The Solomon Islands

Basic Details

Currency: Solomon Islands dollar

Langauage: There are sixty-seventy languages spoken in the Solomon Islands e.g. Amba, Anuta, Babatana, Bilua, Lavukaleve but the main language is English as there are so many different dialects around the country.

GDP: 1.3 Billion USD

Life Expectantcy: 75.6 years, F: 78.56 Years, M: 73.11 Years

Population: 623,281

School: 9.6

Work: 43.9

Environmental sustainability: Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (tonnes) 0.4

Population: 623,281

Ethnic Groups: Melanesian (95.3%), Polynesian (3.1%), Micronesian (1.2%), Other (0.4%) – This includes Chinese and Europeans

Religion: Church of Melanesia (31.9%), Roman Catholic (19.6%), South Sea Evergelical Church (17.1%), Seventh Day Adventist (11.7%), United Church (10.1%), Christian Fellowship Church (2.5%), Custom Belives (0.8%), Other (6.3%)

Latitude/Longitude: -8159

Capital: Honiara

Where they live: Rural (78.2%), Urban (21.8%)

Democracy: British Monarchy

Ages: Under 15 (35.7%), 15-29 (28.2%), 30-44 (19.8%), 45-59 (10.2%), 60-74 (4.6%), 75-84 (1.2%), 85 and above (0.3%)

History

• It was discovered by Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira a Spanish explorer on the 16th February 1568.

• In 1998-2003, the country suffered a civil war between the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army and the Marau Eagle Force. In late 1998, millitants from Guadalcanal created a campagian which promoted violence to the Malaitan settlers. Many fled back and to their country and the next year, formed a group themselves. The war kept happenning for five years straight until Australia and New Zealand forces told the two to stay on their own islands.

• Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira found the gold on the island of Guadalcanal. He thought he had found a soruce of King Solomon’s wealth and named the islands, The Islands of Solomon.

• After settlement in Sydney, Australia in 1788 more ships started passing the Solomon Island waters

• In the late 19th century, islanders where sent to do labour work in Fiji and Queensland. (30,000 labourers between 1870-1910)

• Germany and Britain spilt. 1886, but germany moved to the northern islands and britian had the southern islands.

• In 2007, they were hit by a tsunami.

Climate

• The Solomon Islands are hot and humid, but they receive a large amount of rainfall annually and have cold winds sweep in and out.

• It can get up to 32°C

• Rain is usually 3,000–3,500 mm annually.

• Earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones happen regularly

The Solomon Island Flag

Map with BOLTS

Poverty

In the Solomon Islands, poverty is one of the biggest killers. In 2013, 12.7% of the population were under the national poverty line. For every 1000 babies born in 2015, 24 died before their first birthday. Each month, more and more people are dieing due to poverty. The most common causes of poverty in the Solomon Islands are ethnic tensions, location, industries and lack of employment for the youth. In the Solomon Islands, the capital, Honiara, has 85% of the population’s wealth. But between the other islands, the have to share 15% of the other wealth. 25,000 people don’t have enough food to eat on a daily basis. Luckly, the amount of people in poverty has decreased since 2005 by 8%. The Australian government has spent $92 million AUD each year to support stability, enable economic growth and enhance human development in Solomon Islands.

Economy

Economy in the Solomon Islands is a huge issue. The population’s wealth is not evenly distrubuted as the captial, Honiara, has 85% of the population’s wealth, but between the other islands, they have to share 15% of the rest of the wealth. The Solomon Island’s wealth is based on agriculture, forestry and fisheries, which is about 40% of the country’s GDP. Even though tourism has helped shaped the countries economy, the profits are still small and not properly delt with. The government does not use the money wisely. But in 2016, Australia has launched the Solomon Islands Programme which will use up to $50 million AUD by the end of 2020.

Gender Equality

The Solomon Islands is an indepented Commonwealth. Women find it hard to get a role in parliament. There are no legal laws stating the women can’t join but people believe in cultral women which challenege women to join. The nation’s parliament consists of 50 members, yet only one woman. The government has changed laws to get women more involved but nothing has been successful. In the Solomon Islands, according to a 2011 World Health Organization report, more than 50% of women in the Solomon Islands experienced sexual violence by a partner at some point in their life. This ususally happens because they express their opinion or do something against the steriotypical life of a women in their culture.

