blogme24.com

25
Dec

Vanuatu and Tonga – Hidden Treasures of the Pacific

author: admin category: hot trends

by asterix611

Vanuatu and Tonga – Hidden Treasures of the Pacific

Vanuatu and Tonga – Hidden Treasures of the Pacific

Free Online Articles Directory

Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
AB Answers

Publish Article

0 && $.browser.msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($.browser.version);
if(ie_version Hello Guest
Login

Email

Password

Remember me?
Lost Password?

Home Page > Travel > Vanuatu and Tonga – Hidden Treasures of the Pacific

Vanuatu and Tonga – Hidden Treasures of the Pacific

Edit Article |

Posted: Jan 02, 2009 |Comments: 0
|

]]>

Vanuatu consists of more than 80 islands, lying about 2000 kilometres north-east of Brisbane. The largest island, Espiritu Santo, is 4010 square kilometres. Australia is a mainly a flat land, but most of Vanuatu’s islands are dominated by mountainous regions. The highest peak, Mt Tabwemasana (1880 metres), is on Espiritu Santo. The Earth beneath Vanuatu is unstable, and there is volcanic and earthquake activity.

Vanuatu has been inhabited for more than 3000 years. Separate communities developed, but trade between islands was common, and canoes were used to move people and produce.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come to Vanuatu, in 1606. Next I came the French in 1768, then the British led by Captain James Cook in 1774. Cook named the islands the ‘New Hebrides’. During the 1840s, traders and missionaries made contact.

From 1887 to 1980 control over the New Hebrides was shared by France and Britain. During World War II, the New Hebrides were a key base for the Allies in the battles to prevent the Japanese taking control of the South Pacific and Australia. Vanuatu gained independence on 30 July 1980.

About 200 000 people live in Vanuatu, the same number as in Hobart. Most people live on the islands of Efate, Espiritu Santo, Malakula and Tanna. Unlike Australia, 95 per cent of people in Vanuatu are native to the country. They are known as Ni-Vanuatu, and like Aboriginal Australians they have a special relationship with their environment.

The remaining five per cent consist of French, Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese and Chinese people, as well as other Pacific Islanders. Three main languages are spoken – English, French and Bislama (a form of pidgin English).

The literacy rate in Vanuatu is low, and most students do not attend secondary school. But, in Port Vila, there is a technical college and a campus of the University of the South Pacific.

The economy is centred around the land, and major agricultural exports are beef and cocoa. Most people are involved in subsistence agriculture. There is also a large timber industry, and tourism is important to the economy, providing work in tourist areas, such as Vila.

Tonga

Tonga lies about 650 kilometres east of Fiji. It consists of 150 islands, and 40 of them are inhabited. The capital city is Nuku’alofa, which is on Tongatapu, the main island.

Polynesians first settled in Tonga about 3500 years ago. Captain James Cook made several visits during the 1770s and named the islands the Friendly Islands. Tonga gained full independence from Britain on 4 June 1970, but remains a member of the Commonwealth. Kings and queens have ruled Tonga for more than 1000 years. The reigning king is Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.

The population of Tonga is approximately 110 000, which is similar to the population of Cairns. Most people are of Polynesian descent, and they speak English and Polynesian. They are committed Christians with the main denomination being the Free Wesleyan Church.

The economy of Tonga revolves around agriculture and fishing, with pumpkins, coconuts and bananas being major crops. Education is important in Tonga, and school is compulsory for children between the ages of six and 14.

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/vanuatu-and-tonga-hidden-treasures-of-the-pacific-706379.html”

(ArticlesBase SC #706379)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!

John Hacking –
About the Author:

If you are looking for great value Fiji holidays visit escapetravel.com.au. Escape travel has an exciting selection of cheap holidays for all budgets and tastes. ET181208-6

]]>

Questions and Answers

Ask our experts your Travel related questions here…

200 Characters left

Rate this Article

1
2
3
4
5

vote(s)
0 vote(s)

Feedback
RSS
Print
Email
Re-Publish

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/vanuatu-and-tonga-hidden-treasures-of-the-pacific-706379.html

Article Tags:
travel, holidays, fiji, escape

What Other Secrets Remain Hidden in the Tropical Island Jewel, Vanuatu?

author: admin category: hot trends

by Kim Smith

What Other Secrets Remain Hidden in the Tropical Island Jewel, Vanuatu?

