HISTORY Officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania,

and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. Australia is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the world's 12th-largest economy. In 2012 Australia had the world's fifth-highest per capita income, Australia's military expenditure is the world's 13th-largest. With the second-highest human development index globally, Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights. Australia is a member of the United Nations, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Pacific Islands Forum. GEOGRAPHY Australia's landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi) is on the Indo-Australian Plate. Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans, it is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas, with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast, and the Tasman Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand. Australia's size gives it a wide variety of landscapes, with subtropical rainforests in the north-east, mountain ranges in the south-east, south-west and east, and dry desert in the centre. CLIMATE The climate of Australia is significantly influenced by ocean currents, including the Indian Ocean Dipole and the El NioSouthern Oscillation, which is correlated with periodic drought, and the seasonal tropical low-pressure system that produces cyclones in northern Australia. Climate change has become an increasing concern in Australia in recent years, and protection of the environment is a major political issue. Throughout much of the continent, major flooding regularly follows extended periods of drought, flushing out inland river systems, overflowing dams and inundating large inland flood plains, as occurred throughout Eastern Australia in 2010, 2011 and 2012 after the 2000s Australian drought. ECONOMY

Australia is a wealthy country with a market economy, a relatively high GDP per capita, and a relatively low rate of poverty. In terms of average wealth, Australia ranked second in the world after Switzerland in 2013. The service sector of the economy, including tourism, education, and financial services, accounts for about 70% of GDP. Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, particularly wheat and wool, minerals such as iron-ore and gold, and energy in the forms of liquefied natural gas and coal. Australia's largest export markets are Japan, China, the US, South Korea, and New Zealand. Australia is the world's fourth largest exporter of wine, and the wine industry contributes $5.5 billion per year to the nation's economy. Agriculture Sector Australia is a major agricultural producer and exporter. The major issues facing agriculture in Australia are drought, water security, low soil fertility, weeds, global warming caused by climate change, bio security (biological threats from imported foods and livestock), tariffs on Australian exports in the importing country (particularly in Europe and Japan), subsidies to farmers in other countries, currency fluctuations and price volatility. Cereals, oilseeds and grain legumes are produced on a large scale in Australia for human consumption and livestock feed. Wheat is the cereal with the greatest production in terms of area and value to the Australian economy. Sugarcane, grown in tropical Australia, is also an important crop. Australia produces a wide variety of fruit, nuts and vegetables. The largest crops (>300 kilo tonnes) include oranges, apples, bananas, chestnuts, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes. Australia has a large wine industry, and the value of wine exports surpassed A$2.3 billion in 20022003. The beef industry is the second largest beef exporter in the world. Over 60% of Australian beef production exported, primarily to the United States, Korea and Japan. Dairy products are Australia's fourth most valuable agricultural export. Exports are expected to continue to grow over time, particularly to Asia and the Middle East. Australia's main seafood export earners include rock lobsters, prawns, tuna and abalone. Wool is still quite an important product of Australian agriculture where it widely recognised as producing the finest quality Merino wool.

Australia also produces considerable amounts of cotton. The majority of the cotton produced is genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate. Tourism Sector Tourism is an important industry for the Australian economy. The Great Barrier Reef attracts up to two million visitors every year. Popular Australian destinations include the coastal cities of Sydney and Melbourne, as well as other high profile destinations including regional Queensland, the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef. Uluru and the Australian outback are other popular locations, as is Tasmanian wilderness. The unique Australian wildlife is also another significant point of interest in the country's tourism. Another attraction that appeals to many tourists is the Opera House in Sydney. Shopping and casinos are a major draw-card for wealthy Chinese visitors. Wine, indigenous culture and nature tourism also generate travel in Australia. DEMOGRAPHICS The most commonly nominated ancestry was English (36.1%), followed by Australian (35.4%),[229] Irish (10.4%), Scottish (8.9%), Italian (4.6%), German (4.5%), Chinese (4.3%), Indian (2.0%), Greek (1.9%), and Dutch (1.7%).[230] Asian Australians make up 12% of the population. Its population density, 2.8 inhabitants per square kilometre, remains among the lowest in the world. The largest immigrant groups were those from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, China, India, Italy, Vietnam, and Philippines. RELIGION 61.1% of Australians were counted as Christian, including 25.3% as Roman Catholic and 17.1% as Anglican, 22.3% of the population reported having "no religion" (which includes humanism, atheism, agnosticism and rationalism), 7.2% identify with non-Christian religions, the largest of these being Buddhism (2.5%), followed by Islam (2.2%), Hinduism (1.3%) and Judaism (0.5%). To a lesser extent, smaller affiliations including the Bah' Faith, Sikhism, Wicca and Paganism have also seen a significant increase in numbers. A) New Zealand HISTORY An island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean.

