Daily Archives: June 16, 2016

Utopia – New World Encyclopedia

Posted: June 16, 2016 at 5:53 pm

Utopia is a term denoting a visionary or ideally perfect state of society, whose members live the best possible life. The term Utopia was coined by Thomas More from the Greek words ou (no or not), and topos (place), as the name for the ideal state in his book, De optimo reipublicae statu deque nova insula Utopia (Louvain, 1516).

Utopianism refers to the various ways in which people think about, depict, and attempt to create a perfect society. Utopian thought deals with morality, ethics, psychology, and political philosophy, and often originates from the belief that reason and intelligence can bring about the betterment of society. It is usually characterized by optimism that an ideal society is possible. Utopianism plays an important role in motivating social and political change.

The adjective "utopian" is sometimes used in a negative connotation to discredit ideas as too advanced, too optimistic or unrealistic and impossible to realize. The term Utopian has also been used to describe actual communities founded in attempts to create an ideal economic and political system. Many works of utopian literature offer detailed and practical descriptions of an ideal society, but usually include some fatal flaw that makes the establishment of such a society impossible.

The term Utopia was coined by Thomas More from the Greek words ou (no or not), and topos (place), as the name for the ideal state in his book, De optimo reipublicae statu deque nova insula Utopia (Utopia Louvain, 1516). The book is narrated by a Portuguese traveler named Raphael Hythlodaeus, who criticizes the laws and customs of European states while admiring the ideal institutions which he observes during a five year sojourn on the island of Utopia.

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Utopia is a perfect society, where poverty and misery have been eliminated, there are few laws and no lawyers, and the citizens, though ready to defend themselves if necessary, are pacifists. Citizens hold property in common, and care is taken to teach everyone a trade from which he can make a living, so that there is no need for crime. Agriculture is treated as a science and taught to children as part of their school curriculum; every citizen spends some of his life working on a farm. The people live in 54 cities, separated from each other by a distance of at least 24 miles. The rural population lives in communal farmhouses scattered through the countryside. Everyone works only six hours a day; this is sufficient because the people are industrious and do not require the production of useless luxuries for their consumption. A body of wise and educated representatives deliberates on public affairs, and the country is governed by a prince, selected from among candidates chosen by the people. The prince is elected for life, but can be removed from office for tyranny. All religions are tolerated and exist in harmony; atheism is not permitted since, if a man does not fear a god of some kind, he will commit evil acts and weaken society. Utopia rarely sends its citizens to war, but hires mercenaries from among its warlike neighbors, deliberately sending them into danger in the hope that the more belligerent populations of all surrounding countries will be gradually eliminated.

Utopia was first published in Louvain in 1516, without Mores knowledge, by his friend Erasmus. It was not until 1551, sixteen years after More's execution as a traitor, that it was first published in England as an English translation.

Although some readers have regarded Utopia as a realistic blueprint for a working nation, More likely intended it as a satire, allowing him to call attention to European political and social abuses without risking censure by the king. The similarities to the ideas later developed by Karl Marx are evident, but More was a devout Roman Catholic and probably used monastic communalism as his model. The politics of Utopia have been seen as influential to the ideas of Anabaptism, Mormonism, and communism. An applied example of More's utopia can be seen in Vasco de Quiroga's implemented society in Michoacn, Mexico, which was directly taken and adapted from More's work.

The word utopia overtook More's short work and has been used ever since to describe any type of imaginary ideal society. Although he may not have founded the genre of utopian and dystopian fiction, More certainly popularized it. Some of the early works which owe something to Utopia include The City of the Sun by Tommaso Campanella, Description of the Republic of Christianopolis by Johannes Valentinus Andreae, New Atlantis by Francis Bacon and Candide by Voltaire.

The more modern genre of science fiction frequently depicts utopian or dystopian societies in fictional works such as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932) Lost Horizon by James Hilton (1933), "A Modern Utopia" (1905) and New Worlds for Old (1908) by H. G. Wells, The Great Explosion by Eric Frank Russell (1963), News From Nowhere by William Morris, Andromeda Nebula (1957) by Ivan Efremov, 1984 (1949) by George Orwell, and The Giver (1993) by Lois Lowry. Authors of utopian fiction are able to explore some of the problems raised by utopian concepts and to develop interesting consequences. Many works make use of an outsider, a time-traveler or a foreigner, who observes the features of the society and describes them to the reader.

Utopian thought is born from the premise that through reason and intelligence, humankind is capable of creating an ideal society in which every individual can achieve fulfillment without infringing on the happiness and well-being of the other members of society. It includes the consideration of morality, ethics, psychology, and social and political philosophy. Utopian thinking is generally confined to physical life on earth, although it may include the preparation of the members of society for a perceived afterlife. It invariably includes criticism of the current state of society and seeks ways to correct or eliminate abuses. Utopianism is characterized by tension between philosophical ideals and the practical realities of society, such as crime and immorality; there is also a conflict between respect for individual freedom and the need to maintain order. Utopian thinking implies a creative process that challenges existing concepts, rather than an ideology or justification for a belief system which is already in place.

Two of Platos dialogues, Republic and Laws, contain one of the earliest attempts to define a political organization that would not only allow its citizens to live in harmony, but would also provide the education and experience necessary for each citizen to realize his highest potential.

During the nineteenth century, thinkers such as Henri Saint-Simon, Charles Fourier, and Etienne Cabet in France, and Robert Owen in England popularized the idea of creating small, experimental communities to put philosophical ideals into practice. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels recognized that utopianism offered a vision for a better future, a vision that contributed much to Marxism, but they also criticized utopian writers' lack of a wider understanding of social and political realities which could contribute to actual political change. Herbert Marcuse made a distinction between abstract utopias based on fantasy and dreams, and concrete utopias based on critical social theory.

Utopianism is considered to originate in the imaginative capacity of the subconscious mind, which is able to transcend conscious reality by projecting images of hopes, dreams, and desires. Utopian ideas, though they may never be fully realized, play an important role in bringing about positive social change. They allow thinkers to distance themselves from the existing reality and consider new possibilities. The optimism that a better society can be achieved provides motivation and a focal point for those involved in bringing about social or political change. Abolitionism, womens rights and feminism, the Civil Rights movement, the establishment of a welfare system to take care of the poor, the Red Cross, and multiculturalism are all examples of utopian thinking applied to practical life.

