U L. 9 i. ^ i) Title: Insuta: international journal of isl.

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ite ati nal Jo .a of Islan Affairs

»ssier

s ands^ Research and ConceDts

March 2009 ISSN 1021-02814 Year 18 Nol International Journal of island Affairs

ISSN 1021- 0814 YearlSNol March 2009

^ Edita ria l Board

Editer: Fier Giovanni d'Ayala

Editorial staff: l f . Mohamed-Nizar Larabi Jennv Marday Despair of a migrant in thé Island of Malta

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Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino Prof. Salvino Busutil, Malta Prof. Hiroshi Kakazu, Japon Prof. Nicolas Margaris, Greece Prof. Patrick Nunn, Fidji Dr. Henrique Pinto da Costa, Sao Tome e Principe

Bibliothèque Published by INSU LA, thé International Scientific Council for Island Development,with thé support of UNESCO.

Articles published in this journal do not necessarily reflect thé opinions of INSULA or of UNESCO.

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75352 PARIS07 SP - FRANCE l . . . l . . / Editorîal / By Pier Giovanni d'Ayala

^ Dossier: 'Islands, Researchand Concepts'

On Islands and Isolation ByAbraham Moles

StudyingIslands, on WhoseTerms? PierGiovanni d'Ayala 14 By Godfrey Baldacchino

" -'or some years now there bas been a genuine insular space as a laboratory to investigate Expérienceand Représentation of Islandness amongst Azorean Undergraduates Living on boom in thé public interest for Island issues. coniplexity. There is in fact no way to know an Mainland Portugal:A debateon thé Insular Condition One of thé reasons,for, a capital one indeed, Island within a mono-disciplinary approach byEduardo Brito Henriques 27 but less perceived perhaps, is thé récent swift nor exerciseupon a sound governance,from a Off-ShoreIsland CommunityEmpowerment vis-àvis Globalization: thé Caseof Matzu - development of thé information society together sectorial point of view. with its information and communication Taïwan 42 technologies. A move which bas strongly It is good to recall that surprisingly enough, by Yuung-JaanLee and Ching Ming Huang contributed to accentuate thé islands visibility mathematicians consider impossible to measure thé exact lengh island's coastline because Thé Mediterranean, thé Island ofMalta and Irregular Migration bringing in ail homes connected with internet ofan 55 features, news images at an unprecedented thé island, asreal object in space,does not follow By Victor Malia Milanes pace. thé principles of Euclides plan geometry. Emergency Sad news also are promptly circulated. Islands, more than other spaces require imperiously a holistic approach. Thé matter No Luck for Haïti: Les Gonaïves,thé City ofDoom Hurricanes, tsunamis, climatic changes and 61 sea level rise hâve consistently shaped public itself imposes a global discourse. Thé Labyrinth By Pier Giovanni d'Ayala awareness on Islands vulnerability. is perhaps thé best metaphor of thé complexities thé insular space. Islanders at Work Thé travel industry, increasingly attracted of by island destinations was not left behind in Our Authors offer us a first, hardly Procida: International Youth Working at thé Promotion of thé Island Environment opening Windows on thé Island world. needed, Ariadne's clew. By Mario Lupoli 63 As usual, académie debates hâve simultaneously followed and anticipated this We may fed more at easewith such a Youth Challenges wavy movement of public interest. Recently niythical wire in hand, but let's not forget that By JennyMarday 65 it has focused on « insularity, research and in thé hearth of thé island's labyrinth, in thé First World Conférence: Volcanoes, Landscapes and Cultures 70 concepts ». dark hides thé Minotaur, thé fearsome hybrid Insula, our journal took of course thé bail at of Nature and Culture. Only thé hero shall opening pages a fine with his sword, reduce thé hybrid to its original Insula's Guest thé rebound its to bunch of Interview with H.E. Mrs Laura Faxas, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of thé Dominican authorsreflecting, such a polyhedral nurrow, thé understandable components. présent questioning about insularity. Insularîty Republicto UNESCO 72 as a concept, as an existential condition, a point Will our sword show such a sharpened edge? Book Review 74 of view or as a metaphor. Thé questioning could nevertheless proceed further focusing for instance on thé

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANOAFFAIRS Where it that small islands hâve somethingto do with thé size of thé human body and that we rediscoverin someway what we -^ know ah-eadyofindividuals: thé fact they are basically in some kind of dialectical opposition to thé whole? Were it that thé ^ inhabitants of thèse islands / ByAbraham Moles f would intrinsically hâve a kind ^ of community of their own, largerthan thé home, lesser than thé nation? Were it fînally that «ny a entrel'homme et les lieux un rapport subjectif extrêmement puissant, réel thé islands would contribute to maisaussi rêvé contre lequel se brisent toutes les tentatives de réductionà une a humanity ofman that is not so brittle in thé small islands that in G explicationpurement rationnelle et objective, en particulier du type économique». thé cast country? J. Bonnemaison l ?' An island is thé most quotation of John Donne: "No Cultural ecology would be thé simple, thé most natural man is an Island, intire of it interaction of différent species » he very existenceof islands Islandsdo not comply with this are; hère shoresand borders are expression of a topological self; every man is a pièce of thé of culture within a limited is disrespect to thé authority condition. Thé essence of thé confounded. But, in themselves division in thé uniformity of continent, a part of thé main: is area or territory that encloses i of thé state.Thé power and thé State is continuity, it reigns ofit thé small islands, right in thé space,it is a breakin continuity, a clod be washed away by thé a limited amount of resources. middle thé seaand isolatedby l majestyofstates areby essence controls thé whole ofa territory. of it is a topological scandai for sea, Europe is thé less, as well In an island, resourcesof any l continuous variables. Uniform This "essence"undergoes a sharp nature,are severed from théchief thé social power. Islands are as ifapromontorie were, aswell kind are obviously limitée: thé l es" on thé area of their respective discontinuity over thé unlivable territory, they neverbelonged to "morphological anarchists" as if a manor of thy Friends or ecological principle applies territories and thé meaning of extension ofwaters that surround thé unity of thé whole; they hâve and thé people who live in of Thine owne were; any man's quite necessarilyas a regulatory l them does not suffer that there thé island. Nevertheless, there their unity oftheir own, they are them do participate -whether death diminishes me, because factorto anyexchange as well as be any dismption betweentheir are large statesin large islands: différent. they accept it or not- from l am involved in Mankind: and to ail forms of transactions. England has been a famous this permanentquestioning of thercfore never sen to know from î regalian value and thé places s- where it has to manifest itself. example,Japan orAustralia still thé "central" power. For sure, whom thé bell tolls; it tolls for Thé German defmition of thereare many types ofislands: thee. islands(in Brockhaus)includes large or small, remote or close, Should we deliberately not only thé conventional sunny or foggy, poor or rich, misinterpretit, shouldwe, on thé idea " a part of land which is and thé concept of "isolation" contrary,replace thé wordsof thé surrounded by water on ail applies very differently to humanistby thé assumptionsof sides", but also thé idea that ail thèse catégories. But it is thé psychologist: every man is water, and especially thé sea, clear that thé social System an island entire of itself: ail of permeates thé whole of thé is, by essence, continuous in us are distinct from thé others, island,-at leastthé major part of its nature ( its gradient) up are pièces of an archipelago, it-, that thé island is submitted to to thé well délimitée borders separateatoms ofa whole: if an some kind of marine condition. islet is taken over by a tide, thé This would exclude, in a rather <çn- and that any material cleft in thé spaceappears as being an archipelagostays thé same,as if imprécise but clear, way, places hindrance to its functioning. it were a city where only some like Australia or Greenland When a German sovereign friendsare singled out. Thé death which, definitely, do not fulfill makes his capital in an island of any man doesnot changeme, this condition. inside a lake, his déviation from for l am not involved in thé whole thémie complicatesthé praçtice mankind. And therefore do not What is thence thé effect ofit ( Herren-Chiemsee). corne to ask: "for whom thé bell ofsea, ofsurroundingwater, on tolls?" For it tolls, only for your thé land? it is one of thèse latent Remember thé famous friend. factorsthat contingentand at

