Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands
Motto: "Desire the right"
Anthem: "God Save the Queen"
Capital (and largest city)		Stanley
Official language(s)		English
Ethnic groups		61.3% Falkland Islander[a] 29.0% British 2.6% Spaniard 0.6% Japanese 6.5% Chilean & Other[1]
Demonym		Falkland Islander
Government		British Overseas Territory
-	Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
-	Governor	Alan Huckle
-	Chief Executive	Tim Thorogood[2]
British overseas territory
-	Liberation Day	14 June 1982
Area
-	Total	12,173 km2 (162nd) 4,700 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	July 2008 estimate	3,140[3] (217th)
-	Density	0.26/km2 (240th) 0.65/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$75 million (223rd)
-	Per capita	$25,000 (2002 estimate) (not ranked)
HDI		n/a
Currency		Falkland Islands pound[b] (FKP)
Time zone		(UTC-4)
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC-3)
Drives on the		left
Internet TLD		.fk
Calling code		500
a. ^ The majority are of British origin. b. ^ Fixed to the Pound sterling (GBP).

The Falkland Islands (pronounced /ˈfɔːlklənd/; Spanish: Islas Malvinas)^[4] are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located approximately 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) from the coast of mainland South America, The archipelago, consisting of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands, is a self-governing^[5] Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.^[6] The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland.

Ever since the re-establishment of British rule in 1833, Argentina has claimed sovereignty.^[7] In pursuit of this claim, which is rejected by the islanders,^[8] Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982. This precipitated the two-month-long undeclared Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom and resulted in the defeat and withdrawal of the Argentine forces.

Since the war, there has been strong economic growth in both fisheries and tourism.

Name

The Falkland Islands took their English name from "Falkland Sound", the channel between the two main islands, which was in turn named after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland by Captain John Strong, who landed on the islands in 1690.^[9] The Spanish name, Islas Malvinas, is derived from the French name,^[10] Îles Malouines, named by Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1764 after the first known settlers, mariners and fishermen from the Breton port of Saint-Malo in France.^[10] The ISO designation is Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and its ISO country code is FK.^[11]

As a result of the continuing sovereignty dispute, the use of many Spanish names is considered offensive in the Falkland Islands, particularly those associated with the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands.^[12] General Sir Jeremy Moore would not allow the use of Islas Malvinas in the surrender document, dismissing it as a propaganda term.^[13]

History

The islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by European explorers, but there is evidence that Patagonian Indians may have reached the Falklands in canoes.^[14] Artifacts including arrowheads and the remains of a canoe have been found on the islands.^[15] There was also the presence of the Falkland Island fox, or Warrah (now extinct), but warrahs may have reached the islands via a land bridge when the sea level was much lower during the last ice age. A group of islands appeared on maps in the Falkland Island region from the early 16th century, so either Ferdinand Magellan or another early expedition may have sighted them. Amerigo Vespucci may have sighted the islands in 1502, but he did not name them. In 1519 or 1520, Esteban Gómez, a captain in Magellan’s expedition, encountered several islands that members of his crew called "Islas de Sansón y de los Patos" ("Islands of Samson and the Ducks"). These were probably the Jason Islands, northwest of West Falkland, and the names "Islas de Sansón" (or "San Antón," "San Son," and "Ascensión") were used for the Falklands on Spanish maps during this period.^[14] Piri Reis, a Turkish admiral of the time who drew reasonably accurate maps, showed islands that may well have been the Falkland Islands.^[16]

The extinct warrah was the only native land mammal found on the islands upon discovery by Europeans

Early Explorers

There is some dispute about which European explorer first set foot on the islands. The islands appear on numerous Spanish and other maps beginning in the 1520s.^[15] The English explorer John Davis, commander of the Desire, one of the ships belonging to Thomas Cavendish's second expedition to the New World, is recorded as having visited the islands in 1592.^[17] He was separated from Cavendish off the coast of what is now southern Argentina by a severe storm and discovered the islands. For a time the islands were known as "Davis Land".^[14] In 1594, the English commander Richard Hawkins visited the islands. Combining his own name with that of Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen", he gave them the name of "Hawkins' Maidenland." Many give the credit to Sebald de Weert, a Dutchman, who discovered the islands in 1600.^[15]

In January 1690, Captain John Strong of the Welfare was heading for Puerto Deseado (now in Argentina). Driven off course by contrary winds, he reached the Sebald Islands instead and landed at Bold Cove. He sailed between the two principal islands and called the passage "Falkland Channel" (now Falkland Sound), after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland, who as Commissioner of the Admiralty had financed the expedition (Cary later became First Lord of the Admiralty). The island group later took its English name from this body of water.

