پالاو
د Wikipedia لخوا
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همدا مخ د چټک ړنګېدو لپاره نومول شوی. ددې کړنې سبب دا دی "completely in english, not a single word in Pashto". که چېرته تاسو د دغه چټک ړنګېدو سره بډوالی (مخالفت) لری، نو مهرباني وکړی د همدې مخ د خبرې اترې په څانګه کې خپله څرګندونه وليکی. که چېرته په ښکاره ډول همدا مخ د چټک ړنګېدو د شرطونو سره سم نه وي، او يا هم تاسو دا مخ رغول غواړی نو مهرباني وکړی همدا يادښت لرې کړی. مديرانو، مخکې د ړنګولو نه دا وګورۍ چې همدې مخ سره څه تړلي که نه او د مخ پېښليک (وروستني سمادونې) هم وڅارۍ |
کينډۍ:Otheruses
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| Motto: Rainbow's End | |||||
| ملي ترانه: Belau loba klisiich er a kelulul | |||||
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| پلازمېنه | Koror |
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| لوی ښار | Koror | ||||
| (رسمي ژبه/ ژبې) | English, Palauan, Japanese (in Angaur) | ||||
| حکومت
{{{د لارښود لقب}}}
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Constitutional government in free association with the US {{{د لارښود نوم}}} |
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| خپلواکي {{{established_events}}} |
{{{established_dates}}} | ||||
| مساحت • ټولټال • اوبه (%) |
{{{مساحت}}} km² 195th 177 mi² Negligible |
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| د وګړو شمېر • جولای 2005 est. • [[As of |]] census • ګڼه ګونه |
19,949 (217th) 43/km² (155th) {{{د وګړو ګڼه ګونهmi²}}}/mi² |
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| GDP (PPP) • ټولټال • Per capita |
2001 estimate $174 million1 (not ranked) $9,000 (2001 est.) (not ranked) |
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| HDI (2003) | n/a (n/a) – unranked | ||||
| پېسه | US Dollar (USD) |
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| د ساعت توپير • Summer (DST) |
(UTC+ 9) (UTC) |
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| د انټرنېت م.م(TLD) | .pw | ||||
| هېوادنی کوډ | |||||
| ټيليفوني پېل ګڼ | +680 |
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| 1.) Note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2001 est.). | |||||
Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines. Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States) in 1994, it is one of the world's youngest and smallest nations. It is sometimes referred to in English under its native name Belau.
نيوليک
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[سمادول] History
- Main article: History of Palau
[سمادول] Archeology
Early Palauans may have come from Australia, Polynesia and Asia. Depending on the thread of the family, Palauans may indeed represent many parts of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. However, it is traditionally considered to be Melanesian. According to geneticists- there are two distinctive strains of Melanesian bloodlines: one is associated with indigenous Australians/Papua New Guineans and the other is known to have originated in Asia. There has not been any link established between the two.
Until recently, Palau was not considered a part of Micronesia. In the European and Australian world Belau/Pelew is better known by the name of "The Black Islands". Vintage maps and village drawings can be found at the Australian library online. There you will see photos of the tattooed and pierced Ibedul of Koror and Ludee.
Carbon dating and recent archeological discoveries have brought new attention to the archipelago. Cemeteries uncovered in islands have shown Palau has the oldest burial ceremony known to Oceania. Prior to this there has been much dispute as to whether Palau was established during 2500B.C. or 1000B.C. New studies seem to dispute both of these findings. Moreover, Palau's ancient trading partner, Java, has also come under close scrutiny since homo floresiensis was found.
Interestingly, Java is where traditional female Palaun money originated. Carrying on the family line, Palauan women have always been embellished with land, titles and money. For thousands of years, Palauans have had a well established matriarchal society.[1].
[سمادول] European contact
Historians take much interest in the navigational routes of European explorers. One such mystery has created much speculation as to whether Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos spotted the islands in 1543. No conclusive evidence exists but there are some who think he could have seen the tip of a southern most island in the group.
Palau was one of the last of the South Sea islands to be discovered- not only due to a lack of navigation skill but because neighboring islands knew nothing about Melanesia. Palau had limited relations- mainly with Yap and Java.
Had it not have been for ship-wrecked islanders who accidentally took refuge in the Philippines, Europeans would not have found a route to Palau. Palau's first Western contact took place when English Captain Henry Wilson also shipwrecked off Ulong in 1783.[2] Wilson dubbed Palau the “Pelew Islands”.
Spanish claim would continue until the 1875 British protests.
In 1885, after Germany occupied some of the islands, a dispute was brought to Pope Leo XIII, who made an attempt to legitimize Spanish claim to the islands (but with economic concessions for Britain and Germany). Spain in 1899, after defeat during the Spanish-American War, sold the islands to Germany.[3][4]
In 1914 Japan invaded the islands, then formally took over under the Treaty of Versailles after the WWI German defeat. Over three decades the Japanese enforced cultural change. Introduction of an exclusive market economy geared towards Japanese citizens temporarily revoked tribal ownership.[5] Although some reparation was made, defeat did not restore complete order. US intervention only served to widen the legal semantics needed to recover from such an event spanning three different countries with three different tongues.
