Marshall Islands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is a Micronesian island nation in the western Pacific Ocean, located north of Nauru and Kiribati, east of the Federated States of Micronesia and south of the U.S. territory of Wake Island.

Contents 1 History 2 Administrative divisions 3 Geography 4 Economy 5 Demographics 6 Culture 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] History

Main article: History of the Marshall Islands

Although they were settled by Micronesians in the 2nd millennium BC, little is known of the early history of the islands. Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar was the first European to sight the Marshalls in 1526, but the islands remained virtually unvisited by Europeans for several more centuries, before being visited by British captain John Marshall in 1788; the islands owe their name to him.

A German trading company settled on the islands in 1885, and they became part of the protectorate of German New Guinea some years later. Japan conquered the islands in World War I, and administered them as a League of Nations mandate.

In World War II, the United States occupied the islands (1944), and they were added to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (including several more island groups in the South Sea). Between 1946 and 1958 the United States tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands, including the largest nuclear test the United States ever conducted, Castle Bravo. Nuclear claims between the United States and the Marshall Islands are ongoing, and health effects still linger from these tests. (see Rongelap)

In 1979 the Government of the Marshall Islands was officially established and the country became self-governing. In 1986 the Compact of Free Association with the United States entered into force, granting the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) its sovereignty. The Compact provided for aid and U.S. defense of the islands in exchange for continued U.S. military use of the missile testing range at Kwajalein Atoll. The independence was formally completed under international law in 1990, when the UN officially ended the Trusteeship status.

On March 21, 2007 The government of the Marshall Islands declared a state of emergency after water ran out amid a prolonged drought.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Main article: Municipalities of the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands have no formal administrative division, but are divided into twenty-six legislative districts, which correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls of the country:

Ailinglaplap Atoll Ailuk Atoll Arno Atoll Aur Atoll Ebon Atoll Enewetak Atoll Jabat Island Jaluit Atoll Kili Island Kwajalein Atoll Lae Atoll Lib Island Likiep Atoll

Majuro Atoll Maloelap Atoll Mejit Island Mili Atoll Namdrik Atoll Namu Atoll Rongelap Atoll Ujae Atoll Ujelang Atoll Utirik (Utrik) Atoll Wotho Atoll Wotje Atoll

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of the Marshall Islands

The country consists of twenty-nine atolls and five isolated islands. The most important atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains). Two-thirds of the nation's population lives on Majuro (which is also the capital) and Ebeye. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and economic development. Life on the outer atolls is generally still fairly traditional, and the nutrition of the rural population, consuming food that is either grown or caught, is superior to that of most of the urban residents, who rely considerably on white rice. A majority of the islands' land mass is at sea level.

The uninhabited atolls are:

Ailinginae Atoll Bikar (Bikaar) Atoll Bikini Atoll Bokak Atoll Erikub Atoll

Jemo Island Nadikdik (Knox) Atoll Rongerik Atoll Toke Atoll

The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November. The islands occasionally suffer from typhoons. Many Pacific typhoons start in the Marshall Islands region and grow stronger as they move West toward the Mariana Islands and the Philippines.

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of the Marshall Islands

United States Government assistance is the mainstay of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. In 1999 a private company constructed a tuna loining plant, which employed upwards of 400 people, mostly women. The plant was closed in 2005, following a failed attempt to convert it from producing tuna loins to tuna steaks, a process that requires only half of the employee base. The owners noted that the plan would not be economically viable without government largesse and a reduction below the statutory minimum wage, neither of which the government cared to provide. As the guarantor of a $2 million loan to the business, the government took control of the plant facility following its closure, and is seeking to find another operator.

In 2005 Aloha Airlines canceled its flight services to the Marshall Islands as part of its withdrawal from several markets in the region. Though other international airlines still serve Majuro, the Aloha decision was a setback in the country's hopes of increased revenues from tourism.

Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to Asian financial difficulties, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.

The 2007 edition of "Doing Business," prepared by the World Bank's private sector development department, has declared the Marshall Islands to be the world's "Best Performer" for its ease and low expense in hiring and firing employees. By the same token, the same study gave the Marshall Islands extremely low ratings for its protection of investors and contract enforcement.

Not being among the 179 member countries of the ILO, Marshall Islands is among the handful of countries not obliged to abide by the core labour standards (elimination of forced labour, child labour and discrimination, and respect for freedom of association and right to collective bargaining) as required of ILO members.

The United States also maintains the U.S. Army's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll. It is an important aspect of the Marshallese economy, as the Marshallese land owners receive rent for the base, and a large number of Marshallese work at the base. It is noted that the Majuro Atoll benefited from foreign assistance. The main airport was built by the Japanese (during World War II), the only tarmac road of the capital was built partly by the Taiwanese and partly by the Americans.

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the Marshall Islands

The Marshallese are of Micronesian origin and migrated from Asia several thousand years ago. Although English is an official language and is spoken widely, though not fluently, Marshallese is used by the government. Japanese is also occasionally spoken in some areas of Marshall Islands.

Virtually all Marshallese are Christian, most of them Protestant.

[edit] Culture

Main article: Culture of the Marshall Islands

Although now in decline, the Marshallese were once able navigators, using the stars and stick and shell charts. They are also experienced in canoe building and still hold annual competitions involving the unique oceanic sailing canoe, the proa.

[edit] See also

• Communications in the Marshall Islands
• Foreign relations of the Marshall Islands
• Military of the Marshall Islands
• Scouting in the Marshall Islands
• Transportation in the Marshall Islands

[edit] External links

Find more information on Marshall Islands by searching Wikipedia's sister projects
	Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary
	Textbooks from Wikibooks
	Quotations from Wikiquote
	Source texts from Wikisource
	Images and media from Commons
	News stories from Wikinews
	Learning resources from Wikiversity

Government

• Office of the President
• Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Washington, DC official government site

Overviews

• CIA World Factbook - Marshall Islands
• Digital Micronesia - Marshalls by Dirk HR Spennemann, Associate Professor in Cultural Heritage Management
• Plants & Environments of the Marshall Islands Book turned website by Dr. Mark Merlin of the University of Hawaii
• Atomic Testing Information
• Pictures of victims of US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands on Nuclear Files.org
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4798243.stm