About Micronesia

If you haven't heard of the Micronesian islands, you're not alone. Federated States of Micronesia (commonly known simply as Micronesia or FSM) is a nation that is not readily known or seen on maps. With a population of only about 108,000 (est. 2005) these small (Micro) islands (Greek root - nesia) located in the North Pacific Ocean are represented as dots on most world maps. They are located 3,200 mi (5,150 km) west-southwest of Hawaii, in the north Pacific Ocean, East of the Philippines and South West of the Hawaiian islands. The closest better known Pacific islands include Guam (U.S. Territory), Palau (site of the television series Survivor), Samoa (down in the South Pacific), and obviously the Hawaiian islands (up North).

geography

Comprised of the states of Chuuk (formerly Truk), Yap, Pohnpei (formerly Ponape), and Kosrae (formerly Kusaie), the Micronesian islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low coral atolls, with volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk. The nation is spread up over the Pacific ocean from the equator to 14 degrees North latitude and 136 and 166 East longitude.

Total area: 271 sq mi (702 sq km). Land area, same (includes islands of Pohnpei, Yap, Chuuk, and Kosrae).

Most states in the FSM are comprised of tiny coral islands scattered hundreds of miles from the main commercial centers where hospitals, airports, libraries, and other resources are available. Commonly known as "outer islands," these islands have very little contact with the outside world except for the occasional government-run boat that comes twice a year. A select few outer islands may have a small airfield built by the government to support those groups of islands. The largest number of these outer islands are located in the State of Chuuk.

history

The native Micronesians were believed to have settled the islands over 4,000 years ago. There are of course many conclusions as to the origins of the indigenous people, but most commonly conclude that they are of Polynesian descent. With over 4 completely different languages spoken for the most part in each of the four states in Micronesia, the "official" language has changed with the long history of colonialization in these islands.

Having been occupied by foreign governments for such a long time has had an adverse effect on the self-identity of the people. The islands were first colonized by Spain in the 17th century and subsequently named The Caroline Islands. They were sold to Germany in 1898, occupied by the Japanese in 1914, and then "liberated" by the American forces from the Japanese during World War II.

On April 2, 1947, the United Nations Security Council created the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands which placed the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan, Tinian, Rota), the Caroline Islands (Truk, Pohnpei, Yap, Kosrae, Palau), and the Marshall Islands under the administration of the United States. Most of these island nations went on to assume self-government leaving the remaining four smaller islands (or "districts") to form what is now known as the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

On May 10, 1979, these four "districts" in the Trust Territory ratified a new constitution to form what is the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). District representatives were elected to form the first congress who negotiated the terms of the treaty called the Compact of Free Association until 1983 when it was passed by the people. Three years later, in November, 1986, the U.S. government granted the FSM full independence with economic and security assistance from the U.S. federal government (U.S. Public Law 99-239, Compact of Free Assoc. Act of 1985, 48 USC 1681 note. 59 Stat. 1031)

The FSM became a member of the world community when it was admitted to the United Nations on Sept. 17, 1991. Today, the FSM has established diplomatic relations with over 50 countries.

education

Although education is compulsive in Micronesia, the resources are usually concentrated in the main commercial centers. The outer islands normally have an elementary school that would have anywhere from 30 - 80 students with very poorly trained teachers. Every year the entire island communities hold traditional feast to celebrate the rite of passage of young men and women as they leave the shores of these remote islands to attend high schools on the main centers and sometimes college. It isn't uncommon for 12-14 year old students to leave the outer islands in search of educational opportunities and not return for up to 10 years. Usually these overcrowded public schools don't adequately prepare students for college as their counterpart in the private schools do. A few outer island students are lucky enough to receive private and state scholarships to attend college; most can't afford it.

..............

Also visit the official website for the government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) http://www.fsmgov.org