The first settlers (1764–1811)

The first settlement on the Falkland Islands, named Port St. Louis, was founded by the French navigator and military commander Louis Antoine de Bougainville on Berkeley Sound, in present-day Port Louis, East Falkland in 1764.

John Byron, by Joshua Reynolds, 1759.

In January 1765, the British captain John Byron, unaware of the French presence, explored and claimed Saunders Island, at the western end of the group, where he named the harbour of Port Egmont. He sailed near other islands, which he also claimed for King George III. A British settlement was built at Port Egmont in 1766. Also in 1766, Spain acquired the French colony, and after assuming effective control in 1767, placed the islands under a governor subordinate to the Buenos Aires colonial administration. Spain attacked Port Egmont, ending the British presence there in 1770. The expulsion of the British settlement brought the two countries to the brink of war, but a peace treaty allowed the British to return to Port Egmont in 1771 with neither side relinquishing sovereignty.^[18]

In 1774, as a result of economic pressures leading up to the American Revolutionary War, the United Kingdom withdrew unilaterally from many of her overseas settlements, including Port Egmont.^[19][20] Upon her withdrawal in 1776 the UK left behind a plaque asserting her claims. From 1776 until 1811 Spain maintained a settlement administered from Buenos Aires as part of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. On leaving in 1811, Spain also left behind a plaque asserting her claims.

Argentine colonial aspirations

On 6 November 1820, Colonel David Jewett raised the flag of the United Provinces of the River Plate (Argentina) at Port Louis. Jewett was an American sailor and privateer in the employment of Buenos Aires businessman Patrick Lynch to captain his ship, the frigate Heroína (Lynch had obtained a corsair licence from the Buenos Aires Supreme Director José Rondeau). Jewett had put into the islands the previous month, following a disastrous eight month voyage with most of his crew disabled by scurvy and disease. After resting in the islands and repairing his ship he was relieved of command and returned to South America.

In 1828 Luis Vernet founded a settlement seeking authorisation from both the British and Argentine authorities. Modern Argentina claims the United States warships destroyed this settlement in 1831 after Vernet seized US seal hunting ships during a dispute over fishing rights (the Captain of the Lexington reports destroying a powder store and spiking the settlement guns). In November 1832, Argentina sent another governor to found a penal settlement who was killed in a mutiny after 4 days.

British settlement

In January 1833, British forces returned and informed the Argentine commander that they intended to reassert British sovereignty. The existing settlers were allowed to remain, with an Irish member of Vernet's settlement, William Dickson, appointed as the Islands' governor. Vernet's deputy, Matthew Brisbane, returned later that year and was informed that the British had no objections to the continuation of Vernet's business ventures provided there was no interference with British control.^{[21][22][23][24]}

Road sign to the capital.

The Royal Navy built a base at Stanley, and the islands became a strategic point for navigation around Cape Horn. A World War I naval battle, the Battle of Falkland Islands, took place in December 1914, with a British victory over the smaller Imperial German Asiatic Fleet. During World War II, Stanley served as a Royal Navy station and serviced ships which took part in the 1939 Battle of the River Plate.

Sovereignty over the islands again became an issue in the second half of the 20th century. Argentina saw the creation of the United Nations as an opportunity to present its claim to the islands to the rest of the world. When signing the UN Charter in 1945, Argentina stated that it reserved its right to sovereignty of the islands, and its right to recover them. The United Kingdom's response was to state that the Falklanders first had to vote for the British withdrawal in a referendum and that this was an essential precondition for the fulfilment of UN Resolution 1514 (XV) on de-colonising all territories still under foreign occupation,

Talks between British and Argentine foreign missions took place in the 1960s, but failed to come to any meaningful conclusion. A major sticking point in all the negotiations was that the two thousand inhabitants of mainly British descent preferred that the islands remain British territory.

