Approximately 90% of the land area of Nauru is covered with phosphate deposits, with the majority strip-mined and non-arable. This has led to Nauruan reliance on processed food, high in both sugar and fat, imported from large Oceanian countries such as Australia and New Zealand.[4][2]
Ninety percent??? Ninety!?!?
Basically at some point in the 70s they sold their rights to Australia, who came in and destroyed the island. They were, for a bit, the wealthiest people in the world per capita but the money ran out fairly quickly.
They are basically the metaphor for modern human civilisation.
i'm guessing "phosphate deposits" is a very roundabout way to say "guano".
More than likely it's buildups of marine life deposits considering it's an island. Phosphates are usually mined from naturally occurring porous stones that phosphorus has diffused through over a long period of time.
Guano has some phosphates in it, but is usually sought after for its high nitrogen content, and is typically located near coastal areas or caves as opposed to remote islands.
These were mineral deposits.
Samoa is not far behind. It's because of overly processed diets on islands. Mostly as a result of western nations coming in and having a presence on islands and starting the processed food imports. The most affordable food on these islands comes out of a can because it is shelf stable and easier to transport. Fresh food is very expensive.
The Nauru article linked also points out that the large amount of mining has done away with most of what little arable land there was, making traditional garden culture impractical at scale. So, they sort of have to be dependent on foreign food imports, largely the kind you mention.
Hawaii 🤝 SPAM
Yep, all the fresh fish that they can catch for free is too valuable for them to eat for themselves. Surrounded by free food that they can't afford to eat.
What you fail to understand is that capitalism is the most efficient way to distribute resources. This is simply the will of the market
"Nauru has used its position as a member of the United Nations to gain financial support from both Taiwan (officially the Republic of China or ROC) and China (officially the People's Republic of China or PRC) by changing its recognition from one to the other under the One-China policy.
On 21 July 2002, Nauru signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC, accepting US$130 million from the PRC for this action (US$211 million in 2023. In response, the ROC severed diplomatic relations with Nauru two days later. Nauru later re-established links with the ROC on 14 May 2005,[95] and diplomatic ties with the PRC were officially severed on 31 May 2005. On 15 Jan 2024, Nauru severed ties with the ROC and re-established diplomatic ties with the PRC."
Daaang. They beat the US? That is impressive as hell.
A lot fewer people. This would be like a small town in rural US of 12k people being 90%+ obese.
I don't have that data at my fingertips, but I suspect that if we don't have a place like that exactly, it'd be pretty close.
Now just turn that into a country.
OK but its only 8 miles squared
Wind sprints, let's go.
The American empire is failing on all fronts. Sad.
I got the joke, don't worry lol
Nauru has been an independent country since 1968.
I mean yeah, but I don't think it really has a lot to do with this particular situation....
The island has been a victim of colonialism, but mainly from the British empire, then the Japanese, and are now considered a client state of Australia.
He's joking that America is even failing at being the fattest.
And how many people live on Nauru?
I would say at least 50.
Nauru also means "laugh" on Finnish.
Deleted / Wrong thread.
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