Tuvalu 30227 224972753 2008-07-11T07:05:08Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{otheruses}} {{Infobox Country |native_name = Tuvalu |common_name = Tuvalu |image_flag = Flag of Tuvalu.svg |image_coat = Coat of arms of Tuvalu.svg |image_map = LocationTuvalu.png |national_motto = {{lang|tvl|''"Tuvalu mo te Atua"''}}{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Tuvaluan language|Tuvaluan]])<br/>"Tuvalu for the Almighty"</small> |national_anthem = {{lang|tvl|''[[Tuvalu mo te Atua]]''}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(Tuvaluan)<br/>''Tuvalu for the Almighty''</small> |royal_anthem = ''[[God Save the Queen]]'' |official_languages = [[Tuvaluan language|Tuvaluan]], [[English language|English]] |demonym = Tuvaluan |capital = [[Funafuti]] |latd=8 |latm= 31|latNS=S |longd=179 |longm=13 |longEW=E |largest_city = |government_type = [[parliamentary system|Parliamentary]] [[representative democracy|Democracy]] with a [[Constitutional monarchy]] |leader_title1 = [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen]] |leader_name1 = [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] |leader_title2 = [[Governor General of Tuvalu|Governor General]] |leader_name2 = [[Filoimea Telito]] |leader_title3 = [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|Prime Minister]] |leader_name3 = [[Apisai Ielemia]] |sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |established_event1 = from the [[United Kingdom|UK]] |established_date1 = [[1 October]] [[1978]] |area_rank = 226th |area_magnitude = |area_km2 = 26 |area_sq_mi = 10 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |percent_water = negligible |population_estimate = 11,992 |population_estimate_rank = 222nd |population_estimate_year = July 2007 |population_census = |population_census_year = |population_density_km2 = 441 |population_density_sq_mi = 1,142 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |population_density_rank = 22nd |GDP_PPP = $14.94 million <!--cia.gov--> |GDP_PPP_rank = 228th <!--cia.gov--> |GDP_PPP_year = 2002 |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,600 <small>(2002 estimate)</small> |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 148th if ranked |HDI = n/a |HDI_rank = n/a |HDI_year = 2003 |HDI_category = <font color="gray">unranked</font> |currency = [[Tuvaluan dollar]]<br/>[[Australian dollar]] |currency_code = AUD |country_code = |time_zone = |utc_offset = +12 |time_zone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |cctld = [[.tv]] |calling_code = 688 |airport_code = FUN }} '''Tuvalu''' (IPA: [t:u:'valu]), formerly known as the '''Ellice Islands''', is a [[Polynesia]]n [[island nation]] located in the [[Pacific Ocean]] midway between [[Hawaii]] and [[Australia]]. Its nearest neighbours are [[Kiribati]], [[Samoa]] and [[Fiji]]. Comprising four reef islands and five true [[atoll]]s with a gross land area of just 26 [[square kilometer]]s (10&nbsp;[[square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]) it is the third-least populated independent country in the world, with only [[Vatican City]] and [[Nauru]] having fewer inhabitants. It is also the second-smallest member by population of the [[United Nations]]. In terms of physical land size, Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the [[Vatican City]]&mdash;0.44 km²; [[Monaco]]&mdash;1.95 km² and [[Nauru]]&mdash;21 km². The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people. The islands came under [[United Kingdom|Britain's]] sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands]] Colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974 the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became [[Kiribati]] upon independence. Tuvalu became fully independent within [[Commonwealth of Nations|The Commonwealth]] in 1978. == History == {{main|History of Tuvalu}} [[Image:Tuvalu costume.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Tuvaluan man in traditional costume drawn by [[Alfred Agate]] in 1841 during the [[United States Exploring Expedition|United States Navy Exploring Expedition]].]] Tuvaluans are a Polynesian people who settled the islands around 3000 years ago<ref name=Howe>{{cite book |last=Howe |first=Kerry |title=The Quest for Origins |year=2003 |publisher=Penguin |location=New Zealand |isbn=0-14-301857-4 |pages=68, 70 }}</ref> coming from Tonga and Samoa. During pre-European-contact times there was frequent canoe voyaging between the nearer islands. Eight of the 9 islands of Tuvalu were inhabited; thus the name, Tuvalu, means "eight standing together" in [[Tuvaluan language|Tuvaluan]]. Possible evidence of fire in the [[Caves of