One result of the these talks, however, was the creation of the islands' first air link. In 1971, the Argentine Air Force (FAA), which operates the state airline LADE, began amphibious flights between Comodoro Rivadavia and Stanley using Grumman HU-16 Albatross aircraft.^[25] The following year, Britain agreed to allow Argentina to build a temporary air strip, which was completed that November. Flights between Stanley and Comodoro Rivadavia continued twice a week using Fokker F27 and later Fokker F28 aircraft following the construction of the permanent air strip until 1982.^[26][27][28] During the same period, YPF, the Argentine national oil and gas company, now part of Repsol YPF, supplied the islands' energy needs.

Falklands War

British paratroopers guard Argentine prisoners of war

On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and other British territories in the South Atlantic (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). The military junta which had ruled Argentina since 1976 sought to maintain power by diverting public attention from the nation's poor economic performance and exploiting the long-standing feelings of the Argentines towards the islands.^[29] Several British writers hold that the United Kingdom's reduction in military capacity in the South Atlantic also encouraged the invasion.^[30][31][32]

The United Nations Security Council issued Resolution 502, calling on Argentina to withdraw forces from the Islands and for both parties to seek a diplomatic solution.^[33] International reaction ranged from support for Argentina in Latin American countries (except Chile and Colombia), to opposition in the Commonwealth and Europe (apart from Spain), and eventually the United States.

The British sent an expeditionary force to retake the islands, leading to the Falklands War. After short but fierce naval and air battles, the British landed at San Carlos Water on 21 May, and a land campaign followed until the Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June 1982.

The War led to the deaths of 655 Argentine, 255 British servicemen and 3 Falkland Islanders.

After the war, the British increased their military presence on the islands, constructing RAF Mount Pleasant and increasing the military garrison. Although the United Kingdom and Argentina resumed diplomatic relations in 1992, no further negotiations on sovereignty have taken place.

Politics

A Falkland stamp commemorating the coronation of King George VI of the United Kingdom and his consort Queen Elizabeth.

Executive authority is vested in the Queen and is exercised by the Governor on her behalf. The Governor is also responsible for the administration of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, as these islands have no native inhabitants. Defence and Foreign Affairs are the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The current Governor is Alan Huckle, appointed July 2006.

Under the constitution, which came into force on 1 January 2009^[34] (which replaced the 1985 constitution), there is an Executive Council and a Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands. The Executive Council, which advises the Governor, is also chaired by the Governor. It consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and three Legislative Councillors, who are elected by the other Legislative Councillors.

The Legislative Council consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight Legislative Councillors, of whom five are elected from Stanley and three from Camp, for four-year terms. It is presided over by the Speaker, currently Keith Biles.

The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes Falkland Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Relations with Argentina

The dispute over control of the islands has continued since the war. Diplomatic relations between Argentina and the UK were resumed in 1992, and embassies were reopened in London and Buenos Aires. In 1994, Argentina added its claim to the islands to the Argentine constitution, stating that this claim must be pursued in a manner "respectful of the way of life of their inhabitants and according to the principles of international law"^[35] (see: 1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution).

In 1998, in retaliation for the arrest in London of the former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean government banned flights between Punta Arenas and Port Stanley, thus isolating the islands from the rest of the world. Uruguay and Brazil refused to authorise direct flights between their territories and Port Stanley. This forced the Islands' government to enter negotiations with the Argentine government and led to Argentina authorising direct flights between its territory and Stanley, on condition that Argentine citizens be allowed on the islands.^[36] One flight a month, operated by LAN Airlines, travels between RAF Mount Pleasant on East Falkland and Río Gallegos in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.

Since the war, successive Argentine governments have stated their intention to pursue their claim to the islands by peaceful means. On the 22nd anniversary of the war, Argentina's President Néstor Kirchner gave a speech insisting that the islands would become part of Argentina. Kirchner, campaigning for president in 2003, regarded the islands as a top priority. In June 2003 the issue was brought before a United Nations committee, and attempts have been made to open talks with the United Kingdom to resolve the issue of the islands.