The country geographically comprises two main landmasses that of the North Island, or Te Ika-aMui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu and numerous smaller islands. The majority of New Zealand's population is of European descent; the indigenous Mori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and non-Mori Polynesians. English, Mori and New Zealand Sign Language are the official languages, with English predominant. politics New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes; these have less autonomy than the country's long defunct provinces did. Nationally, executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a Governor-General. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Pacific Islands Forum and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The New Zealand Parliament holds legislative power and consists of the Queen and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is democratically elected and a Government is formed from the party or coalition with the majority of seats. New Zealand is identified as one of the world's most stable and well governed nations. As of 2011, the country was ranked fifth in the strength of its democratic institutions and first in government transparency and lack of corruption. GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE New Zealand is made up of two main islands and a number of smaller islands, located near the centre of the water hemisphere. The country owes its varied topography, and perhaps even its emergence above the waves, to the dynamic boundary it straddles between the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates. New Zealand has a mild and temperate maritime climate (Kppen: Cfb) with mean annual temperatures ranging from 10 C (50 F) in the south to 16 C (61 F) in the north. economy New Zealand has a modern, prosperous and developed market economy with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita of roughly US$28,250. The currency is the New Zealand dollar, informally known as the "Kiwi dollar.

New Zealand is heavily dependent on international trade, particularly in agricultural products. Its principal export industries are agriculture, horticulture, fishing, forestry and mining, which make up about half of the country's exports. Its major export partners are Australia, United States, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom. The service sector is the largest sector in the economy, followed by manufacturing and construction and then farming and raw material extraction. Tourism plays a significant role in New Zealand's economy, contributing $15.0 billion to New Zealands total GDP and supporting 9.6 percent of the total workforce in 2010. demographics The population of New Zealand is approximately 4.5 million. New Zealand is a predominantly urban country, with 72 percent of the population living in 16 main urban areas and 53 percent living in the four largest cities of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, and Hamilton. In the 2006 census, 67.6 percent identified ethnically as European and 14.6 percent as Mori. Other major ethnic groups include Asian (9.2 percent) and Pacific peoples (6.9 percent), while 11.1 percent identified themselves simply as a "New Zealander" (or similar) and 1 percent identified with other ethnicities. The Mori were the first people to reach New Zealand, followed by the early European settlers. Religions Christianity is the predominant religion in New Zealand, although its society is among the most secular in the world. The main Christian denominations are Anglicanism 14.8 percent, Roman Catholicism 13.6 percent, Presbyterianism 10.7 percent and Methodism 5 percent. Other significant minority religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Oceania REPUBLIC OF FIJI Fiji is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean. The majority of Fiji's islands were formed through volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago.

Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific island realm due to an abundance of forest, mineral, and fish resources. Politics in Fiji normally take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, who are Melanesians (54.3%), although many also have Polynesian ancestry, and Indo-Fijians (38.1%). According to the 1996 census, among indigenous Fijians, 40% are Christian. Among Indo-Fijians, most are Hindu or Muslim[citation needed] while a small minority are Christian. Fiji covers a total area of some 194,000 square kilometres (75,000 sq mi) of which around 10% island. Fiji consists of 322 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the 3rd and 4th largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca. The climate in Fiji is tropical marine and warm most of the year round with minimal extremes. The warm season is from November to April and the cooler season lasts from May to October. Temperature in the cool season still averages 22 C (72 F). Fiji is one of the more developed of the Pacific island economies. Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil, and hydropower. Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous Fijian, Indo-Fijian, Asian and European traditions. Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. It has 350 000 first-language speakers, which is less than half the population of Fiji, but another 200,000 speak it as a second language. Traditional Dance Rako Dance PAPUA NEW GUINEA Officially named the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. There may be at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of about 6.3 million. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18% of its people live in urban centers. Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm as such Queen Elizabeth II acts as its Sovereign and Head of State. The country is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the point of collision of several tectonic plates. Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, including mineral and renewable resources, such as forests, marine (including a large portion of the world's major remaining tuna stocks), and in some parts for agriculture. Agriculture, both for subsistence and cash crops provides a livelihood for 85% of the population and continues to provide some 30% of GDP . Mineral deposits, including gold, oil, and copper, account for 72% of export earnings. Papua New Guinea is one of the most heterogeneous nations in the world. There are hundreds of ethnic groups indigenous to Papua New Guinea. The majority being from the group known as Papuans, whose ancestors arrived in the New Guinea region tens of thousands of years ago. Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in New Guinea. In 2003, the most recently reported year, 70,226 cases of laboratory confirmed malaria were reported, along with 537 deaths. Papua New Guinea has the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the Pacific region and is the fourth country in the Asia Pacific region to fit the criteria for a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is estimated that more than a thousand cultural groups exist in Papua New Guinea. FEDERAL STATES OF MICRONESIA The Federated States of Micronesia is an independent sovereign island nation consisting of four states from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae that are spread across the Western Pacific Ocean. The Federated States of Micronesia is governed by the 1979 constitution, which guarantees fundamental human rights and establishes a separation of governmental powers. Economic activity in the Federated States of Micronesia consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing.

The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The indigenous population of the Federated States of Micronesia, which is predominantly Micronesian, consists of various ethnolinguistic groups. It has a nearly 100% Pacific Islander and Asian population : Chuukese 48.8%,Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4%. Each of the four States has its own culture and traditions, but there are also common cultural and economic bonds that are centuries old. For example, cultural similarities like the importance of the traditional extended family and clan systems can be found on all the islands. English is the official and common language. Also spoken are Chuukese (Trukese), Kosraean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, and Woleaian. Other languages spoken in the country include Pingelapese, Ngatikese, Satawalese, Puluwatese, Mortlockese. Several Protestant denominations, as well as the Roman Catholic Church, are present in every Micronesian state. There is a small group of Buddhists on Pohnpei. Attendance at religious services is generally high and churches are well supported by their congregations and play a significant role in civil society. Solomon islands Solomon Islands is a sovereign country consisting of a large number of islands in Oceania lying to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu and covering a land area of 28,400 square kilometres. The Solomon Islands gained self-government in 1976. Independence was granted on 7 July 1978. The first Prime Minister was Sir Peter Kenilorea, and Solomon Islands retained the Monarchy. On 2 April 2007, Solomon Island were struck by a major earthquake followed by a large tsunami. the death toll from the resulting tsunami was at least 52 people, and the tsunami destroyed more than 900 homes and left thousands of people homeless. Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy and has a parliamentary system of government. Queen Elizabeth II is the Monarch of the Solomon Islands and the head of state. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is elected by Parliament and chooses the cabinet.

Since 16 November 2011, the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands is, Gordon Darcy Lilo. The islands contain several active volcanoes. The Tinakula and Kavachi volcanoes are the most active. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Tourism, particularly diving, is an important service industry for Solomon Islands. The majority of the 584,578 people in Solomon Islands are ethnically Melanesian (94.5%), Polynesian (3%), Micronesian (1.2%), other (1.1%), and unspecified (0.2%). The official languages of the Solomon Islands are English and Solomon Pidgin, but 87 other distinct local languages and dialects are spoken. The religion of Solomon Islands is, Protestant ( 73.7%), Roman Catholic 19%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2%. Although the locally recruited British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force was part of Allied forces taking part in fighting in the Solomon during the Second World War, the country has not had any regular military forces since independence. The various paramilitary elements of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) were disbanded and disarmed in 2003 following the intervention of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) RAMSI has a small military detachment headed by an Australian commander with responsibilities for assisting the police element of RAMSI in internal and external security The Solomon Islander Dollar is the currency of Solomon Islands. Kiribati Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The Kiribati Constitution, was promulgated on 12 July 1979. The executive branch consists of a president , a vice-president and a cabinet. In government terms, Kiribati has a police force, which carries out law enforcement and paramilitary dutiesand has small police posts on all islands but no military. Kiribati was admitted as the 186th member of the United Nations in September 1999. The Republic of Kiribati consists of 32 atolls and one solitary island (Banaba). These islands are dispersed throughout the three island groups that form Kiribati ; Gilbert, Phoenix and Line islands. Kiribati maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific