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS Thé "island" is another thé economicalsensé. Drawing archétype,-a minor one, because this remark a little forward, we statistically islanders together shouldlogicallybe ledto consider with thé overall area of islands a new division of thé nations of is restricted versus thé immense thé world, thé ones which hâve areas of thé continental shapes. islands ( many of them) and Islands -especially small thé ones which hâve not (or islands, as we shall justify rather scarcely). Thé political later-, being "rare archétypes", geographerwould be induced are loaded with psychological to consider with Montesquieu value. Should we say that they that this hasimplied in thé past escapethé averagestandard of history of thèse nations quite living for thé mankind?They différent ways of govemment are exceptional,and a privilège (how do révolutions start in for thé anthropologist,precisely a country which is basically becausethey are exceptional. Out composed of many islands, of thé 8 300. 000km2 ofislands of roughly équivalent size?). compare for instance Greece sets to list and to categorize random at short distance play are "treasure islands", not in thé i existing on earth (excluding more geographically,we would and Paraguay.After ail, in most objectivelythé subjectiveeffects such a large rôle at long range, mythicalsensé of Stevenson,but l Australia and Greenland) thé 22 say that, for thé former type European countries, thé law of thé form of space on thé thé beach or thé rocks by thé by their very topologicalnature. largestislands make 55% of thé of countries, thé statistical makes thé state owner de jure behavior of people. Islands sea can be hidden by nearly They aretreasures because they sa are isolated, because they are areaand45%, i. e. 3.750.000 are distribution ofislands according of ail thé land which can be are privileged cases for this, a nothing: by thé line of thé trees, matched at thé size thé representingthé thousandsand to their size (or their population?) covered at highest tide (thé type of topological fact, that ! by thécurve of thétrack, by thé to of human mind, because they are ten thousands of small islands. would be an important feature of custom's trail) but it leaves had been arbitrarily expelled hedgealong thé cliff. However Ili This justifies thé fact that thé thé national tempérament and free for édifices, everything from geography by abusively s» there is a subtle change in shelteredon firm groundagainst true archétypeof islandsis thé of its way to conduct affairs, which is acrossit, enablingthé "rational" scientists. Where is à thé backgroundin thé way of thé dangersof thé vast océan, because there them more small island, thé one we never just as thé distribution oftowns private citizen to build on it. It then, thé treasure since it is not living, and orienting oneself, is in warmth" losethé conceptofshore, and of according to their importance will not be long before thé real buried on thé beach? Is it in a l théprésence of thésea is partof "charisma" -human sea in our mental landscape. is. To sum up, an island is a estate enterprises speculate on généralmanner their shapeand thé mental map. Hère is a task than on thé vast land. Thé space treasure, maybe a poor trcasure thèsepossibilities. A bare rock, their size in relationshipto man in specifically for thé geographer psychologist categorizesthé Thé islands hâve thus indeed when it is made ofsome deprived of any facilities, is as their major character(Island ^ to ascertainand to gaugethèse basic archétypesof spaceinto a value by themselvesand this emergingrocks scatteredaround endowed of an intrmsic value, of Seinin Brittany). Who arethé effects without apparent causes some, -rather small- number on thé seadanger for thé ships, at thé âge where technology tourists in Helgoland?What do which are so obvious when of catégories:among them are value appearson thé market of transactions. There is a market without drinkable water, may can provide ail thé amenities they cornefor on this desolated we circulate on a road or an thé idea of désert, thé idea of for islands, and thé existence be without resources of any necessary to life, if only one cliffwhich has been so attractive highway in a landscape:thé cell, thé idea of corridor, thé of such a market is one of thé kind. At least it can be used wants to pay for them. for battleships? free water appearsnowhere but idea of village and thé one of most concrète évidence of thé for naturist colonies (Sylt) or is so close nevertheless. What metropolis. existence ofa 'value', also in concentration camps (Pag or Thus, islands are It may be there is a maybe thé smalldéviations of Alcatraz). privileged subcategories of général drive for tourists to behaviour that bias thé mind of It seemsthat this essential lands,precisely because oftheir "go to places" dreary of sunny, thé countryman,of thé résident, différencein fheirsize, which had isolation, of thé fact that man pleasantor unpleasant,where, of thé tourist, of thé inhabitant, be ignoredby thé scientist,thé must land or fly off from them: sometimesin history,something a very small bias indeed but geographerand thé psychologist a feature which was, up to now, has taken place. And a rather always présent as a landscape until now, could become more a drawback could very well convincing proof of this fact beyondthelandscape, apotential pertinent when a new factor tum into thé concretization of might be that tourism agencies landscape,hidden to thé eye, appearsin human geography: a "dreamt of barrier: as thé do include thèseplaces in their présentto thé mind, a "genius thé growth of absolutenumber immaterial moat or wall of thé tourswhen they hâve thé logistic loci"(Norberg Schulze) of thé of populationof thé world ("thé symbolicalcastle, i. e. expresses possibility to do it. For going shores extending from their Earth is full"), that reinforces thé temtorial imperative. on a foggy or windy day to thé location inside thé land. thé pertinent contrast existing isle of Aran, thé patron of thé between différent parts of thé Psychologicalgeography, tour shouldhâve somegrain of In short, islands are world with différent features a new discipline in thé making, Schadenfreude.Fortunately, treasures:by themselvesthey

