith met yesterday with Harry Nespoli, president of the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association, at City Hall to address the rumors of a slowdown.

Earlier this year, Goldsmith launched a plan to demote some Sanitation supervisors to work on Sanitation trucks to save money and to put more workers on the street.

Nespoli denied any concerted effort to sabotage the city's snow removal efforts, both to Goldsmith and the press.

"He assured that all his men were working as hard as they could," Bloomberg said at a press conference at the city Office of Emergency Management, where he was joined by Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty and others.

Doherty, a Great Kills resident, said there was "absolutely no evidence" of a slowdown. "There's all sorts of stories floating around," he said. "I have been through issues with unions and problems, I don't see that out there. Not from the men or the officers," he added. "There is no job action," union spokesman Jim Grossman told the Advance. "Somebody is making phone calls, stirring up trouble."

In September, Nespoli seemed almost prescient about what the Sanitation cuts would mean in a snow emergency, telling the Advance, "I don't know if we are prepared. We don't have the manpower. We've never rolled the dice with the snow before."

But the slowdown made sense to one Island political observer, who said, "The only time you get people's attention is when it hurts. They're teaching Bloomberg a great civics lesson. He wants to be remembered as the greatest mayor ever, now he has a snowstorm worse than Lindsay's."

That was a reference to the deadly 1969 snowstorm that nearly drove Mayor John Lindsay from office. Like Bloomberg, Lindsay also had his eye on the Oval Office, a dream that died when he ran unsuccessfully for president in 1972.Joseph Mannion, President of the Sanitation Officers Association, placed the blame squarely on Bloomberg, saying the mayor had "cut Sanitation employees without regard to safety and at the worst time."

"When you look around your neighborhood and wonder what the heck happened with the City's snow-fighting ability you don't have to look any further than City Hall," Mannion said in a statement released yesterday.

In one sign that the city may be losing the public relations war, a page demanding Doherty's resignation sprung up on Facebook yesterday.

Also shot down yesterday was a rumor that Goldsmith had changed response protocols so that workers no longer reported to the nearest Sanitation facility during an emergency.

One Advance caller said the new procedure meant that many workers were stranded trying to get to the facilities where they are ordinarily assigned instead of ones closer to their homes.

Grossman said the change "had nothing to do with Goldsmith" and "didn't have any negative effect" on storm response.

Doherty said there were 250 pieces of equipment out on the Island yesterday. Citywide, there were 2,400 workers, 1,700 plows and 365 spreaders on the streets.

Sanitation's strategy is to first clean the "arterial roads," such as Hylan Boulevard, then get to the secondary streets, which feed the arterial roads, followed by tertiary and residential streets. He said crews have been slowed by numerous vehicles stuck in the street, including 140 ambulances and 600 buses and that the priority has been to clear them.

Doherty also addressed rumors that Sanitation trucks could not get traction in the snow because they lacked chains on their tires or were using cheaper chains made in China. We have some new chains and we tested them for two years," he said. "We didn't find any problem with them."Often, chains on the tires break when they hit the blacktop, he explained, which is why some vehicles may have been missing them on the front or rear tires.

Bloomberg again defended City Hall's response to the storm.

"It's a bad a situation," he said. "We appreciate it. I have been to see it myself. Nobody suggests that this is easy. Nobody suggest that this is pleasurable. But I can tell you this: We are doing everything we can think of, working as hard as we can."Said Bloomberg, "We will pull together and get through this."That didn't wash for Island elected officials.

"For an administration that constantly talks about efficiency and effectiveness, I don't understand how this major failure occurred," said City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore). Speaker Christine Quinn said that the Council would hold hearings on Jan. 10 about the city's response. "New Yorkers have serious questions about the City's snow emergency policy and response," she said. "We in the Council will seek forward-looking answers on behalf of our constituents."

Despite the heavy amount of snow, Curtain said they hope to have the entire mountain open today.

"We expect to have the resort in full operation by Boxing Day," said Curtain of the avalanche control required to make the area safe. "

We have never seen a start to the season like this in the resort's history."Other resorts weren't so lucky. A stalled warm and wet air mass hovering over North Vancouver on Friday forced Grouse to close its lifts for the day. By Christmas Day the resort was back in full operation. But nearby Mount Seymour resort closed its lifts on Christmas Day because of the rain hitting the mountain. Both resorts are expected to be fully open on Boxing Day.

And while the rain is causing problems with the ski resorts in North and West Vancouver, Whistler-Blackcomb now has a snow base of 260 (at Pig Alley) with the 44 cm of snow that has fallen in the last 24 hours. The resort is expected to get an additional 15 cm throughout Saturday. By Sunday the freezing level is expected to be about 800 metres.

"In Whistler village there is a mix of rain and snow and up higher the ski hills are getting pure snow," said Environment Canada meteorologist David Wray.

"It has been a great start to the ski season," said Jimmie Spencer, the president of the Canada West Ski Areas Association. Come January, Spencer said bookings for out-of-country skiers are expected to be good.

"We have noticed people tend to leave the bookings a little bit later as they want to check the snow conditions," he said. Wray says it appears the Vancouver area is going to remain warm and wet on Monday. The front may ease later in the day, but the warm weather hovering around B.C. is expected into next week.

At the Canadian Avalanche Centre, forecaster Matt Peter said the highest danger is the Coastal Mountains. The North Shore Mountains, he said, currently pose the greatest risk of avalanche.

"In the short term there will be a high avalanche warning for the North Shore Mountains," he said. "There has been so much new snow and it hasn't had time to settle or bond with the snowpack."

He says the boat wreck is a grim reminder of how deadly the sea can be, but the sailors are faring well considering the circumstances. "All of the reports that I have are they're in excellent shape. They're experiencing all of the reactions we would expect from people who have witnessed or partaken in this tragic event," he said. He has strongly defended the actions of sailors who rescued asylum seekers, saying those on board the Pirie responded as quickly as possible.

"I'm extremely proud of the way in which the ship's company mobilised and effected this rescue in such difficult and dangerous circumstances," he said. He says sailors will not be allowed to speak to the media about the crash until a coronial inquiry is completed. But he says he is not worried by what the inquiry might find.

"There are of course criminal sanctions for criminal acts, and indeed we would expect people to be treated accordingly," he said. "It doesn't matter whether they are civilian or persons serving from the military.

"[However] these are allegations, they are not substantiated. These matters are under investigation and until the matter is resolved, I won't comment."Figures released in June showed Defence had caught almost 600 servicemen and women taking illegal drugs and steroids in the past five years. Despite the latest revelations the Government says Australians can still have confidence in the Navy. Authorities says they are taking a strict zero-tolerance approach to drug use.

As an Apprentice fan, I often feel as if I've been put through the mangle myself after watching the hopefuls compete to win that week's task and then see the losing team troop back into the boardroom to face the wrath of Lord Sugar. Such is the tension, I reckon I deserve a day of five-star indulgence of my own to recover from the ordeal.

Well, the good news is you don't have to vie to be Lord Sugar's Apprentice to follow in Jo, Chris and Jamie's footsteps and be pampered in Jersey. The Atlantic Hotel, where the trio went for their treat, has set up a Decadent Lunch Date to mark its inclusion in the programme - and it's open to all.