The harsh economic conditions of the nineteenth century and the social disruption created by the development of commercialism and capitalism led several writers to imagine economically utopian societies. Some were characterized by a variety of socialist ideas: an equal distribution of goods according to need, frequently with the total abolition of money; citizens laboring for the common good; citizens doing work which they enjoyed; and ample leisure time for the cultivation of the arts and sciences. One such utopia was described in Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward. Another socialist utopia was William Morris' News from Nowhere, written partially in criticism of the bureaucratic nature of Bellamy's utopia.

Capitalist utopias, such as the one portrayed in Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress or Ayn Rands The Fountainhead, are generally individualistic and libertarian, and are based on perfect market economies, in which there is no market failure. Eric Frank Russell's book The Great Explosion (1963) details an economic and social utopia, the first to mention of the idea of Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS).

Political utopias are ones in which the government establishes a society that is striving toward perfection. These utopias are based on laws administered by a government, and often restrict individualism when it conflicts with the primary goals of the society. Sometimes the state or government replaces religious and family values. A global utopia of world peace is often seen as one of the possible inevitable ends of history.

Through history a number of religious communities have been created to reflect the virtues and values they believe have been lost or which await them in the Afterlife. In the United States and Europe during and after the Second Great Awakening of the nineteenth century, many radical religious groups sought to form communities where all aspects of people's lives could be governed by their faith. Among the best-known of these utopian societies were the Puritans, and the Shaker movement, which originated in England in the eighteenth century but moved to America shortly after its founding.

The most common utopias are based on religious ideals, and usually required adherence to a particular religious tradition. The Jewish, Christian and Islamic concepts of the Garden of Eden and Heaven may be interpreted as forms of utopianism, especially in their folk-religious forms. Such religious "utopias" are often described as "gardens of delight," implying an existence free from worry in a state of bliss or enlightenment. They postulate existences free from sin, pain, poverty and death, and often assume communion with beings such as angels or the houri. In a similar sense the Hindu concept of Moksha and the Buddhist concept of Nirvana may be thought of as a kind of utopia.

Many cultures and cosmogonies include a myth or memory of a distant past when humankind lived in a primitive and simple state of perfect happiness and fulfillment. The various myths describe a time when there was an instinctive harmony between man and nature, and mans needs were easily supplied by the abundance of nature. There was no motive for war or oppression, or any need for hard and painful work. Humans were simple and pious, and felt themselves close to the gods. These mythical or religious archetypes resurge with special vitality during difficult times, when the myth is not projected towards the remote past, but towards the future or a distant and fictional place (for example, The Land of Cockaygne, a straightforward parody of a paradise), where the possibility of living happily must exist.

Golden Age

Works and Days, compilation of the mythological tradition by the Greek poet Hesiod, around the eighth century B.C.E., explained that, prior to the present era, there were four progressively most perfect ones.

A medieval poem (c. 1315) , entitled "The Land of Cokaygne" depicts a land of extravagance and excess where cooked larks flew straight into one's mouth; the rivers ran with wine, and a fountain of youth kept everyone young and active.

Scientific and technical utopias are set in the future, when it is believed that advanced science and technology will allow utopian living standards; for example, the absence of death and suffering; changes in human nature and the human condition. These utopian societies tend to change what "human" is all about. Normal human functions, such as sleeping, eating and even reproduction are replaced by artificial means.

All links retrieved January 13, 2016.

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Utopia - New World Encyclopedia

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Travel & Resources: DELHI / NEW DELHI – Utopia

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Delhi, officially National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) - incorporating fascinating Old Delhi and India's capital, New Delhi - is a vast, well-organized metropolis dotted with lush public parks, exotic Mughal Empire architecture, grand British-colonial showpieces, monumental government structures, shrines large and small to a baffling number of spiritual practices, side-by-side tracts of glittering mega-malls, and a magic carpet of organic urban sprawl woven together over hundreds of years. Rich in history, culture, cuisine, commodities, ethnicities, superstitions, and opinions, Dehli is the proverbial melting pot where a little bit of every part of the subcontinent and its neighbors has been blended into modern India.

Appealing and relatively easy to get around (except during rush hours), Delhi is also super safe, thanks to teams of ever-vigilant security that look to have been hand-picked from the handsomest of the country's already studly armed services. If you're a fan of hunky, flirty, mustachioed men in uniform, packing (in more than one way), then Delhi's got that added bonus!

The population of Delhi is nearing 17 million people (that's over 650,000 Utopians and more on the way).

Navigating the local gay scene is easy with our interactive Utopia Map of Gay & Lesbian Delhi / New Delhi :

Gay and lesbian-friendly travel agents providing one-stop, tailor-made travel plans for travelers going to India, Nepal, Thailand, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Indian islands among many destinations. Holidays, unions, honeymoons. Utopia Member Benefit: 5% DISCOUNT, FREE TRAVEL MAPS, COMPLIMENTARY PICK-UPS AND DROPS and other benefits and upgrades based on availability. Add your review, comment, or correction

"We have just returned from our 4th trip organised by Pink Vibgyor, and delivered by Rajat's very professional team (to India 3 times and Sri Lanka once). Rajat was always available for the many pre-planning emails. He is always obliging when it comes to tweaking each and every detail of the trip so that it is planned perfectly for each individual. On the trip itself, again everything was without fault and totally seamless. Ground crew were always punctual, professional, and courteous. The guides always full of information about the sights being seen. Would we recommend Rajat and Pink Vibgyor 100%? Yes." -- Neil S., Feb 26, 2016

"We just came back to France after visiting Rajastan with Pink Vibgyor. All was well organized by them and Rajat answered all questions and did all we needed to be satisfied. The driver was efficient and friendly. All the local French speaking guides were interesting and friendly. Just be attentive: the 'heritage' hotels are not like in Europe (like Pousadas or Chateaux Hotels). They could be very charming or the houses could be beautiful, but less confortable, noisy, etc. than European standard. So, have a precise look online before renting them. Are there windows in the room? is the room large enought? How is the bathroom? Special thanks to Amir in Delhi who permitted us to discover the town 'differently'." -- Jean Marie, Feb 13, 2016