Peleliu was the scene of a costly battle between American and Japanese forces in 1944, resulting in an Allied victory, though the cost in human terms was high for both sides. After WWII the United Nations played a role and it was decided the US would administer Palau as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Eventually, in 1979 Palauans voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia based on language and cultural differences. After a long period of transition, including the violent deaths of two presidents (Haruo Remeliik in 1985 and Lazarus Salii in 1988), Palau voted to freely associate with the United States in 1994 while opting to retain independence under the Compact of Free Association.
[سمادول] Government
کينډۍ:Morepolitics
Politics of Palau takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Palau is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Palau National Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
[سمادول] Foreign relations
Palau gained its independence October 1, 1994 with the entry into force of the Compact of Free Association with the United States. Palau was the last Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands territories to gain its independence. Under the Compact, the U.S. remains responsible for Palau's defense for 50 years.
Palau is a sovereign nation and conducts its own foreign relations. Since independence, Palau has established diplomatic relations with a number of nations, including many of its Pacific neighbors. Palau was admitted to the United Nations on December 15, 1994, and has since joined several other international organizations.
[سمادول] States
- Main article: States of Palau
Palau is divided into sixteen states (until 1984 called municipalities):
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The uninhabited Rock Islands of Palau, next to Koror, are not part of any of the sixteen states. Although it lies between the state of Koror and the State of Peliliu, both states lay claim over its territorial boundaries.
[سمادول] Education
Elementary education is free and compulsory for all Palauan children ages 6-14. In 1990, there were 369 students in private schools and 1,756 in public schools. The gross enrollment ratio in primary school for 1990 to 1996 (i.e. the number of pupils enrolled divided by the number of children of primary-school age) was 103, indicating some attendance by students not in the primary age group. The Palau High School in Koror, the only public high school, enrolls 64% of the total secondary-school enrollment. In 1990, 445 secondary students attended private schools, and 165 were in public schools. 197 students are enrolled in special education classes. Post-secondary education is provided by the College of Micronesia's Micronesian Occupational College (MOC) in Koror and Palau Community College[6]. The adult literacy rate is 98%.
| Highest education | Percentage |
|---|---|
| HS Diploma | 47.2% |
| AA/AS | 26.9% |
| BA/BS | 24.2% |
| MA/MS | 1.7% |
Only four of the 20 public schools in Palau are accessible by car from the central office of the Ministry of Education. Nine schools are a two- to four-hour round trip from the central office over bumpy and unpaved roads. Six schools are accessible only by boat, weather permitting, with three requiring a two- to four-hour round trip—and three in the southwestern part of Palau requiring a two-week round trip. Public schools have such limited resources that private schools have opened to increase the number of students served. On these islands, almost all students receive an elementary school education, but many children are unable to attend high school. Over half the teachers in Palau have high school diplomas but not college degrees.[7]
[سمادول] Incarceration
The only correctional facility in the Republic of Palau is the Koror Jail. The Koror Jail presently houses 110 inmates, an increase of 40 percent since March 2001. Thus, the incarceration rate for inmates and long-term custodies is about 550 per 100,000 residents, compared with the U.S. rate of 715 per 100,000, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The rate at Koror Jail does not include short-term custodies, which are especially frequent on weekends. There are currently eight women and eight non-Palauan inmates, one of whom is a female, imprisoned at Koror Jail.
The crimes for which inmates are incarcerated vary. Approximately one-third of inmates have been convicted of trafficking methamphetamine. Many are incarcerated for acts committed while under the influence of alcohol. In fact, according to the Palau Anti Substance Abuse Program, at least 90 percent of all violent crimes in the Republic of Palau are committed while offenders are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Two inmates are in the jail based on their convictions for the successful conspiracy that resulted in the assassination of a former president of the republic. Sentences range in accordance with the crime, from weekends in jail to life imprisonment.
[سمادول] Geography
- Main article: Geography of Palau
Palau's most important islands are Angaur, Babeldaob, Koror, and Peleliu, which lie together within the same barrier reef. About two-thirds of the population lives on Koror. North of these islands, the coral atoll of Kayangel is situated, while the uninhabited Rock Islands (about 70 of them) are situated to the west of the main island group. A remote group of six islands, known as the Southwest Islands, some 375 miles (600 km) from the main islands, are also part of the country.
One island, Babeldaob, constitutes 73 percent of the total land area of 458 square kilometers, but the great majority of the population of 19,000 lives on the much smaller island of Koror, connected to Babeldaob by a bridge.
[سمادول] Climate
Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82 °F (27 °C). Rainfall can occur throughout the year, averaging a total of 150 inches (3,800 mm). The average humidity over the course of the year is 82%, and although rain falls more frequently between July and October, there is still much sunshine. Typhoons are rare, as Palau is outside the main typhoon zone.
Palau is located along the southern branch of the North Pacific equatorial Current, which arises from Mexico and crosses the Pacific along the equator. Water temperature averages between 80° to 86° F throughout the year. Rich nutrients, salts and calcium that contribute to coral growth come from cold upwelling waters from the deep ocean.