neighbours, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, which provide the majority of the country's foreign aid. Taiwan and Japan also have specified-period licences to fish in Kiribati's waters. The islands lie roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia in the Micronesian region of the South Pacific. The climate is pleasant from April to October, with predominant northeastern winds and stable temperatures close to 30 C. From November to March, western gales bring rain and occasional hurricanes. Kiribati is one of the world's poorest countries. It has few natural resources. Kiribati is considered one of the least developed countries in the world. In one form or another, Kiribati gets a large portion of its income from abroad. Examples include fishing licenses, development assistance, worker remittances, and tourism. Given Kiribati's limited domestic production ability, it must import nearly all of its essential foodstuffs and manufactured items; it depends on these external sources of income for financing. The population of kiribati, 101, 998. Ethnics group in Kiribati ; Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2%. The population is predominantly Roman Catholic (55%), Protestant 36%, Mormon 3.1%, Baha'i 2.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.9%, other 1.8% . The official language of Kiribati, English and Kiribati. The currency Australian Dollar. Nauru Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Nauru is a republic with a parliamentary system of government. The president is both head of state and head of government. Nauru has no armed forces, though there is a small police force under civilian control. Nauru is a 21 square kilometres, oval-shaped island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, 42 kilometres south of the Equator. The island is surrounded by a coral reef, which is exposed at low tide and dotted with pinnacles. The Economy of Nauru is primarily based on phosphate mining, offshore banking, and coconut products. The population - 9,378 people. Ethnic group - Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%.

Religious - Protestant 45.8%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4% Languages - Nauruan and English. Currency - Australian dollar. REPUBLIC OF MARSHALL ISLANDS Motto: "Jepilpilin ke ejukaan" "Accomplishment through joint effort" HISTORY Islands in the archipelago were first explored by Europeans in the 1520s, with Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar sighting an atoll in August 1526. Other expeditions by Spanish and English ships followed, with the islands' current name stemming from British explorer John Marshall. The Empire of Japan occupied the Marshall Islands in World War I, which were later joined with other former German territories in 1919 by the League of Nations to form the South Pacific Mandate. In 1979, the Government of the Marshall Islands was officially established and the country became self-governing. GEOGRAPHY Marshall Island located in the northern Pacific Ocean. The islands share maritime boundaries with the Federated States of Micronesia to the west, Wake Island to the north, Kiribati to the south-east, and Nauru to the south. The most populous atoll is Majuro, which also acts as the capital. The country consists of 29 atolls and 5 isolated islands. The atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains). Shark sanctuary. MAJURO - The capital city of Marshall Islands CLIMATE The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November. The islands occasionally suffer from typhoons.

Many Pacific typhoons start in the Marshall Islands region and grow stronger as they move west toward the Mariana Islands and the Philippines. The Marshall Islands are threatened by the potential effects of storm surges as well as sea level rise. ECONOMY The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Agriculture: concentrated on small farms. The most-important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Fishing: tuna Tourism: The Marshall Islands contain over 1,200 individual islands, 870 reef systems, 800 species of fish, and 160 species of coral. Tourist can visits history places, fishing spot, the beaches. Manufacturing: Light manufacturing - processing of coconut, including coconut oil. Mariculture/Aquaculture: black-lip pearl, giant clam, Trochus shells. The currency of Marshall Island is USD DEMOGRAPHIC There are 68,000 people living in the Marshall Islands. Most of the citizen are Marshallese. The Marshallese are of Micronesian origin and migrated from Asia several thousand years ago. A minority of Marshallese have some recent Asian ancestry, mainly Japanese. Two-thirds of the nation's population lives on Majuro, the capital, and Ebeye, a densely populated island. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and economic development. Official Language: Marshallese, but it is common to speak the English language. Ethnic Group: 92.1% Marshallese 5.9% mixed Marshallese 2% others Religion: Marshallese mostly are Christian. There is also a small community of Ahmadiyya Muslims.

