Let's Learn About Nauru!

The Something Awful Forums > Archives > General Bullshit > Let's Learn About Nauru!

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

AKA Pseudonym posted:

It's time to learn about Nauru!

Nauru is an island nation. It's in the Pacific Ocean. It is 8.1 square miles. That means it's the third smallest country in the world!

that picture is misleading, it doesn't show off the blasted hellscape that is the center of the island

Notice that there's no loving trees in the middle. The destroyed the island to mine all the phosphate, and now there's not even any loving phosphate left. so the middle of the island is just a barren wasteland of windblown garbage and feral dogs.

# ¿ May 9, 2016 18:49

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 00:39

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

Johnny Aztec posted:

I want to take over one of the mountainous islands, and carve a network of tunnels into those mountains to make a fortress. Drill down and set up some underwater entrances. It would be super rad.

That sounds like a ton of work. where are you gonna get all the workers for a project that big on such a tiny island?

# ¿ May 10, 2016 04:15

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

It's kind of amazing, Nauru is so tiny but there's so much poo poo about it

quote:

Nauru, under the current government of President Marcus Stephen, recognises the Republic of China.

In 1980, Nauru first established official relations with the Republic of China. In 2002, however, the government of Rene Harris established relations with the PRC,[86] which entailed a solemn recognition of the "One China" policy by Nauru.[87] Consequently, Taiwan severed its relations with Nauru, and accused the PRC of having bought Nauru's allegiance with a financial aid gift of over �90,000,000.[88] A reporter for The Age agreed, stating that "Beijing recently bought off a threat by Nauru to revert to Taiwan only six months after opening ties with the mainland, offering a large loan to Nauru's near-destitute Government".[3]

In 2003, however, Nauru closed its newly established embassy in Beijing. Two years later, ROC President Chen Shui-bian met Nauruan President Ludwig Scotty in the Marshall Islands. In May 2005, the ROC and Nauru re-established diplomatic relations,[89] and opened embassies in each other's capitals. The PRC consequently severed its relations with Nauru.

The Republic of China is one of Nauru's two foremost economic aid partners (the other being Australia). In return, Nauru uses its seat in the United Nations to support the ROC's admittance bid. Taiwan also provides regular medical assistance to Nauru, sending specialised doctors to the tiny country's only hospital.

In 2007, Scotty was re-elected President of Nauru, amidst claims that his electoral campaign had been funded by Taiwan.[91] Scotty's opponents claimed that the ROC wanted to ensure that a pro-Taiwan government remained in power. Scotty was replaced by Marcus Stephen in December 2007. Following Stephen's election, ROC President Chen Shui-bian telephoned him to congratulate him, assure him of the ROC's continued assistance for Nauru, request Nauru's continued support in return, and invite him to visit Taiwan.[92] Nauru has retained its relations with the ROC under the new government.

Given that it has already changed its foreign policy twice, Nauru remains the focus of diplomatic competition between Beijing and Taipei. In 2006, according to the New Statesman, President Scotty "was allegedly accosted by a horde of screaming Chinese officials who tried to drag him on to a plane to Beijing just as he was boarding one bound for Taipei".[93]

In 2008, Nauru co-submitted a proposal to the United Nations, requesting that the United Nations General Assembly consider enabling "Taiwan's participation in the activities of UN specialized agencies". The proposal was rejected.[94]

In 2011 it was revealed via Wikileaks that Taiwan had been paying a "monthly stipend" to Nauruan government ministers in exchange for their continued support, as well as a smaller sum to other Members of Parliament, as "project funding that requires minimal accounting". Reporting on the story, the Brisbane Times wrote: "One MP reportedly used his Taiwanese stipend to buy daily breakfast for all schoolchildren in his district, while others were happy to just pocket the cash". A "former Australian diplomat with close knowledge of politics in Nauru" stated that Nauruan President Marcus Stephen, Foreign Minister Kieren Keke and former President Ludwig Scotty, among others, had all accepted "under the counter" funding from Taiwan. The leaks revealed that "Chinese [PRC] agents had also sought to influence Nauru's elections through cash payments to voters, with at least $40,000 distributed in one instance in 2007".[95]