Nanumanga]] may indicate human occupation thousands of years before that. Tuvalu was first sighted by [[Europe]]ans in 1568 with the arrival of [[Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira]] from [[Spain]] who also encountered the island of [[Niue]] but was unable to land. No other Europeans turned up again until the late 1700s when other European explorers reached the area. By the early 1800s whalers were roving the Pacific though visiting Tuvalu only infrequently, because of the difficulties of landing ships on the atolls, and no settlements were established by them. Peruvian slave raiders ("[[blackbirding|blackbirders]]") combed the Pacific between 1862 and 1864 and Tuvalu was one of the hardest-hit Pacific island groups with over 400 people taken from [[Funafuti]] and [[Nukulaelae]], none of whom returned. In 1865 the [[London Missionary Society]], Protestant congregationalists, began their process of evangelisation of Tuvalu and the people's conversion to [[Christianity]] was complete by the 1920s{{Fact|date=June 2007}}. Also in the late 1800s, European traders began to live on the islands hoping to profit from local resources. [[Image:Nukufetauman1831.jpg|thumb|left|220px|A man from the [[Nukufetau]] atoll 1831]] In 1892 the islands became part of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[protectorate]] known as the Ellice Islands. The protectorate was incorporated into the [[Gilbert and Ellice Islands]] Colony in 1916. In 1943, during [[World War II]], Tuvalu was selected as an operations base for Allied forces battling the Japanese in the Pacific. Thousands of marines were stationed there until December 1945. In 1974 ethnic differences within the colony caused the [[Polynesia]]ns of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the [[Micronesia]]ns of the Gilbert Islands (to become [[Kiribati]]). The following year the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. Tuvalu Independence Day is celebrated on [[1 October]]. In 1979 Tuvalu signed a treaty of friendship with the [[United States]] that recognized Tuvalu's rightful possession of four small islands formerly claimed by the United States. As low-lying islands, lacking a surrounding shallow shelf, the island communities of Tuvalu are especially susceptible to changes in sea level and storm patterns that hit the island undissipated. It is estimated that a sea level rise of 20&ndash;40&nbsp;centimetres (8&ndash;16&nbsp;[[inches]]) in the next 100 years could make Tuvalu uninhabitable.<ref name = "Patel">Patel, S. S. 2006. [http://www.scidev.net/pdffiles/nature/tuvalu.pdf A sinking feeling] ''Nature'' 440:734-736</ref><ref>Hunter, J. A. 2002. [http://staff.acecrc.org.au/~johunter/tuvalu.pdf Note on Relative Sea Level Change at Funafuti, Tuvalu] URL Accessed 2006-05-13</ref> The [[South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission]] ([[SOPAC]]) suggests that while Tuvalu is vulnerable to climate change there are additional environmental problems such as population growth and poor coastal management that are affecting sustainable development on the island. [[SOPAC]] ranks the country as extremely vulnerable using the [[Environmental Vulnerability Index]].<ref>SOPAC. 2005. [http://www.vulnerabilityindex.net/EVI%20Country%20Profiles/TV.pdf Tuvalu - Environmental Vulnerability Index] URL Accessed 2006-05-13</ref> While some commentators have called for the relocation of the population of Tuvalu to Australia, New Zealand, or Kioa (Fiji), the former Prime Minister [[Maatia Toafa]] said his government did not regard rising sea levels as such a threat that the entire population would need to be evacuated.<ref>[http://www.pacificmagazine.net/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=20421 Political Parties Cautious On Tuvalu-Kioa Plan], ''Pacific Magazine'', February 21, 2006 URL Accessed 2006-05-13</ref><ref>[http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2006/2006-02-21.htm Kioa relocation not priority: Tuvalu PM], ''Tuvalu Online'', February 21 2006 URL Accessed 2006-05-13</ref> In spite of persistent Internet rumours that New Zealand has agreed to accept an annual quota of 75 evacuees, the annual residence quota of 75 Tuvaluans under the Pacific Access Category (and 50 places for people from Kiribati) replaced the previous Work Schemes from the two countries and are not related to environmental concerns. