There is a lack of consensus surrounding their exact origins and migration patterns but they are distinct from Aboriginal Australians despite the frequent contact.
The Polynesian people consist of various ethnic groups that speak Polynesian languages, a branch of the Oceanic languages. Despite the large geographic area Polynesian cultures tend to be rooted in the same beliefs and the Polynesian languages form a cohesive family.
The native Polynesian people of New Zealand and Hawaii are minorities in their homelands. Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, composed of thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a shared cultural history with the two other island regions, Polynesia to the east and Melanesia to the south.
The region has a tropical marine climate, and is part of the Oceania ecozone. There are four main archipelagos along with numerous outlying islands. Soil erosion from destructive wave activity, frequent storm surges, and landslides have resulted in land loss to many Pacific Island communities. The tourism and extraction industries are widespread in the Pacific region and contribute towards economic security for many of the islands.
However, these two industries also present many challenges as well, particularly in regards to extreme environmental degradation, such as bleaching of the coral reefs. Faced with high secondary school drop-out rates, the Skills and Employment for Tongans Project is supporting the Tongan government to implement a cash transfer program to assist households in keeping their children in secondary school.
In Solomon Islands, this energy work includes the major Tina River Hydro Development Project , as well as investments in grid-connected solar , which which will more than double the amount of grid connected solar on the Honiara electricity network.
Pacific Island countries are confronted with the worst impacts of climate change, and are some of the most vulnerable countries to disasters in the world. Through this program, Tonga and Vanuatu received insurance payouts in the immediate aftermath of Cyclones Ian Tonga, , Pam Vanuatu, , Gita Tonga, and Harold Tonga and Vanuatu, to help the countries rebuild and repair.
And when disasters strike, the World Bank provides expertise to quickly assess damages, including following cyclones Pam Vanuatu, , Winston Fiji, and Gita Tonga, Most recently, in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Tino February , the World Bank provided emergency support to Tuvalu to assist with response and recovery efforts. In Kiribati, a program is working with communities to better prepare them for the impacts of climate change , including building rainwater tanks for remote communities as sea-level rise and drought have left many drinking wells contaminated.
Agriculture projects, like the Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project , have supported crop and livestock farmers to improve their productivity and take advantage of market opportunities.
Important achievements of the Samoa project include the importation of new sheep and cattle breeds to improve livestock production, and the introduction of new fruit and vegetable varieties to boost yields and diversify local diets. Digital development of the region through the Pacific Regional Connectivity Project is reducing the cost and increasing the availability of information and communication technology services needed to support social and economic development in the Pacific.
World Bank-funded transport infrastructure continues to improve life across the Pacific Islands. In , the Kiribati Road Rehabilitation Project opened an improved road network, including works on the only main road through South Tarawa used by the entire population of 50, people. The project is the largest infrastructure investment in the country since World War II. Additionally, the World Bank has provided considerable support to the development or redevelopment of major airports and other aviation infrastructure in Kiribati , Samoa , Tonga , Tuvalu , and Vanuatu.
In Vanuatu, a project approved in January is working on critical upgrades to 65 kilometers of road on the island of Espiritu Santo. In Samoa, work is underway on the West Coast Road, to connect the capital Apia with the international airport and inter-island port. The Improved Electricity Access Project , together with local service providers, own subsidized electricity connection programs that have enabled 4, low-income families to access the electricity grid.
A similar project in Solomon Islands has enabled 12, connections to low-income households, community infrastructure and microenterprises in urban and rural areas. Solomon Islands has some of the highest electricity costs in the world, which is a major roadblock to growth and poverty reduction. To support social protection and jobs in Solomon Islands the Solomon Islands Rapid Employment Project has provided short-term employment and training for urban youth and women in the capital, Honiara.
Of the Pacific Island nations, only New Zealand is classified as a developed country. Kiribati , Samoa , Solomon Islands, Tuvalu , and Vanuatu are classified as least-developed countries and the remaining nations are classified as developing.
Eight of the ten most obese countries in the world are Pacific Island nations, a problem attribute to the influence of Western settlers, who taught them to fry their foods and import more process, less healthy food products. The islands are also small in size and have limited natural resources, narrowly-based economies, are far from major markets, and are vulnerable to external shocks. Most Pacific Island economies are developing and imports exceed exports for most nations.
Some islands are overseas territories of larger, developed nations, allowing them to receive aid, while other independent states receive help from other nations such as the United States , the United Kingdom , Australia, and New Zealand. Agriculture, fishing, and services are the three largest economic sectors overall in the region. Manufacturing is limited in most nations except for New Zealand.
0コメント