"I just finished a Sep tour of 16 days in Rajasthan and Punjab. Raj, who organized my tour, and Narish, my driver, where excellent. I was upgraded in many of the hotels that I stayed in. Every need was taking care of. An amazing trip." -- Charles P, Oct 20, 2015

A long-running venue to meet people from the gay community. Small disco on two levels with a gay party every Tues night. G/F with bar stools is noisy, but good for people who like to dance and hook up. Upper level with sofas is better to socialize. Fun, nice people, lots of couples, easy to chat. Gets packed after 11pm. Most of the patrons are locals, with some expatriates mingling in. Add your review, comment, or correction

On the street from Chandni Chowk to the Old Delhi train station there is a facility on the Chandni Chowk side. Very cruisy after sunset. Quick action possible in the last cubicle. All ages, but mostly poor, working class, and rickshaw wallahs. Add your review, comment, or correction

The park, in the vicinity of the Dhaula Kuan bus stop, is super active in the afternoons (it is not safe at night) with hundreds of men of all ages who, waiting for their bus connections (sometimes for hours), wander around the park looking for connections (which happen almost instantly as you enter the park). The term MSM was seemingly coined to describe this scene. Add your review, comment, or correction

Action possible at night after 8pm, but beware of roaming cops. Along the park are several cruisy facilities on Lala Hardev Marg. Add your review, comment, or correction

At the corner which is closest to the Ashok Hotel Convention Hall entrance. Favorite cruising spot (particularly on Sun evenings), although be cautious and make sure you don't carry valuables. Peak hours are 6-8pm. Add your review, comment, or correction

Very cruisy day and night, all ages, professionals and working class. Be aware of roaming authorities. If you arrive by Metro, get out at the Delhi Station gate (not Ajmeri). Enter the stairs via the security. Ascend the long and elevated gangway/passenger distributor where you may traverse all platforms below. At the last, Platform 1, do not descend onto the platform, descend in front and exit via the next security in front. Exit the Delhi railway station, on the right, you will see the red and blue sign for Railway Protection Force Post, New Delhi. The facility is directly opposite the sign, towards the right, and shielded by brickworks. Near New Delhi Station on the Pahar Ganj side, there's a facility at the bottom of the staircase leading to the bridge over the railway tracks. Cruisy, but avoid action here as the authorities can be watching. The steps going up to the bridge can also be cruisy at night. Add your review, comment, or correction

Enter from the gate next the Wholesale Flower Market on Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd. The park has some nice monuments and wonderful walks. Easy encounters are possible, although be cautious and make sure you don't carry valuables. Don't hang around too late after it gets dark. Add your review, comment, or correction

Look for Fire Brigade office. The park gate is just opposite (next to the taxi stand). Easy encounters are possible, although be cautious and make sure you don't carry valuables. Don't hang around too late after it gets dark. Add your review, comment, or correction

This "rare bird" is a superb, gay-friendly bistro by bon vivant Jerome and his partner Laurent. With an inventive, relaxed interior and rooftop terrace overlooking a pretty park, plus very reasonable prices, this is one of Delhi's best casual fine dining experiences. Using only the freshest local produce and most authentic imported ingredients, Jerome has evoked the simple and flavor-rich home cooked cuisine of three generations of his restaurateur family. Everything is made with love, from bread crusts to deserts. Favorites range from garlicky escargot, herb and cheese tarts, and gooey-good onion soup to simply prepared meat and fish sourced from local farms or flown in daily. Excellent, attentive (and handsome) service staff. Fine wines, aperitifs, cocktails and unique beers. The grapefruit sorbet served in a shot of Jerome's home town liquer is just one of many superlatives on the menu. Open nightly for dinner and Tue-Sun for lunch. Add your review, comment, or correction

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Travel & Resources: DELHI / NEW DELHI - Utopia

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Jane’s Oceania Home Page

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OCEANIA

Otherrecent studies, which included DNA analysis of almost 700 samples from Aboriginal Australians and Melanesians, have confirmed the view that Aboriginal Australians are descended from the same small group of people who left Africa about 70,000 years ago. After arriving in Australia and New Guinea about 50,000 years ago, the settlers evolved in relative isolation, developing unique genetic characteristics and technology.

The migration, thousands of years later, of the ancestors of the present day Polynesian out of Asia, brought with it languages and dialects that were essentially Asianin origin and which developed into the present day languages of Polynesia. Until recently, archaeologists had believed that Polynesian people came from Taiwan.Indeed, recent studies of DNA in Taiwan have provided some very interesting conclusions about the origins of the Polynesian and Melanesian people.

Certainly, linguistic studies have pointed to the fact that the Polynesians, undoubtedly the greatest seafarers in history, have their origins in Taiwan. Of the 23 million people in Taiwan, only 400,000 are descendants from the original inhabitants. These people originally spoke a language belonging to the Austronesian group which is unrelated to Chinese but includes the Polynesian tongues.

DNA studies of the original group found three mutations shared by Taiwanese, Polynesians and Melanesians, who also speak Austronesian. These mutations are not found in other Asians and hence suggest that the Polynesians and Melanesians have their origins in the original inhabitants of Taiwan. Indeed, genetic studies have now suggested that the ancestors of the sailors of the great canoes started out further along the trail in eastern Indonesia.

These seafarers moved eastward in small groups around the top of the Melanesian archipelago until they reached Fiji. Using Fiji as a staging area, some eventually sailed on to uninhabited Tonga and Samoa. To have developed the physical types, language and culture that the Polynesians share in common, these Polynesian forebears must have been isolated for a time in a home group of islands. A chain of archaeological discoveries leads us to believe that this isolation started in the islands of Tonga and Samoa roughly 3,000 years ago.

Beginning in 1909 in New Britain, archaeologists have found a type of pre-historic decorated pottery at various Melanesian sites. In 1947, samples were also excavated in Fiji, Melanesia's easternmost extension. Five years later the same pottery was uncovered at Lapita in New Caledonia. Now called Lapita-style pottery, these artifacts clearly trace the visits and attempted settlements of a maritime people moving along a Melanesian route towards Polynesia.