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL0F ISLAND AFFAIRS as Julien Huxley affirmed it. thé common property endowedwith "beauty"or at least thé scheduled time for staying ring of Becauseenjoying or consuming humanity called mass culture. originality,for fheeye and for thé thereis short:it is a contrapuntal is also, even to a small extend, réaction of man. When islands durationin thé musicalopéra of But, by this very step, they to gorge oneself sensorially, withdraw from thé precious arebeautifùl(just say "pleasant"), tounsm. consuming is properly taking realm of thé discoverer, of thé there are, of necessity,people what is outside for making it man who in thé philosophical to aggregate for looking at At fhe opposite,there are part ofone's insideand, through sensé has encountered them. them, for enjoying them, for thèseislands shiny andradiating this fact, thé world is a little living in them. Thèse people of sunlightwhich possess plenty poorer. Thé work of Nature, make an extraneouspopulation of thé Four S (See,Sun, Sand, just like thé work of Art, wears which changesthé very features and Sex) which propose, so ^ It has required time out under thé gaze of people of thé landscape it lives in, evidentlythé image ofparadise: who look at it. mankind did and generally (not always), was Gan Eden an island instead to grasp thé full bearing of If it this socio-aesthetic fact, and not understand it at thé time decreasestheir potential, their ofbeing describeda Gardenof to acknowledge thé wisdom of Kant's aesthetics, this is attractive value down to zéro, or OrangeGarden? Thé Hebrew of ancient cultures -Semitic simply because,at that âge,thé at least to some kind of "social word for paradise was very in particular- that said that a contemplators were few and gatherings" (respectful but "continental" and ignored this one inhalesthé perfiime of of its pertinence,at leastfor no other reasonthan thé fact that snapshot taken is really not their smalldégradation remained massivecélébrations ofbeauty) l possibility. On thé contrary, flowers from paradise... l "thé tourists" if they are not only metaphorically, pinching insensible on thé whole. which are quite différent from othercultures, a largenumber of 'Sl' a small morsel of thé thing thé original drive. In short, thé them, hâve seenthé island as a But fhe immensemaj onty gods,are certainly kings, who which is photographed,grinding Thermodynamics of islands being limited in space, stateofbliss quarantmedby thé of tourists (a new God, at least exerttheir power in a dictatorial a part landscape: communication and thé necessarily be saturated seafrom thé ills of thé continent from thé economical point of manner. tiny of thé will landscapes are eonsumable, transference of its laws (thé at some time in thé future, yl (Yi Fu Tuan).Logically, if thé view) remainsconvinced ofthis We encounter hère one and they are, indeed, consumed tepid death) from thé material depending on their degree of world formed out a watery eventuality; in a testmg survey thé most basic problems of by thé tourists, not that much world to thé one of messages,has attractiveness,and then, they die t chaos, land when it appears it would vote quite conclusively of ta what can be called nissologia, because they are physically drawn thé attention on this fact as remarkable happenings of thé was ofnecessity an island and, for it: paradise is an island. l science ofislands. destroyed by thé careless foot by delineating thé dialectics of world. naturally,kept thé innocence of Nietschehas toldus very cleariy, prints ofpeople, but much more, originality and banality and thé l thé birth. Elyseumwas another Holderlin said that "Islands are Thé économieproblem because they get cannibalized, graduaishifting of thé originalto It is time that nissologia, 0 concept of paradise;it was an daughtersofdivinity". trivialized, they insert into thé thé banal, through an irrévocable as a technology for islands, island of fruits, located in thé of thé sale of beauty is that, commonknowledge ail and (but slow) entropie process. apply this général analysis to heavenand to be enteredby thé Yes, this analysis is if, anywhere in thé consumer of i lose their precious originality its spécifie object, trying to westaccording to théPolynesian very biased;it bearsthé mark market society, there is a for thé one in particular. Let us put this thing disentangle thé varions factors mythology;thé Fortunate Isles, of thé Mediterranean sea or thé "good":a thingendowed with in simpler words by reverting which contribute to this général of which Tahiti was a picture, Caribbeans and it could not be value, a place désirableto go, This is a new aesthetical to thé problem of islands as mechanism. In particular we wereclose approximations to thé transferred without cautions to désirableto enjoy, thé tourists as consumers pleasure and principle: " a thing ofbeauty" is spécifie archétypes of thé space know that any sensorial pheno- Blessed Island which appearsas thé desolated islands ofArabia, of not " a joy forever" (Keats), it a récurrent archétypein Celtic or to thé j ails of Andaman of beautyare entitledwith an is part of a treasureof novelty, Greek Polynesian and Irish Islands.But one can legitimely inaliénableright: to go there(to an acknowledged part of thé cultures "... where no tempest contend that thèse obvious thé extentthey hâvethé money prior unknown, and being revels,where for nourishment, restrictions do not deprive it for it), in order to enjoy thé place,to consumebeauty which acknowledgedit is repertoried, transcends ail its viscéral forms it entersthé common baggage (images,mo vie picturesetc..) of culture. Thé gaze of thé this is one of thé most général peopledo consumethé "things truth of a society, has, with of beauty", it follows that they are irrevocably,bound to ^. -

