North east off the Australian coast lies a French colony appropriately named "New Caledonia", new Scotland for those not fluent in latin. The French came and colonized these islands in the early 18th century, bringing about hostile tensions between them and the native Melanesian(Kanak)tribes who occupied the islands. A notable Kanak revolt that occurred in 1878 claimed over a thousand lives and resulted in increased repression on the part of the French colonizers. By the late Twentieth Century, Kanaks made up about 45% of New Caledonia's population, while Europeans (most born in the territory), made up about a third of the colony's population. Around this time there were growing pro-independence sentiments among the Konaks, while at the same time the European population strongly opposed the idea.
In the 1980s the Front de Liberation nationals Kanake et Socialists(FLNKS) was founded under the leadership of Jean-Marie Tjibaou. In November of 1984 violent clashes broke out between the pro-independence Kanaks and the Europeans who opposed independence. These were followed by violent riots in the capital, Noumea, causing France to declare a state of emergency lasting six months. The independence movement got a boost when the United Nations put New Caledonia on its decolonization list in 1986. France viewed the move as an attempt by the UN to interfere in its internal affairs and consequently expelled the Australian consul general from Noumea (Australia had been highly critical of France). In 1988 the peace process was marred when Kanak separatists attacked a police station and took 27 hostages. The French government retaliated, resulting in the death of 19 Kanaks. Soon after, pro- and anti- independence groups agreed to the Matignon Accord designed to reconcile the two camps by proposing an end to direct French rule and proposed a vote on independence to be held in 1998. When a referendum was held in 1998 a vote of %72 came back in favor of independence from France.
Residents of New Caledonia, all 244,000, currently enjoy full French citizenship, passports and all. The Franc is still the currency of choice as well, as you really cant have the euro in the south pacific.
Since 1986 the United Nations Committee on Decolonization has included New Caledonia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, this has given a considerable amount of power back into the hands of the Caledonia's. Under the Nouméa Accord (1998) control of taxation, labor law, health and hygiene, foreign trade, and others where placed back in the hands of the Territorial Congress and government. Laws where passed since then which have made it illegal for new residents to vote, essentially ensuring the referendum will sway to the "oui" side come 2014.
The tensions brought between these two rivaling factions was fueled by something greater then land, but years of repression, disease and slavery. In 1849, a clan of Pouma ATE the crew of the CUTTER after they attempted to enslave them to work in the sugarcane fields in Queensland, this practice was called blackbirding. Blackbirding took place in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands as well, both places where canabilism was by no means taboo a 150 years ago. As cool as eating your oppressor may sound, it probably wasn't the smartest of actions plans given the fact the Europeans brought diseases with them such as smallpox, measles, syphilis, and leprosy. Needless to say, Pierre and Jon were rarely served up as a main. Also aiding these tensions is the fact the European's cultivated the dry forest areas of the western side of the island to the point of erosion.
Now as most of North of America watches Obamamania roll battle the Clintons, in a 100million dollar (1/60th of New Caledonia's GDP) campaign battle, a quite battle rages on in shadows between France and the tiny nation island. So everyone mark it on your calenders cause in 2014 a referendum that will make October 30th 1995 look like child's play.
