So this is it. I am at my tenth post, meaning that after this, I am no longer required to write any more articles for my assignment. Worry not, as I will continue posting on this site, just not with the frequency you may have grown accustomed to. I still have an obligation to my loyal readers, after all. I have to give a big thank you to everyone who visited my blog. It was your comments and feedback that kept me coming back. This blog was an incredible joy to operate, though at times, it became stressful. Thank you again to all who have supported me.
Now, back to business. The goal of this grand project I am on was to find a solution to a major world issue. The solution to this issue is simple; Vote in the New Caledonian referendum to gain their independence, and push in French Polynesia to have a referendum within a decent frame of time. Once that referendum comes around, vote for independence. If either of the votes fail, I advise you to not become disheartened. Regroup your pro-independence people and gather more support. When the time is right, petition for another referendum. Eventually, France will see that the true will of the colonies cannot be denied forever. My prediction for the vote is that it will pass. The will of the people is very evident in all of the research I have done. You people are ready for the next step in your country's history. And I applaud all of you. This is a very brave thing to do, jumping into the unknown as you are. I have seen great examples of national pride from both Polynesians and Caledonians alike. I truly wish the best for all of you. With the amount of pride in your home that I see in all of you, I know your countries are in good hands. Keep on fighting the good fight, readers. This has been an honor of the highest level. This is Thomas Hodek signing out for now. May peaceful waters stretch before you and may the sun never set on your spirits.
0 Comments
Greetings, readers! Here is a neat podcast that I produced with a colleague of mine, nuclear activist Logan W. from Atomic Smash. We discuss briefly some issues regarding independence, French Polynesia's nuclear history, and the ITER Project. It was a priveledge to work with the good sir and I hope our talk satisfies. If you wish to know more about nuclear energy and its future, take a look at atomicsmash.weebly.com. Thank you and have a good evening.
Transcript Below/Transcription ci-dessous
The currency of French Polynesia is the CFP Franc, known colloquially as the Pacific Franc, or just the Franc. The economy of French Polynesia is based mostly on the tourism industry, comprising 85% of the GDP for the country. Tourism also provides 80% of the islands' jobs. Another large industry is pearl farming for the famous Tahitian Black Pearls. Exports earn the country around 230 million USD every year. Japan and the US are the largest recipients of these exports. Most imports to the island come from mainland France.
The currency of New Caledonia is also the CFP Franc. As it is in French Polynesia, tourism is a major industry for the island. But, unlike French Polynesia, New Caledonia has very large nickel deposits. The smelting and mining of nickel is the majority of industry on the island. A recent nickel trading deal with China has strengthened the prospects for the future of the colony. Exports earn the country around 1.5 billion USD every year, leaving it in a very confident position. China, Japan, and South Korea receive the majority of exports. Most imports to the island come from Mainland France. The question on most peoples minds is this: Can the islands survive a possible independence referendum? Now, dear readers, I am not here to try sell you false truths. I will admit, it will probably take a lot of effort to recover in the immediate aftermath of independence. Funds will have to be shuffled around, trade deals renegotiated, and ties to countries apart from France made. The living will probably be rough for a time, but eventually, things will even out and French Polynesia and New Caledonia will emerge as powerful countries in their own right. There are very few endemic (natural to the island) species of animals on the islands, given their relatively small size. Many of the animals that call the islands home were brought by various expeditions to the islands by European powers. That is why you can see animals like pigs, cats, dogs, goats, chickens, and cows. On the Marquesas Islands, wild horses can even be spotted, creating a picturesque view of the natural side of French Polynesia. There are 33 species of land birds in French Polynesia, 26 of which are endemic to the island. There are also 28 species of sea birds to be spotted. Species include the frigatebird, blue-footed booby, swiftlets, harriers, kingfishers, and Pacific swallows. On New Caledonia, only one mammal is native to the island: a large flying fox called the roussette. Rusa deer were introduced in 1862 from the Philippines. With no predators, the deer multiplied rapidly. In the present, incentives are occasionally awarded if an islander were to assist in culling the number of deer. Domestic cattle, as well as cats and dogs, are present in New Caledonia, providing labor or food for the islanders. Among the 142 species of birds on the island, 20 of those are endemic. One bird, the Cajou, has become almost a symbol of New Caledonia in its own right. New Caledonia Crows have a remarkable ability to craft tools, prompting ongoing study. The islands have very diverse ecosystems that have become showcases of the uniqueness of the islands' cultures. The endangerment of a few local species has drawn the eyes of both biologists worldwide and the United Nations. With more exposure in the media, questions have been raised again about earning independence for the colonies. In their own way, the animals of the islands have aided the cause of the islands. The French Polynesian Islands are home to a wide variety of plant life. Many flowering plants call the islands their home, including the heliconia, frangipani, and the orchid. Many tropical fruits are also grown on the islands. Watermelons, limes, and papaya are local favorites. The most iconic fruit of the islands would probably be the noni. It is a local oddity with the appearance of a potato and it carries with it a pungent odor. Polynesia's economy is partially based on the growing of vanilla, making it another common plant to see growing on the islands. Coconuts are also widely grown for their many useful practical uses. The plants of New Caledonia are largely unchanged from the plants of the ancient world. One such plant is the Cook Pine, which grows in the sandy soils of the island. Amborella Trichopoda, the only member of the oldest living plant lineage, only grows on the soils of New Caledonia. There are 3,332 different plant species recorded on New Caledonia. 2,551 of those species are found only on New Caledonia. Habitats on the islands are threatened due to logging and fires, unfortunately. Yams are a prominent part of Kanak culture. They make up one of the staples of food on the island, and there is a harvest celebration for yams put on by the Kanak people. As you can see from the photos below, the natural beauty of the local flora is readily apparent. It is quite the unique variety of both ancient trees and colorful florals. Growing vanilla is a large part of French Polynesia's economy. Also, growing yams and other staple crops is how most islanders get the food they need to survive. It seems the plant life of the colonies is almost as important to the colonies' culture as the islands themselves. Current Polynesian president Oscar Temaru has based most of his political plan on gaining independence for French Polynesia. The country held a vote in 2015 to return the country to the UN's Special Committee on Decolonization List. The vote passed with an overwhelming majority. Many local groups have pledged their support to the president and his push for independence. Many believe that independence would lend more legitimacy to reparation requests for the 60's through 90's nuclear tests that occurred on Mururoa. However, not everybody is supportive of independence for the islands.