Jersey is closer to France than to Britain, but by taking a private jet you and your friends (so much more relaxing to be with than arch-rivals) can be there in such good time for lunch that you can even help to choose the ingredients.

Thanks to the island's size, it takes only two shakes of a Jersey cow's tail to get from the little airport to the sleek Atlantic Hotel, situated at the southern end of St Ouen's Bay on Jersey's west coast.

There, my friend Gill and I were met by Mark Jordan, head chef at the Atlantic's Ocean Restaurant, and we set off with him to find the freshest ingredients for our meal. We drove along the sweeping arc of the bay - four miles of white sand and rolling waves dotted with surfers, and flanked by a solid concrete anti-tank wall. It was built by forced labourers under the occupying German forces during the Second World War in an effort to make the island a fortress.

Our destination was another relic of the occupation: a German bunker that once guarded the north point of the bay at L'Etacq but is now the home of Faulkner Fisheries. Just below the bunker is the beach where Jo, Chris and Jamie were seen meeting octogenarian fisherman Bill as he unloaded his catch of lobsters.

The sea was too rough for small boats to go out when we visited, so we stepped past a bubbling lobster cauldron into the chilly bunker to meet Sean Faulkner. Sean was brought up gathering shellfish for supper on this beach and he was only seven when he sold his first fish - a conger eel - to a local restaurant.

After six years at sea as a purser on P&O cruise ships, he returned to Jersey and in 1980 converted the long-abandoned bunker into a base for his firm. In the warren of thick-walled ammunitions stores and gunrooms he has built viviers - tanks filled with seawater - and lurking in one of them was part of our lunch.

Pulling out a lobster for us, Sean could tell just by turning it over that it was a male, about eight years old, and weighed approximately 4lb. Gingerly holding the lively creature, I was relieved to see that its huge claws were securely bound with rubber bands.

"Climate change for Samoa is not something that will happen in the future. We have already experienced destruction," said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of Samoa. "We need to move quickly, rather than spend too much time talking."

All five leaders blasted last year's controversial summit in Denmark that ended in the non-binding Copenhagen Accord that was cobbled together in the final hours.

"It fell well way short of [what is needed] to ensure the future survival of our countries," said Anote Tong, president of Kiribati.

Still, the island states are part of the 114 parties of the 193-nation UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that have formally associated with the accord.

Where's the Money?

Tong said they signed on only to get the $30 billion of "fast-start" finance that was agreed in the document.

The island states believed association by enough parties "would trigger the flow" of "the very generous funds made in Copenhagen," Tong said. "That has not happened."

So far, around $28 billion has been pledged publicly, though advocates claim much of the money is recycled aid, in violation of the accord. None of it has been dispensed. Negotiators are in a logjam of indecision over a "green fund" that would funnel cash to countries to mitigate their emissions with clean energy technologies and to adapt to climate impacts.

Some Amazing Features Of Maldives Holidays: The Maldives islands out there have different options for the travelers who want to enjoy a great vacation time here. The health and beauty spas and classy restaurants out there in Maldives are the best place for the people who want to please their taste buds and want to relax to the core. If one is willing to have days filled with fun and adventure, the diving options here are a real gift. Some of the prominent resorts in Maldives that are always thronged with tourists are Dhaalu Atoll, Baa Atoll, Faafu Atoll, Meemu Atoll and Lhaviyani Atoll.

Male the capital city is shopper hub and the people who are always geared up to add souvenirs to their prized collection will find some great stuff here. Some of the common things that one can place in ones kitty after a great shopping session are jewelry, cosmetics and traditional handicraft items. Eye pleasing sights at Male are also many such as mosques and small streets.

Nightlife here in Maldives is rocking and most of the island hotels have the best possible entertainment features. There are many laidback lounging bars and relaxed dining places out there in Maldives that can make one enjoy a good evening time with family, friends or spouse. People who love adventure can go for the flights that provide aerial view of the city as this is simply a heart throbbing experience.

To sum up it all, people who are eager to add a pinch of fun and adventure in their dull and boring lives, these Maldives holidays are a great option. Irrespective of the fact that one is a fist time visitors to Maldives to have been here before, the vacation time promises to be exhilarating.

The British Virgin Islands are made up from over one hundred islands to form the very unique and diverse archipelago. The main islands (4) populations range from two hundred residents, to the capital island of Tortola having around ten thousand people making up the populace.

Development in the islands is very tightly controlled, keeping the British Virgin Islands a true vacation destination with unspoiled islands throughout the territory. While on vacation in the islands though, you will find all of the modern day conveniences that one would need, while still enjoying the reality of the island feeling.

The British Virgin Islands are known as the Mecca all over the world for sailing and all types of watersports. The lure of the Caribbean Sea has brought many people to the islands to spend their vacation time sailing the beautiful waters throughout the islands. Every type of yacht is available for a vacation charter in the islands from Mega Yachts to small, family size vacation yachts. If you're on a landlubber vacation, don't miss out on taking a day sail around the islands, with a professional crew. A day sail tour is always a memorable day for many people making the British Virgin Islands their vacation destination

Land tours are also offered throughout the British Virgin Islands, with tours to historical sites, botanical gardens, secluded beaches, and fine restaurants for lunch with breathtaking views. Vehicle rentals are also readily available for those that would rather tour the islands at their own pace. Remember that we drive on the left side of the road in the British Virgin Islands!

Being only fifteen hundred miles from the east coast of the United States makes the British Virgin Islands very accessible, and there are many airline hubs in Europe with non-stop flights to the nearby islands of Puerto Rico and Antigua, with a short commuter flight into the British Virgin Islands. Another means of transportation that comes to use while on vacation in the islands, is the ferryboats that run on daily schedules between all of the main islands to further your vacation options in paradise. Some visitors choose to move from island to island during their vacation stay, to taste the different flavors that all the British Virgin Islands have offer.

However, this island disappeared after three months because of geographical changes. The local people had named it as Peer Ghaib after its disappearance. The reemergence of island sent a wave of happiness amongst local people and a large number of people reached the area to witness it.

The second island is Pa-Young or Koh Song. There is no beach on this island. So, it is just a good site of deep diving and snorkeling. The third island is Pa-Youn or Koh Sam. Also, there is no beach on this island. Generally, people call this island "The Great Wall Island" as there is a rock formation just like the wall under the sea around the island. Lots of beautiful fishes are swimming around the wall including barracuda. This island is a good spot for deep diving.

The Forth island is Mieng or Koh See. There are tourist information center, restaurant, accommodation, office of The Similan Islands National Park, and other western amenities for tourists on this island. There are two main beaches on Koh See. The first one is located in the front of The Similan Islands National Park office. It has got a very fine and white sandy beach and it is 400 meters long. It is good spot for swimming and snorkeling. The second beach is located on the east of the island. Tourists can walk through the evergreen forest to reach this beach as well as can get a good opportunity to study the nature of the forest within the area. Koh See is a great spot for snorkeling, deep diving, nature studying, bird watching, beach activities, and sightseeing.

