• Will Micronesia Be the First Nationwide Park?
    33 replies, posted
[QUOTE] Imagine a protected park half the size of the continental U.S., covering a sea-life-loaded swath of the Pacific Ocean and the 607 tropical islands therein. The park's inhabitants live mostly in traditional villages and still remember how to do things much of the world has forgotten, such as make clothes from scratch and live off the land. This park would, in fact, encompass an entire country — the Federated States of Micronesia (F.S.M.) — and if the archipelago nation pulls it off, it will be the first of its kind in the world. "It's a visionary, radical concept," says Howard Rice, an instructor at the College of Micronesia who came up with the idea. "There's never been a world park. It doesn't exist in the dictionary. It doesn't exist anywhere." If successful, Micronesia will be the first nation to become a wholly protected area, adhering to development and conservation standards designed to safeguard the country's unique culture and rich marine biodiversity and kick-start its placid economy. According to Rice, who once operated an eco-tourism company in the Caribbean, developing high-end eco-tourism is the answer to F.S.M.'s perennial job shortage. Michigan State University (MSU) has already agreed to provide technical expertise for the park, and the National Geographic Society has also issued the project its stamp of approval. This spring, Pohnpei, one of F.S.M.'s four states, will host an economic summit to address the park's planning. There are hurdles. Although the state of Pohnpei is spearheading the effort to move the project forward, its development-hungry governor has proposed building a casino and resort complex "of not less than 1,000 rooms" — not exactly a conservation-minded move. In fact, even though the world-park concept was first floated in 2004, no guidelines for development in the park have been drawn yet, bringing into question how valuable the project will really be in conservation terms. The national government, too, remains skeptical. "It might be a workable idea," says Joseph Urusemal, a senator who was President when the world-park concept was introduced. "We just couldn't get a good grip on what it was going to be, how much it would cost and what would be the benefit." The local conservation community also sees the world park as a straight-up tourism initiative backed by foreign researchers out of touch with local values. Though there are state governments, Micronesia's limited land — all 607 small islands comprise only 271 square miles in total — is mostly controlled by family clans, and setting even small patches of it aside has proved problematic in the past. In the early 1990s, the U.S.-based Nature Conservancy tried to survey land in Pohnpei for a proposed watershed-management plan. "We almost got macheted to death," says Bill Raynor, who moved to Pohnpei from California 30 years ago and helped establish the Conservancy's presence in Micronesia. "None of us wants to walk out to the communities with a finished plan produced by university experts. That's not the way to go here in Micronesia." The park's advocates argue that the project is a work in progress. Nothing will be finalized without consulting the communities, says Richard Paulsen, a recreation- and resource-studies expert at MSU. "Our complete intention is that this be a Micronesian concept," he says. "This is something that the person on the street must understand, accept and be able to live with." The larger question — whether an entire country can declare itself a park without the support of an international conservation body — has, in a way, been answered. "If the government wants to do it, they can do it," says Peter Shadie of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. But that doesn't mean the park would fit his organization's definition of a protected area, which emphasizes the long-term conservation of nature and its associated ecosystem services and cultural values. "The definition [of protected area] has a lot of latitude," says Shadie. "At the end of the day, it is a class of land use purposely set aside for conservation, rather than a class of land use designed for people to live in." By definition, though, the world park would envelop both people and their property, a factor that is a concern to many Micronesians. They worry that the initiative might cast their country as some sort of zoo: a place for travelers to gawk at a culture locked in the past. And just how landowners will react to having rules imposed on them by the central government remains to be seen. "Ownership here is very, very tight," says John Haglelgam, who served as President of F.S.M. from 1987 to 1991 and is now a history professor at the College of Micronesia. "The world park goes to the core of the land-ownership system." The park could be an answer to the question that has plagued Micronesia's leaders for decades: how to achieve economic development while maintaining F.S.M.'s culture. Politicians worry the country will suffer the same fate as its island neighbor Guam, home to high-rise hotels and a traditional culture in shards. But Guam also offers opportunity, and some 2,000 F.S.M. residents migrate out of the country each year both to Guam and the U.S. seeking education and employment. Is pinning the nation's future on a flock of eco-tourists realistic? Many say no. "F.S.M. is in economic desperation," says Haglelgam. "But I don't think this is the magic bullet." [/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1959020,00.html[/url] Thought this was an interesting concept.
