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In April 2001 a press Chris and Dan travelled to Tarawa Island, still surrounded by the huge 12" bore army guns that England gave to China in 1905 for protection against Japan
When Japan conquered China they took the guns and installed them on Tarawa in 1942.
From there they traveeled on to Abaiang Island at the request
of the women’s group of a church. The Island is in a remote
location 5 hours ferry ride from Tarawa but the village of Evena
was ideally situated between the two 600-pupil boarding schools
that provided a natural market for the products. The schools
provided the food for the boarders and had a high intake of grated
coconut, coconut oil and coconut cream. The press was operated
by the local village people and added to their mainly subsistence
income from the sea. The installation was supported by local
Govt. and the Minister for Agriculture attended the opening ceremonies.
While in Kiribati we received news that two other presses that
were installed about 4 years earlier, on the outer islands, were
still
in working order.
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