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Marshall Islands, TheThe Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, located north of Nauru and Kiribati, east of the Federated States of Micronesia and south of the U.S. island of Wake.
HistoryWhile settled by Micronesians in the 2nd millennium BC, little is known of the early history of the islands. Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar was the first European to sight the Marshalls, but the islands remained virtually unvisited by Europeans for several more centuries, before being visited by English captain John Marshall in 1788; the islands owe their name to him. A German trading company settled on the islands in 1885, and they became part of the protectorate of German New Guinea some years later. Japan conquered the islands in World War I, and administered them as a League of Nations mandate. In World War II, the United States invaded the islands (1944), and they were added to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (including several more island groups in the South Sea). The U.S. started conducting nuclear tests on the islands immediately after the war, continuing until the 1960s. Many Marshallese suffered from high radiation levels because of this, and compensation claims still continue to this day. In 1979 the Republic of the Marshall Islands was established and a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. government was signed, becoming effective in 1986. The independence was formally completed under international law in 1990, when the UN officially ended the trust given to the USA. PoliticsThe Marshallese president is both head of state and head of government. The president, who is elected by and from the members of the Nitijela (parliament), appoints his own cabinet. Elections for the parliament, which has 33 seats, are held every four years. Municipalities   The Marshall Islands are divided into 24 legislative districts, which correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls of the country. See Geography. GeographyThe country consists of 29 atolls and 5 isolated islands. The most important atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains). Two-thirds of the nation's population lives on Majuro (which is also the capital) and Ebeye. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and economic development. The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November. The islands occasionally suffer from typhoons.
EconomyUnited States Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid. Negotiations were underway in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties caused GDP to fall in 1996-98. DemographicsThe Marshallese are of Micronesian origin and migrated from Asia several thousand years ago. Although English is an official language and is spoken widely, Marshallese is used by the government. Japanese is also widely spoken in many areas of Marshall Islands. Virtually all Marshallese are Christian, most of them Protestant. However, they were traditional tribal groups ages ago. Then, Christian missionaries came along and caused great turmoil among them. CultureAlthough now in decline, the Marshallese were once able navigators, using the stars and stick and shell charts. They are also experienced in canoe building. Miscellaneous topics
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