11 INTERNATIONALJOURNAL0F ISLAND AFFAIRS happinessof people,balanced climates with not too fréquent consequently some way for XIII- Theconfroloflandscapes by anincreasing gross national winds but accidentai tomadoes. controlling their capacity of and of styles of housing must income, then thèse mmistnes "when thé sky is grey" in thé receivingpeople. This is a délicate be made by a central planning -whether in each nation, or in a capitals of thé world, people matter becauseit should not rely office, it should preferably congrégationof nations-, should must get away to encounter on légal constraints,but should correspond to a rather complex be led by an intensiveresearch thé sea, thé sun and thé sand, be preferably basedon material and irregular plan providing a activity for "inventing", i.e. possiblywith sexwhich should hindrances-carefully controlled- picturesque urban landscape of discovering, islands of such be provided by some, easy, for coping with not too many limitée radius, respecting thé maze structures. Thé /. types.At thélimit they would be technical management. customers- and initiating this rule of led to consider"building" them dissuasionprocess already on thé center of thé chief city should ^ if theyare not enoughalready VI- Islands must continent and quite in advance. appear as a confusing maze of in thé world; a futuristic view hâvethé largest possible diversity Théirregularity ofboats, ofprivate rows, small streets and places, that might, at least partially, of landscapes closely fcnitted lines, of means of transportation with a scarce signaletics. become tme. with each other by networks in itself, thé rarity of absenceof i of rather complicated roads or airplanesbelong to thé éléments It is obvious from this l In any case, this paths,not too much upgraded, for insuringa correctmanagement type of spécifications that thé description implies a "book that keep someamount of secret of thé flow ofincoming visitors. Mediterranean model ofislands, of spécification"(cahier des for eachof thé respectivesites thé Caribbeanor thé Japanese ^l enon, whether causing beauty what could be called thé "idéal charges) for discovenng, to be considered. X- Thé idéal island one, fit quite well with thèse or ugliness, whether attractive island" i.e. a geographicalobject inventingor managingislands, must hâve large irregularities requirements. This is not a ^ Il or répulsive, has a minimal that would gather thé maximal thèse"tracts ofland sun-ounded VII- Island must of level and of thé relief. Good coïncidencesince thé majority » threshold of action; to put it consensus on what an island by water in ail directions", be rather difficult of access, islands must hâve some hills or of thé tourism market belongs i "should be", for averagepeuple t» more bluntly, thé présence that make an alternativeto thé preferably by slow ways of mountains,preferably ofdifficult to this type of civilization. à of a few people, small and with average means, average continental areas. transportation, e.g. ferry-boat or access,and ideally with a volcano Provision should be made for scatteredin a vast territory, do money and average culture. motor-boat. Thèse should start or dangerous pits of boiling ensuring that thé maximum réflexions, Paul Valéry in not change substantially thé In his I- Islands must from some appropriate place water. absorption capacity of thé island among ^ landscapein itself : thé features refers to thèse people be of "average" size, in on thé continent which is some is never -or very accidentally- of thé place.Consequently, thé thé leading figures of (at least) considération with normal kind of "conjugatedpoint" of XI- Thé mountain or trespassed. our occidental culture. Using conceptoflandscape, as spatial, capacitiesof manto circulate thé islandharbor establishing in thé chain of hills in thé center topological,stmcture ofbeauty, Max Weber's terms, this would ofwanderin themwithin normal this way thé existenceof'focus" of thé island, should hâve caves, is not at once deteriorated by be thé idéal type, thé "island periodsoftime. provided by thé island. or gorges.Some strangepeople their présence.In otherwords, type" collectingthé whole ofits mustlive there,talking a différent features. anyplace, any landscape,vs. any This latter might be, in II- Making thé tour VIII- Island must be linguo. In thé ancient times there island , bas a built in tolérance a world invaded by consumers of thé island in aboutone day is cultivated with fruits, wine, musthâve been a godin théisland ethics and consumers markets, which can be caiïed "capacity one of thé expériencethat must olives,oranges, or othertropical or on thé slopesof thé volcano. thé mental form of thé islands of absorption".If this threshold beprovided to thévisitor of to fmits. Cities and villages must Ermits should still live in thé is not trespassed,thé présence which are mostly seekedfor by thé inhabitant hâve markets or corner shops, most remote placesquite distant thé tourists, as basic consummg with extensivetime ofopening from thé central harbor or market of spectatorsdoes not react on Abraham Moles its intrinsic value. It is up to thé society. Thèse tounsts are III- Islands must to thé public thé models of (Kardiner, J. Verne) (1920-1992) was a specialist owners of thé islands, thé owners requiringfrom thé "managers of be inhabitated with a rather which areprovided by Arabian ofelectrical engineering and of thé landscapes,thé managers thé social System"(those called low density <25hab/sqkm, souks, small Mediterranean XII- Thé shores ofthe acoustics, and a doctor of of thé Nation, to examine thé "politicalleaders" in théancient sometimesnot at ail, or rather market places, sleepy in thé island should be complicated, physics and philosophy. He practicalconséquence thèse times),such types ofislands, thé scarcely. day, active in thé moming and irregular, and very contrasted, of is known as thé father of considérations. onethey would like to buy -or at at night. Islandersmust practice with a limited number of "nissology". least to rent, or anyway to visit IV- Thé population thé "siesta", or thé meridian conventional sand, beaches, but This article was written for To conclude thèse and to stay. must be rather irregular, nap,providing a regularrhythm dangerouscliffs or rocky capes thé confercnce "Island2000" randomized réflexions on thé or irregularity,that visitors can with coves. In past centuries there includingone or two centersof held in Giardini-Naxos subjectof islandsin général,it If, as is tme in a large concentrations:thé "capitals' contradictonly at thé priée ofa must hâve been pirates there, that (Sicily) in 1992 and appearsprofitable to explicit number of newly developed of thé island, andthé rest being Personal effort. hâve attacked thé coasts of thé organized by Insula. their latent content,justified by societies,thé ministry oftourism halfwind, half cultivated. continent or ofother islands. various argumentsin thé above isprogressivelybecoming oneof V- Islandmustbein IX- Islands must hâve text. Thé image émerges of thé largestresponsible for thé semi-fa-opicalor Mediterranean

13 INTERNATIONALJOURNAL0F ISLAND AFFAIRS Islands cover some 7% of thé Earth's land surface; they

y^J, . -^ ~\ are home to some 10% of thé world's population. And while their contribution to endémie life and culture is recognized and celebrated, it is often outsiders - rather than insiders / . /. / - who discover, investigate and proclaim such endemism ^ ByGodfrey Baldacchino and diversity to thé rest of thé world. Thé problématique of island inquiry is that there Introduction: ADebiIitating will alwaysbe epistemological Discource and methodological challenges l associatedwith studying islands, l becausewe are grappling with GrFrant McCall (1994, 1996a, After ail, "[C]ontinentals covet study of islands" - marks an uncomfortable relationship, thé impact, conditioning and 1996b,1996c), defmedNissology islands", McCall reminds us, 0-l paradigmatic effects of thé 0) while "[i]slanders themselves intimating that thé processof asfhe study ofislands on their own hybrid identity and 'location' terms. Thé concludingphrase - andtheir way ofseeing things is inquiry may still be directed of subjects(islanders, natives, notmuch appreciated" (McCall, by outsideforces, although l "on their own terms" - suggests presumablymore well-meanmg settlers, tourists, second home a process of empowerment, a 1996a: l, 2). It is, therefore, l ones.'Island studies' is explained owners), as well as those who reclaimingofone's historiés and time for a change, also in thé would study them - who may interestsofpolitical correctness. not as a pursuit by islands,or l cultures,particularly for those be locals as well as outsiders islands which hâve endured And yet, thé opening segment with them, not even for them, § butofthem. (mainlanders, continental many décadesof colonialism. of that same définition - "thé dwellers)- looking in. t s- So many island-related sites on thé intemet, and island- related literature, are run, or scripted, by non-islanders. Thé newlyset-up Islands Commission of théInternational Geographical islanders in thé line-up of this group; stages for thé enactment Unionhas 12members, including book" (Helu Thaman, 2007: of processes dictated from académies based in mainland 519). elsewhere; thé props of various France, Germany,Greece, thé 'deus ex machina', who would Netherlands, Sweden and USA. Like otherborderlands-the océan hâve been mainly explorers, Thé 'island studiesreader' which depths,outer space, increasingly missionersand traders in thé past, l edited in 2007 has around thé Arctic - islands are treated and replaced by other observers half of its contentpemied by as fair game for mainland in more récent times. And, mainlanders - Americans, subjugationand organization. Thé lest l be accused of attributing Australians, Canadians, smaller,poorer or lesspopulated islanders to some pseudo-purist French, Swiss, Swedes- noue thé islandgets, thé morelikely is stock or pedigree, thé 'looked of whom, as far as l can tell, it that its web or text content is at' référencegroup would easily résideon islands- in spite of a dictated and peimed by 'others'. mclude others - such as members deliberateattempt by théeditor Ail too often, we are faced with of thé diaspora, visitors, short to "provide platforms to other a situation where our subject term résidents - who will disturb contributors" (Baldacchino, matter - thé island, thé islander, thé distinction between local and 2007a:2). Embarrassingly, there thé islanders - becomes object global, and so make researchinto areindeed "... few indigenous matter: a "looked at" référence island life messier.