Enrique Braun-Ortega, a former government official, claims that French Polynesia is in no condition to ask for independence. His claim is that the current government is incapable of dealing with the economical issues that have plagued the islands; instead diverting attention to the growing calls for independence. Many French expatriates say they are worried that, should independence be gained, they will lose the benefits that French oversight has brought to the country. The colonies will have to start supporting their own military without the French aid it has grown accustomed to. But, in addition, the island will be able to take some rules in their own directions, like what is taught in the school system. It doesn't matter whether you support the independence movement or not, with independent rule, things will be different for the former colonies. But is "different" not what we are fighting for? French Polynesia is a truly unique location, replete with culture, history, and traditions. As of the last census in 2012, the population in French Polynesia was measured as 268,270 people. The Society Island group is a combination of the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands and the Austral Islands. Among those 118 islands and atolls, 67 are inhabited. The top exports for the territory are vanilla, noni juice, and the famous Tahitian black pearls. The pearls accounted for 55% of the islands exports (for value) in 2008. The only official language of French Polynesia is French. The majority religion for the area is Christianity, with Protestant denominations being the majority. The motto of the islands is: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité"
The first European contact with one of the islands came in 1521 with the travels of Ferdinand Magellan. Various French and English explorers came to the islands between the 18th century and the mid 19th century. The reigning King Pomare II was forced to flee the islands in 1803. In 1842, France recognized Tahiti as a French Protectorate, after their Catholic missionaries were forcibly expelled from the island in 1834. In 1880, France officially annexed Tahiti, making it a colony rather than a protectorate. The protectorate status was instead extended to the surrounding islands that make up French Polynesia today. Between 1885 and 1903, the islands were given a governor and general assembly, issued postage stamps, and the name was changed to Établissements Français de l'Océanie, meaning French Establishments in Oceania. In 1940, French Polynesia formally recognized the Free French Forces and many Polynesians proudly served in the World War. By 1946, Polynesians were given full French Citizenship and the islands became an overseas territory. In 1957, the name of the islands became French Polynesia as we know today. Beginning in 1962, the Moruroa Atoll was used for nuclear testing causing much protest. In 2003, French Polynesia gained full overseas collectivity status. In the 2007 French presidential election, French Polynesian voters gave the most support to Nicolas Sarkozy, who won the election. This trend, seeing as most Sarkozy supporters were anti-independence, suggested that French Polynesia has no plans for an independence referendum just yet. Only time may tell what is yet in store for the small collectivity. New Caledonia is a land rich in history. In matters of population, New Caledonia rests at 268,767 people (last measured in 2014). New Caledonia is made up of the Chesterfield Islands, the Loyalty Islands, the Isle of Pines, and Grande Terre. The islands are known for their bounty of sandalwood, as well as their very unique variety of local flora and fauna. New Caledonia also contains 25% of the World's nickel resources. French is the majority spoken language and Christianity is the dominant religion. The motto of New Caledonia is "Land of speech, land of sharing". The earliest European contact with the islands was made by James Cook in 1774. He titled it "New Caledonia" after the east coast of the island reminded him of Scotland. In 1853 Febvrier Despointes, an admiral of France, officially took possession of New Caledonia and founded Port-de-France (Now Noumea). The island was used by France as a penal colony, with over 10,000 prisoners hosted there. Many of the prisoners were Communards arrested from the failed French Commune. In 1878, High Chief Atal led a bloody war that ended with 200 dead Frenchmen and 1000 dead natives. In 1940, the general council of New Caledonia declared the colonies support for Free France. The Pro-Vichy governor was deposed and exiled to French Indochina. By 1942, the islands became a prominent staging base for the American Navy and Army in the South Pacific, the island owing to the victory at the Battle for the Coral Sea. During 1946, New Caledonia's status was upgraded to "overseas dependency". By 1953, French citizenship was extended to all New Caledonian citizens. The Noumea Accord was signed in 1998, marking a slow transfer of power from the French to the local Caledonians. When the Noumea Accords expire in 2018, New Caledonia is set to hold an independence referendum, where they will decide if they want full control of government, or have the French retain their current role in leading. A special thank you goes out to Julius D. for the suggestions to my blog. Thank you for your support! Hello blog followers! I am Tom Hodek, the moderator and author of this blog. This blog was created for the purpose of lending exposure to the issues of French Polynesia and Caledonia not being able to govern themselves, and also to the inherent beauty of the islands. It will be an interesting journey, and I will be glad for you all to accompany me!
|
Tom HodekHi! My name is Thomas Hodek and I am the author of this site. This is an active project for an English course I am enrolled in. I am an American student and award-winning actor. My goal with this site is to spread awareness of the plight of the French colonies, which are not yet autonomous. A side note: This blog is very much a work in progress, so be patient with it! Archives
November 2016
Categories |