REPUBLIC OF PALAU GEOGRAPHY Palau is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is geographically part of the larger island group of Micronesia. The most populous island is Koror. The islands share maritime boundaries with Indonesia, Philippines and the Federated States of Micronesia. The capital Ngerulmud is located in Melekeok State on the nearby island of Babeldaob. Palau's most populous islands are Angaur, Babeldaob, Koror and Peleliu. The coral atoll of Kayangel is north of these islands, while the uninhabited Rock Islands (about 200) are west of the main island group. A remote group of six islands, known as the Southwest Islands, some 375 miles (604 km) from the main islands, make up the states of Hatohobei and Sonsorol Palau is divided into sixteen states (until 1984 called municipalities). Historically, Palau's uninhabited Rock Islands have been part of the State of Koror. CLIMATE Palau has a tropical climate with an annual mean temperature of (28 C). Rainfall is heavy throughout the year, averaging 150 inches (3,800 mm). The average humidity 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. The nation is also vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tropical storms. GOVERNMENT Palau is a multi-party democratic republic. The President of Palau is both head of state and head of government. The capital is Ngerulmud. ECONOMY Palau's economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture and fishing.

 Tourist activity focuses on scuba diving and snorkeling in the islands' rich marine environment, including its barrier reefs walls and World War II wrecks. The government is the major employer, relying heavily on US financial assistance. Air service has at times been spotty. Palau Micronesia Air, Asian Spirit and Pacific Flier provided service to the Philippines. The currency of Palau Island is USD DEMOGRAPHIC The population of Palau is approximately 21,000, of whom 70% are native Palauans of mixed Melanesian, Micronesian, and Austronesian descent. Palauans with mixed Japanese ancestry accounted for the largest group. Some also had some Chinese or Korean ancestry. Ethnic group:

LANGUAGE o The official languages of Palau are Palauan and English, except for two states (Sonsorol and Hatohobei) where the local language, along with Palauan, is official. Japanese is spoken widely amongst older Palauans and is an official language in the State of Angaur. Tagalog is not official in Palau, but is the fourth-largest spoken language.

RELIGION 49.4% of the population is Roman Catholic, 21.3% Protestant, 8.7% Modekngei and 5.3% Seventhday Adventist. 1% of the population was estimated to be Buddhist There are also approximately 400 Bengali Muslims in Palau. Modekngei (a combination of Christianity, traditional Palauan religion and fortune telling) and the ancient Palauan religion are commonly observed. REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

PORT VILA - The capital city of Vanuatu Islands The currency: Vanuatu vatu (VUV) SAMOA ISLAND History Samoa was admitted to the United Nations on 15 December 1976 The entire island group was called "Navigator Islands" by European explorers "The Samoans were also known to engage in 'headhunting,' a ritual of war in which a warrior took the head of his slain opponent to give to his leader, On 20th century The Tripartite Convention of 1899 between Germany, United States and United Kingdom partitioned the Samoan Islands into two parts the eastern island group became a territory of the United States and is today known as American Samoa; the western islands, became known as German Samoa after Britain vacated all claims to Samoa and accepted termination of German rights in Tonga and certain areas in the Solomon Islands and West Africa. Gained Independence 1962.

