Naurú It is the Third smaller sovereign country in the worldonly behind Monaco and the Vatican. At the same time, at one point in history It was the richest territory in the worldwith the highest per capita income.
This island of micronsia did not seem to have anything striking, Until a giant phosphate reserve was foundwhich caused the interest of several powers. So it was that, During the twentieth century, Nourú was dominated by many countries; At first, the phosphate business was in charge of Australia, due to its proximity, but during World War II the Germans bombarded the island, which caused a loss in the crops.
Then a handful of Japanese troops They managed to conquer the island, and the natives were arrested and stripped of their homes. Although the objective of the eastern country was another: build a great aviation track as a refueling point and attack area against the enemy fleet. This, however, lasted a short time, and the Japanese of Nauru were bombarded.
From the episodes of drought, war and even cannibalism Among the contestants, many natives of Nauru were deported, while others died due to infections and starvation. But, despite the fact that the island had remained in the hands of the trident Australia-New Zealand-Reinianthe desires for autonomy They took Naurú to become independent in 1968.
The golden age of Naurú thanks to phosphate
With a own government and with control over businessNaurú its phosphate reserves exploited to the fullest and, when keeping the total benefits of sales abroad, it became for a while in the richest country in the world. The per capita income, in those years, became the largest in the world, with $ 50,000 annually per person.
However, although the account between the wealth distributed among 10,000 inhabitants seems easy, Nauru leaders opted for another way and left the majority without money. The majority of the inhabitants earned only 5,000 per year, while the millionaires could count on the fingers of one hand.
The fall of Naurú: Ostetation and corruption
Likewise, as the high positions imagined phosphate as an unlimited resource, they did not understand that there would be consequences for their actions. Instead, they chose an ostentatious life; They built an impressive skyscraper in Australia and even a flag airline was created. From there the corruption Among the domes of power, where much of the money went to politicians’ pocket.
In the mid -nineties, phosphate began to end, and They sought as an alternative to turn the island into a fiscal paradise. But the lack of regulations caused not only the arrival of gangsters and narcos, but demands by the international political system, which ended up closing this escape route.
As if this were not enough, The exploitation of the ground It was so intense that he left him unusable. Thus, Naurú was like a ring that is mostly gray and arid. 80% of the land was unusable. On the other hand, a fact that sounds incredible but is real has to do with what It is one of the most obese populations on the planetbecause society adopted a taste – and subsequent addiction – for western junk food.
The exits were less and less; He sold all his possessions in Australiaand even Diplomats sold their votes in discussions within international organizations.
Naurú today: an Australian deportees prison
Currently, Australia pays millions of dollars annually so that hundreds of deportees remain arrested on the island. In addition, refugees derives from the small country who obviously charges for that task.
Called as The peaceful solutionwhich not only served Australia, but also Naurú, who little by little relieved his fiscal accounts. In legality it is called “Australian immigration processing center”although it was already denounced by international organizations. Along the same line, Children there suffer many psychiatric problems and have suicidal thoughts due to bad living conditions.
Source: Ambito
