Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Capital: Funafuti.

Language: Tuvaluan, English.

Currency: Dollar Tuvaluan and Australian dollar.

Extension: 26 KM2

Population: 11,922 inhabitants.

Time zone: UTC +12.



After the Vatican is the independent nation with fewer inhabitants. It is also a member of the United Nations with fewer people. Because of its low elevation (up to 5 m), the islands of this nation are threatened by any future increase in sea level. The population can be evacuated during the next decades to New Zealand, or Niue, a tiny Pacific island (independent but associated with New Zealand) that is not threatened by rising sea levels, but has a low birth rate. Its climate is tropical marine, moderated by easterly trade winds from March to November, the remaining months with abundant rainfall and vegetation typically consists of palm trees.

• General: Geography:As one of the smallest countries in the world, in fact, the smaller room, Tuvalu also has very poor lands. No drinking water, and earth is scarcely usable for agriculture. Although technically Tuvalu has no administrative subdivision of the population is too small (estimated at 11,000 in 2004) - the country can be divided into 9 islands, or rather atolls halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Originally, only eight of these islands were inhabited, hence the name Tuvalu which means "eight islands" Tuvaluan language. The nine islands are: Funafuti, Nanumea, Nanumanga, Niutao, Niu, Niulakita, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae and Vaitupu.



  In 2001 the government of Tuvalu said that the islands, of which the highest point is 5 meters, would be evacuated in case of sea level rise.

New Zealand has agreed to accept an annual quota of 75 evacuees, while Australia refused requests, probably because of their rejection of the Kyoto Protocol.



Economy: Tuvalu dollar has the same value as the Australian dollar, which also circulates in the islands (in 2002, 1.84 Australian dollars equaled one U.S. dollar). The economy, the least dynamic of any independent state in the world, is based on subsistence farming, raising pigs and poultry and fish is increasingly important, although the only export is copra (coconut pith used for oil extraction). Much of government revenues derived from the sale of stamps and coins, foreign investment and income refer migrants working abroad underpin the economy.

This was a very important shot in 2000 after the release of the letters of enrollment (TV, which had been granted a year earlier by the International Telecommunication Union) for use on the Internet, a U.S. company. Tuvalu has an airport and a port of entry, both on the atoll of Funafuti, and only 8 miles of unpaved road.



History: Tuvalu, inhabited since the early first millennium BC
was discovered by the Spanish in 1568, with the arrival of Alvaro de Mendana and Neyra. Slave traders and whalers often visited the islands. In 1892, the islands became a British protectorate of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The protectorate became a colony in 1915.
 The ancestors of Tuvaluan people are believed to have arrived on the islands about 2000 years ago. Under the leadership of chiefs, known as 'Aliki', traditional Tuvaluan society continued for hundreds of years before it underwent significant changes with the arrival of European traders in the 1820's.
Even greater changes took places when the Samoan Pastor of the London Missionaries Society arrived in the 1860's. Tuvaluans soon embraced the new faith and virtually all of the people are now Christians, mostly Protestants. Religion plays an important part in everyday life, although much of the previous culture and traditions are retained.
Tuvalu (then known as the Ellice Islands) first came under British jurisdiction in 1877. In 1892 Tuvalu became as a colony. In 1975, following over-whelming support for separation in accordance to referendum held the previous year, the country became an independent constitutional monarchy and the 38th member of the commonwealth on October 1, 1978.
Tuvalu is classified by the United Nations as one of the world's peaceful least developed countries. Tuvalu has recently been accepted and elected as the 189th Member State of the United Nations for the New Millennium.

Tourism:One of the smallest and most remote nations in the world, this unspoiled corner of the Pacific offers a peaceful, and non-commercialized environment that is ideal for rest and relaxation.

The spectacular marine environment consisting of a vast expanse of ocean interspersed with atolls, magnificent lagoons, coral reefs and small islands all provide a unique South Seas area.

In Tuvalu you will discover a distinctive Polynesian culture of atoll island people who vigorously maintain their unique social organization, art, crafts, architecture, music, dance and legends.

