Matthieu Paley | Archives

Show Navigation
The Strange case of Nauru
Info

Frigatebirds are kept inside nets. They are not eaten nor used for fishing, they are rather a strong cultural symbol as well as a status symbol for fishermen. To catch them, men stand on the beach at sunset, ready to throw their lassos at the incoming birds..After 4 weeks of being fed fish inside the net, the frifgatebird is released outside but stays near the net as it is tamed...Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru is an island nation in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Nauru was declared independent in 1968 and it is the world's smallest independent republic, covering just 21 square kilometers..Nauru is a phosphate rock island and its economy depends almost entirely on the phosphate deposits that originate from the droppings of sea birds. Following its exploitation it briefly boasted the highest per-capita income enjoyed by any sovereign state in the world during the late 1960s and early 1970s..In the 1990s, when the phosphate reserves were partly exhausted the government resorted to unusual measures. Nauru briefly became a tax haven and illegal money laundering centre. From 2001 to 2008, it accepted aid from the Australian government in exchange for housing a Nauru detention centre, with refugees from various countries including Afghanistan and Iraq..Most necessities are imported on the island..Nauru has parliamentary system of government. It had 17 changes of administration between 1989 and 2003. In December 2007, former weight lifting medallist Marcus Stephen became the President.

Add to Lightbox
Filename
Pacific_Nauru_10_44.jpg
Copyright
© Matthieu Paley
Image Size
4700x3133 / 3.6MB
© http://www.paleyphoto.com
Frigatebirds are kept inside nets. They are not eaten nor used for fishing, they are rather a strong cultural symbol as well as a status symbol for fishermen. To catch them, men stand on the beach at sunset, ready to throw their lassos at the incoming birds..After 4 weeks of being fed fish inside the net, the frifgatebird is released outside but stays near the net as it is tamed...Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru is an island nation in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Nauru was declared independent in 1968 and it is the world's smallest independent republic, covering just 21 square kilometers..Nauru is a phosphate rock island and its economy depends almost entirely on the phosphate deposits that originate from the droppings of sea birds. Following its exploitation it briefly boasted the highest per-capita income enjoyed by any sovereign state in the world during the late 1960s and early 1970s..In the 1990s, when the phosphate reserves were partly exhausted the government resorted to unusual measures. Nauru briefly became a tax haven and illegal money laundering centre. From 2001 to 2008, it accepted aid from the Australian government in exchange for housing a Nauru detention centre, with refugees from various countries including Afghanistan and Iraq..Most necessities are imported on the island..Nauru has parliamentary system of government. It had 17 changes of administration between 1989 and 2003. In December 2007, former weight lifting medallist Marcus Stephen became the President.