However will the Islanders be better off sans "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité"? Well one would think the islanders have a good understanding of the culture and problems they would face on a day to day basis, however I do raise some critical concerns. The ecosystems of New Caledonia is essentially a blank canvas untouched by the brush of evolution. Many of the flora and fauna are uniquely distinct to the small islands, and have vacated the islands long before "the land before time". With such ecological treasures one would assume the government and people would treat the land as if it were a sacred cow, however such has not been the case. Rapid destruction has taken place in search of the islands vast nickel and mineral resources. In the 1990's a man named Bruno Van Peteghem studied and wrote about the destructive human effects on the Caledonian ecosystem. Bruno Van Peteghem sought to implement and observe reasonable environmental norms (transparency in legal proceedings, implementation of required environmental studies prior to destructive human activities, and unbreakable protection of the most critical of biological preserves). After his recommendations he received firebombs and numerous threats leading him to abandon the island due to employment based pressure. Bruno Van Peteghem eventually went on to win the Goldmen Environmental Prize for his sacrifice in the New Caledonia struggle. Eventually Laws became passed that slowed down the dressing down of the ecosystem, but most efforts fall well short of solving the problems. Every year, more of New Caledonia's natural environment is destroyed or degraded all over its small landmass, due to governmental inaction and willful lack of funding for protective resources. The problem, is the fact that local environmental-protection agencies, equipped with intelligent oversight of natural resources, have invoked few well-intentioned, counterproductive measures whose ultimate effect is to undercut the preservation of natural genetic diversity of the territory's natural growth. Essentially economic growth is taking president over the longevity of the ecosystem. Nickel and other minieral resources have already shown a slowdown, foreshadowing an eventual depletion of resources, cause lets face it when your islands half the size of Taiwan, you only have so much to work with.
So really the moral question comes into play, should France still play a part in New Caledonia? Well France would be more equipped with the tools to save the ecosystem, however history has shown that they would most likely placed to good use. New Caledonia does have historical right to the land and all the resources it produces, however what they do with is very much in question. I would hate to see that one day something that has lasted since the dinosaurs roamed, just disappeared off the face of the earth due to human involvement. Just think about it, WE USED TO HAVE SEA COWS!
Now there shape may be a cruel joke on the part of god, not evolution (thanks Bill), but seriously they could be one of the happiest looking sea creatures around. Id be lieing if I said I wasn't sad when I found out they arent around anymore.
I must say i side with The Kanak, as well not only does the world "Kanak" sound like "Canuck", but when it comes down to it, the French have only been there for 150 years, and prior to invasion there was 50,000 years of self rule. I may be day dreaming but I believe that a deeper sense of pride in your nation, which 2014 will no doubt provide, will force the issue of longevity.
This problem of thinking in short term, which has been a resident mind set over the last hundred years, is that potential growth, which always out produces current growth, is thrown away. The maximum potential GDP over a long period of time, is higher then that of the aggregate GDP over the same period of given time with a slew of short turn economic gestures. It is my believe that New Caledonia with full independence can achieve economic and ecosystem stability if it is willing to step up to the mound, and listen to outside ideas (U.N) sans firebombing.
In ending i would like to leave these points.
- I would love to visit one day and see all the natural beauty that has been around longer then Lucy re runs.
- Firebombing, WTF?
- Its funny that French motto is "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", yet during the conquest of New Caledonia they eroded away huge parts off their culture and landscape. Not to mention they made slaves out of thousands of Islanders. Equality? what ever you say le boss.
FOOTBALL FACTS
- New Caledonia and THATI are getting a specail visit in may when the France 98 world cup team comes to play a game against the respective French Polynessian teams. Zinedine Zidane, Fabien Barthez, Robert Pires, Christian Karembeu, Pascal Vaihirua, Laurent Blanc, Lillian Thuram, Lionel Charbonnier and Bixente Lizarazu will all be dawning the rooster jersey one more time.
- Since Australia is now considered apart of the AFC, New Caledonia has a chance of being the one team from the OFC to play in the world Cup. Currently they are sitting second behind New Zealand, with having playing one less game. If New Caledonia beats Vanuatu and Fiji again, they have a shot at playing New Zealand in a home and away showdown to see who gets that one OFC spot.
- In the South Pacific Games New Caledonia has won 5 times, the first being in 1963 and the latest in 2007. Pierre Wajoka was the leading striker of the team.
- Currently they are ranked 115 in the world, which is the highest ranking to date. There lowest ranking came when
- The biggest wins come from a game against Micronesia on July 1st, 2003. The score was 18-0.
- The biggest losse was 11-0 against New Zealand, in 2002. New Zealand hasnt played New Caledonia as of yet in qualifying for 2010. Hopes are very high for a white horse victroy.
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