Never thought I'd see the day Micronesia did something newsworthy.
That's a stupid idea. Let's just tear it down and make a theme park or a Wal-Mart.
That's a stupid name
[QUOTE=CanadianBill;20149360]That's a stupid name[/QUOTE] Better than Macronesia :v:
Probably better than nesia.
[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;20149389]Probably better than nesia.[/QUOTE] Amnesia! :buddy:
World wide parks is just a few steps away from a Unified World.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20149516]World wide parks is just a few steps away from a Unified World.[/QUOTE] wat unified like everyone is happy, or unified like new world order/1984?
[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;20149534]wat unified like everyone is happy, or unified like new world order/1984?[/QUOTE] Unified as in people stop blowing shit up for petty shit. I still think we are 100 years or more away from a one world government though.
People will never stop blowing shit up though. There is always some repressed group that feels like bombing is the only practical solution to getting their opinions and message out there. Even in Canada, we had the FLQ in the 70s.
I like Hunterbrute see this as but one small step towards a unified humanity (assuming we don't blow ourselves up first) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI6vANpHhOA[/media]
[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;20149607]People will never stop blowing shit up though. There is always some repressed group that feels like bombing is the only practical solution to getting their opinions and message out there. Even in Canada, we had the FLQ in the 70s.[/QUOTE] True but if the USA proves anything, its that people from different life styles can come together and compromise over their differences rather than fighting about them.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150467]True but if the USA proves anything, its that people from different life styles can come together and compromise over their differences rather than fighting about them.[/QUOTE] That's because the America dream is forced upon everyone pretty much. You can't really be American without acting it, where as in European countries and Canada, you can still retain almost all of your culture and language and such.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150467]True but if Canada proves anything, its that people from different life styles can come together and compromise over their differences rather than fighting about them.[/QUOTE] fixed that for ya [QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150467]True but if Europe proves anything, its that people from different life styles can come together and compromise over their differences rather than fighting about them.[/QUOTE] and again
[QUOTE=KaIibos;20150509]fixed that for ya and again[/QUOTE] Give it a few more years and Canada, Mexico, and USA will form a Union, and another few years and we may see the United States of Europe. Plus Canada isnt really all that different from the USA in terms of social interaction.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150535]Give it a few more years and Canada, Mexico, and USA will form a Union, and another few years and we may see the United States of Europe. Plus Canada isnt really all that different from the USA in terms of social interaction.[/QUOTE] True but the laws and basic ideologies of the countries are much different.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150535]Give it a few more years and Canada, Mexico, and USA will form a Union, and another few years and we may see the United States of Europe. Plus Canada isnt really all that different from the USA in terms of social interaction.[/QUOTE] And that union shall be named "The United States of America" :black101:
[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;20150560]True but the laws and basic ideologies of the countries are much different.[/QUOTE] Yeah thats true. [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;20150574]And that union shall be named "The United States of America" :black101:[/QUOTE] Doubtful, Canada and Mexico would not willingly join the USA. I was thinking more along the lines of what the EU is.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150535] Plus Canada isnt really all that different from the USA in terms of social interaction.[/QUOTE] We don't have nearly as much ideological conflict as the US does (in part because of the smaller population) [editline]a[/editline] North American Union imo
There already is a free trade agreement (NAFTA), and unified currency is not far behind (conspiracy: Amero).