Vanuatu with its 83 pristine tropical islands is the birth place of Extreme Sport. The Pentecost land dive was born in the mists of time in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu was also the inspiration for the book by James A Michener, which in turn inspired the classic musical Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1958 film South Pacific. The Television version of the original classic, in 2001, never really found favor with the viewing public.

In 2006, the tiny archipelago South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, made famous by A Michener’s ‘Tales of the South Pacific’, was voted the Happiest Country on Earth by the British New Economics Foundation’s (NEF), Happy Planet Index according to Adrienne Wilson, writing for Gadling.com.

Recently the grave of the last Paramount Chief of Vanuatu, Chief Roi Mata, was granted the status of a world heritage site. It is said more than 20 wives and some of his men were buried live with the king. In the outer islands men drink a local calming drink, kava, which the women were not permitted. It’s believed that the men drank Kava before being buried alive with their king.

Vanuatu is also setting the world on edge, with its recent release of unique and traditionally well hidden art. Recent exhibitions from the northern island of Ambrym have received critical acclaim with reviewers saying the figurines could easily be mistaken for contemporary works of art. Collectors and critics are in a spin over the carvings, never before seen outside Vanuatu.

There is nothing like it in the museums of Europe and America. Only one similar piece has been found in a museum in Britain.

A towering four or five headed slit wooden gong from Ambrym, is one of the largest free standing musical instruments in the world. They are so commonly used as decoration in Vanuatu; they are rarely noticed by visitors.

Most people admiring the gongs, sometimes up to four meters high have no understanding of the connection to the secrets of Vanuatu society.

The stylized form of the wooden gong symbolizes the people’s ancestors. The eyes representing the morning star of a society which has traditionally kept its secrets well hidden from the rest of the world.

The gongs were a vital part of sacred ceremonies, such as funerals, initiations and dances. Carefully coordinated actions by multiple drummers, beat the lip of the gongs with a small wooden club. The informal village orchestras performed rhythmical ensembles of immense variety and complexity.

The gongs were also used as a form of bush telegraph to communicate between neighbouring villages. The use of a unique gong language allowed the villagers to send complex messages over long distances and sometimes if the atmospherics were right, messages could be sent to neighbouring islands.

Many tourists to these tropical islands carry home hand carved smaller samples of the large musical instrument as a memento although most are totally unaware of their deep cultural significance.

By releasing some of their secret and sacred artifacts to the world, the Chiefs of Vanuatu hope to bring about a renewed awareness of their ancient culture. They are aware that education of the younger generation is the only way to preserve their ancient ways. Very few young people have any knowledge of the art of the intricate language of the gong.

Hopefully the sharing of their secrets will bring about the desperately needed change in the education of the next generation of this tiny South Pacific archipelago.

Although Vanuatu has a deep and rich cultural heritage, there is a desperate need for formal education, if the younger generation is to take its rightful place in the 21st century.

As a lesser developed country where there is no free education, the government freely admits it is unable to meet the educational needs of the country.

• 26% of the children will never go to school.

• 18% will never go to high school.

• Only 56% will go over year 6

Although it is called the Happiest Country on Earth, many villagers still struggle to survive on under a day. Paying school fees is totally out of the question and many of the high achieving students will be condemned to finish study at the end of primary school. Many gifted and highly intelligent students will never have the chance to see the inside of a high school classroom.

It was once quoted: ‘If you refuse to build schools you will have to build jails.’ What a strange tragedy if the Happiest Country on Earth went this way.

There is a way to offer a helping hand to these tremendous people and show people really care. Take a few minutes to look at this unique world first Blue Moon Opportunity. This is something you cannot afford to miss. It will change your life.