The fifth island is Koh Haa. It is just a small island, but it is a great spot for diving. On this island, there is white-gray eel that it loves to show itself out of its hole which it can not be found on the other islands. There are lots of corals around the island. This island is a great place for deep diving. The sixth island is Pa-You or Koh Hok. The island is full of rocks and cliffs. There is a beach on the east side of the island with a wide area of living corals. It is a good sport for deep diving.

The seventh island is Pu-Sa or Koh Jed. This island is a great site for deep diving as its geographical area provided. Lots of beautiful and colorful fishes are living around this island. Tourists may be able to see sea turtles and Sting rays.

The eighth island is Similan or Koh Pad. It is the biggest island out of ten islands of Similan Islands group. There is a small curve bay on the north of the island called horseshoe bay which there are full of corals and beautiful fishes. The sea is very clear which is good for swimming and snorkeling. On the east side of the island, there is a big rock in Boot shape and Fantasy Rock which are symbols of the island. This island is a great spot for snorkeling, deep diving, nature studying, and camping.

The ninth island is Ba-Ngu or Koh Koaw. General geographic of the island is rocks and cliffs. "Christmas point" is well known for deep diving site for divers and is situated on the east side of the island. The tenth island is island is Ta-Chai. This island is announced to be included into The Similan Islands group on the 25 September 1998. This island is also a great spot for divers. So, if you are looking for the excitement and natural beauty that can only be found in the clean unspoiled waters of the sea. Please visit the Similan Islands.

Two Iranians had decided to keep their lips sewn up and one detainee had attempted suicide on Saturday, he said. The Iraqi Kurd detainee in his 30s had tried to hang himself but friends "found him immediately after he hanged himself and got him down", Mr Daoud said.

The immigration spokesman said the department would not go into details but he confirmed that a detainee had attempted self-harm on Saturday but suffered no injuries. He said the detainee was being monitored by the department's health services provider.

The protesting detainees declared a hunger strike immediately after they heard of the suicide of an Iraqi detainee, Ahmad Al Akabi, in Sydney's Villawood detention centre last Tuesday. Mr Daoud said detainees had agreed to have their lip stitches removed after negotiations led to agreement that an ombudsman would visit and inspect the centre. "The detainees are discussing now to end their hunger strike tonight," he said on Tuesday.

"The detainees told me that they want to show goodwill for efforts to settle issues inside the detention centre and to give the government a chance to act on their demands in a calm way," Mr Daoud said. The detainees had indicated they were frustrated with their treatment by immigration officials, he said. "They are making fun of detainees by telling them they can commit suicide so that Australia can get rid of their burden."But the departmental spokesman said that was "baseless and incorrect".

On Friday, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said he expected tensions would increase at Australian detention centres as asylum recognition rates continued to fall. An Immigration Department spokeswoman said representatives from the Commonwealth ombudsman's office would visit the centre this week as part of that office's regular visits to report on immigration processes.

Most Australian visitors spend a week in French Polynesia, staying the obligatory two nights in Tahiti due to flight schedules and then heading to either Moorea or Bora Bora or combining the two in an island-hop holiday. It's the second- or third-time traveller, hankering for the authentic Tahitian experience or a taste of Robinson Crusoe's life, who takes the seas less travelled. Although geographically located between Moorea and Bora Bora, Huahine (pronounced hoo-a-he-nay) seems a million miles away.

Its population of about 6000 has actively discouraged big development. Huahine has one resort, of 41 bungalows that can be visited only by boat. A local boy I meet on a deserted beach at the island's southern tip boasts Huahine is what Bora Bora was 30 years ago. "It's beautiful," he says, "not commercial."

His T-shirt bears a Maohi motif, a proud symbol of Tahitian identity. Huahine has a history of fierce independence and national spirit. Once the centre of Polynesian culture, it has the region's largest and best-preserved archaeological sites, revealing a civilisation dating to AD850. Huahine wasn't sighted by Europeans until 1769, when Captain Cook briefly called in. Its warriors fended off French invaders in a series of skirmishes that lasted from 1844 to 1897, when the French finally annexed the island.

Today, the population is still largely involved in fishing and agriculture, cultivating vanilla, watermelons and taro.

Nicknamed the "savage" island for its wild jungle, Huahine is two mountainous land masses separated by bays and connected by a bridge across a narrow isthmus. It's all encircled by a reef protecting a quiet lagoon dotted with motus (islets). One of the most economical and free-wheeling ways to see Huahine is to book one of the island's two self-catering complexes; both supply a motor boat and car as part of the deal.

The airport, the island's capital, Fare (pronounced far-ay), and a few shops and restaurants are on Huahine Nui (big Huahine) in the north. I'm staying in the quieter, southern Huahine Iti (little Huahine), which has the best beaches. My digs are a garden bungalow at the quaint Pension Mauarii, whose builders obviously had a love affair with wood. My terrace has a huge table hewn from an enormous tree trunk and my four-poster bed is quite the curiosity, its frame fashioned from varnished tree branches.

I drive around in my rented Renault for three days, taking the one coastal road that loops around both island halves and links eight tiny villages - four in the north and four in the south. I barely see another car.

From my village base, Parea, I head to Anini marae, a beachside open-air temple that dates to several hundred years ago. Dedicated to Oro, the god of war, it was once not only Huahine Iti's social centre but the site of sacrifices, including human ones, or so the story goes.

The only village stirring is Maroe, which sits on the edge of the lovely deep-water bay of the same name. A cruise ship has dropped anchor and American passengers are being ferried ashore. The nearby Rauheama Snack, the only independent restaurant on Huahine Iti, is open for business.

I stop for lunch, crunching over the coral floor to sit under pareos (sarongs) hanging from the thatched ceiling. There's no menu; the meal is whatever the French-speaking Tahitian owner is cooking. Today, it's sizzling chicken, poisson cru (the Tahitian national dish of raw tuna marinated in lime juice and coconut milk), salad, vegetables and chips. Crossing the bridge to Huahine Nui, I take a right turn to Maeva, the island's former royal capital, where generations of chieftains ruled long before Europeans came.

The shore and nearby hill are littered with stone structures - old fortifications, house foundations and the remains of temples, their basalt standing stones resembling a mini-Stonehenge. What passes for action in Huahine takes place in Fare, the island's biggest village. Nightlife means pulling up a seat at one of the food caravans (called roulottes) or a bar stool at the New Te Marara restaurant to watch the sun sink into the sea and silhouette Bora Bora in the distance.

Things are even sleepier in the Tuamotu Archipelago to the north-east. To reach it, I fly back to Tahiti (170 kilometres) and take a one-hour flight to the Tuamotu group's main island, Rangiroa, which is 354 kilometres away.

Renting a car would be an extraordinary indulgence. The only road in Rangiroa is 9.6 kilometres long. It runs from Avatoru Pass in the north to Tiputa Pass in the south and has been built on big lumps of coral and sand, each joined by a small bridge.

Unlike mountainous Huahine, Rangiroa and its 76 neighbouring atolls are completely flat. Rangi, as those in the scuba-diving circuit call it, is a grouping of 415 motus strung together in a misshapen circle that harbours a lagoon so large the entire island of Tahiti could fit in it. All the action takes place on or beneath this blue expanse, which is about 72 kilometres long and 25 kilometres wide.