Lapita pottery was excavated in Tonga in 1963, and has recently been found in Samoa as well - both in western Polynesia. Tonga is the longest inhabited island group in Polynesia, with radiocarbon dates as early as 1140 B.C. Thus we conclude that Tonga's first settlers, the people who made Lapita ware, were the first true Polynesians. Language ties indicate that this migration continued via Samoa eastward to the Marquesas where the oldest sites in Eastern Polynesia have been found.

Far to the southeast of the Marquesas lies evidence of a truly remarkable feat - a voyage to Easter Island (Rapa Nui), some 2,400 miles away, in the face of prevailing winds and currents. Polynesia's easternmost outpost, Easter Island is not only the most isolated inhabited island in the Pacific, but it is also only 15 miles long. Assessing its chances of being discovered by early Polynesians, we can conclude only that their sailing canoes were already capable of traversing the breadthof the Pacific, and that on one such voyage, Easter Island was fortuitously sighted. Radiocarbon dating in 1955-56 indicates its discovery and settlement as early as A.D. 400.

The sites on Easter Island show clear evidence, when considered in conjunction with the archaeology and languages of the Society and Marquesas Islands, indicate strongly that the pre-historic culture of Easter Island could have evolved from a single landing of Polynesians from a Marquesan Island. These Polynesians would have been fully equipped to colonize an uninhabited volcanic island. Their success in making this windswept sixty-four square miles, without an edible native plant, not only habitable but also the seat of remarkable cultural achievements, is testimony to the genius of these Polynesian settlers.

A study of excavated adzes, fishhooks, ornaments and other artifacts indicates that Tahiti and the other Society Islands must have been settled soon after the Marquesas. Present information indicates that Hawaii and New Zealand were settled after A.D. 500. Radiocarbon techniques permit us to assign tentative dates to this entire Pacific migration: entry into West Polynesia about 1000 B.C., reaching East Polynesia about the time of Christ, completing the occupation by A.D. 1000.

Having reached the Pacific's farthest outpost, the early Polynesians possessed the skills to return. It is doubtful that one-way voyages could account for the early presence in the Hawaiian Islands, for example, of twenty odd cultivated plants of Tahiti and the Marquesas. Thus we conclude that the early Hawaiians repeatedly negotiated the longest sea route in Polynesia returning to Tahiti and then again to Hawaii, known as "Child of Tahiti".

The Polynesians in the Pacific generally occupy an area referred to as the Polynesian Triangle. The Polynesian Triangle has Hawaii in the north, New Zealand in the south, and Easter Island in the east. The lines drawn from Hawaii to New Zealand bends westward to include the Ellice Islands (Tuvalu) and passing between Fiji and Tonga. The north to south line forms the base with its apex on the path of the rising sun, located 4000 miles to the east. The Marquesas lie almost to the center of the eastern line, from Easter Island in the south to Hawaii in the north, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti and the Cook Islands are surrounded by the triangle. New Zealand, the farthest south group of Polynesian islands is home to the Maori people.

Almost lost in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean are the tiny islands, the remarkable people and the ancient architecture of Micronesia. Across a distance of nearly 2000 miles, the archipelago of Micronesia encompasses a land area of only 271 square miles. It is believed that the original inhabitants of Micronesia came from the Philippines and Indonesia about 1500 years before Christ. The islands of Micronesia (and Polynesia) collectively comprise the last major region of the globe to be settled by humans. Both of these groups of islands were colonized within the last 5,000 years by Austronesian-speaking agriculturists. In the past, linguistic studies have been a major factor in suggesting the origins of both the Micronesian and Polynesian people who, in the main, are of medium stature with straight hair and brown skin.

Micronesia means 'small islands' and is derived from the Greek words mikros which means small and nesos which means island. This is a perfect way to describe these over two thousand tropical islands scattered across the heart of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the Philippines. They are spread over a great distance, yet each has its own culture, history, customs, rituals, myths and legends, lifestyle and topographical personality. The islands of Micronesia include the Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap), Guam, Palau, Saipan, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Kiribati.

In a DNA study undertaken in 1994,head hair in Micronesia was usedto obtain DNA samples.The study was undertaken in order to compare the genetic relationships of various Micronesian groups to other Pacific Islanders and Asians and their languages. The study examined DNA that is found within mitochondria (mtDNA), small cellular bodies that function as the energy factories and storehouses of our cells. Mitochondria are inherited from the body of the mother's fertilized egg, and are transmitted maternally to the next generation. Consequently, this analysis ignores inheritance from a father.

In general, this study found that the majority of mtDNA sequences from Micronesian and Polynesian populations are derived from Asia, whereas others are inferred to have originated in New Guinea. The data supported the concept of an Island Southeast Asian origin and a colonization route along the north coast of New Guinea. The Marianas and the main island of Yap appear to have been independently settled directly from Island Southeast Asia, and both have received migrants from Central-Eastern Micronesia since then. Palau clearly demonstrates a complex prehistory including a significant influx of lineages from New Guinea. In addition, Chamorro mtDNA is very distinctive when compared to other Micronesians and Polynesians. This suggests that the Marianas have a different settlement history than the rest of Micronesia.

Thus genetic similarities among Micronesian and Polynesian populations result, in some cases, from a common origin and, in others, from extensive gene flow. As well as showing that Micronesians and Polynesians have a southeast Asian homeland, studies based on DNA contributed by both females and males to their offspring generally indicate a greater degree of Melanesian heritage for Polynesians and Micronesians.

The first European to see the Pacific was Balboa who was later executed by his political enemies. In 1517, a Portuguese nobleman named Magellan (Magalhaes) proposed a route to the Pacific by way of America instead of the recognized course from South Africa on the path of the trade winds. On 28th November 1520, Magellan passed through the southern tip of America which is now called the Strait of Magellan and sailed into the Pacific Ocean. Magellan gave the order for the ships to turn north-east. After incredible hardship, the first land they saw was right across the Pacific at Guam in Micronesia. They went on and Magellan was killed in a battle in the Philippines. (Click here for further information about Ferdinand Magellan's Voyage Round the World) It was not until the 17th century that Dutch merchants discovered parts of Polynesia. Tasman reached New Zealand and Roggeveen landed on Easter Island.