15 INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS "abjectsof thé gaze"ofothers, preferred by Burton Benedict andpersist as perennial targets (1966, 1967) and Gerald of new 'civilizing missions': Berreman (1978), in order to not only of académiesand draw attention to a tendency in social researchers, but also thé literature- driven primarily of consultants, investors, by US-basedpolitical scientists journalists, film-makers, - to equate large jurisdictions conservâtionists, novelists and territories as 'normal'. and tourists (e.g. Urry, 1990: This, however, could not be 9). Island stuff is often either further from thé truth: out of banalized and subsumed 237 jurisdictions listed in thé within a paradigmof stmctural CIA World Factbook (CIA, deficiency (Hau'ofa, 1994); 2006),only 23 hâvepopulations or else romanced,rendered as ofover 50 million; while 158 coy subjectmatter; glimpsed hâve populations of less than fleetingly throughrose-tinted 10 million (ofwhich 4l with a glasses 29): population ofup to 100,000). Perhapsone is hèreexcused for vely islandor archipelagicstates Following his first contact (Smawfield,1993: l Already in thé 1950s, not be There are also some 21,000 assumingthat thé typical island arelocated in thétropical or sub- with thé natives of Polynesia, "Might it l when American anthropologist 'islands' in thé world with a is located thé tropics or sub- tropical zones.Nevertheless, thé anthropologistRaymond Firth possible,on this forbidden in RobertManners set offto conduct island, to avoid thé cankers, land area larger than l km2; tropic and is therefore warm, physical évidence is skewed in hadnonchalantly described them field researchon thé Caribbean minimize thé nippings, and but less than 300 with a land and its waters are temptmg to thé other direction. If one takes as "turbulent human material. .. a

17 INTERNATIONALJOURNAL0F ISLAND AFFAIRS

Western) enduring dreams of that can provide answersto this a hollow andempty manner; thé power, and not consensual texts, of a somewhat nonchalant thé idéal world. They are: thé question.A stmcturalfunctio- retreatists would hâve nothing to authority, which is dictating Gulliver, and whose interest in forest, thé shore,thé valley and nalist approach,as pioneered by do with thé processof globali- how they should behave. This island matters is fleeting and thé island. Combinations of Robert Merton (1968), would zation and seek to disengage,as is a fair analysis of typical superficial (e.g. Baldacchino, with McCall's descriptionof thé islander behaviour in relation 2004: 278)? Of course, most thèse - such as thé island shore classify their responsesto this y, - become even more powerful onslaughtas likely to deal with subsistenceeconomy on Kiribati to tourists, where a hospitable islanders will not even bother À choosing choosing to (1996e:6); while thé innovators and "welcoming society" (e.g. with thé industry of their imaginariesand référence points. or not ?^-; A récent full-page advert lists subscribeto thé goals of those would seek to tweak thé process, Husbands,1983) is a lingering représentation, perhaps feeling "Visit an Uninhabited Island" as in power, and/orto subscribeto often intra-preneurially. myth, but which even most bemused and perplexed with one of twenty-one"[TJhings to thé methods seenas necessaryto islandersacknowledge as quite how they continue to survive do while you're alive". achieve those samegoals. Thé essential for thé industry to while continental scholarship has confonnistswould uphold both Alternative social exist. condemnedthem becauseof, first, goals and means, manifesting théories grounded in Marxist Adififerent,more complex, 'thé deathof race'(e. g. Edmond, Making Sensé loyalty and pursuing similar thoughtprésent individuals who renditionofpoweris affordedby 2007), then 'non-viability' (e.g. material and statusgoods astheir arc seento respondpositively but Foucault(1980: 39): hère,power Plischke, 1977), and later still How do islanders 'make sensé' erstwhile imperial/continental strategically in their actions to is understood as "capillary", 'chronic vulnerability' (e.g. and dérive meaningout of they masters - hence thé 'bicycle both profferedgoals and means, disaggregated;this implies that Briguglio, 1995). Some islanders f beingat thé receivingend of a societies with Cadillac tastes' while however questioningthé there is no such thing as absolute may be just as confused by how !. powerfulcultural, financial and of thé Caribbean; thé rebellious legitimacy of thé process,sen- poweror absolutepowerlessness; they are seen and objectified technologicalrégime (which we would discard both, and seek an sing that they operatefrom thé that power is better understood as 'paradises' by mainlanders, periphery,and so at théreceiving as embedded in régimes and while they may stmggleat home cultural diversity in contrastto as could refer to asdeep globaliza- overthrow of thé status quo, or & tion) that they cannot control, to follow an alternative concep- end ofa fùndamental, stmctural, routines, rather than possessed against under-employment, thé creepingsameness resulting as and which choosesto type and tualization of development (as power-unequalrelationship (e. g. by individuals;and that power is aid dependency, loss of talent, from sweeping globalization. ^ Knights Willmott, 1989). best analyzed at its extremities, waste mountains, eutrophied Some others will be confùsed at castthem in very spécifieways, maybe thé caseofcontemporary & ta ail reminiscentof smug subor- Cubaor thé Samoanway oflife); They would thus exercisecom- presumablywhere thé paradigm coasts and lagoons, sewage by such statementsabout bio- l dination? There are vanous thé ritualists would go through pliancerather than commitment, is weakest.Islands, marginal by overflows, dmg mnning, money diversity andendemism that are theoretical founts of inspiration thé motions but meaninglessly,in identifying that it is coercive geography, many with a deep laundering, HIV/AIDS, soil meant to rcdefine thé net worth l and long colonial infiltration, érosion, potable water shortage, of what - to islanders- may be 0 § appear as idéal candidates for dépopulation or oveqîopulation. well-known, common, trite, such an exercise. Thé célébration Others will accept thé obsession local speciesof fish, flowers, t of locality in whichever shape to daim, objectify and render trees, animais, insects,as well as or form, included thé fabrication into beguiling metaphor as a land and seascapesand cultural of a senséof nation, becomes a necessary mythology to be traits (e.g. Clark, 2004). Yet viable strategyfor subvertingthé endured, even refreshed and another category of islanders narratives and représentations encouraged - perpetrated by would develop and hone those promulgated and imposed by their very own local branding skills that allow them to engage external dominant powers and organizations - since it bolsters mainlanders, manipulating cultures...even ifhybridity is thé thecharm and mystique oftheir their resources, humouring outcome(Bhabha, 1995). tourism industry, which may their objectives, fanning their be their key foreign exchange fantasies, managing thé very FIeshing Out thé generator. figurationsofislands andisland Théories Moreover, 'living thé lie' life that seekto type them,often has its own rewards since it numbs surviving comfortablyas glocal and distances islanders from citizens in a split, schizoid world How are thèsetheoretical facing their own démons.Some wifh (at least)two parallelsets of observations fleshed out in otherislanders will protest,resist values,languages andpractices. practice in island life? How do and seekdistinctiveness, overtly And (perhapsfinally?) therewill islandersconfront island texts so or covertly, laying daims to an always remain those who hâve often craftedby non-islanders,exceptional,indigenously rooted no qualms with bursting thé wherethey are Lilliputians who counter-identity, positioning metaphor'sbubble and pointing ..'î only existthrough thé eyes,and islandsas bastions ofbiological out, by their actions,

