Island-Sity

But in the meantime their plane is still due to leave the Kimberleys town of Derby for Christmas Island sometime today if the weather improves. The Refugee Action Coalition is demanding the Federal Government turn the plane around. The coalition's Ian Rintoul says all the asylum seekers should return to Sydney immediately.

"Christmas Island is the scene of their worst nightmares, they should simply turn it around and bring them back to Villawood," he said. Mr Rintoul says the Immigration Department's handling of the group is a disgrace.

He says they have been treated with no dignity and respect. "Once they were in Sydney, once they buried their loved ones, once they were united with their families, that should have been the end of story," he said.

Jaffar Alghban is Seena's second cousin and was with extended family in Sydney last night as they celebrated Mr Bowen's decision to send the boy back to Sydney. "To be honest with you I didn't expect it to happen this quickly," he said. "We got a little party in our house tonight. We are really happy for Seena."

But Mr Alghban says his cousin should not be sent back to Christmas Island at all. "This guy remembers how his Mum died in front of his own eyes, how his Daddy died in front of his own eyes," he said. "He was seen screaming and this guy survived. So whenever he goes back there, whenever he sees the sea, he remembers, that reminds him of his parents. He shouldn't go back there."

Seena and 10 others, including two more orphans from the boating tragedy, will be brought back to the mainland next week. Mr Bowen says it was always his intention to have the boy moved into the community as quickly as possible.

"He'll be living in the same house as the family that have been looking after him in Christmas Island. They'll be kept together," he said. Mr Bowen says the boy will be housed close to his extended family. "The advice to me has been to keep the group together. Unless that advice changes as to what is in his best interests then they'll be kept together," he said. Mr Bowen has rejected claims that it is a political move to send the detainees back to Christmas Island. He also denies he was advised by the Immigration Department not to send the group back to Christmas Island.

"That is completely untrue. The advice from the deputy secretary all along has been to keep the group of 21 people together," he said. "Of course different options have been provided to me along the way but the advice has been that this has been the right thing to do."

That new level of service -86 weekday trains, up from the current, mostly rush-hour 26 -moved one step closer to reality yesterday when Quebec Transport Minister Sam Hamad announced a $22-million, 18-month engineering and design study.

Hamad said the eventual improvements -installing new, dedicated commuter tracks, improving stations, adding parking and upgrading the Lucien L'Allier terminal downtown -are to be completed by 2015 or 2016.

"This isn't an idea, a dream, a concept," said Joel Gauthier, head of the Agence metropolitaine de transport, the provincial agency that runs commuter trains. "This is a concrete step."Over the last five years, ridership has risen steadily on Vaudreuil-Hudson, which is used for 15,200 trips daily.

In the past, the cost of the AMT's planned improvements have been estimated at $600 million. Yesterday, officials said the study will determine the final price tag. But as of yet, no money has been set aside for the actual improvements.

"We feel like Egyptians in the square -we're happy but at the same time vigilant to make sure the follow-up happens," said Clifford Lincoln, head of Train de l'Ouest. The coalition of mayors, organizations and transit activists collected 13,000 names on a petition about the train.

Lincoln, a former federal and provincial politician, said that at this point the project appears irreversible. Once engineering studies are under way, governments normally don't back away. But he said the coalition will continue to press the government to ensure that the funding materializes and that the work is completed faster than now planned. Lincoln said it could and should be finished by 2014 so trains can alleviate traffic caused by the $3-billion Turcot reconstruction between 2012 and 2018.

He said the train improvements could take about 4,000 vehicles off the road.

But Gauthier said 2015 is the earliest the new infrastructure can be ready.

The AMT, however, is currently spending $77 million on Vaudreuil-Hudson so it can soon add about six new trains per day during Turcot work, Gauthier said. Bus service will also be boosted and

new park-and-ride lots will be set up to cut traffic, he added.

The Vaudreuil-Hudson line is currently hampered by freight trains operated by Canadian Pacific, which owns the tracks. Under the AMT plan, commuter-only tracks would run between downtown and Ste. Anne de Bellevue. But many questions remain about the proposal.

Montreal West Mayor Beny Masella said the extra trains envisaged would cause major problems at the Westminster Ave. rail crossing, already jammed at rush hour.

Avrom Shtern, of the Green Coalition, said Vaudreuil-Hudson, now powered by diesel, should be electrified. More expensive up front, electric trains are cheaper to run and produce fewer greenhouse gases, he noted. They are also quieter.