Cristina Fernandez with Gordon Brown

In 2007 (exactly 25 years after the Argentine invasion), Argentina renewed its claim over the Falkland Islands, asking for the UK to resume talks on sovereignty.^[37] In March 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated in a meeting with Argentine President Cristina Fernández that there would be no talks over the future sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.^[38] As far as the governments of the UK and of the Falkland Islands are concerned, there is no issue to resolve. The Falkland Islanders themselves are almost entirely British and maintain their allegiance to the United Kingdom.^[39][40]

On 22 September 2007, The Guardian reported the UK government was preparing to stake new claims on the sea floor around the Falklands and other UK remote island possessions, in order to exploit natural resources that may be present.^[41] In October 2007, a British spokeswoman confirmed that Britain intended to submit a claim^[42] to the UN to extend seabed territory around the Falklands and South Georgia, in advance of the expiry of the deadline^[43] for territorial claims following Britain's ratification of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.^[44] If the claim is disputed, the UN will suspend the claim until the dispute is settled.^[42] The claim is largely theoretical and does not affect the Antarctic Treaty or confer new rights upon Britain. Neither does it permit the exploitation of oil or gas reserves, since these are banned by a protocol to the treaty. It would enable Britain to police fishing within the zone to prevent over-exploitation of natural resources by commercial fishing in line with Britain's obligations under the treaty.^[45] Professor Klaus Dodds of the University of London, commenting in The Guardian, has suggested that the move goes against the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty.^[43] Argentina has indicated it will challenge any British claim to Antarctic territory and the area around the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.^[46] Argentina made a similar claim in 2009,^[47] and the United Kingdom quickly protested against these claims.^[48]

In February 2010, the Argentine government announced that ships traversing Argentine territorial waters en route to the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands would require a permit, as part of a dispute over British oil exploration near the Falklands. The British and Falkland governments stated that Falklands-controlled waters were unaffected.^[49]

Geography and ecology

Map of the Falkland Islands

San Carlos Water, one of many inlets on East Falkland. The islands are heavily indented by sounds and fjords

The Falkland Islands comprise two main islands, West Falkland and East Falkland (in Spanish Isla Gran Malvina and Isla Soledad respectively), and about 776 small islands.^[6] The islands are located 185 nautical miles (343 km; 213 mi)^[50] from the Isla de los Estados in Argentina (and 250 nautical miles (463 km; 288 mi)^[51] from the Argentine mainland); 264 nautical miles (489 km; 304 mi)^[52] from Chile; 582 nautical miles (1,078 km; 670 mi)^[53] west of the Shag Rocks (South Georgia) and 501 nautical miles (928 km; 577 mi)^[54] north of the British Antarctic Territory (which overlaps with the Argentine and Chilean claims to Antarctica in that region).

The total land area is 4,700 square miles (12,173 km²), slightly smaller than Connecticut or Northern Ireland, with a coastline estimated at 800 miles (1288 km).^[55]

The two main islands on either side of Falkland Sound make up most of the land. These are East Falkland, which contains the capital, Stanley, and most of the population; and West Falkland. Both islands have mountain ranges, the highest point being Mount Usborne, 705 metres (2,313 ft)^[55] on East Falkland. There are also some boggy plains, most notably in Lafonia, on the southern half of East Falkland. Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep.

Smaller islands surround the main two. They include Barren Island, Beaver Island, Bleaker Island, Carcass Island, George Island, Keppel Island, Lively Island, New Island, Pebble Island, Saunders Island, Sealion Island, Speedwell Island, Staats Island, Weddell Island, and West Point Island. The Jason Islands lie to the north west of the main archipelago, and Beauchene Island some distance to its south. Speedwell Island and George Island are split from East Falkland by Eagle Passage.

Numerous flora and fauna are found on the Falkland Islands. Notable fauna include colonies of the Magellanic Penguin.^[56] For more details see Fauna of the Falkland Islands.

The islands claim a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) and an exclusive fishing zone of 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi), which has been a source of disagreement with Argentina. Biogeographically, the Falkland Islands are classified as part of the Neotropical realm, together with South America. It is also classified as part of the Antarctic Floristic Kingdom.