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=12740|title=Government announces Pacific access scheme}}</ref> == Politics == {{main|Politics of Tuvalu}} Tuvalu is a [[constitutional monarchy]] and [[Commonwealth realm]], with [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] recognised as the official Queen of Tuvalu. She is represented in Tuvalu by a [[Governor General of Tuvalu|Governor General]], who is appointed upon the advice of the Prime Minister. The local [[unicameral]] parliament, or ''Fale I Fono'', has 15 members and is elected every four years. Its members elect a [[Prime Minister]] who is the [[head of government]]. The Cabinet is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Some elders also exercise informal authority on a local level. There are no formal political parties and election campaigns are largely on the basis of personal/family ties and reputation. The highest court in Tuvalu is the High Court; there are eight Island Courts with limited jurisdiction. Rulings from the High Court can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Fiji. Tuvalu has no regular military forces, and spends no money on the military. Its police force includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance operations. The police have a [[Pacific-class patrol boat]] (''Te Mataili'') provided by [[Australia]] under the [[Pacific Patrol Boat Program]] for use in maritime surveillance and [[fishery]] patrol. The government of Tuvalu is represented in the [[United Kingdom]] by an honorary consul, based at [[Tuvalu House]], [[London]]. == Districts == [[Image:Tv-map.png|thumb|350px|right|Map of Tuvalu]] {{main|Islands of Tuvalu}} Tuvalu's small population is distributed across 9 islands, 5 of which are [[atoll]]s. The smallest island, Niulakita, was uninhabited until it was resettled by people from Niutao in 1949. Local government districts consisting of more than one islet: * '''[[Funafuti]]''' * '''[[Nanumea]] ''' * '''[[Nui]]''' * '''[[Nukufetau]]''' * '''[[Nukulaelae]]''' * '''[[Vaitupu]] ''' Local government districts consisting of only one island: * '''[[Nanumanga]]''' * '''[[Niulakita]]''' * '''[[Niutao]]''' {{Islands of Tuvalu}} ==Foreign relations== {{main|Foreign relations of Tuvalu}} Tuvalu maintains close relations with [[Fiji]], [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. It has diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan); [[Taiwan]] maintains the only resident embassy in Tuvalu and has a large assistance program in the islands. Tuvalu became a member of United Nations in 2000 and maintains a mission at the UN in New York. A major international priority for Tuvalu in the UN, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and in other international fora is promoting concern about global warming and possible sea level rise. Tuvalu advocates ratification and implementation of the [[Kyoto Protocol]]. It also is a member of the [[Asian Development Bank]]. Tuvalu is a party to a treaty of friendship with the [[United States]], signed soon after independence and ratified by the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] in 1983, under which the United States renounced prior territorial claims to four Tuvaluan islands under the [[Guano Act]]. <ref>[http://www.doi.gov/oia/Islandpages/disputedpage.htm DOI Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) - FORMERLY DISPUTED ISLANDS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == Geography == [[Image:Tuvalu Funafuti atoll beach.jpg|thumb|right|340px|A beach at Funafuti atoll on a sunny day.]] {{main|Geography of Tuvalu}} Tuvalu consists of four reef islands and five true [[atoll]]s. Its small, scattered group of atolls has poor soil and a total land area of only about 26 square kilometres (less than 10&nbsp;sq.&nbsp;mi.) making it the fourth smallest country in the world. The land is very low lying with narrow coral atolls. Funafuti is the largest atoll of the nine low reef islands and atolls that form the Tuvalu volcanic island chain. It comprises numerous islets around a central lagoon that is approximately 25.1 kilometres (15.6&nbsp;[[mile|mi]]) (N-S) by 18.4 kilometres (11.4&nbsp;mi) (W-E), centred on 179°7’E and 8°30’S. An annular reef rim surrounds the lagoon, with several natural reef channels. The highest elevation is five meters (16&nbsp;ft) above sea level, which gives Tuvalu the second-lowest maximum elevation of any country (after the [[Maldives]]). Because of this low elevation, the islands that make up this nation may be threatened by any future [[sea level rise]]. Under such circumstances, the population may evacuate to [[New Zealand]], [[Niue]] or the [[Fiji]]an island of [[Kioa]]. Additionally, Tuvalu is affected by what is known as a King Tide, which can raise the sea level higher than a normal [[high tide]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7203313.stm BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Tuvalu struggles to hold back tide<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In the future, this may threaten to submerge the nation entirely. Tuvalu has very poor land and the soil is hardly usable for [[agriculture]]. There is almost no reliable supply of [[drinking water]]. Tuvalu has westerly gales and heavy rain from November to March and tropical temperatures moderated by easterly winds from March to November. == Economy == {{main|Economy of Tuvalu}} <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Australian 100note front.