POLITICS The national modern Government of Samoa is referred to as the 'Malo'. Samoa's first Prime Minister was Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinuu II, The prime minister is chosen by a majority in the Fono and is appointed by the head of state to form a government. prime minister's choices for the 12 cabinet positions are appointed by the head of state, subject to the continuing confidence of the Fono. The judicial system is based on English common law and local customs. The Supreme Court of Samoa is the court of highest jurisdiction. Its chief justice is appointed by the head of state upon the recommendation of the prime minister. GEOGRAPHY Samoa is made up of eleven itml (political districts). These are the traditional eleven districts t hat were established well before European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (faavae) The capital village of each district administers and coordinates the affairs of the district and confers each districts' paramount title, consisting of the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i. These

are the three islets in the Apolima Strait (Manono Island, Apolima and Nu'ulopa), the four Aleipata Islands off the eastern end of Upolu (Nu'utele, Nu'ulua, Namua, and Fanuatapu), and Nu'usafe'e. The main island of Upolu is home to nearly three-quarters of Samoa's population, and its capital city is Apia. CLIMATE The climate is equatorial/monsoonal, with an average annual temperature of 26.5 C Rainy season from November to April. ECONOMY The country currency is the Samoan tl, Domestic Product (GDP) in purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2006 was estimated at $1.218 billion USD The industrial sector is the largest component of GDP at 58.4%, followed by the services sector at 30.2% Economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on agriculture and fishing at the The staple products of Samoa are copra (dried coconut meat), cocoa bean (for chocolate), and bananas. DEMOGRAPHICS Samoa has a population of 194,320 of which 92.6% are Samoans, 7% Euronesians (people of mixed, European and Polynesian ancestors) and 0.4% are Europeans Samoans' religious include this ; Congregational Church , Roman Catholic , Methodist Samoa maintains its historical customs, social and political systems, and language. C Samoan mythology includes many gods with creation stories and figures of legend such as Tagaloa and the goddess of war Nafanua, CULTURE Tattooing. Samoan woman had a traditional malu. For males, it is called the Pe'a and consists of intricate and geometrical patterns tattooed that cover areas from the knees up towards the ribs. A male who possesses such a tatau is called a soga'imiti. A Samoan girl or teine is given a malu, which covers the area from just below her knees to her upper thighs The Samoan word for dance is siva with unique gentle movements of the body in time

The sasa is also a traditional dance where rows of dancers perform rapid synchronised movements in time to the rhythm of wooden drums (pate) or rolled mats. Another dance performed by males is called the fa'ataupati or the slap dance, creating rhythmic sounds by slapping different parts of the body. This is believed to have been derived from slapping insects on the body. TONGA ISLAND HISTORY officially the Kingdom of Tonga, Humans have lived in Tonga for nearly 3,000 years, since settlement in late Lapita times. Tonga became a protected state under a Treaty of Friendship with Britain on 18 May 1900 Tonga joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970 CLIMATE Tonga has a tropical climate with only two seasons, wet and dry, with most rain falling between February and April. The tropical cyclone season currently runs from 1 November 30 April, though tropical cyclones can form and affect Tonga outside of the season. POLITICS Tonga operates as a constitutional monarchy The pro-democracy movement in Tonga promotes reforms, including better representation in the Parliament for the majority commoners, and better accountability in matters of state. Tonga provides for its citizens: a. free and mandatory education for all b. secondary education with only nominal fees c. and foreign-funded scholarships for post-secondary education Tongans also have universal access to a national health care system. ECONOMY Currency in Tonga: pa'anga (TOP) It was ranked the 165th safest investment destination in world in the March 2011 Euromoney Country Risk rankings

The manufacturing sector consists of handicrafts and a few other very small scale industries, which contribute only about 3% of GDP. Rural Tongans rely on plantation and subsistence agriculture. Tonga's postage stamps, which feature colourful and often unusual designs (including heart-shaped and banana-shaped stamps) are popular with philatelists around the world DEMOGRAPHICS Over 70% of the 101,991 inhabitants of the Kingdom of Tonga live on its main island, . Despite emigration, the Tonga grew in population from about 32,000 in the 1930s to more than 90,000 by 1976 Ninety percent of the nation's population are considered overweight Tongan women aged 1585 are obese. Tonga and nearby Nauru have the world's highest overweight and obese populations CULTURE Languange : The Tongan language is the official language of the islands, along with English ReligIon : Everyday life is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and especially by the Christian faith; TUVALU ISLAND HISTORY formerly known as the Ellice Islands, - a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia - The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians. CLIMATE The climate of Tuvalu can be described as a typical warm, tropical climate with two different seasons. The dry seasons are between December and begin February and from June to mid September; the rainy seasons last from February to end May, and from September to end November. Typhoons are usually not a danger for the Tuvalu, because the usual routes of these Storms are too far north in the northern Hemisphere Typhoon Season, and too far south in the Southern Hemisphere Typhoon Season. POLITICS