The leaders of the early expeditions kept logs in which they recorded their impressions of those things they had seen in Oceania. These accounts are interesting in terms of the descriptions of what they actually saw, but their interpretations of native culture were not always accurate. Many of the whalers and traders who came afterwards did not fully appreciate and understand the oral literature of our people. Also, many of the missionaries who followed in their wake were hypocrites and ignorant zealots who needlessly destroyed the rich cultural heritage of Pacific Island people that they did not understand. Indeed, they were too busy substituting their own mythology to take an immediate interest in the exact details of the mythology they sought to destroy. Island people were given new standards of value in which their myths and traditions were given no commercial or spiritual recognition. The continuity of their teaching was broken.

So much of the old world created by our island ancestors has passed away. The stone temples are now in ruins and the temple drums and shell trumpets have long been silent. Tane, Rongo, Tagaloa, Nareau and other members of the divine family of the Sky-father and the Earth-mother are still with us even though so much of the regalia and symbols of our spiritualism have been scattered among museums around the world.

It is probably premature at this time to endeavour to draw lasting conclusions on the merits of the missionaries' intervention into Oceania. Clearly there have been gains and similarly there had been losses. Perhaps the gains in the form of education and language translation can one day be balanced against the loss in so many important aspects of our cultural heritage ... let us hope so!

Oceania-Pacific Islands Interactive Clickable Map, please go to:

Jane Resture's Oceania Home Page and Jane Resture's Travel Page

The advent of the missionary into the island states of Oceania has had certain effects that even now have not been fully understood. One can no doubt sympathise with missionaries who came to these islands with little more to offer than their own beliefs. Forced to learn the language of the people and to survive in an alien environment would certainly put their faith very much to the test. Indeed, their early needs were in non-religious matters such as learning the language and teaching the rudiments of western knowledge to the local people. It was only after these things have been done that they were able to preach the gospel. Indeed, the missionaries also had to assume the role of doctors, nurses, teachers and public works administrators.

Certainly, the strong religious following in our island society today are testament to the perseverance of these early missionaries. Indeed, the church still continued to have an important role not only in the religious education but in the general education of so many of our people. In many cases, this has been given generously but in others in the past it has appeared to place an unnecessary impost on the local island communities. Captain Davis, in 1892, was quite critical of many of the activities of some of the missionaries on the islands he visited.

While providing useful documentation, the missionary writings on the Morning Star could by no stretch of the imagination be considered to provide an objective view of island life during this period. Certainly, there is a marked lack of balance in comments made about our island people. For example, the ruins of Nan Madol, Pohnpei (Ponape), Federated States of Micronesia, are considered to be some form of pagan, heathen temples rather than the significant place that it holds in the evolution of Micronesian people. Indeed, so much island culture had been destroyed as it was not pleasing to the missionaries and as such so many of our children will be deprived of certain aspects of our culture that were enjoyed by their forefathers. Perhaps the new nationalism among island people will go part or all of the way to restoring these cultural losses.

It is probably premature at this time to endeavour to draw lasting conclusions on the merits of the missionaries' intervention into Oceania. Clearly there have been gains and similarly there had been losses. Perhaps the gains in the form of education and language translation can one day be balanced against the loss in so many important aspects of our cultural heritage ... let us hope so!

Certainly, in my case, I would have toadmit that it was my educationin a missionary college - Immaculate Heart College - at Taborio, Tarawa,Republic of Kiribati,that provided the basis for my further studies abroad to enable me to undertake the things that I am presently doing. In this respect,I would like toacknowledge and thank the missionaries for this.

What the future holds may be unclear particularly when the ocean may claim many of our islands and many of our people are still under the control of others. Perhaps by reclaiming our cultural values we can understand who we are and what the future may hold for our people of Oceania.

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Jane's Oceania Home Page

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Seychelles – Republic of Seychelles – Country Profile …

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Official Name: Seychelles Creole: Repiblik Sesel English: Republic of Seychelles French: Rpublique des Seychelles

ISO Country Code: sc

Actual Time: Fri-June-17 01:53 Time Zone: SCT - Seychelles Times Local Time = UTC +4h

Country Calling Code: +248

Capital City: Victoria (pop. 24 500)

Government: Type: Multiple-party republic. Independence: June 29, 1976 (from UK).

Geography: Location: Eastern Africa, group of about 115 islands scattered over 1.3 million square kilometers of the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar. Area: 455 km (176 sq km) Major Islands: Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Terrain: About half of the islands are of granitic origin, with narrow coastal strips and central ranges of hills rising to more than 900 m; highest point: Morne Seychellois at 905 m. The other half are coral atolls, many uninhabitable.

Climate: Tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) .

People: Nationality: Noun and adjective--Seychellois. Population 91,000 (2010 census) Ethnic groups: Creole (European, Asian, and African). Religions: Catholic 86.6%, Anglican Church 6.8%, other Christians 2.5%, other 4.1%. Languages: Official languages are Seychelles Creole (kreol seselwa), English, and French. Literacy: between 60-80%.

Natural resources: Fish, copra, cinnamon trees.

Agriculture products: Coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish.

Industries: Fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages.

Exports - commodities: canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports partners: France 27.7%, UK 17.6%, Japan 15.2%, Italy 10.6% (2012)

Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 24%, Spain 12.1%, France 5.9% (2012)

Currency: Seychelles Rupee (SCR)

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Seychelles - Republic of Seychelles - Country Profile ...

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Discover – Seychelles – Seychelles Tourism Board

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The Republic of Seychelles comprises 115 islands occupying a land area of 455 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.4 km in the western Indian Ocean. It represents an archipelago of legendary beauty that extends from between 4 and 10 degrees south of the equator and which lies between 480km and 1,600km from the east coast of Africa. Of these 115 islands, 41 constitute the oldest mid-oceanic granite islands on earth while a further 74 form the low-lying coral atolls and reef islands of the Outer Islands.