[سمادول] Flora and fauna
Plant life, abundant throughout most of the islands, includes mangrove swamps, savanna land, and rain forest in upland areas. Food crops, such as taros, cassavas, sweet potatoes, coconuts, bananas, papayas, and citrus fruits, are mostly wild. Palau is one of the ten nations with the highest percentage of forested land today (about 70 percent). To the south of Koror is a vast coral lagoon adorned by the Rock Islands, whose greenly forested tops overhang the water, because their edges have been undercut by the actions of waves and sea creatures. On some of the Rock Islands are saltwater lakes including the famous Jellyfish Lake, where stingless jellyfish as thick as flakes in an underwater snowstorm surround awestruck snorkelers. These jellyfish are unique to Palau, because they do not have stingers. They cultivate and feed on algae within their bodies. To foster this algae, they rise to the surface for sunlight during the day. At night, they descend to a lake bottom that is poisonous to humans, but rich in nitrogen for the algae. If a human remains for more than a few minutes there, sulfur penetrates their skin and kills them. Wetsuits are no protection.
Indeed, the most distinct environmental creatures in Palau are underwater. Three nutrient-rich ocean currents merge there, meaning Palau is within the area of the greatest marine biodiversity on Earth. There are 500 species of tropical fish, 700 species of coral and anemones, many sharks and rays, shellfish including giant clams, sea mammals such as dolphins and whales, the sea turtle, which is consumed as a delicacy, and the dugong, or sea cow, a marine mammal that is close to extinction. Its great variety of hard and soft corals, many of them colorful, forms the environmental framework. The Living Sea provides an excellent introduction to the geography and fauna of Palau.
[سمادول] Environment
While much of Palau's fragile natural environment remains free of environmental degradation, there are several areas of concern, including illegal fishing with the use of dynamite, inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste in Koror, and extensive sand and coral dredging in the Palau lagoon. Like the other Pacific island nations, a major environmental problem is global warming and the related rising of sea level. Water coverage of low-lying areas is a threat to coastal vegetation, agriculture, and the purity of the nation's water supply. Palau also has a problem with inadequate water supply and limited agricultural areas to support the size of the population. The nation is also vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tropical storms. Sewage treatment is a problem, along with the handling of toxic waste from fertilizers and biocides.
[سمادول] Economy
- Main article: Economy of Palau
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence farming, and fishing. Tourist activity focuses on scuba diving and snorkeling in the islands' rich marine environment, including the Floating Garden Islands to the west of Koror and the Rock Islands to the south. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in the financial year 2000/2001. The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-term prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.
In July of 2004, Palau Micronesia Air was launched with service from Palau to Yap, Guam, Micronesia, Saipan, Australia, and the Philippines. It was thought of giving Continental Micronesia a run for its money due to the low fares which it offered to its passengers, however it has ceased operations in December of the same year and has not restarted operations since.
[سمادول] Business
Supermarkets, available only in Koror, carry imported goods and local produce. They are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Farmers' markets and fish markets are open nearly every day in Koror. Small markets are found in most villages and neighborhoods. Prices are mostly fixed and hours vary.
[سمادول] Demographics
- Main article: Demographics of Palau
The population of Palau is approximately 19,000 of whom 70% are native Palauans, who are of mixed Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian descent. Filipinos form the second largest ethnic group. Other Asians and Europeans account for the minority groups.
Two thirds of the population are Christians (mainly Catholics and Seventh-day Adventists). Modekngei is the indigenous religion. Few Palauans still observe Modekngei. Its beliefs today are a modification of the original Modekngei, which involved village deities, a world of spirits, food taboos, and certain types of magic. Over the years, contact with Western ideologies, especially Catholicism, has transformed Modekngei into a monotheistic faith that celebrates Christian religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. However, the religion still emphasizes a world of spirits, where deceased ancestors reside. Modekngei preaches the self-sufficiency of Belau's natural environment. When this movement first developed during the Japanese colonial period, its leaders in the district decided to ignore Uchererak, the established god of Imeiong, in favor of other pan-Belauan dieties. The religion was founded around 1914. Until now, most scholars who conducted research on Modekngei have characterized it as an anticolonial social movement, from its beginning and throughout the Japanese administration period, which took on the guise of syncretic religion.
The religious tensions between followers of Modekngei and members of various Christian groups paralleled to some degree the district's political factions, since Modekngei people generally supported the original draft constitution and opposed those legislators who argued for closer political ties with the United States at the expense of local self-determination. Not ironically—given the well-established tendency for younger brothers and "offspring of men" (ulechell) to seek nonchiefly avenues of power and reputation-in Ngeremlengui the Modekngei faction is led by individuals who are patrilaterally related to chief Ngirturong, who is not only Protestant but also an advocate of the pro-status position.
Palau's dominant religion is Christianity, introduced by 18th-century missionaries. The largest denomination is the Roman Catholic Church, to which 65 percent of the population belongs. The Filipino population is predominantly Roman Catholic. Church and state are constitutionally separated, but it is not uncommon for a prayer to be offered at a public function.
The official languages of Palau are Palauan and English, except for three states (Sonsorol, Hatohobei, and Angaur) where the local language is official instead of Palauan. In Angaur, Japanese is also official. Palauan is the language of everyday conversation, while English is used for school instruction and in business and government settings. People often interject English words when conversing in Palauan, and an increasing number of young people, particularly those with a non-Palauan parent, speak English as a first language.