New Zealand

New Zealand

Population: New Zealand is an English speaking country in the South Pacific with a population of just over 4 million people. The original people of NZ are the 'Maori' who live side by side with the 'Pakeha' (settlers of European descent) and people of many other ethnicities. New Zealand people refer to themselves as 'Kiwi' regardless of their origin. New Zealand people have a reputation for being friendly, creative and independent.

Geography: 

 The country consists of 2 main Islands, the North Island and South Island with over 15,000km of coast. The natural environment includes farm land, mountains, lakes and sea. New Zealand has some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, and due to the size it is easy to travel around New Zealand and discover natural wonders.

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Summer from December to February and winter from June – August. Average temperature decreases the further South you travel. Most cities are located close to the coast which means generally mild temperatures and New Zealand consists of two main islands, The North Island and The South Island, along with a number of smaller kilometres of land. The main centres are Auckland, Wellington,Christchurch, Rotorua, Queenstown and Dunedin. The three main islands stretch 1,500 km, across latitudes 34° to 47° south. Moderate rain. Wellington is the Capital City.

Economy: The New Zealand economy is dependant on primary industries with products including dairy products, lamb, wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables, wool, beef and fish. Core industries in New Zealand include food processing, wine, wood and paper products, textiles and machinery as well as tourism. New Zealand has gained a reputation as a world leader in agritecnology and has a strong emerging biotechnology sector. 

World Fame: New Zealand is a leading destination for adventure tourism, which combines the unique diversity of the New Zealand landscape with innovative tourism offerings for tourists looking for an adrenalin rush. New Zealand is also known as the first country in the world to give women the right to vote and for being Nuclear Free.  has one of the most amazing landscapes on the planet; primeval forests, endless sandy beaches, rugged coastlines, snow-capped mountain peaks, bubbling volcanic pools, fast-flowing rivers and glacier-fed lakes.

 

The spectacular landscape, temperate climate and fascinating range of animal and plant life, have made it a number one destination for nature lovers from all over the globe. Not many countries have such different landscapes, environments and ecosystems all so close to each other.

New Zealand is home to the world's heaviest insect, theWeta, some unique flightless birds, like the Kiwi and even a living Dinosaur, the Tuatara. The native wildlifehere is truly unique.

Whether you're out in the rugged wilderness areas of the natural parks or in some of the perfectly manicured private gardens, you'll find an amazing range of native plants found nowhere else on earth. 

New Zealand has a mild climate. There's high rainfall on the west coast, but lots of sunshine. The summers get hot. In spring an autumn the colours are fantastic .

Singapore

     Singapore 

• Country: Singapore
• Continent: Sudoeste Asiatic
• Population:  4.740.737
• Population origin: The History of Singapore commences when the island of Temasek was renamed Singapore ("Lion City") in the fourteenth century. In the same century, under the command of Prince Parameswara, Singapore is growing in importance with the creation of a seaport, which was destroyed in 1613 by Portuguese pirates.
  The modern history of Singapore began in 1819 when Englishman Thomas Stamford Raffles built a British port that will allow the island to become an important commercial centre with India and China, and is a prestigious trading post in Southeast Asia, making it a prominent port city.
• Official Language: Mandarin Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English co-exist as official languages ​​in Singapore
• Weather: Singapore boasts a warm and sunny tropical climate with temperatures rarely drop ever 20 degrees C (mean minimum temperatures are around 23.9 º C and maximum of about 30.9 ºC).
  
  The heat combined with occasional showers. The rainy season corresponds to the last months of the year.  Relative humidity is quite high.

·       Flora and fauna: Singapore has about 60 species of mammals, 365 species of birds, 107 species of reptiles and 28 species of amphibians.

Central Nature Reserve and the nearby collection of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is the bulwark of the forest animals left in the continent. The latter is the only primary forest left on the island, while the former is a great secondary forest.  The northeast of the offshore islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekongare are also rich in wildlife.

