Marshall Islands Primer

Marshall Islands Primer: Forget Hollywood. Forget Elvis in Hawaii. Forget the lazy life under a coconut tree. The Marshall Islands are MICRONESIA. Micro means "small", and that is what the islands are. The RMI consists of small, low islands, with bad soil and little shelter from hostile weather. Life there centered around the sea (lagoon, mostly) and always required hard work to survive. This is what the islands look like: Urban Rita, Majuro (photo by Lina Morris) [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Aerial/2002-airplane_photo_2.jpg[/url] Rural Majuro (photo also by Lina Morris) [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Aerial/2002-airplane_photo_4.jpg[/url] More photos at: [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Aerial/Index.html[/url] [Some mine, some Lina's.] This is a desert, surrounded by salt water. Not much grows in coral, and survival was difficult. The biggest problem now, after 3 colonial empires ruling them is over-population. (More precisely, migration from traditional agricultural/maricultural places - the outer atolls - to urban Majuro and Ebeye.] - First, general information on the Marshalls: Yokwe is the main civilian information site for the Marshalls. There are a number of photo galleries, discussion forums (occasionally these get heated), news feeds, government contacts, job ads, and so on. This is THE civilian Marshall Islands site. [url]http://www.yokwe.net/[/url] A number of RMI adoptive families, researchers, ex-residents and Marshallese also chat at: [url]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RMI-kids/[/url] I put newsy posts on: [url]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RMI_baamle_group/[/url] --- A great anthropologic site with maps and cultural information: [url]http://life.csu.edu.au/marshall/[/url] The link for the Alele museum (national RMI Museum) is: [url]http://members.tripod.com/~alelemuseum/Index.html[/url] The Embassy in Washington D.C. [url]http://www.rmiembassyus.org/index.html[/url] Photos (cultural) - from Dr. Jane Resture [url]http://www.janeresture.com/[/url] The Marshallese are fairly, but not extremely modest in dress. Guys can wear anything, but women tend towards muumuus. Academic Studies on all of Micronesia [url]http://www.micsem.org/home.htm[/url] RMI Government [url]http://www.repmar.net/[/url] The RMI Human Rights Record is available at: [url]http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27779.htm[/url] All countries - [url]http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/index.htm[/url] Download the RMI Adoption law here (Word file) [url]http://www.yokwe.net/ydownloads/adoptionlaw.doc[/url] RMI Embassy in D.C. [url]http://www.rmiembassyus.org/index.html[/url] Nitijela Rep. Ruben Zackhras - Ailinglaplap, a rural (traditional) atoll [url]http://www.ailinglaplap.com/[/url] Nitijela Rep. Mattlan Zackhras - Namdrik, another rural atoll, with a big photo gallery [url]http://www.namdrikalele.org/[/url] The best sites for information on atomic testing: [url]http://www.bikiniatoll.com/[/url] To a lesser extent, also see: [url]http://www.rongelap.org/[/url] A propaganda page (with some good information and images) written for the Kwajalein landowners (seeking to increase the rent received for the military base there) [url]http://www.kwajalein.org/[/url] The U.S. Base on Kwajalein (an Army base, mostly of civilian engineers) [url]http://www.smdc.army.mil/RTS.html[/url] Click the HOURGLASS for the local newspaper (.PDF) A civilian Kwaj. site, with massive photo galleries is: [url]http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/kwa/index.html[/url] And the U.S. Embassy (Majuro): [url]http://usembassy.state.gov/majuro/[/url] List of RMI government contacts: [url]http://www.yokwe.net/index.php?module=Static_Docs&func=view&f=rmicontacts1.html[/url] Asian Development Bank Priorities of the People: Hardship in the Marshall Islands [url]http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/Priorities_Poor/RMI/default.asp[/url] On-line report (in HTML) and a .PDF. (You can save the .PDF to your computer.) List of all ABD RMI publications: [url]http://www.adb.org/Publications/country.asp?id=48[/url] [Multiple pages] The best demographic site of all countries is the CIA World Factbook: [url]http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/[/url] Great Pacific photos. You'll need to log in to see the high resolution versions (free, I think). [url]http://www.mpwarner.com/in-depth/folder-list.html[/url] Canadian's travel log with photos of the RMI [url]http://berclo.net/page02/02en-marshall.html[/url] Same page in Spanish: [url]http://berclo.net/page02/02es-marshall.html[/url] Notes on culture and economics [url]http://berclo.net/page02/02en-notes-oceania.html[/url] <><><><><><><> Some of my pages: Majuro, Marshall Islands, Images and Resources: [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Majuro.html[/url] All above links are at: [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Links.html[/url] Historic (late W.W.II.) photos of Kwajalein [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Oldpix/Kwaj1.html[/url] My roster of RMI satellite images (hosted by NASA) [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/NASA/Satellite-Images-RMI.html[/url] Examples of Marshallese woven crafts [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Marshallese_crafts.html[/url] Laura and Woja, Majuro - the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), in the Central