The granitic islands of the Seychelles archipelago cluster around the main island of Mah, home to the international airport and the capital, Victoria, and its neighbouring islands of Praslin and La Digue. Together, these Inner Islands form the cultural and economic hub of the nation and contain the majority of Seychelles' tourism facilities as well as its most stunning beaches.

This section provides comprehensive information about the geography, climate, history, society, government, people, language, religion, culture, cuisine, recipes, arts, architecture, folklore, flora and fauna of Seychelles, and the 6 island groups that, together, make up Seychelles' Inner and Outer Islands

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Discover - Seychelles - Seychelles Tourism Board

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Caribbean All Inclusive

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Select Destination Anguilla Antigua Aruba BV (Peter Island) BV (Tortola) BV (Virgin Gorda) Barbados Bonaire Curacao DR (Juan Dolio) DR (La Romana) DR (Puerto Plata) DR (Punta Cana) DR (Samana) DR (Santo Domingo) Grand Cayman Grenada Guadeloupe Jamaica Martinique Nevis Puerto Rico St. Barts St. Kitts St. Lucia St. Maarten St. Martin St. Vincent & The Grenadines Tobago Turks & Caicos UV (St. Croix) UV (St. John) UV (St. Thomas)

Select Airport Abbotsford, BC (YXX) Aberdeen, SD (ABR) Abilene, TX (ABI ) Akron/Canton, OH (CAK) Akutan, AK (KQA) Alamogordo, MN (ALM) Alamosa, CO (ALS) Albany, GA (ABY) Albany, NY (ALB) Albuquerque, NM (ABQ) Alexandria, LA (AEX) Allentown, PA (ABE) Alliance, NE (AIA) Alpena, MI (APN) Altoona, PA (AOO) Amarillo, TX (AMA) Ambler, AK (ABL) Anchorage, AK (ANC) Aniak, AK (ANI) Appleton, WI (ATW) Asheville, NC (AVL) Aspen, CO (ASE) Athens, GA (AHN) Atlanta, GA (ATL) Atlantic City - Bader Field, NJ (AIY) Atlantic City, NJ (ACY) Augusta, GA (AGS) Augusta, ME (AUG) Austin, TX (AUS) Bagotville, QC (YBG) Baie Comeau, QC (YBC) Bakersfield, CA (BFL) Baltimore, MD (BWI) Banff, AB (YBA) Bangor, ME (BGR) Bar Harbor, ME (BHB) Barrow, AK (BRW) Bathurst, NB (ZBF) Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) Battle Creek, MI (BTL) Bay City, MI (MBS) Beaufort, SC (BFT) Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX (BPT) Beaver Creek, CO (ZBV) Beckley, WV (BKW) Bedford, MA (BED) Bellingham, WA (BLI) Bemidji, MN (BJI) Benton Harbour, MI (BEH) Bethel, AK (BET) Bettles, AK (BTT) Big Lake, AK (BGQ) Billings, MT (BIL) Binghamton, NY (BGM) Birmingham, AL (BHM) Bismarck, ND (BIS) Bloomington, IL (BMI) Bluefield, WV (BLF) Boca Raton, FL (BCT) Boise, ID (BOI) Boston, MA (BOS) Boulder Hiltons Har H, CO (WHH) Boulder, CO (WBU) Bozeman, MT (BZN) Bradford, PA (BFD) Brainerd, MN (BRD) Branson, MO (BKG) Breckenridge, CO (QKB) Bridgeport, CT (BDR) Brookings, SD (BKX) Brownsville, TX (BRO) Brownwood, TX (BWD) Brunswick, GA (BQK) Brunswick, ME (NHZ) Bryce, UT (BCE) Buckland, AK (BKC) Buffalo, NY (BUF) Burbank, CA (BUR) Burlington, IA (BRL) Burlington, VT (BTV) Butte, MT (BTM) Calgary, AB (YYC) Cambridge, MA (JHY) Campbell River, BC (YBL) Cape Girardeau, MO (CGI) Carlsbad, CA (CLD) Carlsbad, NM (CNM) Casper, WY (CPR) Castlegar, BC (YCG) Cedar City, UT (CDC) Cedar Rapids, IA (CID) Chadron, NE (CDR) Champaign/Urbana, IL (CMI) Charleston, SC (CHS) Charleston, WV (CRW) Charlotte, NC (CLT) Charlottesville, VA (CHO) Charlottetown, PE (YYG) Chattanooga, TN (CHA) Chevak, AK (VAK) Cheyenne, WY (CYS) Chibougamau, QC (YMT) Chicago Midway, IL (MDW) Chicago O'Hare, IL (ORD) Chico, CA (CIC) Cincinnati, OH (CVG) Clarksburg, WV (CKB) Clearwater, FL (CLW) Cleveland, OH (CLE) Clintonville, WI (CLI) Clovis, NM (CVN) Coatesville, PA (CTH) Cody/Yellowstone, WY (COD) Cold Bay, AK (CDB) College Station,TX (CLL) Colorado Springs, CO (COS) Columbia, MO (COU) Columbia, SC (CAE) Columbus AFB, MS (CBM) Columbus Rickenbacker, OH (LCK) Columbus, GA (CSG) Columbus, MS (GTR) Columbus, OH (CMH) Comox, BC (YQQ) Copper Mountain, CO (QCE) Cordova, AK (CDV) Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) Cortez, CO (CEZ) Corvallis, OR (CVO) Craig, AK (CGA) Cranbrook, BC (YXC) Crescent City, CA (CEC) Crested Butte, CO (CSE) Cumberland, MD (CBE) Dallas Love Field, TX (DAL) Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) Danbury, CT (DXR) Danville, Virginia (DAN) Dayton, OH (DAY) Daytona Beach, FL (DAB) Decatur, IL (DEC) Deer Lake, NL (YDF) Del Rio, TX (DRT) Delta Junction, AK (DJN) Denver, CO (DEN) Des Moines, IA (DSM) Detroit Metro, MI (DTW) Devils Lake, ND (DVL) Dickinson, ND (DIK) Dillingham, AK (DLG) Dodge City, KS (DDC) Dothan, AL (DHN) Dubois, PA (DUJ) Dubuque, IA (DBQ) Duluth, MN (DLH) Durango, CO (DRO) Dutch Harbor, AK (DUT) Eastsound, WA (ESD) Eau Claire, WI (EAU) Edmonton, AB (YEG) El Centro, CA (NJK) El Dorado, AR (ELD) El Paso, TX (ELP) Elko, NV (EKO) Ellington Field, TX (EFD) Elmira, NY (ELM) Ely, MN (LYU) Ely, NV (ELY) Emporia, KS (EMP) Enig, OK (WDG) Erie, PA (ERI) Escanaba, MI (ESC) Eugene, OR (EUG) Eureka Acarta, CA (ACV) Eureka Murray, CA (EKA) Evansville, IN (EVV) Everett, WA (PAE) Fairbanks Eielson, AK (EIL) Fairbanks, AK (FAI) Fairmont, MN (FRM) Fargo, ND (FAR) Farmington, NM (FMN) Fayetteville Drake, AR (FYV) Fayetteville, AR (XNA) Fayetteville, NC (FAY) Flagstaff, AZ (FLG) Flint, MI (FNT) Florence, SC (FLO) Franklin, PA (FKL) Fredericton, NB (YFC) Fresno, CA (FAT) Friday Harbour, Washington (FRD) Ft. Collins, CO (QWF) Ft. Collins/Loveland, CO (FNL) Ft. Dodge, Iowa (FOD) Ft. Huachuca/Sierra Vista, AZ (FHU) Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (TBN) Ft. McMurray, AB (YMM) Ft. Myers Page Field, FL (FMY) Ft. Myers, FL (RSW) Ft. Pierce, FL (FPR) Ft. Richardson, AK (FRN) Ft. Smith, AR (FSM) Ft. St. John, BC (YXJ) Ft. Walton Beach, FL (VPS) Ft. 