Rick and Wendy are CEO’s of YouMe Support Foundation charity that gives away non repayable high school education grants to children who will never have the opportunity to have a high school education without outside assistance. check it out for your blue moon opportunity

Hidden, Island, Jewel, Remain, Secrets, Tropical, Vanuatu

12
Sep

Finding Hidden Potential In The South Pacific

author: admin category: hot trends

by osseous

Finding Hidden Potential In The South Pacific

Finding Hidden Potential In The South Pacific

This Report examining the economic and political outlook for the Pacific island states over the coming years. The report covers Australia, New Zealand, East Timor, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. It identifies key economic, political, security, and environmental factors facing each state, and outlines long-term challenges that the South Pacific needs to address to reduce the region’s vulnerability to exogenous shocks. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=129426&rt=Finding-Hidden-Potential-In-The-South-Pacific.html )

This Special Report draws upon the expertise of Asia Country Risk analysts to provide a further geographical dimension to our Country Risk service. The report begins with an overview of the South Pacific region, and discusses how the current economic downturn will affect it. Each Pacific state has its own country chapter, with economic data tables covering the period 2000-2010. The report also includes 10-year economic forecasts for Australia and New Zealand (the dominant influences in the region), and China (whose influence in the South Pacific is rising), as well as latest Global Assumptions. Beyond the recession, the report identifies the long-term challenges facing a fluid and highly volatile, but largely-underreported part of the world.
Executive Summary

Finding Hidden Potential In The South Pacific

Although the Pacific Islands have not been directly exposed to the current global economic crisis, they have felt the second round effects emanating from the developed world. Revenues from the key commodity sector have fallen in line with global trends, while there are indications that tourist numbers are down and remittances from workers overseas have been falling. Tackling these cyclical problems has been made difficult by structural problems including high current account deficits, poor governmental structures, a weak security framework and ethnic tensions within many states. Amid these problems, however, we have identified two key areas in which the region could boast significant economic potential, and two further geopolitical factors which may add to regional stability in the long term.

Commodity Riches: Aside from the region’s potential to move further up the agribusiness value chain, there are still major opportunities in mining and energy in Papua New Guinea and East Timor. Provided these states manage to avoid the ‘commodity curse’, there is potential for high levels of investment and stronger consumer spending over the coming years.

Niche Tourism: Fiji has long been the regional leader in the tourism sector, but there is still plenty of potential for other states within the region to develop. This is likely to be concentrated at the ‘niche’, rather than mass, end of the market.

The Rise of China: The region is already heavily tied to the economic cycles of Australia, New Zealand and the US. Strong real GDP growth in China – and higher development aid flows – offer the potential for another regional anchor to emerge, which will offer opportunities for the commodity and tourism sectors.

Australia’s Regional Role: Australia has started to take a more pro-active role in ensuring political stability in the South Pacific Region. We view this as a positive, given the potential structural and aid benefits it can bring with it. This is likely to be tied towards a long-term move towards stronger democratic institutions, even though this journey is likely to be very bumpy indeed.

To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=129426&rt=Finding-Hidden-Potential-In-The-South-Pacific.html

Bharat Book Bureau
Tel: +91 22 27578668
Fax: +91 22 27579131
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bharatbook.com
Blog: http://bharatbookresearch.blogspot.com
Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/3bbharatbook

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: open(/tmp/sess_3bda7355320b131c2bc35de1fb62eefa, O_RDWR) failed: Permission denied (13) in /home/wwwab/public_html/startup.php on line 13
We are the leading information aggregator, facilitates and supports the business information needs. With over 115,000 reports, you can get instant access and insights on the studies in yo for market research , corporate / strategic planning by providing the latest information in the form of reports, journals, magazines and databases on varied industries like automotive, oil and gas, shipping, textiles, pharmaceuticals, energy, banking, finance, insurance, risk management, country intelligence, consumer & durable goods, chemical and more ur areas of interest. Contact us at +91 22 27578668 / 27579438 or email [email protected] or our website www.bharatbook.com

Finding, Hidden, Pacific, Potential, South

Blog de blogme24.com

Vanuatu and Tonga – Hidden Treasures of the Pacific

What Other Secrets Remain Hidden in the Tropical Island Jewel, Vanuatu?

Finding Hidden Potential In The South Pacific

Pages

Archives

Categories

Blogroll

Meta