Palau contains diverse maternal lineages suggesting a complex prehistory including contributions from Island Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and other islands of Micronesia.
[سمادول] Migration
In 1999, persons not Palau-born accounted for nearly 30% of the total population. Most were born in the Philippines, China, and Bangladesh; there were also significant numbers from the Federated States of Micronesia, the United States, and Japan. Most were workers, whose numbers have been rapidly increasing; in 1999, foreigners made up 46% of the total work force. The vast majority of these foreigners were located in Koror. About one-fifth of all Palauans live abroad, many on Guam. In 1999, the net migration rate was 5.63 migrants per 1,000 population. The government views the migration levels as too high.
[سمادول] Culture
- Main article: Culture of Palau
- Palauan language
[سمادول] Art
Despite its size, Palau has a rich and continuous artistic tradition. With the exception of body art, nearly all of this artistic heritage is either directly associated with architecture or has its origins in architectural traditions. The finest expression of Palauan art centers around the bai, or ceremonial men’s meeting-house. Palauan art has been quite widely studied and illustrated. Examples of Palauan art are held by many museums, especially in Germany. The largest collections are found in the Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin, where an entire bai has been assembled, and the Museum für Völkerkunde in Hamburg. A very early corpus is held at the British Museum. The Palau Museum, Koror, has an interesting assemblage of 20th-century artefacts, including parts of bai, traditional and modern story boards and other crafts. In 1969, a bai was constructed next to the museum.
Bai are decorated inside and out, especially on the gabled east end and the crossbeams of the ceiling, with sculpture and painting based on historical themes. The entrance is at the east end so that the rays of the rising sun enter each morning. Here the top of the gable, called madal a bai or the eye, looks towards the fertile rays of the rising sun. Gable decoration is replete with symbols of fertility, including trees laden with fruit and animals and humans engaging in sexual activity; sun discs and roosters which crow at the rising sun help to tie together the themes. On the older bai the most prominent gable image is the female figure of Dilukai (e.g. Stuttgart, Linden-Mus.). Typically, her legs are splayed, revealing a large, black triangular pubic area, while her hands rest upon her thighs. The figure is composed of angular geometric units, painted black and white. The board behind the image is often incised and painted with male images with enormous genitalia that point towards the central figure. These planks are called bagei; because this is both the name of Dilukai’s brother and a term meaning "married," it has been suggested that Dilukai and Bagei might be primordial ancestors. Dilukai’s location, facing the fertile rays of the morning sun, her pose and the proximity of male figures with obvious erections combine with the other fertility symbols on the gable to bind her to the themes of fertility and reproduction. Dilukai has a dual role in Palauan culture being a symbol of protection and of shame. She protects the fertility of taro fields and heals the sick. Stories also tell how a man embarrassed by his promiscuous sister had her image carved on the bai in order to shame her. Other interpretations stress her role in reminding women to be moderate in their sexual activities but, given the role of fertility in the religious intent of the bai, this seems to be an overly modest interpretation.
Other elements on the front gable also strongly indicate the theme of fertility. On one section of the gable there may be sun discs with emanating whirling rays, while opposite, the rays may be replaced by penises. Typically, the lower edge of the gable is lined with representations of heads that may be symbols of headhunting, a practice associated with cosmic renewal of fertility and the placation of ancestors. Roosters and bats, both of whom herald the morning sun, are also represented, as are other animals and plants.
Both the gabled façades and the tie-beams within the bai are typically covered with long narrative story boards. In their oldest-known form, recorded in the 1880s, these are carved in very low relief and painted, with no suggestion of linear perspective. The scenes generally run from left to right and depict historical and mythological events, the most important stories and symbolic events being in the center of the composition. Such story boards are not, however, complete narratives and require someone familiar with the stories to interpret them. Such narrative, illustrative art was unique in the Pacific until its adoption in the 1960s in such other art markets as that of the Keram River tributory of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. Even in Palau, the practice may have developed in only the late 19th century; many of the oldest photographs of bai façades show few, if any, narrative s tory boards. The boards may, then, represent a unique response to outside influences. In the late 20th century, story boards commonly show Western-style perspective in relief. They are often unpainted and varnished, although they still depict mythological and historical themes. Some of the best contemporary artists in this genre are prisoners in Koror and elsewhere. The watercolors of Rechucher Charlie Gibbons have also become well known, often showing the influences of the oldest story boards in a folk genre.
Although house furnishings are sparse, many of the items are unique in Micronesia. Before electricity and kerosene lamps became common, oil lamps made of clay and with spouts for the wick were suspended by cordage. Often small figurines were added to the rim of the bowl, as though representing a family gathered before a hearth. Palau also has a distinctive tradition of shell-inlaid containers and implements. A superb bowl in the British Museum, London, dates from 1763. It has the form of a bird and is decorated with inlaid birds. Such covered inlaid bowls were prestige items and were used for offerings to powerful chiefs. Offering tables have elaborate shell inlay in reddened wood. These are reminiscent of Solomon Islands’ work.