Climate

Surrounded by cool South Atlantic waters, the Falkland Islands have a Maritime Subarctic climate (Koppen Cfc) that is very much influenced by the ocean in that it has a narrow annual temperature range. The January average maximum temperature is about 13°C (55°F), and the July maximum average temperature is about 4°C (39°F). The average annual rainfall is 573.6 millimetres (22.58 in) but East Falkland is generally wetter than West Falkland.^[57] Humidity and winds, however, are constantly high. Snow is rare but can occur at almost any time of year. Gales are very frequent, particularly in winter.^[58] The climate is similar to that of the Shetland islands in the United Kingdom, but with less rainfall and longer and slightly more severe winters.^[58]

Economy

The largest company in the islands used to be the Falkland Islands Company (FIC), a publicly quoted company on the London Stock Exchange. The company was responsible for the majority of the economic activity on the islands, though its farms were sold in 1991 to the Falkland Islands Government. The company now operates several retail outlets in Stanley and is involved in port services and shipping operations.

Except for defence, the islands are self sufficient; exports account for more than $125 million a year (2004 estimate).^[3]

Currency

Reverse of a one-pound coin from the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands Government issues the Falkland pound, the local currency that is fixed at parity with the pound sterling. Falkland notes and coins are produced in the United Kingdom^[60] and are equivalent to the United Kingdom sterling coinage but with local designs on the reverse. Both the Falkland Pound and the pound sterling circulate interchangeably on the islands. For more information about currency in the region see The Sterling Currency in the South Atlantic and the Antarctic.

The Falkland Islands also issue their own stamps, which are a source of revenue from overseas collectors.

Farming

Farmland accounts for 4,339.73 sq mi (1,123,985 hectares), more than 90% of the Falklands land area.^[61] Since 1984, efforts to diversify the economy have made fishing the largest part of the economy and brought increasing income from tourism.^[62] Sheep farming was formerly the main source of income for the islands and still plays an important part with high quality wool exports going to the UK. According to the Falklands Government Statistics there are over 500,000 sheep on the islands with roughly 60% on East Falkland and 40% on West Falkland.^[61]

Fishing

Map of the Falkland Islands economic zone in relation to her neighbours

The government has operated a fishing zone policy since 1986 with the sale of fishing licences to foreign countries has recently brought in only £12 to 15 million a year in revenues. Local fishing boats are also in operation. More than 75% of the annual catch of 200,000 tonnes (220,000 short tons).^[63]

Tourism

Tourism has grown rapidly. The islands have become a regular port of call for the growing market of cruise ships with more than 36,000 visitors in 2004.^[64] Attractions include the scenery and wildlife conservation with penguins, seabirds, seals and sealions, as well as visits to battlefields, golf, fishing and wreck diving.

Oil

A 1995 agreement between the UK and Argentina had set the terms for exploitation of offshore resources including oil reserves^[65] as geological surveys had shown there might be up to 60 billion barrels (9.5 billion cubic metres) of oil under the sea bed surrounding the islands.^[66] However, in 2007 Argentina unilaterally withdrew from the agreement.^[67] In response, Falklands Oil and Gas Limited has signed an agreement with BHP Billiton to investigate the potential exploitation of oil reserves.^[68] Climatic conditions of the southern seas mean that exploitation will be a difficult task, though economically viable, and the continuing sovereignty dispute with Argentina is hampering progress.^[69] In February 2010, exploratory drilling for oil was begun by Desire Petroleum,^[70] but the results from the first test well were disappointing.^[71] Two months later, on 6 May 2010, Rockhopper Exploration announced that "it may have struck oil".^[72] As of 8 May 2010, the commercial viability of the 53-metre (174 ft) oil bearing strata had yet to be established.^[73]

Defence

The UK provides defence and British military expenditures make a significant contribution to the economy.

Demographics

Christ Church Cathedral with the Whale bone arch, Stanley

Census figures show that the population rose from an estimate of 287 in 1851 to 2272 in 1911. It was 2094 in 1921 and 2392 in 1931 but then it declined and in 1980 the population was 1813. The population then rose and was 2955 in 2006. The 2006 census recorded 2115 people in Stanley and 477 in Mount Pleasant, 194 in the rest of East Falkland, 127 in West Falkland and 42 people in all the other islands. These figures exclude all military personnel and their families, but includes 477 people who were present in the Falkland Islands in connection with the military garrison.^[74] The American CIA stated that in July 2008, the population was estimated to be 3,140.^[75]

About 70 per cent are of British descent, primarily as a result of Scottish and Welsh immigration to the islands.^[76] The native-born inhabitants call themselves "Islanders"; the term "Kelpers", from the kelp which grows profusely around the islands, is no longer used in the Islands. People from the United Kingdom who have obtained Falkland Island status are known locally as 'belongers'.