Divers come to "shoot the pass", said to be the ultimate adrenalin rush. At precisely the right time, they are dropped off on the ocean side of either of the two passes so as to be to be swept through with the current and an amazing array of marine life into the lagoon. Napoleon wrasses, hawksbill turtles, manta and eagle rays, dolphins and sharks eagerly await the little fish that come whooshing along with the tide.

Non-divers can view the underwater menagerie on drift-snorkelling trips or from glass-bottom boats. I opt to watch the dolphins frolic from a deckchair on the terrace of my lovely pension, Relais de Josephine. As on Huahine, the bulk of accommodation comprises family-run pensions of just a few bungalows, offering varying levels of comfort.

The only sizeable resort on Rangiroa, the 63-bungalow Hotel Kia Ora, has closed for a rebuild and won't reopen until 2012. My hostess, Denise Josephine Caroggio, who came to French Polynesia from Paris 30 years ago, presides over just six bungalows and serves delicious three-course dinners under the stars.

I rent one of her bicycles to explore Rangiroa's sole 9.6-kilometre road. Along the way

I call into the Paul Gauguin pearl farm (pearls have put the Tuamotu economy back on the map) and a wine-tasting cellar that belongs to French Polynesia's only vineyard, Vin de Tahiti. The grapes are grown on a small motu in the lagoon and produce red, white, rose and a drop named Coral White.

Rangi's blue lagoon would win over even the most diehard cynic.It's a "lagoon within a lagoon" and is reached after a one-hour boat ride and a short wade across shallow waters to a coral and sand islet, through a maze of harmless, black-tipped reef sharks keen to see if we have any morsels for them.

There's nothing to do but splash in the turquoise waters and doze under palm trees until our boatman-cook calls to say the fish barbecue, complete with fried coconut bread, is about to be served. This, as with everything else in this part of the world, happens at precisely island time.

The Maldives Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Naseem, said he assumed difficulties arise about how to limit emissions and "also how you monitor emissions wether it infringes on some country's sovereignty or their internal affairs".

"A lot of these issues become very sensitive, and when you have a declaration like this, when a clause gives reference, even marginally, to an issue that is sensitive, then we have to be able (to negotiate)," said Naseem, the meeting's facilitator, after the declaration was agreed upon.

"We have finally been successful."The declaration covers the urgency of addressing the immediate effects of climate change, the need for fast funding to combat these concerns in vulnerable nations, and agrees upon an aim to make concrete decisions at the meeting in Mexico kicking off late this month.

Kiribati President Anote Tong says the meeting tried to focus on where delegates would find agreement "rather than fight and debate over our different positions".

Tong told reporters he was still pushing for a legally binding agreement treaty to promote long-term action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - a bid that was snubbed at last year's summit in Mexico in favour of the Copenhagen Accord. However, he knows this is a big call and would settle on short-term solutions and dedicated funding boosts.

"It's unrealistic to think that we can resolve these issues in a couple of sessions; it's going to take the next few decades," Tong said. "There are certain issues which must not take that long. "The longer we wait the more costly its going to be."

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is known for its amazing tourist resorts, shiny and sunny climate as well as amazing tourist attractions. When holidaying in Canary Islands, Gran Canaria can offer you attractions like Sioux City, lots of amusement and Water Parks for a lovely family enjoyment, such as Aqualand Aquasur, Parque de los Cocodrilos, holiday world and many more. Tourists and visitors find Gran Canaria as an attractive option for their holiday in Canary Island because of its beaches, nightlife and all the family fun spots. This third major island accordance to its size has amazing scenery and picturesque views to offer along with pine forest, desert sand dunes, volcanic landscapes and vivid beaches.

Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest and major island of Canary island and is surely a great way to unwind, when on a holiday in Canary Islands. When holidaying in Canary Islands you must not forget to check this holiday destination, which is also the highest and utmost point in the whole Spain. Tenerife is loaded with remarkable tourist attractions like theme parks, museums, water sports like scuba diving, other sports activities, night clubs, great restaurants, cafes and hotels serving wonderful delicacies and sightseeing areas like botanical and aqua gardens. All these make Tenerife a memorable holiday destination for that right Canary vacation.

Fuerteventura

From volcanic sites and mountains to sandy dunes, this canary island is lot calmer and peaceful and has some pretty tourist attractions, for those holidaying in Canary Islands. Some of these are Bentancuria, Oasis Park, El Museo de La Alcogida, MuseumsArqueol?o & Ethnogr?co, Casa Santa Mar? La Lajita Zoo, Islote de Lobos Nature Reserve and etc. These and many such other striking tourist attractions makes this island a marvelous stop when holidaying in Canary Islands.

La Palmas

La Palmas is one of the most quiet, peaceful and unspoiled Canary Island with lots and lots of water, cultural richness and excellent cuisine to offer for those on a holiday in Canary Islands. This canary island is not popular as a holiday destination, but can still be visited for that natural and untouched beauty, for experiencing the farming skills and banana production on this island. Capital city of La Palmas is Santa Cruz de La Palmas.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is another major Canary Island with lot to offer, for a spectacular holiday in Canary Island or a memorable Canary vacation. The south of Lanzarote is surrounded with superlative volcanic view; a result of eruptions that goes back to 18th century. Lanzarote is a package of volcanoes, superb resorts, museums filled with stunning artifacts, lively nightlife, thrilling water activities, breathtaking caves and natural sights. Some mind-blowing tourist attractions that make this canary island a great holiday destination include Wine museum El Grifo, Jameos Del Agua, The Cactus Garden, Timanfaya, Fundaci??r Manrique and Aquapark, Costa Teguise.

La Gomera

La Gomera is known for Tranquility, dense greenery, picturesque beauty, stunning beaches and its freshness. The island also has national park. San Sebastian, El Cedro Forest, Garajonay national park, Vallehermeso and Valle Gran Rey are some of the places you can enjoy in this island.

El Hierro

El Hierro is one of the small Canary Islands and comes with steep cliffs and some not so big, and really beautiful beaches. Some of the tourist attractions you can enjoy in El Hierro when holidaying in Canary Island includes Iglesia de la Candelaria, La Restinga, Iglesia de la Concepcion and Sanctuary of the Holy Mother.

Best time to visit or holiday in Canary Islands

The weather changes or varies from island to island and while you may find sunny weather in one, you can also end up enjoying wet season or snow in another. So the best time to visit Canary Island depends upon, which canary island you plan to make your holiday destination.

Other boardwalk attractions include Shoot the Freak, Beer Island and the Lola Starr Boutique, whose owner created a 60-page proposal including a statue rotating on a disco ball above sparkling circus lights.

"They threw us out! These are not nice people!!" said the irate owner of Beer Island who by Monday afternoon had received letters via FedEx for both his open beer garden and a second business called Cha Cha's that's a music club serving food.

A former boxing promoter, John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia -- "my name is Cha Cha, just Cha Cha, that's my legal name!" -- ran the two spots on the boardwalk for almost a decade, he said. He has till Nov. 15 to clear out. "They wasted my time and money, having me submit a proposal for what I was going to do to the places, and evidently they weren't satisfied," he said. "I'm very bitter. They never even talked to me."