An impressive amount of stonework has also been found on Palau, including menhirs both singly and in alignments, some possibly serving as house foundations. Many of these are shaped into human forms with large faces, somewhat reminiscent of wooden posts under tambaran houses in the Sepik River of New Guinea. Other st ones have an architectural form, some representing small shrines, which are usually made of wood. On Babeldoab, a stone sarcophagus was found with a lid in the shape of a house, a tradition which relates to Indonesia, especially to the people of Sulawesi.
[سمادول] Music
- Main article: Music of Palau
There are two major musical styles in Palau: traditional and modern. The classical tradition was flourishing at the end of the 19th century, when foreign influences began to disrupt the traditional social structure and values. In the traditional milieu, music and dance had political and economic importance, as well as personally communicative, psychological and perhaps other functions. Contemporary genres are used principally for entertainment, school activities and religious services.
Two forms current during the heyday of the classical tradition, klou chesols (devout song in ensemble) and derebesbes, were sung by groups of older men in connection with council activities in and around the bai (community house). Derebesbes, a solo sung either entirely by one person or a verse at a time by each member of a council (in either case with yells between strophes by the whole group), includes a variety of song forms: ulengokl chesols (heroic song), damalasoi chesols (communicative song with a text ascribed to the fictitious character Damalasoi) and rederad ra chesols (miscellaneous songs). At funerals kelloi and eldolem (dirges) were sung by women. During festivals, usually held in clan-affiliated villages, both ruk (men’s dances) and ngloik (women’s dances) were performed; these consisted of introductory, standing, sitting, stick and stamping dances. Men also performed war dances on a triumphal return from battle. Children sang their own festival songs, visiting every house in the vicinity.
Beginning in the 1970s, two major trends emerged, particularly from the late 1980s. The first is a new popular song tradition, usually referred to as chelitakl ra Belau (Palauan songs), with accompaniment from guitar and electronic keyboard instruments, distributed commercially on cassette. The second is the explicit revival of the classical style, including its use in new compositions, particularly in connection with museum activities and participation in the Festival of Pacific Arts.
[سمادول] Libraries and museums
There is a small public library in Koror, with a collection comprising about 17,000 books. The Belau National Museum, established in 1973, is also located in Koror.
[سمادول] General attitudes
Palauans respect those who are honest, loyal to family, sociable, and generous. Family concerns play a key role in most decisions. Palauans tend to be friendly but reserved. They generally have a relaxed attitude towards life and work. The nation is small and tight-knit, so people tend to be quite knowledgeable about the affairs of others. Society revolves around functions such as first-born ceremonies (at which a new mother is honored), house parties (held after a new house is built), and funerals. Most people take pride in these traditions and the survival of their culture in the face of foreign occupations. However, older people point out many changes to Palauan society. They note that some traditions no longer hold the same importance they did a generation ago, and many Palauans struggle to afford the expensive tastes and conveniences that have been imported with Western culture.
[سمادول] Customs and courtesies
[سمادول] Greetings
Palauans greet using the phrases Alii (“Hi” or “Welcome”), Ungil tutau (Good morning), Ungil sueleb (Good afternoon), or Ungil kebesengei (Good evening). Light conversation usually follows. One greets the elders of a group first; a slight bow or nod shows respect. Physical contact between new acquaintances has not traditionally been customary, but Western influence is gradually making handshakes more acceptable. People often greet informally by raising the eyebrows while looking down slightly and making a “ng” sound in the throat.
[سمادول] Gestures
It is considered disrespectful to point at people or to let the bottoms of one's feet face another person. Beckoning with the index finger is avoided. A Palauan may beckon another by extending the arm and waving the hand palm down. To inquire where someone is going, a person rolls the wrist to turn the palm upward. The non-verbal response can be a finger gestured away and then back towards the gesturer, indicating “I'm going somewhere, but I'm coming right back.” Palauans indicate length by holding one arm straight out and showing the size with the other hand placed along the straight one. A person might express frustration or annoyance by muttering a negatively-toned “aaaye.” Physical contact is common between girls, who may walk arm-in-arm.
[سمادول] Visiting
Visiting is considered vital to maintaining good relations, and family members and friends frequently drop in without invitation or prior notice. In a village, most residents are related in some way. Food is always offered to visitors. People also chew buuch (betel nut, a mild stimulant). The buuch, a piece of cigarette, and lime are wrapped in a leaf and placed in the cheek. Conversations often revolve around village politics and gossip. Socializing and eating usually take place in the family's “summer house,” an open-air structure. People may also sleep on summer-house benches during the afternoon or even for the night. It is customary to remove one's flip-flops or shoes before entering any living space or putting one's feet on benches, tables, or chairs in the summer house. Some businesses expect footwear to be left at the door.
[سمادول] Eating
Palauans traditionally eat a light breakfast, followed by a heavy afternoon meal and another meal after dark. Mealtimes are informal (people tend to eat simply when hungry) but this general schedule is still followed where possible. School and work schedules now force many families to abandon the heavy afternoon meal except on weekends. Families in Koror often eat at a dining table, while most villagers eat in a summer house. No tables or chairs are used in summer houses; rather, a person eats from a plate that rests on a platform, on which the person sits cross-legged. It is not uncommon for two or more members of an immediate family to share food (especially with children) from the same plate. Utensils are sometimes used, though most people prefer to use their fingers when eating traditional foods such as fish, taro, and cassava. A huge feast always accompanies a social event. The women of the host family distribute a heaping plate of food to each person in attendance; whatever is left over is distributed and taken home to be eaten later.