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Australian Dollar]] is the currency of Tuvalu]] --> Tuvalu has almost no natural resources, and its main form of income consists of foreign aid. Virtually the only jobs in the islands that pay a steady wage or salary are with the government. Subsistence farming and fishing remain the primary economic activities, particularly off the capital island of Funafuti. Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins, fishing licenses and worker remittances. About 800 Tuvaluans previously worked in [[Nauru]] in the [[phosphate]] mining industry or aboard foreign ships as sailors. When phosphate mining ceased in Nauru, 378 Tuvaluans were stranded in the country until they were repatriated in 2006 by a joint program in which Australia, New Zealand, and the EU paid most of the cost of their return passage, and Taiwan paid the back wages they were owed.<ref>[http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/july/07%2D31%2D10.htm TUVALUANS STRANDED ON NAURU TO RETURN HOME - July 31, 2006<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Substantial income is received annually from an international [[trust (property)|trust fund]] established in 1987 by [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and the [[United Kingdom]] and supported also by [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]]. This fund grew from an initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The [[US government]] is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu, with 1999 payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries at about $9 million, a total which is expected to rise annually. In an effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including [[privatization]] of some government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenue from use of its area code for [[premium rate telephone number|"900" lines]] and from the sale of its "[[.tv]]" Internet domain name. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet [[domain name]] "[[.tv]]" for $50 million in royalties. However, the Canadian entrepreneur who negotiated the deal, Jason Chapnik, was unable to raise the $50 million in the contracted time period, and the contract eventually fell into other hands. Due to the country's remoteness, tourism does not provide much income; a hundred tourists are estimated to visit Tuvalu annually.<ref>[http://www.euromonitor.com/Travel_And_Tourism_in_Tuvalu Travel And Tourism in Tuvalu<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Almost all visitors are government officials, aid workers, non-governmental organization officials or consultants. <!--The [[Tuvaluan dollar]]--> Tuvalu allegedly participated in Japan's vote-buying scheme at the [[International Whaling Commission]] in 2006. Greenpeace maintains that vote-buying took place<ref>[http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/whaling/japan_vote_buying Japan's vote buying | Greenpeace International<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and Tuvalu was one of the countries to receive economic assistance from Japan in 2006<ref>[http://www.fj.emb-japan.go.jp/pr_Japan_Provides_Grant_Assistance_to_Tuvalu.html Japan Provides Grant Assistance to Tuvalu » Press Releases » Embassy of Japan in Fiji<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. == Demographics == {{main|Demographics of Tuvalu}} [[Image:Tuvaluwoman1894.jpg|thumb|right|240px|A woman from Tuvalu dated 1894]] The island population has more than doubled since 1980 and was estimated to reach 11,810 in July 2006.<ref name=CIA>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tv.html CIA World Fact Book] URL accessed 2006-05-13.</ref> The population of Tuvalu is primarily of [[Polynesia]]n ethnicity; about 4% of the population is [[Micronesian]]. About 97% of the Tuvaluans are members of the [[Church of Tuvalu]], a [[protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christianity|Christian]] church. The religion has been mixed with some elements of the indigenous religions. Other religions practised on the island include Seventh-Day Adventist (1.4%) and [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]] (1%).