A few Islanders are of French, Gibraltarian, Portuguese and Scandinavian descent. Some are the descendants of whalers who reached the Islands during the last two centuries. There is also a small minority of South American, mainly Chilean origin, and in more recent times many people from Saint Helena have also come to work and live in the Islands.^[77]

The main religion is Christianity. The main denominations are Church of England, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, and Lutheran. Smaller numbers are Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists and Greek Orthodox; with the latter being due to Greek fishermen passing through. There is also a Bahá'í congregation.^[78] The Islands are the home of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands.

Since the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 the islanders have been full British citizens. For the Argentine position on Falklanders’ citizenship, see Current claims.

Education

Education is compulsory and free between five and sixteen, and follows the English system. There is a primary school and a secondary school with boarding facilities in Stanley. There are also several rural settlement schools, travelling teachers for children living remotely and a primary school for children of service personnel at RAF Mount Pleasant. After 16, suitably qualified students may study at two colleges in England for their A-levels or for vocational qualifications. The government pays for older students to attend higher education, usually in the UK.^[79]

Medical care

The Falkland Islands Government Health and Social Services Department provides medical and dental care for the islands. The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) is Stanley's only hospital. It was partially military operated in the past but is now under complete civilian control.^[80] Specialist medical care is provided by visiting ophthalmologists, gynaecologists, ENT surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, psychiatrist, and oral surgeons from the United Kingdom provide specialist care. Patients needing emergency treatement are air-lifted to the United Kingdom or to Santiago (Chile).^[81]

Broadcasting and telecommunications

Penguins at Gypsy Cove

Broadcasting

Radio services are operated by the Falkland Islands Radio Service, formerly the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Service, and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). FM stereo broadcasting using the UK allocation is standard. Medium Wave broadcasting using 10 kHz steps (standard in ITU Region II).

The only terrestrial channel available is BFBS1. PAL television, using the UK UHF allocation standard. There is also a cable television service in Stanley operated by KTV Ltd.

Telephone

The Falkland Islands has a modern telecommunications network providing fixed line telephone, ADSL and dial-up internet services in Stanley. Telephones to outlying settlements use microwave radio. A GSM 900^[82] mobile network was installed in 2005^[83] providing coverage to Stanley, Mount Pleasant and surrounding areas. It is operated under the Touch Mobile brand.

Cable and Wireless Communications is the sole telecommunications provider in the Falkland Islands.^[84]

Sport

There are more than 30 different sports clubs on the Falklands, including badminton, clay-pigeon shooting, cricket, football, golf, hockey, netball, rugby union, sailing, swimming, table tennis and volleyball.^[85] The Falklands compete in the biennial Island Games.^[86]

Transport

The Dash-7 of the British Antarctic Survey at Stanley

The Falkland Islands have two airports with paved runways. The main international airport is RAF Mount Pleasant, 27 miles (43 km) west of Stanley.^[87] There are weekly flights, operated by LAN Airlines, to Santiago, Chile, via Punta Arenas. Once a month, this flight also stops in Río Gallegos, Argentina.^[88]

The Royal Air Force operates flights from RAF Mount Pleasant to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, with a refuelling stop at RAF Ascension Island. RAF flights are on TriStars although charter aircraft are often used if the TriStars are required for operational flights. At present Omni Air International operates the RAF air link, using DC-10s. British International (BRINTEL) also operate two Sikorsky S61N helicopters, based at RAF Mount Pleasant, under contract to the United Kingdom Ministry Of Defence, primarily for moving military personnel, equipment and supplies around the islands.

The British Antarctic Survey operates a transcontinental air link between the Falkland Islands and the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and servicing also other British bases in the British Antarctic Territory using a de Havilland Canada Dash 7.

The smaller Port Stanley Airport, outside the city, is used for internal flights. The Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) operates Islander aircraft that can use the grass airstrips that most settlements have. Flight schedules are decided a day in advance according to passenger needs. The night before, the arrival and departure times are announced on the radio.