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Hood, TX (GRK) Killeen Skylark, TX (ILE) King Salomon, AK (AKN) Kingman, AZ (IGM) Kingston, ON (YGK) Kinston, NC (ISO) Kirksville, MO (IRK) Kitchener/Waterloo, ON (YKF) Kivalina, AK (KVL) Klamath Falls, OR (LMT) Knoxville, TN (TYS) Kodiak, AK (ADQ) Koliganek, AK (KGK) Kona, HI (KOA) Kotzbue, AK (OTZ) Koyukuk, AK (KYU) Kwethluk, AK (KWT) La Crosse, WI (LSE) Lafayette, IN (LAF) Lafayette, LA (LFT) Lake Charles, LA (LCH) Lake Havasu City, AZ (HII) Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL) Lanai, HI (LNY) Lancaster, PA (LNS) Lansing, MI (LAN) Laramie, WY (LAR) Laredo, TX (LRD) Las Cruces International, NM (LRU) Las Vegas North, NV (VGT) Las Vegas, NV (LAS) Latrobe, PA (LBE) Laughlin/Bullhead International, AZ (IFP) Laurel, MS (PIB) Lawton, OK (LAW) Lebanon, NH (LEB) Lethbridge, AB (YQL) Levelock, AK (KLL) Lewiston, ID (LWS) Lewiston, MT (LWT) Lexington, KY (LEX) Liberal, KS (LBL) Lihue, HI (LIH) Lincoln, NE (LNK) Little Rock, AR (LIT) London, ON (YXU) Long Beach, CA (LGB) Longview, TX (GGG) Lopez Island, WA (LPS) Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Louisville, KY (SDF) Loveland, CO (LLD) Lubbock, TX (LBB) Lynchburg, VA (LYH) Macon, GA (MCN) Madison, WI (MSN) Mammoth, CA (MMH) Manchester, NH (MHT) Manhattan, KS (MHK) Manistee, MI (MBL) Mankato, MN (MKT) Manteo, NC (MEO) Marathon, FL (MTH) Marietta, GA (MGE) Marion, IL (MWA) Marquette, MI (MQT) Marshall, NJ (MML) Martha's Vineyard, MA (MVY) Mason City, IA (MCW) Massea/ Richards, NY (MSS) Maui, HI (OGG) McAllen, TX (MFE) McCook, NE (MCK) McGarth, AK (MCG) Medford, OR (MFR) Medicine Hat, AB (YXH) Melbourne, FL (MLB) Memphis, TN (MEM) Merced, CA (MCE) Meridian, MS (MEI) Metlakatla, AK (MTM) Miami Seaplane, FL (MPB) Miami, FL (MIA) Midland/Odessa, TX (MAF) Miles City, MT (MLS) Milwaukee, WI (MKE) Minneapolis, MN (MSP) Minot, ND (MOT) Missoula, MT (MSO) Moab, UT (CNY) Mobile, AL (MOB) Modesto, CA (MOD) Moline, IL (MLI) Molokai, HI (MKK) Moncton, NB (YQM) Monroe, LA (MLU) Mont Joli, QC (YYY) Mont Tremblant, QC (YTM) Montauk, NY (MTP) Monterey, CA (MRY) Montgomery, AL (MGM) Monticello, NY (MSV) Montreal Trudeau, QC (YUL) Montrose/Delta, CO (MTJ) Monument Valley, UT (GMV) Morgantown, WV (MGW) Morristown, NJ (MMU) Moses Lake Larson AFB, WA (LRN) Moses Lake, WA (MWH) Mount Holly, NJ (LLY) Mountain Home, AR (WMH) Mountain View, CA (NUQ) Muncie, IN (MIE) Muscle Shoals, AL (MSL) Muskegon, MI (MKG) Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR) Nanaimo, BC (YCD) Nantucket, MA (ACK) Napa, CA (APC) Naples, FL (APF) Nashville, TN (BNA) New Bedford, MA (EWB) New Bern, NC (EWN) New Haven, CT (HVN) New London, CT (GON) New Orleans, LA (MSY) New York Kennedy, NY (JFK) New York LaGuardia, NY (LGA) Newark, NJ (EWR) Newport News,VA (PHF) Newport, OR (ONP) Newport, RI (NPT) Niagara Falls, ON (XLV) Nome, AK (OME) Norfolk, NE (OFK) Norfolk, VA (ORF) North Bay, ON (YYB) North Bend, OR (OTH) North Platte, NE (LBF) Norwalk, CT (ORQ) Norwood, MA (OWD) Nulato, AK (NUL) Oak Harbor, WA (ODW) Oakland County, CA (PTK) Oakland, CA (OAK) Oakville, ON (XOK) Ogden Municipal, UT Ogdensburg, NY (OGS) Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) Olympia, WA (OLM) Omaha, NE (OMA) Ontario, CA (ONT) Orange County, CA (SNA) Orlando Metropolitan, FL (ORL) Orlando, FL (MCO) Oshkosh, WI (OSH) Ottawa, ON (YOW) Ottumwa, IA (OTM) Owensboro, KY (OWB) Oxnard, CA (OXR) Paducah/Barkley, KY (PAH) Page Municipal, AZ (PGA) Palm Beach, FL (PBI) Palm Springs, CA (PSP) Palmdale, CA (PMD) Palmer, AK (PAQ) Palo Alto, CA (PAO) Panama City County, FL (PFN) Panama City, FL (ECP) Parkersburg, WV (PKB) Pasadena, CA (JPD) Pasco, WA (PSC) Pelican, AK (PEC) Pellston, MI (PLN) Pendleton, OR (PDT) Pensacola, FL (PNS) Penticton, BC (YYF) Peoria, IL (PIA) Perryville, AK (KPV) Petersburg, AK (PSG) Philadelphia, PA (PHL) Phoenix, AZ (PHX) Phoenix-Mesa Gateway AZA Pierre, SD (PIR) Pilot Point, AK (PIP) Pilot Point/Ugashnik Bay, AK (UGB) Pilot Station, AK (PQS) Pinehurst, NC (SOP) Pittsburgh, PA (PIT) Platinum, AK (PTU) Plattsburgh Intl, NY (PBG) Plattsburgh, NY (PLB) Pleasanton, CA (JBS) Pocatello, ID (PIH) Point Baker, AK (KPB) Point Hope, AK (PHO) Point Lay, AK (PIZ) Pompano Beach, FL (PPM) Ponca City, OK (PNC) Port Alsworth, AK (PTA) Port Angeles, WA (CLM) Port Canaveral, FL (XPC) Port Clarence, AK (KPC) Port Moller, AK (PML) Portland, ME (PWM) Portland, OR (PDX) Portsmouth Pease, NH (PSM) Portsmouth, NH (PMH) Poughkeepsie, NY (POU) Prescott, AZ (PRC) Presque Isle, ME (PQI) Prince George, BC (YXS) Prince Rupert, BC (YPR) Princeton, NJ (PCT) Providence, RI (PVD) Provincetown, MA (PVC) Provo, UT (PVU) Prudhoe Bay Deadhorse, AK (SCC) Prudhoe Bay, AK (PUO) Pueblo, CO (PUB) Pullman, WA (PUW) Purgatory, CO (ZPU) Quakertown, PA (UKT) Quebec, QC (YQB) Quesnel, BC (YQZ) Quincy, IL (UIN) Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU) Rampart, AK (RMP) Rapid City, SD (RAP) Reading, PA (RDG) Red Devil, AK (RDV) Redding, CA (RDD) Redmond, OR (RDM) Regina, SK (YQR) Reno, NV (RNO) Rhinelander, WI (RHI) Richmond, VA (RIC) Riverton, WY (RIW) Roanoke, VA (ROA) Roberval, QC (YRJ) Roche Harbor, WA (RCE) Rochester Municipal, MN (JRC) Rochester, MN (RST) Rochester, NY (ROC) Rock Springs, WY (RKS) Rockford Park & Ride, IL (ZRF) Rockford, IL (RFD) Rockland, ME (RKD) Rocky Mount, NC (RWI) Rosario, WA (RSJ) Roswell, NM (ROW) Rouyn, QC (YUY) Rutland, VT (RUT) Sacramento, CA (SMF) Salem, OR (SLE) Salina, KS (SLN) Salisbury, MD (SBY) Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) San Angelo, TX (SJT) San Antonio, TX (SAT) San Diego, CA (SAN) San Francisco, CA (SFO) San Jose, CA (SJC) San Juan, PR (SJU) San Luis Obispo County, CA (SBP) San Luis Obispo, CA (CSL) San Pedro, CA (SPQ) Sand Point, AK (SDP) Sandspit, BC (YZP) Sanford, FL (SFB) Santa Barbara, CA (SBA) Santa Clara, CA (ZSM) Santa Fe, NM (SAF) Santa Maria, CA (SMX) Santa Monica, CA (SMO) Santa Rosa, CA (STS) Saranac Lake, NY (SLK) Sarasota, FL (SRQ) Sarnia, ON (YZR) Saskatoon, SK (YXE) Sault Ste Marie, MI (CIU) Sault Ste-Marie, ON (YAM) Saulte Ste. 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Caribbean All Inclusive

