Marshall Islands

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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. {{Infobox_Country |native_name = Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ
Republic of the Marshall Islands |common_name = Marshall Islands |image_flag =Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg |image_coat =Marshall Islands COA.png |image_map =LocationMarshallIslands.png |national_motto =n/a |national_anthem =Forever Marshall Islands |official_languages =Marshallese, English |capital =Majuro |latd=7 |latm=7 |latNS=N |longd=171 |longm=4 |longEW=E |largest_city =Majuro |government_type = |leader_titles =President |leader_names =Kessai Note |area_rank =187th |area_magnitude =1 E7 |area=181 |areami²=69.8 |percent_water = Negligible |population_estimate =59,071 |population_estimate_rank =209th |population_estimate_year =July 2005 |population_census = 56,429 |population_census_year = 2003 |population_density =326 |population_densitymi² = 846 |population_density_rank =20th |GDP_PPP = $115 million |GDP_PPP_rank = 220th |GDP_PPP_year= 2001 |GDP_PPP_per_capita =$1,600 (2001 est.) |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 195th |sovereignty_type =Independence |established_events = from the United States |established_dates =October 21, 1986          |HDI =n/a |HDI_rank = n/a |HDI_year = n/a |HDI_category =unranked |currency = US dollar |currency_code = USD |country_code = |time_zone = |utc_offset =+ 12 |time_zone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |cctld =.mh |calling_code = 692 |footnotes = }}

Contents

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History

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While 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 English 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 invaded the islands (1944), and they were added to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (including several more island groups in the South Sea).

In 1979 the Republic of the Marshall Islands was established and a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. government was signed, becoming effective in 1986. The independence was formally completed under international law in 1990, when the UN officially ended the trust given to the USA.

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Politics

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The Marshallese president is both head of state and head of government. The president, who is elected by and from the members of the Nitijela (Legislature), appoints his own cabinet.

Elections for the Nitijela, which has 33 seats, are held every four years.

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Municipalities

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The Marshall Islands are divided into 24 legislative districts, which correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls of the country. See Geography.

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Geography

Template:Main Image:ClimateMajuroMarshallIslands.PNG The country consists of 29 atolls and 5 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, being grown and caught, is superior that of most of the urban residents, who rely considerably on white rice.

The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November. The islands occasionally suffer from typhoons.

Image:RMImap-CIA.jpg

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Economy

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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. Around 1999 a tuna loining plant was built and employed upwards of 400 people, mostly women. After absorbing significant training costs and lack of government assistance the plant was closed in 2005. Although the plant brought almost $6 million into the economy, and provided a significant number of jobs that previously had not existed, the government let the plant close and chose to not provide any incentives to the owners to keep it open. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid. Negotiations were under way in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.

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.

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Demographics

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The Marshallese are of Micronesian origin and migrated from Asia several thousand years ago. Although English is an official language and is spoken widely, although 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.

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Culture

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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.

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Nuclear testing

Between 1946 and 1958 the USA tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands, including the largest nuclear test the US ever conducted, Castle Bravo, which resulted in the radiation poisoning of 236 Marshallese. In 1994 documents were released which suggested this act was premeditated by the Atomic Energy Commission in human radiation experiments known as Project 4.1.[1]

Nuclear claims between the United States and the Marshall Islands are ongoing, and health effects still linger from these tests.

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See also

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External links


Countries and territories of Oceania
Image:Australia.png Australia : Australia · Norfolk Island
Image:Melanesia.png Melanesia : East Timor · Fiji · Maluku Islands & Western New Guinea (part of Indonesia) · New Caledonia · Papua New Guinea · Solomon Islands · Vanuatu
Image:Micronesia.png Micronesia : Guam · Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Northern Mariana Islands · Federated States of Micronesia · Nauru · Palau
Image:Polynesia.png Polynesia : American Samoa · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · Hawaii · New Zealand · Niue · Pitcairn · Samoa · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Wallis and Futuna
an:Islas Marshall

bg:Маршалови острови zh-min-nan:Marshall Kûn-tó bs:Maršalovi otoci ca:Illes Marshall cs:Marshallovy ostrovy da:Marshalløerne de:Marshallinseln et:Marshalli Saared es:Islas Marshall eo:Marŝaloj eu:Marshall Uharteak fr:Marshall (pays) ko:마셜 제도 kw:Ynysow Marshall ht:Machal hr:Maršalovi Otoci id:Kepulauan Marshall is:Marshalleyjar it:Isole Marshall he:איי מרשל lv:Māršala salas lt:Maršalo salos hu:Marshall-szigetek nl:Marshalleilanden nds:Marshallinseln ja:マーシャル諸島 no:Marshalløyene nn:Marshalløyane pl:Wyspy Marshalla pt:Ilhas Marshall ro:Insulele Marshall ru:Маршалловы Острова sq:Ishujt Marshall sh:Maršalovi Otoci simple:Marshall Islands sk:Marshallove ostrovy sl:Marshallovi otoki fi:Marshallinsaaret sv:Marshallöarna tl:Kapuluang Marshall th:สาธารณรัฐหมู่เกาะมาร์แชลล์ tr:Marshall Adaları uk:Маршалові острови zh:馬紹爾群島 mh:M̍ahjeł

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