The Constitution of Tuvalu states that it is "the supreme law of Tuvalu" and that "all other laws shall be interpreted and applied subject to this Constitution"; - it sets out the Principles of the Bill of Rights and the Protection of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Each island has its own high-chief, or ulu-aliki, and several sub-chiefs (alikis) and elders. The elders form together an island council of elders or te sina o fenua (literally: "grey-hairs of the land"). ECONOMY Currency in Tuvalu: Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is also a Tuvaluan dollar. From 1996 to 2002, Tuvalu was one of the best-performing Pacific Island economies and achieved an average real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 5.6% per annum. - Public sector workers make up about 65% of those formally employed. Approximately 15% of adult males work as seamen on foreign-flagged merchant ships. Tuvaluans are otherwise involved in traditional subsistence agriculture and fishing. - Tuvaluans are well known for their seafaring skills DEMOGRAPHICS The country's population has more than doubled since 1980 with a growth rate of 0.702%. The population at the 2002 census was 9,561 The Tuvaluan language is spoken by virtually everyone, while a language very similar to Gilbertese is spoken on Nui The introduction of Christianity ended the worship of ancestral spirits and other deities, along with the power of the vaka-atua (the priests of the old religions). Laumua Kofe describes the objects of worship as varying from island to island, - The other religions practised in Tuvalu include Seventh-day Adventist (1.4%), Bah' (1%) and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. CULTURE Dance and music. The traditional music of Tuvalu consists of a number of dances, including fatele, fakanau and fakaseasea. The Tuvaluan style can be described "as a musical microcosm of Polynesia, where contemporary and older styles co-exist".

Heritage The traditional community system still survives to a large extent on Tuvalu. Each family has its own task, or salanga, to perform for the community, such as fishing, house building or defence. The skills of a family are passed on from parents to children. Cuisine: The cuisine of Tuvalu is based on the staple of coconut and the many species of fish Language The Tuvaluan language and English are the national languages of Tuvalu. The Kiribati language is also spoken on the island of Nui There are about 13,000 Tuvaluan speakers worldwide. Education Education in Tuvalu is free and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15 years. Each island has a primary school Required attendance at school is 10 years for males and 11 years for females (2001) The Princess Margaret Hospital on Funafuti is the only hospital in Tuvalu. Antarctica Background The name Antarctica is the Romanized version of the Greek meaning "opposite to the Arctic", "opposite to the north". Antarctica occupies 10% of Earths land surface & is larger than either Europe or Australia. It is the 5th largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice. Antarctica is the coldest, driest, & windiest continent, & has the highest average elevation of all the continents. The temperature in Antarctica has reached 89 C (129 F). There are no permanent human residents, but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Languages

The most-spoken language of Antarctica is Russian, which is an official language of Bellinsgauzenia, the United Republic and Ognia. English is the most widespread language, officially spoken in Eduarda, the United Republic, Byrdia, Balleny, New Vestfold and Ross and Scott. The continent's other major languages include German in New Swabia, French in Kerguelen, Norwegian in Maudland, and Spanish in Santiago. Geography Positioned around the South Pole and largely south of the Antarctic Circle, Antarctica is the southernmost continent and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Considered to be surrounded by the southern Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, or by the southern waters of the World Ocean. Antarctica is divided in two by the Transantarctic Mountains close to the neck between the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea. The portion west of the Weddell Sea and east of the Ross Sea is called West Antarctica. West Antarctica is covered by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. East Antarctica lies on the Indian Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains and comprises Coats Land, Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land, Mac. Robertson Land, Wilkes Land, & Victoria Land. Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica at 4,892 m (16,050 ft), is located in the Ellsworth Mountains. Antarctica contains many other mountains, on both the main continent & the surrounding islands. Located on Ross Island, Mount Erebus is the world's southernmost active volcano. In 2004, an underwater volcano was founded in the Antarctic Peninsula by American and Canadian researchers. Mount Erebus an active volcano in Antarctica. Antarctica is home to more than 70 lakes that lie at the base of the continental ice sheet. Lake Vostok, discovered beneath Russia's Vostok Station in 1996, is the largest of these subglacial lakes. Climate Antarctica is the coldest of Earth's continents.