Water & Sanitation

Nearly 70% of the population don’t have access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities. The quality of the Solomon Islands’ urban water did not achieve The World Health Organization’s drinking water standards in 2007. Drinking and bathing in the water can give you deadly diseases such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid. There have been multiple demands to help rural areas get fresh, piped water. World Bank helped the Solomon Islands, with sanitation and water. A local community member, Glenda Vaha stated, “Before the water supply, when we needed drinking water we had no choice but to paddle our canoe to find water, even in rough seas and bad weather,"

Education

Education in the Solomon Islands can be hard to access for the youth. Around 20% of the children in the country are not attending school. There is an uneven amount of children and makes it hard to supply educational services. In 2003, most teachers and students left due to their schools being burnt down during the ethnic violence. Due to children not attending school, the numbers have increased in riots, crimes and violence. Only 2.2 percent of the government’s budget goes towards education. Only 60% of children even have access to any kind of primary education. Of those 60%, only 72% of students complete their primary education. Currently, 32% of boys and 27% of girls attend secondary school. When the child attends school, there is a shortage of supplies and teachers. The schools are usually broke and the teachers are unqualified. The governement does not put enough money, but hopefully someday they will.

Water and Sanitation

Having no proper water and sanitation is a devasting fact which haunts the Solomon Islands. Nearly 70% of the population don’t have access to clean water and proper sanitation facilitates. 80% of rural house areas lack clean water. According to the World Health Organization’s, the Solomon Islands did not meet drinking water standards in 2007. Many people who drink the water suffer from unborne dieases such as diarrhea and hepitis A. In 2002, diarrheal diseases accounted for 7% of mortalities in the Solomon Islands. With the unhigenic enviroment, residents can not have a shower which leds to mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria and dengue fever. When some people – especially women – go outside to have a shower their chance of getting abused increases.

Education

Education in the Solomon Islands is a big bump in the country. Many youths don’t have access to an education or they attend a ‘school’ with unqualified teacher. Around 20% of the children in the country are not attending school. The government only supplies 2.2% of it’s budget towards education. Many teachers and students have left as schools were being burnt down during the ethnic war (1998-2003). The children not attending school are contributing to the increasing numbers of violence, crime and riots. Only 60% of children even have access to any kind of primary education. Of those 60%, only 72% of students complete their primary education. Currently, 32% of boys and 27% of girls attend secondary school. Most schools are broke and can only provide a certain amount of teachers.

Hunger

Hunger in the Solomon Islands is increasing each day. 32.8% of children under the age of five are stunting. 8.5% are under the serverly low heights for their age. This means that children are not getting enough nutrition and daily energy intake into their bodies. Some people have enough food but lack the intake of vitamins and minerals. This is make people more vulnerable to diseases and infections. People living in the urban areas don’t have access to their own grown food. Usually, food is too expensive to buy. Fish and meat is too expensive, so people invest in cheap foods such as rice and noodles which are very unhealthy. There are high rates of anemia and diarrhea that result from this type of improper nutrition.

Economy

In the Solomon Islands, economy keeps on decreasing. The price of monthly rent for 85 m2 furnished accommodation in a normal area in Honiara is $2093.43 AUD. Currently, $1 AUD is equal to $5.99SI. Many people living in urban areas find it expensive to buy food from the supermarket as it is too expensive. E.g. One bottle of 1L milk costs $20.00SI ($3.34AUD). The price of Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat in Honiara is $1,500SI ($250.22AUD). The capital city, Honiara has 85% of the country’s wealth while the rest of the country must share the other 15%. Most of the money is not evenly distributed and everything is very expensive for the locals. The rate growth of the economy is 2.0% annually. The Solomon Island’s wealth is based on agriculture, forestry and fisheries, which is about 40% of the country’s GDP. This affects the standard of living because only in Honiara there would be decent housing and facilities but in other areas there would only be a certain amount of people living in a village. It would be too expensive to buy a house or even pay for water and electricity access.

Solomon Island $100 note Australian $100 note

Ethnic Tensions

The Ethnic Tensions have been going on in the Solomon Islands since 1998. This has effected many things such as education, government, economy and basic needs. Many students and teachers have fled or are not attending school due to schools being burnt down. In September 1998, the Guadalcanal Indigenous Revolutionary Army, attacked Malaitan villages in the Guadalcanal Province. The governor-general soon after commanded for help as violence and riots kept on occuring. After the attack, the Malaitan fled to another island, Malaita. Violence still continued and the the Malaitan were wealthier than the local population. There is still tension between the two ethnic groups in the urban and rural population. The government still seeks help. This effects the standard of living because people are creating more and more violence about the war. Some people may be discriminated for being apart for their ethnicity. Many people could suffer abuse in the workplace or at school. There are still some charities helping the Solomon Islands become a more apologetic and to forget their past. Australia and New Zealand forces have been trying to help the situation by telling each ethnic group to stay on two separate islands.

School in Solomon Islands. Pymble Ladies’ College – School in Australia.

There are not many students as people have There are 2500 students at this school as there is no

dropped out due to the schools being brunt war or deliema.

down.