The vendor leases, which are controlled by the city, expired this week. The fate of the vendors has been unknown since Zamperla opened Luna Park, replacing the old Astroland rides. Central Amusement International has signed a 10-year lease for about 6 acres of Coney Island, paying the city $1 million plus part of gross receipts.

Valerio Ferrari, president of both Central Amusement and Zamperla USA, said the Italians' $15 million investment in Luna Park has helped Coney Island "enjoy its most successful season in decades."

The above-average summer heat drew 450,000 visitors, extending the season through this past weekend for a total of 2.5 million rides on 19 new attractions. Ferrari said he now wants to create "an incredible new experience on the boardwalk, while continuing to honor Coney Island's magnificent past."Businesses planned in place of the ousted vendors include a sit-down restaurant and a sports bar -- both open year-round -- as well as free WiFi and more variety of food.

Luna Park is part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's vision of turning the seafront into an amusement and entertainment district with restaurants, movie theaters, retail stores and hotels. Central Amusement International is planning a 2011 opening for the "Scream Zone," which will offer two roller coasters, go-carts and a human slingshot launching people more than 200 feet into the air.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is recognized for its fantastic vacationer resorts, shiny and sunny climate as well as remarkable vacationer sights. When holidaying in Canary Islands Gran Canaria can provide you points of interest like Sioux Metropolis, plenty of amusement and water Parks for any lovely family enjoyment, for instance Aqualand, Aquasur, Parque de los Cocodrilos, vacation planet and a number of additional. Tourists and website visitors come across Gran Canaria as an attractive choice for their vacation in Canary Island for the reason that of its seashores, nightlife and all of the family members enjoyable spots. This 3rd main is accordance to its dimension has astonishing scenery and picturesque views to deliver along with pine forest, desert sand dunes, volcanic landscapes and vivid seashores.

Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest and serious island of Canary is and is surely a superb method to unwind, when on a holiday break in Canary Island. When holidaying in Canary Island you must not forget to check this trip vacation spot, which can be the highest and utmost point inside the whole Spain. Tenerife is loaded with exceptional tourist points of interest like theme parks, museums, water sports like scuba diving, other sports activities actions, evening clubs, wonderful eating places, cafes and hotels serving wonderful delicacies and sightseeing parts like botanical and aqua gardens. All these make Tenerife a memorable vacation spot for that appropriate Canary vacation.

Fuerteventura

From volcanic web sites and mountains to sandy dunes, this canary island is good deal calmer and peaceful and has some fairly vacationer attractions, for those holidaying in Canary Islands. A number of these are Bentancuria, Oasis Park, El Museo de La Alcogida, La Lajita Zoo, Islote de Lobos Nature Reserve and etc. These and several this kind of other striking tourist points of interest makes this is a marvelous stop when holidaying in Canary Islands.

La Palmas

La Palmas is one with the most quiet, peaceful and unspoiled Canary Islands Holidays with lots and a number of water, cultural richness and superb cuisine to deliver for those on a getaway in Canary Islands. This canary is not popular as a getaway destination, but can still be visited for that natural and untouched beauty, for experiencing the farming skills and banana production on this island. Cash city of La Palmas is Santa Cruz de La Palmas.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is another major Canary Islands with whole lot to present, to get a spectacular holiday in Canary Island or a memorable Canary holiday. The south of Lanzarote is surrounded with superlative volcanic view; a result of eruptions that goes back to 18th century. Lanzarote is a package of volcanoes, very good resorts, museums filled with stunning artifacts, lively nightlife, thrilling h2o actions, breathtaking caves and natural sights. Some mind-blowing tourist points of interest that make this canary is a wonderful getaway vacation spot include Wine museum El Grifo, Jameos Del Agua, The Cactus Garden, Timanfaya and Costa Teguise.

La Gomera

La Gomera is recognized for Tranquility, dense greenery, picturesque beauty, stunning seashores and its freshness. The island also has national park. San Sebastian, El Cedro Forest, Garajonay national park, Vallehermeso and Valle Gran Rey are some on the places you are able to enjoy in this island.

El Hierro

El Hierro is one of the small Canary Islands and comes with steep cliffs and some not so big and truly beautiful seashore. Some in the tourist sights you are able to enjoy in El Hierro when holidaying in Canary Island includes Iglesia de la Candelaria, La Restinga, Iglesia de la Concepcion and Sanctuary of your Holy Mother.

The islands are so natural and so beautiful. And since the inhabitants try not to spoil their traditions and customs passed through generations, that it would be a pity for any tourist to choose a modern, stiff hotel. Choose a villa instead. They are all rustic, traditionally decorated, and they all deliver impeccable accommodation conditions. They might be found everywhere around the islands. Enjoy your stay!

More than 25,000 people voted in the Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards. VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead said: “The results of this survey are fantastic news for Scotland, especially as they are voted for by visitors. “Skye plays a prominent role in our Meet the Scots campaign, a European marketing drive that is expected to generate £85 million for the Scottish economy.

“Having such high-quality locations and businesses in Scotland is crucial to the success of our marketing of the country.

“Those campaigns in turn are vital to communities across Scotland, with just some of our key marketing campaigns generating £400m last year.”

Tourism Minister Jim Mather added: “This is extremely welcome acclaim which recognises Scotland’s standing as a world-class destination.

“I am delighted to congratulate the picturesque, evocative and timeless Isle of Skye and all those across Scottish tourism who have been highlighted as being among the best of the international travel community.

“This recognition will further boost the important contribution these resorts and businesses are making to supporting local communities and strengthening Scotland’s economy.”

Earlier this year, White decided he couldn't go on. At 80, he was battling cancer, and his energy was flagging. So he sold the island, which he figures has shrunk by 20 acres since he bought it. Last weekend, as gusty winds battered the house — already damaged by another storm a month ago — the bay finally claimed it. It collapsed into the water that washed beneath it.

"That's a bitter pill for me to swallow," he said this week from his home on Deal Island. "It's like I lost a loved one, but at the same time, I'm angry about it."

White said he spent perhaps $150,000, almost all of it his own money, on efforts to halt the erosion and shore up the house north of Crisfield. But he faults the state and federal government for not helping him more.

"They will not and are still not going to realize what erosion is doing to the Chesapeake Bay," he said.

Shoreline erosion is a fact of life on the bay. Maryland officials have estimated that this state alone loses about 260 acres of waterfront a year, depositing roughly 11 million cubic yards of sediment in the water. Sediment clouds the water, blocking out the sunlight that underwater grasses need to grow and smothering shellfish beds. Eroding shoreline also brings with it plants and other organic matter that helps feed the massive algae blooms that foul the water and rob the watery depths of fish-sustaining oxygen.

State and federal officials say they do take erosion seriously, but it's costly to control, money is limited, and the vast majority of it is coming from privately owned land.

"Unfortunately, without a major reconstruction of the island, it's a losing battle," said Dan Bierly, a planning section chief with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Baltimore District office, which handles shore erosion control projects in the Maryland portion of the bay.