19 INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS thé sheer disjuncture between andpersonal animosities oftheir Islanders are: anytrace ofits physicalréfèrent. western/continental ideas and looked-atsub-set, could provide "[A] very carefulpeople, That would once again render islandlife. Hère,thé mainlanders valid andinsightfiil commentaries much given to évasion and islands as victims, this time of who wish to "do development" on island life. But this is not to slyness. Thé fear of giving hyper-reality, a form of reality arenot amused.Thé exasperated say that Maltese islanders are or receiving offence fosters by proxy. Bill Holm (2000: 59- actions ofDolittle, anAustralian oblivious to thé implications tentativeness.Forthrightness of 82) tells us that his piano is an island. "overseas expert", are a case of their clannishness - hardly! speechand boldness of action in point: he is hired to "look Island citizens who grow up in become ail but impossible" And so, ironically into thé feasibility of making "a straitjacket of community (Weale,2002). enough,while thé island figures thé islanders of Tiko work on surveillance" (Weale, 1992: 9) so prominently in thé human know thé value ofnetworks, and psyché,and lurches fi-om utopia to weekdays"but despairsafter Five Dilemmas dystopia,from préciseréférence speakingwith aVIP whofritters of thé value of information about to banality, from a convenient awaythé office hours by playing nefrworks.This is preciselywhy cardswith his secretary(Hau'ofa, theydo not readily disclose such (albeit exotic) laboratorysetting Thé richness literary a observation 1983). information; and if/when they of to platform for thé do, they do so orally/aurally, in and cultural islanding could of thédynamics of "amplification One wonders whether, or thé relative protection afforded be so obtmsive and pervasive by compression"(e. g. Percy et possible conséquencesof such relationsare both slowly coming l that it could actually threaten al., 2007: 193), thé islanders to what extent,such a parody is by their own languageor dialect, disclosure; (3) thé choice of roundto acknowledgethat there l1 tme andwhefher it evenremotely and with a view to score points, and dismiss thé physicality of themselvesare hard put to reflect language and communication is no obligationfor ail colonized islandsas 'real lived-in places'. openly predicament. capturesthé basic contradiction while carefully not revealing on their format; (4) thé exploitation of territoriesto securefùll indepen- Do islanders react at ail of 'doing' development top- their vital sources. Idioms from Hay (2006:30) arguesempha- one's own island predicament dence,certainly in thé short to to thé slippage in thé analysis of '^l down ... yet, even if it did, it small islands are replète with tically: as an unfortunate victim of médium term (e.g. Edmond & conti- would be naïve to expect any advice about how absolutely "So powerfiil is thé metapho- theircondition, where they environmental disaster; and (5) Smith, 2003: 5-6; Baldacchino rical idea thé island that it nue "aesthesicized, l islander to make a clean breast vital it is to protectone's sources of to be ritually thé realization that, deep down, & Milne, forthcoming). Espe- l sanitized and anaesthetized" ofit, andespecially in writing. It of information. In such cases, can be deployedin thé absence we are probably ail guilty of cially for small islands, there l of even thé slightest référence (Connell, 2003a: 568)? How shouldnot be suqîrisingthat thé island(er)agency is demonstrated imperialism. is quite a compelling case to l via stratégieinaction: a cultureof to thé reality of islands.Those do they perform as conscripted Each of thèse issues will be be made today for autonomy & formai disclosureof "thé small 0 conflicts and petty rivalries of silence and baited breath. This who live real lives on islands are actors in a play about 'island reviewed in tum below. without sovereignty.After ail: p entitled to resent this." life'that they do not control? parishpump politics in goldfish may explain why thé Maltese "In an uncertain world, a behave when Vl bowl societies"(Lillis, 1993:6) at school ask so few questions One could say that thé epitome How do they Thé first dilemma is that substantialdegree ofautonomy, they are targetsof an incessant is usually a task undertakenby (Boissevain, 1990 [1969]). As of thé objectificationofislands thé enduring'cultures ofloyalty' where culture and identity are non-islanders, non-participant Prince Edward Island historian would be reached when thé regimen of construction, which (Dodds, 2007) of many island respectedand protected,reaso- hâve them behave this observerswho can afford to make EdwardMacDonaldputs it: "Thé island metaphorthrives on its would peoplesto metropolitanpowers nableaccess to employmentand such révélations becausethey are clenched fist cannot be shaken" own, as a simulacmm,without way and that, in ways that fulfil and former impérial heartlands servicesexists, and security is thé désires and dreams of ail, not dépendenton information (quotedinWeale,2002). sit uneasily with thé mantra of guaranteed, has weakened thé for ail seasonsand for ailtastes? managementto survive,operate sovereignty as an intrinsically strengthof thé daim to indepen- and flex their social power. Resentment,as Hay put it, is only laudable and almost historically dence." (Connell,2003b: 141). oneofa varietyofways in which I, for one, am not surprised unavailable, evolutionary route. islanders can 'react'. There are that thé most insightful written Thus, "postcolonialism research What about those who choose commentaries about social various other ways. Islanders ... still finds it easier to pick on, nevertheless to articulate thé canand do (re)actto thé interest nefrworkpractices in my home andgrapple with, Algeria rather not-so-paradisiacal intricacies - including their own - in thé island country of Malta, and than Mayotte, India rather than of island life? Where islanders their links with political party study of islands.In so doing, at Bermuda, and Indonesia rather script contemporaryisland life, leastfive dilemmas- and there activism,hâve been developedby than Aruba" (Baldacchino, they may still go for relati- may very well be others - are foreigners,especially European 2007b). Thé expectation that vely 'soft' thematics- like thé discussedandproblematized: (l) anthropologists(e. g. Boissevain, islanders show abject resent- power of gossip,thé resilience that thé pursuit extended 1974; Mitchell, 2002), even of of ment to thé colonial expérience of family, thé lure of migration if in somewhat too stylized a colonialrelationships by various may often itselfbe thé outcome - which arenot likely to meetthé fashion. islandjurisdictions; (2) that of of an unconscious, mainlan- disapprovalor wrath of fellow Outsiders, then, spared revealing- andso risk offending der dogmatism. Post-colonial islanders.Many commentators - island sensitivities,and thé from beingparty to thé divisions theorization and international on sensitive island affairs re-