[سمادول] Lifestyle
[سمادول] Family
Palauans maintain close ties to their extended family, which encompasses even very distant relatives. While Koror is more Westernized than outlying villages, the emphasis on family obligations remains the same throughout the country. For example, funerals are considered among the most important events in Palauan society. Relatives gather from throughout the country to make preparations for at least a week following a death. Because it is such a serious obligation, it is common for Palauans to take weeks off of work to participate in the family effort. Relatives are socially required to contribute money (often tens of thousands of dollars) to help offset the funeral costs. The remainder is divided among the wives of the deceased's male relatives, as they prepare the considerable food for the funeral. The amount of money each family donates is often read aloud during the proceedings. With social standing at stake, it is important for families to make the highest contribution they can afford.
Most Palauan families have between two and four children. This is a significant shift from just 50 years ago, when families routinely had more than 10 children. Palauan society prior to European contact was matriarchal and matrilinial. Palauan women today, especially those of older generations, still have a significant say (if not the final decision) in many family affairs. The man is the family breadwinner and is responsible for fishing and manual labor. Women are traditionally responsible for farm work and most domestic work, including meal preparation, though it is not unusual for a man to cook meals. When women work outside the home, it is often for a family business or after their children are old enough to attend school. Children traditionally had many chores, though this is changing due to the hiring of foreign agricultural laborers and domestic helpers. Adult children care for their parents and often live in the same or neighboring houses. Property is passed from generation to generation and is rarely sold.
[سمادول] Dating and marriage
Though arranged marriages were customary in traditional society, today young Palauans select their own partners. Dating indicates a serious commitment between two people. Youth tend to publicly socialize in groups. Because all of Palau's high schools are located in Koror, the city serves as the meeting point for teenagers. Koror's clubs are favorite weekend spots for young people. Although Catholic influence is strong, premarital sexual relations are common. Couples often live together in common-law arrangements and are considered married even if the union has not been formalized. Men frequently have children to two or more women, though this is not generally discussed publicly.
Official marriages often take place after the couple's first child is born. A woman is not allowed in public for several weeks after her first childbirth. At the end of that period, she receives ritual cleansing treatment from other women for four to ten days. The process involves several hours of steam baths in a small enclosure each day and therapeutic rubs with coconut oil, turmeric, and other natural ingredients. The treatment ends with a ceremony called the ngasech, at which the woman is presented to the families of the couple. The man's family may give her an udoud (a rare Palauan money bead) to wear at the ceremony. The man's family also provides a pallet of food for the celebratory feast that follows. If the man and woman are to be married, his family presents a large sum of money to her family. If the sum is accepted, the couple is married symbolically. Later, they marry legally at a courthouse.
[سمادول] Diet
The most common locally produced foods are cassava, taro, giant taro, yams, potatoes, fish, and pork. Popular imports include rice, chicken, canned tuna, and canned meats. The effort required to catch fish and grow taro and cassava makes store-bought imported foods an increasingly attractive alternative, especially for the wealthy. Among younger Palauans, Western foods such as pizza and hamburgers are popular. Dishes vary little between the three daily meals, though cereal and bread are often eaten for breakfast. Often leftovers from the previous night's dinner are heated and eaten for lunch. Common fruits include bananas (often served fried), mangoes, soursops, and papayas. Green turtle, dugong, Palau fruit dove, and fruit bat are highly prized traditional delicacies.
Korean restaurants are numerous and the cuisine duplicates the food that can be found in Seoul. Palau depends on imports for its food supply, which comes mostly from the United States. These foods include canned and processed foods high in fat. The importation of foodstuffs has affected the diet of the local people in a number of ways. Obesity is a major problem. Traditional diets, social norms and mores have been largely altered.
[سمادول] Recreation
Basketball, baseball, and softball are the most popular sports. Traditional competitions in spear throwing, coconut tree climbing, and coconut husking and grating are common during festivals. Palauans also enjoy fishing and boating competitions. Leisure activities include watching U.S. films, talking late into the night in a summer house, playing card games and pool, dancing, and singing karaoke. In Koror, people often drive their cars from one end of the island to the other while talking with friends. Weekend trips to Babeldaob or day trips to the Rock Islands are popular year-round. The expense of plane fares usually prohibits frequent international travel, so most Palauans must save for years to visit relatives in Guam, the United States, and elsewhere. Small parks for locals are underused.
[سمادول] Organizations
The clan system forms the basic unit of social organization. Youth, women's, and community development organizations provide economic self-help, community involvement and leadership training, skills training, and sports and recreation. The Lion's Club has programs in the country.
Peace Corps volunteers have contributed positively by working on a number of projects, including teaching English.
[سمادول] Media
- Main article: Communications in Palau
The Palau National Communications Corp., established in 1982, provides domestic and international telephone connections, radio broadcasting, telex and telegram communications, and navigational and weather services. In 2002, there were 6,700 mainline telephones and 1,000 cellular phones in use. A radio station in Koror broadcasts to listeners in the outer islands. As of 2002, there were five radio stations, 1 AM and 4 FM. Television is limited to one channel in the Koror area, provided by a local private company. As of 1997, there were 478 radios and 85 television sets in use per 1,000 population. Internet access is available.