<ref name=CIA/> The [[Tuvaluan language]] is spoken by virtually everyone, while a language very similar to [[Gilbertese language|Gilbertese]] is spoken on Nui. English is also an official language, but is not spoken in daily use. Parliament and official functions are conducted in [[Tuvaluan]]. == Culture == The traditional community system still survives to a large extent on Tuvalu. Each family has its own task, or ''salanga'', to perform for the community, such as fishing, house building or defence. The skills of a family are passed on from father to son. A traditional sport played in Tuvalu is ''[[kilikiti]]'', which is similar to [[cricket]].<ref>Squires, N. April 1, 2006. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4864748.stm Testing time for tiny Tuvalu]. BBC News URL Accessed 2006-05-13</ref> Traditional music prior to European contact included poems performed in a sort of monotonal recitation, though this tradition has since become extinct {{Fact|date=February 2007}}, as well as [[work song]]s which the women performed to encourage the men while they worked. The most famous form of Tuvaluan dance music, ''[[fatele]]'', is influenced by European [[melody]] and [[harmony]] {{Fact|date=February 2007}} and is competitive, with each island divided into two sides {{Fact|date=February 2007}}. The two primary traditional dances of Tuvalu are the ''[[fakanu]]'' and ''[[fakaseasea]]''. Of these, the ''fakanu'' has since died out, though the ''fakaseasea'' lives on, performed only by elders {{Fact|date=February 2007}}. {{see also|Music of Tuvalu}} ==Transportation== * ''Main article: [[Transportation in Tuvalu]]'' [[Funafuti International Airport]] serves the country. == Miscellaneous topics == * [[Communications in Tuvalu]] * [[ISO 3166-2:TV]] == References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{sisterlinks|Tuvalu}} * [http://www.gov.tv Official Website of the Government of Tuvalu] * [http://www.tuvaluislands.com/ TuvaluIslands.com] * [http://www.timelesstuvalu.com/ Timeless Tuvalu] - The Official Travel Website of Tuvalu * [http://dmoz.org/Regional/Oceania/Tuvalu Open Directory Project - ''Tuvalu''] directory category * [http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2005/12/tuvalu_that_sin_1.html PBS Rough Cut: Tuvalu: That Sinking Feeling] * [http://www.alofatuvalu.tv Effects of Climate Change on Tuvalu] * [http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38695 Environment: Tiny Tuvalu Fights for Its Literal Survival] * [http://www.juriaanbooij.com The Sinking of Tuvalu] {{Polynesia}} {{Countries and territories of Oceania}} {{Austronesian-speaking}} {{Commonwealth Realms}} <!--Interwiki--> <!--Categories--> [[Category:Tuvalu| ]] [[Category:1978 establishments]] [[Category:Polynesia]] [[Category:Archipelagoes]] [[Category:Constitutional monarchies]] [[Category:Microstates]] [[Category:Island countries]] [[Category:Least Developed Countries]] [[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]] {{Link FA|fi}} <!--Other languages--> [[ar:توفالو]] [[an:Tuvalu]] [[frp:Tuvalu]] [[ast:Tuvalu]] [[zh-min-nan:Tuvalu]] [[be-x-old:Тувалу]] [[bs:Tuvalu]] [[br:Tuvalu]] [[bg:Тувалу]] [[ca:Tuvalu]] [[ceb:Tuvalu]] [[cs:Tuvalu]] [[cy:Twfalw]] [[da:Tuvalu]] [[de:Tuvalu]] [[dv:ތުވާލޫ]] [[et:Tuvalu]] [[el:Τουβαλού]] [[es:Tuvalu]] [[eo:Tuvalo]] [[eu:Tuvalu]] [[fa:تووالو]] [[fr:Tuvalu]] [[ga:Tuvalu]] [[gv:Tuvalu]] [[gd:Tubhalu]] [[gl:Tuvalu]] [[ko:투발루]] [[hr:Tuvalu]] [[io:Tuvalu]] [[bpy:টুভালু]] [[id:Tuvalu]] [[ia:Tuvalu]] [[os:Тувалу]] [[is:Túvalúeyjar]] [[it:Tuvalu]] [[he:טובאלו]] [[jv:Tuvalu]] [[pam:Tuvalu]] [[kn:ತುವಾಲು]] [[ks:टुवालु]] [[kk:Туалу]] [[kw:Tuvalu]] [[sw:Tuvalu]] [[ht:Touvalou]] [[ku:Tûvalû]] [[la:Tuvalu]] [[lv:Tuvalu]] [[lt:Tuvalu]] [[lij:Tuvalu]] [[hu:Tuvalu]] [[mk:Тувалу]] [[ml:തുവാലു]] [[ms:Tuvalu]] [[mn:Тувалу]] [[nah:Tuvalu]] [[na:Tubaru]] [[nl:Tuvalu]] [[ja:ツバル]] [[no:Tuvalu]] [[nn:Tuvalu]] [[oc:Tuvalu]] [[uz:Tuvalu]] [[ps:تووالو]] [[pms:Tuvalu]] [[nds:Tuvalu]] [[pl:Tuvalu]] [[pt:Tuvalu]] [[crh:Tuvalu]] [[ty:Tuvaru]] [[ksh:Tuvalu]] [[ro:Tuvalu]] [[qu:Tuwalu]] [[ru:Тувалу]] [[se:Tuvalu]] [[sa:टुवालु]] [[sco:Tuvalu]] [[sq:Tuvalu]] [[scn:Tuvalu]] [[simple:Tuvalu]] [[sk:Tuvalu]] [[sl:Tuvalu]] [[sr:Тувалу]] [[sh:Tuvalu]] [[fi:Tuvalu]] [[sv:Tuvalu]] [[tl:Tuvalu]] [[ta:துவாலு]] [[th:ประเทศตูวาลู]] [[vi:Tuvalu]] [[tg:Тувалу]] [[tpi:Tuvalu]] [[tr:Tuvalu]] [[uk:Тувалу]] [[ur:تووالو]] [[vo:Tuvaluäns]] [[wo:Tuvalu]] [[diq:Tuvalu]] [[zea:Tuvalu]] [[bat-smg:Tuvalu]] [[zh:圖瓦盧]]