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Caribbean Dating & Singles at CaribbeanCupid.com

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Caribbean Dating & Singles at CaribbeanCupid.com

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Caribbean360 | Caribbean news coverage impacting society …

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Caribbean360 | Caribbean news coverage impacting society ...

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Brien’s Caribbean Radio Guide @ www.caribbean-radio.com

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Please take a minute to fill out the Guestbook, visit our blog or post on our forum via the links at the bottom of this page.

Click on the column headings to sort by Radio Station, Country or Format.

Updated: Thursday, 16th June 2016 @ 15:55 [3:55pm] Day 168 of 2016

Fine Print: Please Read Disclaimer: I am not connected in any way with any of the radio stations listed! This site contains links that are freely available on the internet, some I found and some were provided by listeners like you, who like me wanted to help other Caribbean Nationals (mostly who are now living elsewhere) to keep abreast of things back home. Brien assume no liability for any inaccurate or incomplete information.

To receive these stations you must have the following: 1. A computer with a sound card and speakers (or headphones). 2. The free software players to process the streams so that you can hear the stations.

For best results when listening to a live Internet radio station, I recommend that you do something other than surf the web while you are listening. If you are doing a lot of web surfing while listening to a station the audio may break up.

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Brien's Caribbean Radio Guide @ http://www.caribbean-radio.com

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ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database

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ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database

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