Holland has plenty of company. Barren, Bloodsworth, James, Poplar and Sharpe's are the names of some once-inhabited islands, their settlement dating back to the 17th century in some cases. Some islands like Hooper and Deal are still populated, but they're connected to the mainland by bridges. Only Maryland's Smith Island and Virginia's Tangier Island are standalone communities out in the bay.

"Of all the now-abandoned islands, Holland's Island may have been the most consequential in terms of the size and vibrancy of its community," said Pete Lesher, curator at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum at St. Michaels. The museum has an exhibit on the bay's disappearing islands and their culture produced by Tom Horton and David Harp.

As is the case with most of the bay's islands, Holland was named for an early owner, a 17th-century colonist named Daniel Holland, according to "The Disappearing Islands of the Chesapeake," by William B. Cronin. Only about a half-dozen families lived there into the 19th century, but by the 1880s, it became home to more than 360 people, with most of the men oystering, crabbing and fishing, though some also farmed.

Ira T. Todd was born there in November 1917. He figures he was one of the last to claim it as a birthplace, as families had begun moving away by then. His family relocated to Crisfield, where he now lives.

"They were washing away even then," he recalled of the island. "I remember my parents telling me [water] came up in the backyard when storms would come."

While Holland is not the first to lose its population, the demise of its last house is nonetheless jarring to those who've seen it standing lonely sentinel on the bay. Many boaters used it as a navigational aid.

Don Baugh, vice president for education for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said he was saddened by the collapse, even though he figured it was on borrowed time. He called it "the end of an era."

"Those [other] islands disappeared before our lifetimes, and we just read to know about them," said Baugh, who's been working in and around the island for more than three decades. "But this is one that happened in our lifetime."

Visiting the island this week in preparation for a weekend bay foundation kayak trip there, Baugh picked up shards of old glass and pottery, a lump of coal and brick as he walked around. He said he'd found a china doll there once.

Menorca, one of the Balearic Islands, attracts thousands of visitors from the UK each year, including the rich and famous.

Earlier this week comedian Paddy McGuinness was pictured on Menorca strolling along the beach hand-in-hand with girlfriend Christine Martin.

The island was once a British possession and preparations are under way to mark next year's 300th anniversary of the British Naval Hospital there.

Colin Guanaria, a partner in estate agents Bonnin Sanso, which is handling the sale, said: "Mediterranean islands rarely come on the market and this is a beautiful spot - unspoilt, tranquil."

Mr Guanaria said likely bidders may be "big yacht owners" as Illa d'en Colom offers safe anchorage and is a reasonably quick cruise from the south of France and Italy. His company has chartered a Cessna aircraft to give interested parties as bird-eye tour of the property. "It really has to be seen to be believed," he said.

Partly because of its wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the Amihan season. During Amihan, the prevailing wind blows from the east. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the wind. During the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore, onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side. This makes the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing.

Transportation :
The two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.

Anschutz and Starwood had been seen as competing bidders for Sea Island's assets, not as partners with Oaktree and Avenue. But during the course of the auction Monday, a joint bid materialized. A break-up fee of nearly $6 million is waived.

Under terms of a pact that must be finalized, an Oaktree-Avenue partnership will now buy the assets with an Anschutz-Starwood partnership.

The partners now will be acquiring a genteel resort that catered to Southern families. The assets being purchased include the Cloister hotel, four golf courses, and a private development called Ocean Forest Golf Club. Sea Island ran into financial trouble in recent years after Bill Jones III, Sea Island chief executive, led a major expansion of the resort, including a $395 million renovation and addition in 2006 and 2007. Sea Island has been in Mr. Jones' family for 84 years.

The sale and bankruptcy forced lenders include Synovus Financial Corp., Bank of America Corp., and the Bank of Scotland unit of U.K. bank Lloyds Banking Group to relinquish some $340 million in loans.

If you’re already shaking your head about how beyond your budget a private island overnight like this must be, consider that the present-day nightly rate for French Louie is $450 and includes food, the boat ride to and from the island, and snorkeling gear. Plus, in the years since Berman’s stay, the island has added a caretaker who, among other duties, will catch and cook fish for you.

As with almost any rental experience, you have your pick of different island makes, models, sizes, and amenities, all priced accordingly. For instance, if you and eleven of your closest friends chose to stay on magician David Copperfield’s private island, Musha Cay, you’d watch upwards of $37,500 per day disappear to cover the cost of the villas, meals and alcohol, use of the gym and tennis court, as well as the services of the island’s staff. Which leads to another point: while many islands are private, you and your traveling companions’ experience may be semi-private if there are multiple dwellings for rent on the island. In addition to finding out how private your private island is, there are several other things you’ll want to ask and know before taking this plunge.While having the rental agent or owner break out all your costs, be sure to “ask what's included either as extra costs and/or services, such as meals, resort manpower services, transportation to do other day trips and availability for use of nearby off island resources,” says Howard Smiley, who rented Kamalame Cay in the Bahamas. Beyond the fee for the actual rent, also find out if there’s a “security deposit and any cleaning fees that may be associated with the booking,” says Justin Drake of TripAdvisor, through which you can research and book private island rentals. Also, “don't be afraid to negotiate the price for the rental,” Drake says, “especially if you're getting close to your potential travel date. Vacation rental owners have some liberty to wheel and deal with the rate.”

One key question to ask yourself is whether the cost of reaching the island offsets the high cost of the island rental, or is potentially more costly than the rental itself. Modestly-priced flights to the Bahamas from the U.S. might be a relative bargain compared to your island rental fee there. Then there’s Enedrik Island, which you and up to seven guests can have entirely to yourselves for as little as $499 a week. However, Enedrik is among the Marshall Islands, and unless you’re originating from nearby Australia or Hawaii, you can expect a steep and long flight: from JFK in New York it’s upwards of $3300 and about 38 hours to Marshall Islands International Airport, and then you’ll spend another hour by boat reaching the island. For a simpler commute, you might consider Eagle Island, $400 a night and a 10-minute boat ride from the Georgia coast.

Ask questions that make it seem like you rent islands all the time.

If your island doesn’t come equipped with a caretaker or staff, ask how close by the island’s owner or manager is, suggests Lara Lennon, owner of Romantic Travel Association of Belize. Likewise, you’ll want to know the travel time to “another island or mainland in case of [an] emergency” as well as whether the island has any security, manned or unmanned. And if the weather turns nasty, Lennon advises asking whether the island has any back-up water or power. Along those lines, find out how often it rains, Drake says, so you can pack and prepare accordingly.

As you would if you were renting any accommodation, find out the specific bedding arrangements and, if you’re traveling with kids, whether there are cribs as well as appropriate games or activities available, says Martha Morano, who represents private island Little Whale Cay in the Bahamas. Also ask if the rooms have phones, if your cell phone will work on the island, and whether or not there’s Wi-Fi. Don’t assume rooms are air conditioned, says Alastair Abrehart, who represents Eustatia Island and adds that since “much tropical island living is open air,” you’ll want to ask yourself how the members of your party will “handle lizards scurrying about. They're harmless and do a great service by eating bugs, but herpetophobics and others may not enjoy that.”

