Other Definitions
pitcairn islands (dest)
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Pitcairn Islands | big>Pitcairn Islands | | tyle="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan=2| {| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" | | lign="center" width="125px"| | align="center" width="125px"| | | lign="center" width="125px"|(In Detail) | align="center" width="125px"|(In Detail) | } | | lign="center" colspan=2 style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;"|National motto: ? | | a href="/encyclopedia/Official-language" title="Official language">Official language | English (Pitcairnese also spoken) | | a href="/encyclopedia/Capital" title="Capital">Capital | Adamstown | | a href="/encyclopedia/Governor-of-the-Pitcairn-Islands" title="Governor of the Pitcairn Islands">Governor | Richard Fell | | a href="/encyclopedia/List-of-rulers-of-the-Pitcairn-Islands" title="List of rulers of the Pitcairn Islands">Mayor | Jay Warren (elected on December 15 2004) | a href="/encyclopedia/Area" title="Area">Area
- Total
- % water |
47 km
Negligible | a href="/encyclopedia/Population" title="Population">Population
- Total (2003)
- Density |
48
1/km | | ependent area of | United Kingdom | | a href="/encyclopedia/Currency" title="Currency">Currency | New Zealand dollar | | a href="/encyclopedia/Time-zone" title="Time zone">Time zone | UTC -8 | | a href="/encyclopedia/National-anthem" title="National anthem">National anthem | None | | a href="/encyclopedia/Top-level-domain" title="Top-level domain">Internet TLD | .pn | The Pitcairn Islands are a group of five islands, of which only Pitcairn Island is inhabited, in the southern Pacific Ocean, the only remaining British colony in the Pacific. The islands are known mostly because the original settlers were mutineers of HMAV Bounty, as well as Tahitians those mutineers took along, as described in the book Mutiny on the Bounty, later depicted in a number of movies. This history is still apparent in many of their surnames. Also, it is the least populated country (though it is not sovereign) of the world with about 47 inhabitants (9 families). History and current events Main article: History of the Pitcairn Islands Although archaeologists assume that Polynesians lived on Pitcairn as late as the 15th century, the island was uninhabited when it was discovered by Spanish explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quiros. It was rediscovered by the British in 1767, and named after the crew member that first spotted the island. In 1790, the mutineers of Bounty and their Tahitian companions settled on the island and set fire to the Bounty. Several of the mutineers and Tahitians subsequently killed other mutineers and Tahitians. The island became a British colony in 1838. By the mid 1850s the Pitcairn community was outgrowing the island and they appealed to Queen Victoria for help. Queen Victoria offered them Norfolk Island and on 3 May, 1856, the entire community of 193 people set sail for Norfolk Island on board the Morayshire. They arrived on 8 June after a miserable 5 week trip. However, after 18 months, 17 returned to Pitcairn and 5 years later another 27 returned. Since a population peak of 233 in 1937, the island is suffering from emigration, primarily to New Zealand, leaving a current population of approximately 50. The wreck of Bounty is still visible underwater in Bounty Bay. There are allegations of a long history and tradition of sexual abuse of girls as young as 10 and 11, which culminated in 2004 in the charging of seven men living on Pitcairn, and another six now living abroad, with sex-related offences including rape. On October 25 2004, six men were convicted including Steve Christian, the island's mayor. See Pitcairn rape trial of 2004 Politics Main article: Politics of the Pitcairn Islands The Governor of the Pitcairn Islands is the British High Commissioner to New Zealand, currently Richard Fell, who is therefore not resident on the island. The island's daily affairs were traditionally taken care of by the Magistrate, the chairman of the Island Council. Elections for this position took place every three years. Following a constitutional revision in 1998, the previous executive functions of the magistrate were transferred to the Mayor of Pitcairn from 1999 onwards. Up to 30 October 2004, the Mayor was Steve Christian; in the wake of his rape conviction on October 24 2004, he was dismissed after refusing to resign. His sister, Brenda Christian, was appointed interim Mayor on November 7, pending elections scheduled for December 15 2004, which were won by Jay Warren. Geography Main article: Geography of the Pitcairn Islands The Pitcairn Islands form the southeasternmost extension of the geological archipelago of the Tuamotus of French Polynesia, and consist of five islands: Pitcairn Island, Sandy Island, Oeno Island, Henderson Island, and Ducie Island. Pitcairn is a volcanic island, and Ducie and Oeno are coral atolls. Sandy Island is a mere sandbar, part of the same atoll as Oeno. Henderson Island is an uplifted coral island. The only permanently inhabited island, Pitcairn, has an area of 5 km and a population density of 10/km; it is only accessible by boat through Bounty Bay. Pitcairn is located at . Henderson island, covering about 67% of the territory's total land area, and supporting a rich fauna in its nearly inaccessible interior, is capable of supporting human habitation, but is not at all hospitable to communications with the outside world: its outer shores being comprised of uniformly steep limestone cliffs of razor sharp coral. The other islands are at a distance of more than 100 km. Economy Main article: Economy of the Pitcairn Islands The fertile soil of the Pitcairn valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. The inhabitants of this tiny economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, and handicrafts, with barter an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors, honey, and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships, most of which are plying the United Kingdom to New Zealand route via the Panama Canal. Trade is restricted by the jagged design of the island, which lacks a harbour or airstrip, forcing all trade to be made by longboat to anchored ships. According to some recent media coverage, prostitution to ship crews became increasingly common as the postage stamp trade diminished http://www.guardian.co.uk/women/story/0,,490962,00.html. Labor force: 12 able-bodied men and an unknown number of able bodied women (1997). Demographics Main article: Demographics of the Pitcairn Islands Most of the resident Pitcairn Islanders are still descendants of the Bounty mutineers, as their surnames show. All Pitcairners are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. An 18th century dialect of the English language is spoken along with the Tahitian language, the two together forming a creole language known as Pitcairnese. In September 2003 the first baby was born on the islands in 17 years. Culture Pitcairn culture, like its language, is a mix of English and Taihitian cultures. Later on, a successful Adventist mission was important in shaping the Pitcairn society http://news.adventist.org/data/2001/04/0991166375/index.html.en. In recent years the church has declined, with about 8 islanders worshipping regularly, but most islanders will attend church on special occasions. The Sabbath is still observed as a day of rest and as a mark of respect of observant Adventists. The once-strict moral codes, which prohibited dancing, public shows of affection, and consumption of alcohol, have been relaxed in recent years. One may obtain a six-month license to purchase alcohol; the licence fee is NZ$10.00 for residents, and NZ25.00 for tourists. Communications - There are satellite phones only on the island now. No party lines are connected anymore. Islanders call between homes and ships via VHF radio.
- Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
- Radios: Walkie-Talkie styled radios frequently used to maintain contact among people in different areas of the island.
- Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
- Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 Government-sponsored satellite internet connection, split to many houses on the island.
Country code (Top level domain): PN Transportation The settlers of the Pitcairns all arrived by some form of boat or ship; the most famous was the HMS Bounty, on which the mutiny occurred and which was burned down in Bounty Bay. These remote islands do not have an airport or seaport; the country relies on longboats to ferry people and goods between ship and shore through Bounty Bay on the only inhabited island, Pitcairn. To get to Pitcairn it is necessary to fly to Tahiti, then Mangareva, then embark on a further 30-hour boat ride. There is one boat every several months. There are no paved roads and no railways. There is 6.4 km of unpaved road. On land, walking has historically been the way of getting around; all-terrain vehicles have become common in more recent years. External links
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