21 INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS

main foreigners;but - and hère perch from which to observe émergesthé second dilemma one's island and manage thé - of those islanders amongst pain, as a condition of island this grouping,thé largemajority life. Are thé members of island would be commenting from a diasporas,or evenfhose islanders safe distance, as emigrants, as who spendlong periods 'away', members of island diasporas, disqualifîed from interpreting /' as trans-nationals relatively island lives? And conversely, ^ disengagedfi-om thé society they by way of example,it is often areanalyzing, and exposing. Or, mainlanderswho hâve secondary for thé others who are brave homes on islands who are often (or foolish?) enoughto attempt one and thé same. Thus, in - betraysan embeddedand often much more enthusiastic and révélations from within, they thé imperially manufactured uncriticalrelationship to western vociferous than those who were may find that they fall victim to societies of thé contemporary technologies of représentation born and raised on islands in Indeed, Farbotko (2005) sibly better than no intercst at thé 'crabin thé barrel' syndrome Caribbean, as Naipaul (1973: (e. g. Jameson, 1986: 69). defendingthé 'islandway oflife' bas shown, in her gripping ail. (Baldacchino, 1997: 118): 275) describes them, créole is Whereas, for a Faroese or andresisting pressure to connect analysis thé représentation becomeeffectively blacklisted, often celebrated as a subaltem Greenlander to write a thesis in of islands to mainlands via such s Tuvaluans in thé Sydney There is finally at humoured, belittled, eut down to médium, while at thé sametime it Danish, for a New Caledonian of 'fixed links' as bridges,tunnels Morning Herald, that thèse least one other, fifth dilemma. l sizeor somehowmarginalized in can be followed, with differential or Seychelloisto write a poem and causeways(Baldacchino, their own land - which case, islanders are portrayed in thé Hay (2006: 30) insists that in levels difficulty, speakers in French, for an Aruban or a 2007e). of by ta Australianmetropolitan press as Nissology - thé study ofislands physical or psychological ex- of thé regularlanguage (Bougie, Sint Maartiner to composethé victims oftragic circumstances on their own terms - is "... for la> i(s)le may againkick in. To what 1998).It is perhapstherefore not lyrics ofa songin Dutch, or for Moreover,what exactly beyond their control, fitting islands and for islanders in thé extent can thé 'island as prison' surprising that thé French and a Samoan or Ni-Vanuatu to write is an island? Without delying times that are hère and that are l afford its inmates to comment easily into stéréotypés of into thé fine détail (e.g. Royle, English Caribbeanare amongst a novel in English, opens up s» vulnerability and 'paradise in emerging." McCall (1996e: 9) about internai happenings?As thé best known producers of much larger potential markets, 2007), geographers remind us i péril' which thérest of théworld twice exalts "We Islanders" thé fractal nature islands. Samoan novelist Sia Figuel island scripts; island storieson many more publishing options, of of can watch - absolved of any as thé experts, owners and l (1996: 131)wrylyobserves: their own terms. and possible a much wider, Thus: & responsibility- as they unfold, stewards of thé waters of thé "I corne from a very even international, acclaim. Thé ç abnostlike a slow-motionmovie, planet. But what exactly are small island - it's closed in - in choice of language is an issue "[CJhangingmagnification will j and presumably from a safe islanders? We must confront a sensé that everyone knows Where multiple that camiot be avoided for such ... result in typically large but .s vantage point. For those who island roots with island routes everyone ... it can be very languagesexist, however,as in island authors; somewould seek few chunks of mainland plus wanta doserexpérience, certain (afterClifford, 1997),recognize confming". thé Pacifie and Indian Océans, to write thé same, or différent, smaller and more numerous island states- like Tuvalu, and thé almost inévitable urge or or thé Mediterranean basin, thé texts in différent languages,even islands (Dahl & Depraetere, Note that thé above is thé Maldives- hâve actually need of islandersto escape,to dilemma émergesstarkly. Using ifjust to prove to themselves 2007:64). not written Samoan. third startedmarketing their tourist develop 'glocal' identities, to in A thé vernacular appears more that they can articulate their Even Pète Hay's beloved Tas- industry with a dark twist: searchfor a sufficiently distant dilemma that présentsitself in appropriateas a médiumfor local ideas equally well to différent appealingto thosewho wish to thé practice of Nissology deals commentary - historically, such média, and hopefully satisfy visit paradise "before it is too with both thé languageand form languageswere used,and seen, complimentary markets and late" (Farbotko,2005: 285). of communication. In societies as natural tools and drivers of audiences. where indigenous speechmay Herewith thé fourth dilemma: résistance- but this option would never hâve existed - such"as in it is quite disheartening and automatically limit readership There is also some territories which had been unin- unsettling to discover that thé and distribution to thé speakers attemptby islandersto generate interests of thé first world in habitedbefore thé EuropeanAge or readers of that language. régional and international island life can only continue ofDiscovery - or whereindige- Unless translated, or somehow interest in thé condition oftheir to be held, evenif tentatively, nous speech(and its speakers) reported paraphrased,into islands, especially that of low or when islandsand islandersare hâve been resoundingly lost lying islandstates at thérisk of a language of international depicted as threatenedexotic or exterminated and replaced ciurency,extemal readers would sealevel rise.Yet, paradoxically, cunosa in thé grand muséum by metropolitanlanguages, thé remainlargely oblivious to such where are those who would love dilemma is non-existent: thé of civilization. Some islanders texts and their messages.Even islands when called upon to may be silently thankful that languageof résistanceand thé thé very form of a text - such take actionsthat mitigate global evena perverseinterest by thé languageof oppressionare but as a novel, a poem, or a play warming? internationalcommunity is pos