If you’re going for a slightly higher-rent rental, Morano suggests that “the food list is very important, so if your traveling companions have special dietary needs like “peanut butter cups or beef jerky [or] certain kinds of chocolate,” request them. “We had one case where the guest had to have agave syrup instead of sugar,” Morano says. “Many clients are upset they do not have their favorite munchie [or liquor] and it will cost plenty to bring it in.”

Know if you’re private island material.

Whether you’re going for a rugged or luxe private island experience, take a moment to consider the company you’re keeping. If you’re with the right person, or, if you channel your inner “Castaway” and go solo, “it’s impossible to explain true solitude to someone who is from a city, and what downshifting to island time can do for your soul,” Lennon suggests. On the other hand, she says, “you need to be comfortable with your travel companions, or private islands can get small quick.”

If the island is big enough, of course, it may not matter if you grow tired of your entourage. Take venture capitalist Tim Draper, who for his 50th birthday last year headed to Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania to stay on privateLupita Island with 20 of his closest friends. The 13 dwellings each included “a rock shower and stone bathtub as well as private plunge pools,” he recalls, and there was a helicopter available to provide guests with a “safari from above,” though by far the coolest experience “was jumping out of the helicopter into the lake, which actually has fresh water that's safe enough to drink.”

If you travel with pets, consider that Stephanie Olsen and her husband once rented an island “about 90 minutes outside of Ottawa, Canada. We drove there, stayed for a month that summer and the reason it so suited us was that we had six indoor only cats at the time who came with -- they had a blast going outside in complete safety.” And in a nod to the importance of loving the one you’re with, Olsen recalls her husband lecturing her “solemnly about how to operate the motorboat and avoid the stones that lay just below the surface in some areas of the lake. Of course, mid-sermon, he ran us aground.”

For those focused on luxury island rentals, Morano suggests that the ideal renters “are well travelled, very independent, know exactly what they want and absolutely love privacy. It will be someone who can relax and create activities for themselves and not rely on a social director -- unless they rent one.”

About 100 people packed in to Mackinac Island's city hall last night to hear more about the future of the island's ferry service, and many were critical of how the mayor and the city council are handling the controversy.

One man from Harbor springs, Bob Rossman, said it was like getting bids to build your house without telling the builders what kind of home you want. The audience cheered and applauded.

Some residents were clearly stunned, and you could see them taking sides. Several came up to members of the Shepler family and gave them the thumbs up or said "hang in there."

Others gathered around officials with the Arnold and star lines to congratulate them.

Stephen Moskwa, who owns Yankee Rebel Restaurant and Horn's Bar on the island, says the city has to act to make the island more accessible for tourists and residents:

"In the late 90's, 2000, there were 900,000 people visiting Mackinac Island. Currently, it's about 600,000. So it's affected all of us in day traffic mostly and also in overnight guests. Economic conditions are challenging," he says.

On October 20th, each ferry boat line will be given 20 minutes to make a presentation to the city and explain their proposals in detail.

When Chris Shepler saw the official merger proposal for the first time, which would effectively end the operation of his family's ferry service, he said: "I thought this was America."

The visit was part of an ongoing effort by Plum Island brass to end the suspicion surrounding the island made famous in a 1997 Nelson DeMille best-selling book of the same name, and its mention as a possible home for Hannibal Lecter in the film "Silence of the Lambs.

"There has been, in the past, more secrecy about the facility," said lab director Dr. Larry Barrett, who noted more than a dozen community groups have visited this year. "This facility is not a threat to the nation, it's not a threat to anyone. The job here is to protect our nation against attacks on our livestock."

Agriculture Department scientists perform the lab studies, but the Department of Homeland Security has overseen the island and its security since 2003.

Because the island is a potential target for those who might want to steal dangerous pathogens or wreak havoc, visitors must undergo FBI background checks and all bags are inspected before anyone is permitted onto a ferry for the 1.5-mile trip. Armed guards check visitors leaving the island to ensure no food or other material is carried back to the populated areas.

Environmentalists peppered Plum Island officials with questions about sewage treatment, groundwater testing, whether surveys have been conducted on the impact a sale might have on wildlife and concerns about possible contamination. The officials were short on specific answers but promised a follow-up meeting.

"I was a little surprised by the lack of detailed environmental information so that was a little disappointing, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment. "So we still have the same concerns. The same concerns about groundwater, soil, wetland contamination. We need to make sure that public health is protected as well as the natural assets."

Most of the environmentalists said they would support a research and development facility to replace the laboratory but were adamant that most of the island should remain in its natural state.

"It would be a terrible insult to the millions of people who live within an hour's drive of the (Long Island) Sound for this to be developed as a playground for the few, as opposed to making it a managed and loved place for the many," said Curt Johnson, program director of a group called Save the Sound.

He said the island has been identified as an exemplary site for fish and wildlife. Great Gull Island and Little Gull Island, both nearby, combined with Plum Island have a large population of nesting roseate terns, an endangered species, he added.

"This is an incredible snapshot of what Long Island Sound looked like hundreds of years ago," Sandy Breslin, director of governmental affairs for Audubon Connecticut, said as she watched seals resting on rocks.

The General Services Administration, which is responsible for selling the island, is compiling a draft environmental impact statement, a preliminary step for any sale. Expected last month, the statement has been delayed until late November or early December to allow input from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Fish & Wildlife Service, GSA spokeswoman Paula Santangelo said.

Documents, some obtained this year by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Law, reveal that hundreds of tons of medical waste, contaminated soil and other refuse have been shipped off the island. Other island sites have been cleaned in compliance with federal regulations.

And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined in 2006 that no munitions or ordnance remain from the Army base. As late as 2007, New York government inspection reports said there is no environmental threat on the island.

Despite talk of selling Plum Island, officials said a new lab in Manhattan, Kan., is not scheduled to open until 2018. Still pending is a congressional risk assessment of Homeland Security's decision to move the animal disease lab there; some lawmakers question the wisdom of studying dangerous pathogens in the so-called Beef Belt. DHS has determined that an accidental release of foot-and-mouth disease would have a $4.2 billion impact on the economy, regardless of the lab's location.

Alan Schnurman, a real estate developer in the Hamptons on Long Island's east end, said he has heard estimates that Plum Island could fetch as much as $50 million.

"As a high-end real estate project, whether it's developed as a resort or for high-end individual homes, Plum Island is very appealing to a certain segment of the population," Schnurman said. "They should develop the area where the lab is located and set aside the rest for environmental purposes."

Each of the 100 mansions sits on a kilometre (half-mile) long palm frond, packed in among dozens or sometimes hundreds of others. Sharing close quarters with his neighbours doesn't bother Dukes, formerly an executive with a London-based Internet company.

"Living in London you're absolutely on top of each other. So if you're English-European coming here, you think the plot size is more than adequate," he said.our years ago there was nothing here but unbroken sea. Now there's Palm Jumeirah, a palm-shaped, man-made island and Dubai's greatest-yet construction project

Dukes paid over £500,000 for his house just over a year ago. It is now worth almost twice that. He spends his days discovering uses for the large expanse of water that starts a few meters from his back door.

"I've been kayaking ... and I'm going to do windsurfing next," he said.