Kenya

Kenya

COUNTRY: Kenyia

Continent: African Continent

Population: 34.707.817

Language original: Suajili and English

Weather: a changing climate

Flora and fauna: Many visitor to Kenya come to see the vast array of fauna. The country boasts more than 80 major species of animals and over 1000 species of birds. lion The historical and economic ties to wildlife run deep, and concerted efforts are being made to preserve the balance of animals in nature. Prevention of poaching and the conservation of endangered species are points of emphasis for the government. Tourism and sarfaris in Kenya provide not only the opportunity to see these animals in their natural environment, but to assist them in their fight for survival.
During the dry season vistitors to Kenya's savannahs and deserts may think the country is void of any variety of flora. The plants appear dry and the grasses are a dull yellow. But only a few months later after the rains, the landscape explodes with color. Grasses turn a bright green and flowers appear everywhere. Along rivers the vegetation is lush, and dense forests cover the mountains. Agriculture in the countryside is diverse thanks to a moderate climate. Thousands of species of plant life may be found in Kenya. Some are indigenous, but many have been introduced. From September to November, visitors to Nairobi will see a city colored by the purple blossoms of the jacaranda from South America. During the 19th century, the British introduced many flowering species. Today, Kenya is home to gardens boasting plants from around the world.

History: The colonial history of Kenya begins with the establishment of a German protectorate over the coastal possessions of the Sultanof Zanzibar in 1885, followed by the arrival of British East Africa Company in 1888. Incipient imperial rivalry ended when Germany made its coastal possessions Britain in 1890, provided that it respected their hold on their newly acquired possessions in today's Tanzania.

Main Cities: Nairobi Malindi, Lamui , NyerI Nairobi

United Kingdom

United Kingdom of Great Britain

Country: Great Britain
Continent: located off the north-western coast of continental Europe.
Population: 61.284.806
Population Origin: Old English.
Official language/s: official language is English.
Weather: It mild and oceanic
Flora and Fauna: Foxes, Rabbits, Deer, Hedgehogs, Mice, Weasels and Shrews.
History: On May 1,1701, the Kingdom of Great Britain was created by the political union between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. This event was the result of the Treaty of Union signed on July 22, 1706 and ratified by the English and Scottish parliaments to create the 1707 Act of Union. Almost a century later, the Kingdom of Ireland merged with the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as stipulated in the Act of Union of 1800.
In its first century of existence, the country played an important role in the development of Western ideas about the parliamentary system plus it made contributions to literature, arts and science. After the defeat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in the economic power of the nineteenth century and remained an eminent power into the twentieth century. The capital, London was the world´s largest city from 1831 to 1925.

Main Cities:

Londres,Birmingham,Glasgow,Liverpool,Edimburgo,Leeds,Sheffield,Manchester,Bristol,Cardiff, Leicester, Bradford, Coventry, Kingston upon Hull, Belfast, Plymouth, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Wolverhampton and Nottingham.

Background Information

As the British Empire began its process of decolonization and the creation of independent states from former British colonies, there arose a need for an organization of countries formerly part of the Empire. In 1884, Lord Rosebery, a British politician, described the changing British Empire as a "Commonwealth of Nations."

Thus, in 1931, the British Commonwealth of Nations was founded under the Statute of Westminster with five initial members - the United Kingdom, Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, and the Union of South Africa. (Ireland permanently left the Commonwealth in 1949, Newfoundland became part of Canada in 1949, and South Africa left in 1961 due to apartheid but rejoined in 1994 as the Republic of South Africa).

In 1946, the word "British" was dropped and the organization became known as simply the Commonwealth of Nations. Australia and New Zealand adopted the Statute in 1942 and 1947, respectively. With India's independence in 1947, the new country desired to become a Republic and to not utilize the monarchy as their head of state. The London Declaration of 1949 modified the requirement that members must view the monarchy as their head of state to require that countries recognize the monarchy as simply the leader of the Commonwealth.

With this adjustment, additional countries joined the Commonwealth as they gained independence from the United Kingdom so today there are fifty-four member countries. Of the fifty-four, thirty-three are republics (such as India), five have their own monarchies (such as Brunei Darussalam), and sixteen are a constitutional monarchy with the sovereign of the United Kingdom as their head of state (such as Canada and Australia).

Although membership requires having been a former dependency of the United Kingdom or a dependency of a dependency, former Portuguese colony Mozambique became a member 1995 under special circumstances due to Mozambique's willingness to support the Commonwealth's fight against apartheid in South Africa.