Gauthier said the AMT is reviewing the Montreal West crossing. Tracks in that area may be dropped into a trench to remove the level crossing.

As for electrification, the AMT and Hydro-Quebec are studying the idea of making all commuter trains electric. But the AMT runs on more than 200 kilometres of track so it will have to be done in phases, Gauthier said. One option is to start by electrifying part of Vaudreuil-Hudson, between downtown and Montreal West, he added.

While buoyed by the news, McMurchie, mayor of Pointe Claire, said there's always a chance the government will balk at the project's cost.

"I'm not so bold as to say any announcement is cast in stone, (but) there was an impressive array of political support and it has tremendous support from the population," McMurchie said.

Hamad was accompanied by several MNAs who represent Montreal-area ridings. "It helps when you have 13 or 14 colleagues (in the Liberal government caucus) on-side directly supporting your project," said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Geoff Kelley, MNA for the West Island's Jacques-Cartier riding.

"But I'm not here to say it's done. The 13,000 people who signed the petition, if another petition is needed, I may need their signatures again."

On the Deux Montagnes train line, which also covers the West Island and is used for 29,000 trips daily, the AMT is to boost service and add double-decker trains by early next year. First, the AMT needs new locomotives that can work on the line, which is powered by electricity.

Volcanoes and Vino: Perhaps the best place to forge memories on Hawaii Island is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. But you’ll find more than just rugged fields of lava here. Within the 333,000-acre International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site there’s much to be seen — from frozen lava flows to tropical rain forests.


Those who enjoy cycling and wine tastings will want to sign up for Bikevolcano.com’s guided Bike Kilauea Volcano & Wine Tasting Tour. The five-hour tour begins with cycling the rim around the summit of currently erupting (!) Kilauea. From here, cyclists continue through a rain forest to Kilauea Iki Crater. Bikes parked, participants can explore Thurston Lava Tube.

Next, the route continues to Chain of Craters Road for views that range from lava trees to the Ka’u coastline. Post lunch, there are optional wine tastings at the Volcano Winery.

For more information about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Snow and Stars There are many sacred sites on Hawaii Island, but literally topping them all is Mauna Kea. Measuring 32,000 feet from the ocean floor to its summit, it is the world’s tallest mountain. The views from the summit of this volcano (one of five volcanoes that make up the island) are spectacular. Several of the world’s leading observatories make their home here.

A great way to experience the mountain is through Hawaii Forest & Trail’s Mauna Kea Summit & Stars Adventure. The eight-hour tour is only open to those 16 and older and certain health restrictions apply.

After a picnic dinner, guests are given hooded parkas and gloves, then pile into a 4X4 that transports them 13,796 feet upward to Mauna Kea’s summit to catch the sunset. You can also glimpse telescopes from 13 countries, including the twin Keck telescopes, the earth’s largest optical and infrared telescopes.

To learn more about Hawaii Forest & Trails programs, Whales and Manta Rays North Pacific humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii for their mating and birthing season from December through April. Though whales can be seen from shore, a whale-watching tour can often get you within 1,000 feet of this endangered species.

One to try: Jack’s Diving Locker’s snorkel, dolphin and whale-watching cruise. The four-hour-long cruise takes off from the Kona Coast, passing resident spinner dolphins along the way. Bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins and pilot whales might also make an appearance. And you’ll marvel at the graceful moves of the majestic humpback whales. The tour includes a snorkeling stop at one of Kona’s many pristine reefs.

Home on the Range
The wide-open spaces of Hawaii Island call to cowboys at heart. Cattle ranching began in Hawaii in 1793 with the arrival of the first livestock. Horses followed in 1803, as did Mexican and Spanish vaqueros brought to the islands by King Kamehameha to teach the locals horsemanship and ranching. Hawaii’s paniolos, or cowboys, were born.

On horseback rides offered by Paniolo Adventures, amateur cowpokes mosey to the 11,000-acre Ponoholo Ranch to suit up in provided dusters, chaps, boots and cowboy hats, then choose from five rides befitting various skill levels — the Paniolo, Wrangler, City Slicker, Picnic and Sunset rides — or private customized rides.

Russia and Japan have long been at odds over the sovereignty of the four Pacific islands, which are called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia.

The delegation is also planned to visit Etorufu Island on Tuesday, which is another of the four. According to Basargin, a new scheme of Federal Target Program of socio-economic development of Russian Far East till 2025 will be prepared by April, in which Kurils program will be an important part.