The first of Dubai's many ongoing mega-projects has literally changed the shape of the United Arab Emirates, re-contouring its coast with a new island mass that has altered sea currents and marred the once unbroken sea view from Dubai's natural beach.

The entire coastal development, led by Dubai government-owned Nakheel, includes three massive palm-shaped islands along with a cluster of 300 islets built in the shape of a world map. All are built mostly of bright sand dredged up from the seabed.The largest of Dubai's ongoing reclamation projects, the Palm Deira, is still being raised from the sea floor.

Nakheel claims that the Palm Deira will be the world's largest reclaimed island, with more than one million people eventually living or working there.

But that figure is called into question by frequent alterations in the island's design over the past two years.

Another island, the Palm Jebel Ali, is 90 per cent reclaimed but building has yet to start on its homes, resorts and hotels. Only the smallest of the palm islands, Jumeirah, has begun to be populated.A few villas at the Jumeira Palm Island in Dubai. The Palm Jumeirah, a 12-square mile island group took 5 years to raise from millions of tons of Persian Gulf sand and quarried rock

Still under construction are the Palm Jumeirah's 32 hotels, monorail, water theme park, and the Trump International Hotel and residence tower.

The developments are central to Dubai's property boom. Properties on the Palm Jumeirah, the first to be opened, have skyrocketed in value after being sold and resold before even being built.

But the smaller islands of the third project - The World - haven't fared so well. Three years after their sales launch, just 45 per cent of the islets have been sold, for prices ranging between £5 million and £22.5 million, Nakheel said.

The luxurious islands are part of a government plan to attract tourists and lure foreign cash into the tax-free economy.

Dubai's government has identified tourism and real estate developments as key sectors to break the emirate's dependence on high oil prices to buttress its economy.

Other nations in the region, including Qatar and Oman, as well as the Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, are quickly borrowing from Dubai's model to develop similar, albeit less dramatic, plans.

The construction of the Palm Jumeirah has already created a national asset worth as much as £11.5 billion, said Nakheel chief executive Chris O'Donnell.

Despite its opulence and ambitions, few global celebrities have been lured to buy second homes in Dubai. British soccer stars, including David Beckham, have bought properties on the Palm Jumeirah, according to Nakheel's website.

Others are said to have taken a look. Nakheel's website claims pop star Michael Jackson, supermodel Naomi Campbell and actor Denzel Washington have shown interest.

The developers say the first 4,000 condos and homes sold on Palm Jumeirah went to citizens of the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf countries.

Britons accounted for about 25 per cent of the buyers with the rest from 75 different nationalities, including several Americans.

Buyers are a mix of speculators, long-term residents and people wanting a vacation home, developers said.

Not all the residents of the Palm Jumeirah are mega-rich. One section serves as a labor camp for the thousands of construction workers who toil in the baking sun.

They will gradually be moved out as the project nears completion in the next three to four years.

The project has not been without problems. A full year's delay was caused by settling of the island's new land. Nakheel solved the problem by adding more sand and hiring a Dutch firm to compact it with vibrating machines.

In June, a large fire broke out in a half-built apartment building, injuring three workers.

Some residents have complained about delays in getting their houses. Others complain that Nakheel is squeezing extra profits out of the island by packing in far more houses than their sales brochures showed.

A broad highway bridge links Palm Jumeirah to the mainland's road network. The monorail with four stops is due to be completed next year, according to Nakheel.

Plans call for five clubhouses, each with gyms, restaurants and shopping on the island. The main shopping center will be built at the tip of the trunk, where the Trump hotel will be located.

Nakheel puts the delays down to the massive engineering tasks they face in building an island like none before it.

"With Palm Jumeirah, which is unique in its nature, there are developments along the way, like the decision to vibro-compact the sand," O'Donnell said. "Most customers are understanding of the delays."

Aggravation has been tempered by the massive increase in house prices since the properties hit the market. Many houses have tripled in value, at least.

And as long as property values continue to rise, owners seem willing to put up with the inconveniences.

"I paid about £380,000 three years ago, it's worth about £1.25 million now," said Dr. Ossama al-Babbili, a Dubai-based pathologist. "Every day I'm getting one or two offers, but I like to live here, it's beautiful."

O'Donnell points to the price increase as a sign of the venture's success. "This is something people said couldn't be done," he said. "Well it's been done."

"They fulfil an important $2 million election commitment by the Bligh Government to create six artificial reefs to ensure recreational anglers can enjoy sustainable fishing in the bay for generations to come. "This is all about protecting Moreton Bay for future generations of Queenslanders.HOME$

"We've introduced green zones to protect the bay's unique biodiversity and created go-slow zones to protect marine life such as dugongs and turtles from boat strikes.

"Now, with the creation of these artificial reefs, we 're ensuring that Moreton Bay remains a great place to wet a line, while still protecting the unique natural values of the marine park."

Ms Jones said the two new reefs were in addition to the recently completed Harry Atkinson Reef east of St Helena Island.

"Work is also underway on the design and construction of a further three reefs in offshore waters off Bribie Island, Moreton Island and South Stradbroke Island," she said.

"These final two sites ensure a good balance across the six artificial reefs to provide a range of new fishing experiences for offshore game fishers, spear fishers and inshore anglers, from the Gold Coast to Bribie Island.

"Their sheltered location, behind the islands of southern Moreton Bay, means they will also be suitable for fishing on days when sea conditions limit access to more exposed fishing spots in offshore waters."

Ms Jones said the sites were selected in conjunction with a working group made up of loc al volunteers and organisations including the Queensland Game Fishing Association, Sunfish, Ecofishers and the Australian Underwater Federation. The Peel Island site will cover some 50 hectares, while the Coochiemudlo site will comprise 15 hectares.

"He's done everything ever asked of him and he's just a horse that wants to win and wants to race well. "He stays the trip and we'd love a bit of rain for him because he's pretty good on rain-affected tracks. "He's a serious horse."Hawk Island will be having the 12th start of his preparation in the 2400m feature at Randwick but trainer Chris Waller says the gelding is heading into the race in career-best order.

The son of Hawk Wing's lone stakes win to date came in the Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on September 3 with Schofield aboard. Waller then elected to scratch Hawk Island from the Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) to instead run him two days later in the weight-for-age Hill Stakes (1900m) in which he was no chance of receiving a weight penalty for the Metrop.

Schofield was on stablemate Triple Honour in the Hill Stakes, where Hawk Island finished fourth, but reunites with him for his first Group One assignment.

"He's been up and going for that long and just keeps stepping up to the plate," Schofield said.

"If he can do that again and win the Metrop, I don't really think anyone would begrudge him that."

Hawk Island is one of several stayers to have been bought from Europe to join the Waller team in the past couple of years.

The Rosehill trainer believes confidence and the fact Hawk Island has now been in Australia for 18 months are the main factors why he's racing so well.

"It's a big step up on Saturday and Group One racing, pressure racing, might not suit him," Waller said.

"But, hey, we've got to have a go. "The horse has never been better this preparation and obviously he's in career-best form so at least we've got that in our favour."One concern with Hawk Island is his record on good tracks, with all of his wins coming on rain-affected ground. He hasn't won in nine starts on tracks rated good but Waller said the Wyong Cup win on a dead track was encouraging.