Pacific. [url]http://www3.uakron.edu/majuro/Laura-Majuro.html[/url] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A few things you'll need to know about Marshallese adoption: The adoptions are very open by U.S. International standards. The Micronesians do not view adoption as a cutting of one parent's rights, and the independent establishment of another's rights. Informal adoption has long been a tradition and is a way to link families together. The problems in the Marshalls stem from vast inequalities in wealth, and a huge birthrate (about 6.4 children per adult woman, although this has recently dropped a bit). The traditional chief class (irooj) were the intermediates for the various occupying powers (Spain, Germany, Japan, U.S.) They obtained the goods desired (copra, fish) and received the benefits (manufactured goods). Some passed things on to those doing the work, and some did not. Although the clan/class system is fading, some born into power feel entitled. Lots of U.S. aid never made it to the intended recipients. (The same thing happened in other former U.S. trust territories.) No new school, but the person in charge of education funds has a Range Rover. The current president, Note, is supposedly seeking to change this. The government of the U.S. and Marshall Islands have finished renegotiating their Compact, and some of the Irooj attempting to disrupt negotiation to get more money under their control. I don't want to suggest that all irooj took/take unfair advantage. Friends of our adopted an infant from a very prestigious chief family. That they were in a position where they were adopting a potential heir out, suggests that they were not skimming like many of their compatriots. Most Marshallese consider adopting children out because they are having trouble feeding their family. It is an act to preserve the life of the child, and their birth siblings, not a lifestyle issue. The Marshallese (and Micronesians in general) are a reserved people who avoid conflict. This has made them more open to exploitation than other cultures, often by their own people. Much is unspoken, and family relations are subtle. For instance, "jine" is the word for mother, aunt, older female cousin or older sister in a care taking role. They understand who the person is via context. They are nice, if a bit stoic. Family and friends share their meager possessions. Life is rough there. Not much grows on a coral reef and everything imported costs 2-5 times what it does in the U.S. I don't think disease is any more major of an issue for the RMI than other international adoptions. Radiation probably is not much of a problem NOW, as the irradiated atolls have been depopulated for a couple generations. One problem, the hospital on Majuro (the capital), prior to the Compact renewal was defunded to the point of near uselessness. There are two hospitals on Kwajalein. One on Kwaj. mostly only allows American (base staff) patients, and I think the other, for Marshallese, is sparsely funded. Medical care can be minimal. There are charity clinics. Still, the wealthy or VERY sick fly to Hawaii or Manila for medical care. This was and is paid for the the government, and it nearly bankrupted the entire medical system. (There were too many flights, some for less than emergent cases.) Since the Compact renewal, the financial state of medical care has improved. The adoption hook: the Marshallese will want/expect continuing contact. Aside from a few situations, they view you as adopting a child as entering their (complex) family system. If you do not send photos and maybe the occasional letter, they will be quite hurt. You are betraying their trust. There are individuals in the RMI opposed to adoption. Often these are the wealthy who are not in a position where they need to consider adopting out children. They will seize upon any rumor/opportunity to attack adoption. Lack of contact is transmuted into baby selling, etc... The awful organ harvesting rumors have NOT taken root in the RMI (unlike Guatemala and other countries). If you would be uncomfortable with ongoing contact, I'd suggest another country. There are some wonderful (and cheaper) programs out there. If you are comfortable with keeping some sort of tie alive, then the RMI might be for you. Many, but not all of the RMI adoptive families also send care packages to their birth family or local services organization. Postage is, fortunately, domestic rates (former Trust Territory). Check Yokwe for activities by adoptive parents (in conjunction with locals.) In Micronesian culture, if you admire something, the owner will give it to you, showing that you, as a person, are more important than an object. Hence, any goods sent are subsequently disseminated to needy friends and family. The level of poverty there is worse than anything in the U.S. There is no safety net, aside from family. (Yes, the homeless here have it bad but also have some options unavailable to the hungry in the RMI.) --------- My advice: Consider if you are you ready for the obligations of an open adoption. I wouldn't expect to find you're birth family on your doorstep one day, but they want photos and notes, and maybe an occasional video. The Marshallese love photos (to take one's photos is to flatter them). Care packages are gravy, but the contact is what is really important. Scan and read the RMI-Kids archives. Don't believe anyone (including me!) 100% without checking the information out. Think, read and mull over any decisions. Check out the links for information. Contact me directly if desired. David