[QUOTE=KaIibos;20150627]We don't have nearly as much ideological conflict as the US does (in part because of the smaller population)[/QUOTE] You do however have Quebec. [QUOTE=sloppy_joes;20150632]There already is a free trade agreement (NAFTA), and unified currency is not far behind (conspiracy: Amero).[/QUOTE] Fuck conspiracy nuts, we need a unified currency already. Im tired of going to Canada and having to keep swapping money. And now most Canadian stores accept US dollars.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150637] Fuck conspiracy nuts, we need a unified currency already. Im tired of going to Canada and having to keep swapping money. And now most Canadian stores accept US dollars.[/QUOTE] That would however tie the economies together. Which is bad considering Mexico's is shit, the US is pretty bad, and Canada isn't much better than the US. [QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150637]You do however have Quebec.[/quote] Quebec doesn't know what it wants, I think they realized that splitting is a bad idea so they aren't a real threat per say.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150637]You do however have Quebec. Fuck conspiracy nuts, we need a unified currency already. Im tired of going to Canada and having to keep swapping money. And now most Canadian stores accept US dollars.[/QUOTE] Yeah but unless they're going to secede I don't see the problem we don't hate them and from what I can tell they don't hate us - but that's besides the point because Quebec is in fact a perfect example of your original point - different groups compromising for the greater good
[QUOTE=KaIibos;20150682]Yeah but unless they're going to secede I don't see the problem we don't hate them and from what I can tell they don't hate us - but that's besides the point because Quebec is in fact a perfect example of your original point - different groups compromising for the greater good[/QUOTE] Its a good thing they compromised, Im not sure if I have my Canadian history correct but if I remember correctly wasnt Quebec a few years back ready to leave Canada? [QUOTE=sloppy_joes;20150667]That would however tie the economies together. Which is bad considering Mexico's is shit, the US is pretty bad, and Canada isn't much better than the US. [/QUOTE] Take a step forward and have each country keep their original currency but also have a second legal tender like the Euro used in all 3 countries. Then after the old currencies stabilize you can remove them and continue with the new currency accepted in all 3 countries.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150720]Its a good thing they compromised, Im not sure if I have my Canadian history correct but if I remember correctly wasnt Quebec a few years back ready to leave Canada?[/QUOTE] They backed down They [I]are[/I] French remember [editline]a[/editline] But if I understand it correctly (which I probably don't; I haven't read into it very much) the then-government granted Quebec special status as a "country within a country" or something. It means Canada recognizes their unique culture, language, laws, etc. as a mini-society within Canada. Also apparently about 60% of Quebecers are fine with things the way they are whilst the other 40% have many different ideas about varying levels of sovereignty for Quebec. If you ask me, the native American population should be the ones concerned about their culture, but sadly most of their youth is sniffing paint thinner and stabbing each other to death over liquor money.
[QUOTE=KaIibos;20150735] But if I understand it correctly (which I probably don't; I haven't read into it very much) the then-government granted Quebec special status as a "country within a country" or something. It means Canada recognizes their unique culture, language, laws, etc. as a mini-society within Canada. Also apparently about 60% of Quebecers are fine with things the way they are whilst the other 40% have many different ideas about varying levels of sovereignty for Quebec. [/QUOTE] Personally thats how I think a one world government would work. I think it would be like the USA is with representatives from each state, but in the case of the world each country would send a representative and decide on whats to be done. Much like the UN is, only something that actually works. [QUOTE=KaIibos;20150735] If you ask me, the native American population should be the ones concerned about their culture, but sadly most of their youth is sniffing paint thinner and stabbing each other to death over liquor money.[/QUOTE] One of my friends is a Native American and on the reservation his family lives on most people are complete drunks who spend their casino money on booze.
Criminals will flee there.
[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;20150872]One of my friends is a Native American and on the reservation his family lives on most people are complete drunks who spend their casino money on booze.[/QUOTE] Yep. It's sad. Most of them have no sense of cultural pride.
This sounds like a interesting idea, but humans will never unite under one banner because we hate each other too much.
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