There are no daily papers. Two popular periodicals are Palau Gazette (monthly, 1995 circulation 3,000), and Tia Belau (weekly, 5,000).
The constitution provides for free speech and a free press, and the government respects these rights in practice.
[سمادول] Health
Hospital services are provided by the MacDonald Memorial Hospital in Koror, which has 60 beds. Medical services in Koror are also provided by the Belau Medical Clinic and the Seventh-Day Adventist Eye Clinic. In 1998, there were 1.1 physicians, 1.4 nurses, and 0.1 dentists per 1,000 people.
As of 2002, the crude birth rate and overall mortality rate were estimated at, respectively, 19.3 and 7.1 per 1,000 people. Life expectancy averaged an estimated 69.2 years and the fertility rate was 2.5 children per woman. The infant mortality rate was 16.2 per 1,000 births.
Immunization rates for children under one were as follows in 1995: diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, 100%; polio, 100%; measles, 100%; and hepatitis B, 100%. No measles or polio cases were reported in 1995.
Only one case of AIDS was reported in 1996.
[سمادول] Infrastructure
Although nearly all housing units in Palau (92 percent in 1995) have access to a public water source, the water remains unsafe. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the water treatment plant that serves the majority of the population on Koror does not meet U.S. Public Health Service standards for public water systems. In the outlying areas and islands, people must rely primarily on rain water catchment systems, surface water sources, or shallow wells to meet their needs.
Inadequate sewage and waste disposal systems present another hazard. Only about 41 percent of households in 1995 (up from 30 percent in 1990) were connected to a public sewer system. The only waste treatment plant has reached capacity, and trash collection has been infrequent, causing a buildup of garbage in and around residences. Coastal waters and harbors are beginning to show signs of contamination.
[سمادول] Health care delivery system organization
[سمادول] Administration
The minister of health, a cabinet-level appointee, administers the overall health care system. Under the minister are a director of the Bureau of Public Health and Primary Health who manages all outpatient activities, dispensaries, and superdispensary services as well as all other federally funded health services and programs and a director of the Bureau of Clinical Services who manages medical inpatient activities with the Belau National Hospital. Although most health care is provided through the government, a small and growing private medical practice has been established.
[سمادول] Off-island care
A team of senior physicians must make a majority decision about any recommendation for off-island tertiary care referral. Most of the patient referrals (75 percent) are to the Philippines because the facilities and services there are closer and less costly than those in Hawaii. Most of the remaining patients are referred to the Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii (20 cases of a total 103 patients [or 20 percent] in 1995). The cost for each off-island tertiary care referral is capped at $30,000 per year (although the committee heard reports that some patients' bills were much higher). Referrals accounted for 15 percent of the total health care budget in 1995.
[سمادول] Health care facilities
An 80-bed hospital in Koror opened in December 1992 and is managed by a health services administrator who reports to the minister of health. Although the physical plant appears to be in good condition and relatively well maintained, it does lack some basic equipment. Recently, more than 110 pieces of major medical equipment were purchased under a special grant made available through the U.S. Congress. A room in the hospital was recently designated as the medical library and the telemedicine and telecommunications center. Funding for books and equipment is being requested but is unavailable.
The new hospital provides the anchor for a health care system that also includes four superdispensaries, nine smaller state dispensaries, an ambulatory care center, and a community health center (the old hospital). Each dispensary is staffed with a nurse or a health assistant, whereas the superdispensaries are staffed with a doctor and a nurse, with telephone linkage to the hospital if needed for consultation.
Providing care to the outer islands continues to pose challenges. In addition to the main airport near Koror, two small airports in Peleliu and Anguar are available for patients going to Koror. Some concern was expressed about reaching islands farther out. Although they keep in touch via radio or a ship making an occasional field trip, the islands have no airports and can be reached only by ship.
[سمادول] Health-related community organizations
Palau has several community-based organizations that relate to health care: the American Red Cross, high school group mentors such as Pride, Shalom, Karui el Make er Ngii, the Committee on Population and Children, and the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Program (ASAP).
[سمادول] Health Care Resources
[سمادول] Financial
Funding for the health care budget comes from a variety of sources including Compact monies. In 1997 U.S. federal grants and aid from other international donors accounted for $2,350,500—or roughly 20 percent of the total health care budget. Proposed legislation levying taxes on such things as diving, cigarettes, beer, wine, liquor, and canned meats and to provide funding for health care is pending in the national congress. Some private insurance is also available. The Palauan government is, however, considering passage of a Palau National Health Care Plan (NHCP), which would set up a nationwide public health insurance system. Under NHCP, hospital care and preventive care services would be provided to all citizens and would require only a small copayment for outpatient services, emergency room visits, and prescriptions. All resident aliens would be required to enroll in the plan with premiums paid by their employer if they earn less than $10,000 per year and by themselves if they earn more than $10,000 per year. Monthly premiums would range from $25 to $70, depending on the number of dependents.