The coldest natural temperature ever recorded on Earth was 89.2 C (128.6 F) at the Russian Vostok Station in Antarctica. Temperatures reach a minimum of between 80 C(112 F) & 90 C (130 F) in the interior in winter & reach a maximum of between 5 C (41 F) & 15 C (59 F) near the coast in summer. East Antarctica is colder than its western counterpart because of its higher elevation. The continent is snow- and ice-covered, with freezing temperatures all year round. So-called "Catabian winds" can cause violent snowstorms that can last for days, and sometimes even weeks. Antarctica knows periods of continual daylight an darkness, called "polar summer" (end May - Sept) and "polar winter" (end Nov - March). Population Antarcticas population is very difficult to account for since the number is so small & varies during the year. Antarctica has a permanent human population of zero. Antarcticas population is made up entirely of researchers and scientists from around the globe. About 1,000 scientific personnel live there during the winter & this population increases to about 5,000 during the Antarctic summer. Economy There is no economic activity in Antarctica at present, except for fishing off the coast & small-scale tourism. Coal, hydrocarbons, iron ore, platinum, copper, chromium, nickel, gold & other minerals have been found, they have not been in large enough quantities to exploit. Tourism Antarctica Cruise Aurora Sea Lion Penguins

Current Issues Global warming Melting ice and rising waters

Climate change Greenhouse gases Hole in the ozone layer The effect on Antarctic ecosystems

The greenhouse effect is particularly significant in the polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctic, where much of the world's fresh water is frozen in huge quantities of ice. On the Antarctic Peninsula, temperatures have been recorded as increasing two to three times more quickly than the rest of the Earth. The melting of ice in Antarctica is a natural part of the Earth's water cycle. Problems would arise if there were more ice melting than there was snow falling. If this were to happen, a lot of water would be added to the world's oceans and the sea levels would rise. This would create problems for countries that are very close to sea level, as they would be flooded. The Earth has always experienced changes in its climate. One of the most dramatic climate changes take place during ice ages & the thaw that follows. The main difference between past climate changes & the climate change that is happening in modern times, is the human cause and speed of the changes. Humans have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth. It is the process where warmth from the sun is trapped in gases in the lower atmosphere of our planet. Without the greenhouse effect, the world would be a much colder place. One of the gases that traps the warmth from the sun is carbon dioxide. By burning fossil fuels and timber from forests, humans have created more carbon dioxide than the Earth needs. The extra greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are making the world a warmer place & are contributing to the ice melting in Antarctica. The ozone layer surrounds the Earth and absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In the 1980s, scientists discovered that a hole in the ozone layer was beginning to appear above Antarctica.

The hole was caused by chlorine found in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were used in aerosol sprays and fridges. The CFCs floated in the atmosphere and made their way down to Antarctica. In the winter months, the chlorine attached itself to ice found in the polar atmosphere. In spring, the ice particles melted and the chlorine reacted with the ozone, creating the hole in the ozone layer. These days, CFCs are much less common. It is hoped that the hole in the ozone layer will become smaller with time. The burning of fossil fuels causes large amounts of heat to remain trapped in the atmosphere. This heat acts as a suffocating blanket, leading to increases in temperatures around the globe. Evidence of the damage caused by rising temperatures can be seen in Antarctica, for example, the declining population of the Adelie penguins. Penguins dive into cracks in the sea-ice to catch their food in winter. The decline in these populations stems from the decline in the penguin's primary food source, crustaceans called Antarctic krill. Adelie penguins