The road network has been improved in recent years. However, not many paved roads exist outside Stanley and RAF Mount Pleasant. Speed limits are 25 mph (40 km/h) in built-up areas and 40 mph (64 km/h) elsewhere.^[89]

Landmines and ordnance

Depending on the source, between 18,000 and 25,000 land mines remain from the 1982 war. One source says that Argentina placed 18,000 landmines.^[90] The British Government stated that all but one of their anti-personnel mine were accounted for.^[91] The land mines are located in either 101 or 117 mine fields, that are dispersed over an area of 7.7 sq mi (20 km²) in the areas of Port Stanley, Port Howard, Fox Bay and Goose Green (these areas are now well marked).^[92] Information is available from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Operation Centre in Stanley.^[92]

Some beaches were mined, and there have been concerns the tides could have moved some mines. Mines near rivers may also have been washed out of the marked area by flooding. As well, there is ordnance from the war. Between 1997 and 2002, 248 antipersonnel mines were destroyed in the Falklands, 16 were destroyed in 2003, one in 2005 and six antipersonnel mines were destroyed in 2006.^[93]

In February 2005, the charity Landmine Action proposed a Kyoto-style credit scheme, which would see a commitment by the British government to clear an equivalent area of mined land to that currently existing in the Falklands in more seriously mine-affected countries by March 2009. This proposal was supported by Falkland Islanders, for whom landmines do not pose a serious threat in everyday life.^[94] The British government has yet to declare its support or opposition to the idea.

In November 2008, Landmine Action opposed Britain's request for a ten year extension on the deadline for clearing the landmines. It accused the British Government of not demonstrating "any evidence of serious plans to complete, or even begin, this work" and stated "Allowing a well-resourced, technically capable State such as the United Kingdom to effectively ignore its responsibilities would set a dangerous and ethically unacceptable precedent."^[95][96] However, in 2008, the UK Government argued that in stark contrast to minefields elsewhere, "There have never been any civilian injuries in almost 26 years" in the Falklands.^[97]

On 30 November 2009 the Falkland Islands Government announced that mine clearance was due to begin at Surf Bay on 2 December 2009, and further clearances were to take place at Sapper Hill, Goose Green and Fox Bay. The British company BATEC International was chosen to carry out the project,^[98] "The work began on 4 December 2009 and is expected to be completed in the middle of 2010." (Hansard 5 January 2010).^[99] The workers are using Argentine and UK records to help determine the location of mines.^[100]

Military

Badge of the Falkland Islands Defence Force

There is a British military garrison stationed on the Falkland Islands, but the islands also have their own Falkland Islands Defence Force. This company sized force is completely funded by the Falklands government. It uses vehicles such as: quad bikes, inflatable boats and Land Rovers to traverse the islands' terrain. The Falkland Islands Defence Force uses the Steyr AUG as its main assault rifle.

A 2009 front-page report in RAF News^[101] that Prince William of Wales would serve a 3-month tour of duty in the Falkland Islands, following completion of his 18-month training with the RAF Search and Rescue Force drew a critical response from the Argentine government in January 2009.^[102] However, the Ministry of Defence denied that any decision on the Prince's deployment had been made.^[103]

See also

• Index of Falkland Islands-related articles
• List of Falkland Islands-related topics
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

References

Further reading

• L.L. Ivanov et al. The Future of the Falkland Islands and Its People. Sofia: Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2003. Printed in Bulgaria by Double T Publishers. 96 pp. ISBN 954-91503-1-3
• Carlos Escudé and Andrés Cisneros, eds. Historia de las Relaciones Exteriores Argentinas. Work developed and published under the auspices of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI). Buenos Aires: GEL/Nuevohacer, 2000. (in Spanish) ISBN 950-694-546-2
• Graham Pascoe and Peter Pepper Getting it right: the real history of the Falklands/Malvinas. May 2008.
• Thoughts on the Late Transactions Respecting Falkland's Islands by Samuel Johnson 1771

External links

• Wikimedia Atlas of Falkland Islands
• Falkland Islands travel guide from Wikitravel
• Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) entry at The World Factbook
• Falkland Islands at the Open Directory Project
• Falkland Islands Government official site
• The Falkland Islands Tourist Board
• Falkland Islands Tourism
• Falkland Islands Development Corporation official site
• Falkland Islands News Network official site
• Falkland Islands Information Portal

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