Wikileaks also revealed that Australia had, at one time, been "pushing" Nauru to break its relations with Taiwan and establish relations with the PRC instead. Then President Ludwig Scotty had reportedly resisted on the grounds that it was "none of Australia's business".[95]

In late 2011, Taiwan "doubled it health aid" to Nauru, notably providing a resident medical team on a five-year appointment.[96]

# ¿ May 11, 2016 00:54

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

drunk asian neighbor posted:

what the gently caress is "dripping" I mean any food whatsoever that comes in a bucket that big can't be good but jesus that sounds both ominous and gluttonous... omingluttonous? gluttonominous?

it's the fat that drips off meat while it cooks. Hence the name. Food fried in dripping is great if you hate yourself and want to get super gross and die

# ¿ May 12, 2016 03:43

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

WhiskeyWhiskers posted:

Secondary boycotts are illegal in Australia as well.

how is it possible for a boycott to be illegal?

# ¿ May 13, 2016 01:38

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

doctorfrog posted:

I wonder if Nauru was settled by people exiled from other islands, or was it pretty decent for that sort of island when it was settled. Sorta like how colonial Australia started as a penal colony. Like if there was a common ground, maybe Australia would be really nice to them, then. Or, by making the island a jail, it's sort of a weird diminishing historical rhyme scheme.

Nauru was first inhabited by Micronesians and Polynesians at least 3,000 years ago.[12] There were traditionally 12 clans or tribes on Nauru, which are represented in the 12-pointed star on the country's flag.[13] Traditionally, Nauruans traced their descent matrilineally. Inhabitants practised aquaculture: they caught juvenile ibija fish, acclimatised them to fresh water, and raised them in the Buada Lagoon, providing a reliable source of food. The other locally grown components of their diet included coconuts and pandanus fruit.[14][15] The name "Nauru" may derive from the Nauruan word An�oero, which means "I go to the beach".[16]

The British sea captain John Fearn, a whale hunter, became the first Westerner to visit Nauru in 1798, calling it "Pleasant Island".

# ¿ May 13, 2016 05:59

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

I think some cultures are just worse than others

# ¿ May 15, 2016 15:06

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

Pick posted:

What's wrong with cannibalism per se

In this case, it spreads crazy brain diseases

# ¿ May 15, 2016 17:00

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Papua New Guinea face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Male same-sex sexual activity is prohibited by Section 210 of the Papua New Guinea Penal Code. Those caught engaging in anal sex can get punished with up to fourteen years imprisonment. Other same-sex sexual acts can be punished with up to three years imprisonment.[1] Papua New Guinea has a traditional Christian society.[2] In 2011, the government informed the United Nations that it will not decriminalise homosexuality.[3]

# ¿ May 15, 2016 17:02

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

Pick posted:

In no sense is cannibalism required or inherent, prion diseases spread by organisms consuming those prions (natch). If pigs with trichinosis (parasite) and humans did a one-off on eating one another's corpses that would spread just as well, even though trich is generally associated with pigs eating the infested flesh of other pigs.

Islam and Judaism both banned eating pigs

checkmate

# ¿ May 15, 2016 17:53

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

Pick posted:

Trich is also common in bears.

if you're telling me I shouldn't have bear in my mouth I'm gonna have to change my plans for this evening

# ¿ May 15, 2016 17:57

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

I'm gonna say what we're all thinking. Pick is sensitive about this subject because she regularly eats human meat.

Pick is an active cannibal.

# ¿ May 15, 2016 19:11

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

Hogge Wild posted:

p. much yeah, that whole north-western coast is an innsmouth filled with inbred pedocultists

That doesn't show up on Larmos wikipedia page

# ¿ May 15, 2016 23:10

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 00:39

boom boom boom: Jun 28, 2012; by Shine

autoaim.cfg posted:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laestadianism

You wanna gently caress some nice tight 11 year olds? North-west coast of Finland will do for ya!
The religious north up there got some good ol' "let's not speak of this to anyone outside our group" goin' on.

It's like the stereotypical "Catholic Priests" fiddling kids. Except it's protestant. gently caress'em.
I loathe religious people and the Laestadians, doubly so!

that wikipedia page doesn't mention child loving either

# ¿ May 16, 2016 00:27

The Something Awful Forums > Archives > General Bullshit > Let's Learn About Nauru!