[سمادول] Workforce
[سمادول] Physicians
Twelve graduates of the PBMOTP are currently working in Palau (one is on educational leave taking postgraduate courses in obstetrics in Fiji). Eighty percent of the physician workforce is native Palauan. Most of the native physicians provide primary care, whereas expatriate contract workers provide specialty care. Palau now has four surgeons: two Palauans who returned after training abroad, one South Korean (supported by the South Korean government), and one contract surgeon from Burma. One Palauan doctor who trained in the United States and returned to Palau has opened a private health clinic and is doing extremely well; patients have been known to come from as far away as Yap for treatment.
[سمادول] Dentists
The supply of dentists and dental assistants is critical. Two of the three dentists are expatriates under contract.
[سمادول] Nurses
Many nurses have left Palau where they make between $6.40 and $8.40 an hour, to work in Saipan and Guam, where the entry pay scale is considerably higher. The Palau Community College helps coordinate continuing education courses for nurses. Since 1992 several classes of Palauan nurses have participated in a distance education course offered from the University of Guam. An on-the-job training program is also offered to nurse's aides and practical nurses at the hospital. They receive a subsidy of $50 per week and are guaranteed a job after completion of the training program.
[سمادول] Other health care personnel
Officials reported a shortage of nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory technicians, and radiologists. A psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist are also needed.
[سمادول] Traditional health practices
The usefulness of herbal medicines and acupuncture is recognized and the Ministry of Health desires their use, but protocols or procedures for incorporating them into the local health care system have not worked out yet. Palau participates in the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization's current effort to address this issue seriously.
[سمادول] Quality assurance
The nurses in Palau have established a nurse's association, which helped to create a Nurse Practice Act and a nursing licensing committee, which requires continuing education before recertification. In 1996 doctors began requiring continuing education for themselves, and recently the Belau Medical Society has been restarted as a professional organization for physicians and medical officers. Comprehensive medical licensure legislation for various health professionals is pending in the national congress.
[سمادول] Housing
There were 2,501 occupied houses in 1986, of which 72% were located in Koror and the adjacent state of Airai. Most house walls are constructed from metal sheets, wood, or concrete blocks, and roofs are of corrugated material. About 80% of all houses have water and electricity. The majority of homeowners finance their house construction under the traditional "ocheraol" system, whereby clan members contribute to construction costs.
[سمادول] Transportation
- Main article: Transport in Palau
Palau's isolation is compounded by the fact that air transportation links are limited. One daily flight connects the country with Guam (815 miles), which serves as the most important transportation hub linking Palau to the rest of the world. Connections to Hawaii (4,600 miles), the rest of the United States and to most of East Asia are made through Guam. Palau is also connected to Taipei, Taiwan. There are also two weekly flights to the Philippines. Charter flights from Tokyo via Guam, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan are occasionally made. As of 2001, there were 3 airports, 1 with a paved runway. The international airport is located in Airai, 10 km (6 mi) from Koror. Four airlines provide international service: Air Micronesia/Continental, Air Nauru, and South Pacific Island Airways, and Far Eastern Air Transport. There are 3 domestic airlines: Palau Paradise Air, Aero Belau, and Freedom Air.
The nation's roads at last estimate totaled 61 km (37.9 mi), of which 36 km (22 mi) were paved. Asphalt roads are found only in Koror, Airai, and Melekeok. A two-lane concrete bridge, constructed in 1976, links Koror with Airai. The Koror state government provides a public bus service. Palau's deepwater harbor at Malakal in Koror offers international port facilities. Heavy reliance is placed on small private watercraft throughout the country.
Two people run the main post office. The US Postal Service operates mail for Palau. Palau has its own zip code as determined by the USPS. Though Palau sells its stamps the rates for mailing letters and packages is the same as those in the US. For example, a first class letter to the US costs the same rate as a domestic letter sent within the US.
[سمادول] See also
- Dive sites of Palau
- Foreign relations of Palau
- List of Palauans
- List of radio stations in Palau
- Military of Palau
- Palau at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Palau at the Summer Olympics
- Public holidays in Palau
- Scouting in Palau
- Survivor: Palau
[سمادول] Reference
- ↑ Clan lands continue to be passed through titled women and first daughters but there is also a modern sentiment fashioned after Imperialistic Japan. It is a fact the Japanese government attempted to confiscate and redistribute tribal land for personal ownership during World War II. There has been little attempt to restore natural order and legal entanglements continue amongst the various clans.SG Travel at Yahoo on Palauan matriarchial social systems
- ↑ SG Travel at Yahoo on Henry Wilson
- ↑ Sandafayre.com on Palauan history
- ↑ United States Department of State article on Palau
- ↑ Hawaii.com on Palauan history
- ↑ Palau Community College
- ↑ RAC Pacific Educational Needs Assessment, a report to the US Department of Education
[سمادول] External links
کينډۍ:Sisterlinks کينډۍ:Wikinewscat
- Elizabeth Bassett's Palau website
- My Micronesia.com’s Palau section
- Olekoi Palau
- Palauan Embassy to the United States
- Palauan Pride.com
- WWFM 89.5 Radio Palau
- East Javanese Beads as Palau Heirlooms
- Palau photographs
- Travel Notes - Runoko Rashidi in the Republic of Palau
- Encyclopedia of the Nations - Palau
- Palau Postcards From the Field
کينډۍ:Pacific Islands
