MARSHALL ISLANDS

Planet earth is uniue in all the universe for its abundance and variety of animals, every one of which should be protected

Please use our INDEX to navigate this site 

 

 

 

Map of the Pacific Islands, showing the partner governments to a Blue Bond, that is to enable the stability of transportation and move away from fossil fuels.

 

 

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands is an island country and a United States associated state near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the International Date Line. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia. The country's population of 53,158 people (at the 2011 Census) is spread out over 29 coral atolls, comprising 1,156 individual islands and islets. The capital and largest city is Majuro.

The islands share maritime boundaries with the Federated States of Micronesia to the west, Wake Island to the north, Kiribati to the southeast, and Nauru to the south. About 52.3% of Marshall Islanders (27,797 at the 2011 Census) live on Majuro. Data from the United Nations indicates an estimated population in 2016 of 53,066. In 2016, 73.3% of the population were defined as being "urban". The UN also indicates a population density of 295 per km2 (765 people per mi2) and its projected 2020 population is 53,263.

Micronesian colonists reached the Marshall Islands using canoes circa 2nd millennium BC, with interisland navigation made possible using traditional stick charts. They eventually settled here. Islands in the archipelago were first explored by Europeans in the 1520s, starting with Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer in the service of Spain, Juan Sebastián Elcano and Miguel de Saavedra. Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar reported sighting an atoll in August 1526. Other expeditions by Spanish and English ships followed. The islands derive their name from John Marshall, who visited in 1788. The islands were historically known by the inhabitants as "jolet jen Anij" (Gifts from God).

Spain claimed the islands in 1592, and the European powers recognized its sovereignty over the islands in 1874. They had been part of the Spanish East Indies formally since 1528. Later, Spain sold some of the islands to the German Empire in 1885, and they became part of German New Guinea that year, run by the trading companies doing business in the islands, particularly the Jaluit Company. In World War I the Empire of Japan occupied the Marshall Islands, which in 1920, the League of Nations combined with other former German territories to form the South Pacific Mandate. During World War II, the United States took control of the islands in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign in 1944. Nuclear testing began on Bikini Atoll in 1946 and concluded in 1958.

The US government formed the Congress of Micronesia in 1965, a plan for increased self-governance of Pacific islands. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1979 provided independence to the Marshall Islands, whose constitution and president (Amata Kabua) were formally recognized by the US. Full sovereignty or self-government was achieved in a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Marshall Islands has been a member of the Pacific Community (SPC) since 1983 and a United Nations member state since 1991. Politically, the Marshall Islands is a presidential republic in free association with the United States, with the US providing defense, subsidies, and access to U.S.-based agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission and the United States Postal Service. With few natural resources, the islands' wealth is based on a service economy, as well as some fishing and agriculture; aid from the United States represents a large percentage of the islands' gross domestic product. The country uses the United States dollar as its currency. In 2018, it also announced plans for a new cryptocurrency to be used as legal tender.

The majority of the citizens of the Republic of Marshall Islands, formed in 1982, are of Marshallese descent, though there are small numbers of immigrants from the United States, China, Philippines, and other Pacific islands. The two official languages are Marshallese, which is one of the Malayo-Polynesian languages; and English. Almost the entire population of the islands practices some religion: three-quarters of the country follows either the United Church of Christ – Congregational in the Marshall Islands (UCCCMI) or the Assemblies of God.

 

 

 

Map of the Marshall Islands

 

 

2019 PACIFIC BLUE SHIPPING PARTNERSHIP

 

The Pacific Coalition know as the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership includes the Governments of: Fiji, Marshall, Samoan, Solomon, Tuvalu and Vanuatu Islands, as announced on Tuesday 24th September 2019. The Partnership has set an emissions reduction target of 40% by 2030, and full decarbonisation by 2050. There are as yet limited practical solutions to solve the coalition's aims.

 

The region imports 95% of its fossil fuels. Imported petroleum accounts for an average of 40% of GDP in Pacific island countries, with the transport sector the largest fuel user.

 

In archipelago states of small island populations spread over vast ocean distances, sea travel is vital for linking communities and for economic development. The lack of regular connectivity between islands is a major constraint on domestic, social and economic development and on international trade. This represents a challenge that falls within scope of the Horizon 2020 call for proposal in September 2019.

 

Dr Peter Nuttall, a scientific and technical adviser for the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport at the University of the South Pacific, told the Guardian that shipping was the “absolute lifeline” of any Pacific community.

“Without shipping, our economies die, our people can’t survive. In places like the Solomon Islands or the Marshall Islands, 80% to 90% of all goods arrive by ship. We have the most expensive shipping in the world, the longest transport routes, and the worst ships.”

He said the Pacific was acutely vulnerable to oil shocks, citing examples from remote Pacific islands where critical services, such as visits by health professionals, had to be abandoned because fuel prices were too high.

Dr Nuttall said the Pacific “cannot wait for the rest of the world. We have to bespoke design a Pacific solution if it is going to work, not leave the Pacific to languish.

 

We’re running the biggest risk. The Pacific did nothing to cause climate change, but we’re about to get smashed by it. What is it we can practically do to make people’s lives better now? We know the answers, and we don’t have time to wait.”

 

 

 

2019 - Pacific Island coalition seeks zero carbon shipping.

 

 

In preserving the Marshall islands natural heritage ..

 

 

 

ZEV - End view of a zero emission container ship that is designed for long distance runs and payloads of 120 tonnes. Ideal for economical transport with adding to global warming

A zero carbon container ship prototype design for Pacific island transport

 

ZEV - Side and plan views of a zero carbon container ship that is powered only by the sun and wind. The design features autonomous tracking of the light and wind energy using computers, to enhance energy harvesting.

 

 

LINKS:

 

 

 

WORLD GEOGRAPHY

 

 

 

Adelaide

Aden - Yemen

Africa

Alaska

Amsterdam

Antarctic

Argentina

Athens

Australia

Austria

Aztecs - Mexico

Bangladesh

Beachy Head, England

Belgium

Berlin

Bonneville, Utah, USA

Brazil

Brighton - West Pier

Canada

Canary Islands

Cape York - Au

Cayman Islands

Chichester Harbour

China

Columbo - Sri Lanka

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechoslovakia

Darwin - Australia

Denmark

Eastbounre Pier, England

Earthquakes

Egypt

Equator

Europe

Falmouth, Cornwall

Fiji

Finland

France

Galapagos Islands

Geography Links

Geography Records

Geography Resources

Geography Statistics

Germany

Gibraltar - Links

 

 

Greece

Greenland

Hawaii

Holland the Nertherlands

Hollywood, California, LA

Hong Kong

Hungary

Hurricanes

Iceland

India

Indonesia Links

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Isle of Man

Isle of Wight - The Needles

Israel

Italy

Jakarta - Java

Japan

Kent, England

Korea

Kuwait

Life on Earth

London - Big Ben

London Eye

London Houses Parliament

London - Buckingham Palace

London - Old Bailey

London - Overview

London - The City

London - Tower Bridge

London - Trafalgar Square

Luxembourg

Marshall

Maya Empire - Central America

Melbourne, Australia

Mexico

Monaco

Mountains

Naples- Italy

National Geographic

New York

New Zealand

Norway

Oceans and Seas

Pakistan

Palermo - Sicily

 

 

Palma - Malorca

Panama Canal - Links

Paris

Planet Earth

Poland

Port Moresby - PNG

Port Said - Egypt

Portugal

Rome

Russia

Salt Lake City - Utah USA

Samoa

Saudi Arabia

Scotland

Singapore

Solomon Islands

South America

Southampton

Spain - Espana

Sri Lanka - Links

Stonehenge

Suez Canal

Sussex, England Index

Sweden

Switzerland

Tahiti - Polynesia - Links

Taiwan

Tokyo, Japan

Tonga - Polynesia

Trinidad - Lesser Antilles

Tsunami

Tunbridge Wells, England

Turkey

Tuvalu

UAE - United Arab Emirates

UK Statistics

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United Kingdom - Gov

USA

Vanuatu

Venice

Vienna

Vietnam

Volcanoes

Wales

Washington D.C.

Wealden iron industry

World Peace Supporters

 

 

 

 

 

 

This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2019.  The bird logos and name Solar Navigator are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.   Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.

 

 AUTOMOTIVE  |  ELECTRIC CARS  |  SOLAR CARS