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 23 mania (as a state within thé to behave as mainlanders, as subordination. But, surely: two their languages.They are now and how it stereotypically enviromnentalist'. In this shift; Commonwealth ofAustralia) is rapaciousGullivers snoopingin, wrongs don't makea right. working on implementing thé positions islanders in tightly thé island narrative is still not a recognized ashaving hundredsof objectifyingtheir subjectmatter. Déclaration on Bioethics and predetermined modalities - as narrativeby, or with , islanders Ask thé Gozitans about thé accompanying islands, some of And so it appearsthat, Human Rights, adopted by Gulliver/Lilliputians, Prospero/ but remains one of, and about, are inhabitée, and some Maltese, asktheNevisians about thanks to thé fractal nature thé United Nations in October which of Caliban orRobinson Crusoe/Man them. It persistsdoggedly as a which hâve their own notorious thé Kittitians; ask thé Tuvaluans are of geography, most of us 2005,which respectsthé dignity Friday - is commendable. It is hégémoniediscourse ofconquest. pasts.Varions Tasmanianwriters, about thé (ethnically différent) destined, or blest, with always and protects thé integrity of high time to présentNissology as It is not so surprisingthat daims ^ look beyond their 'mainland': I-Kiribati. But it doesn't stop having someoneto colonize.We researched individuals and a "sub-altemdiscourse" (McCall, for readingislands on their own there: pattern uncritical ^ like Richard Flanagan - who thé of may just hâve to live with that commimities.This could greatly 1996a:13); andfor thé islandto terms are driven by passionate commentsabout life on thépénal représentationcan be reversed humbling remorse. impact on thé types of research "Writeback" (Gamba,2001:65). mainlanders who often corne colony of SarahIsland, off thé and thé proverbial tables can peopleare allowed to carry out But: who is goingto write, about along with preconceivedideas be turned: thé islanders hâve main island ofTasmania proper, in Pacifie island communities, what, and in what way? There aboutwhat islands should be, and Conclusion: Islands Fight as he does m Gould's Book ofFish their own scripted versions as well as on thé processesand may be no pure islandersready how islanders should behave. (Flanagan,2001) - or Danielle of their respective mainlands Back? products of suchresearch.To andwaiting to takeover thé task and mainlanders: chaotic, fast, Wood, whose protagonist in this end, l would encourage of (re)construction. McCall's 'Islandstudies' is perhaps To be sure, there is some thé trend to dévote more time Alphabet of Light and Dark impersonal, dangerous,distant plea is more of a désire for an best conceived as a platform (Wood, 2003) retums to Bnmy seats of government, hotbeds attemptat reclaiming thé island and towardsresearching WITH alternative conceptualization for looking at island issues l Island, another outlier. Does then of crime and licentiousness, by islanders. Thus, as Konai FOR communities, rather than of thé world with a view to !» inductively and ex-centrically: ^ffi this stance render thèse writers potentialfounts ofmuch needed Helu Thaman,Tongan national detached académie endeavour. achieving a more sustainable from thé inside out, rather usurpers?Are they a lesserfonn investment. Thé love/hate and senior académie at thé Uni- Thé University of thé South relationshipbetween humankind than from thé outside in. This 'island scholar'? Are Sarah has of relationship between island(er) versity of thé SouthPacifie, Pacifie is at thé forefront of and nature, than of a valid field positionmg - équivalent to thé and Bmny Islandsre-colonized and mainland(er) is as real as commented(2007: 520, empha- advocating this approach, of study in its own right with its islanders'"way ofseeingthings" l"' thé unavoidable bond between by being scriptedby 'mainland' sis in original): especially in relation to thé own principles, constructs and accordingto McCall (1996a:2) - Tasmanians? Thé iahabitants of them. Turning thé tables on types of research our staff are méthodologies.His assumption is valuable, fresh and in contrast j even small islands are bound to thé mainland for a change by "In our région today, involved in, as well as thé way that islanders make better to so much received wisdom and Pacifie scholars and researchers hâve even smaller islands that scriptingit - evenas one is being that research is reported and custodians of their environment historicalnarrative. Yet, it is not attract their interest; and, in such scriptedby it - soundslike a fine are committed to telling their disseminated." may alsobe premisedon aspects necessarily différent from thé &l a case, they are just as likely corrective to so much historical own stories, and preferably in ofhuman-nature interactions on n script it is vying to replace. 0 Thé nissologicalproject islands that no longer exist in is one meant for indigenous thé modem world, and - on thé l geographies; and yet, for ail basisofarchaeological évidence its noble intentions, it remains - may not even hâve ever existed problematic to operationalize, in thé pre-modern era (e.g. certainly where islands are Fitzpatrick, 2007: 86). Indeed, concemed. Continental interest today we refer to a particular in island life - as in thé example of non-sustainability observationof endémiespecies as thé "EasterIsland syndrome" - will persévère. Thé tourist (e.g. Nagarajan,2006). fascinationwith thé island utopia romains critical to so many One must therefore be island économies, even if thé vigilant as to how nissologists enthrallment is with an island / 'island scholars' may be on thé vergeof submersion.Thé reinterpreting 'terms' for islands, very act of commenting 'from but maintaining thé samedeep outside'remains pertinent; since structure and its colonizing even islanders are obligea to disposition: while side-lining resort to such a positioning in thé narrative away from thé orderto be ableto disclose. perspective of thé 'explorer- discoverer-colonist',it may be Yet, moving away from taken over by thé perspective an exclusivemainlander 'gaze', of thé 'custodian-steward-

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 25 Its proponents, for ail their in languages, or expressedin virtuous intent - and l include voices, that very few of us myself amongstthem - cannot would understand - and perhaps ^y> escapethé accusationof being, strategically and intentionally V^ft' . .. ^ ^ iSsiU^îyBilfc-t in their own way, colonial. so. Indeed, were 'outsiders' not Dr Godfrey involved thé (problematic) /^. ÏN Thèse narrators are not in Baldacchino is a Researcher :^- f

exertedthé greatestfascination. At &s least in thé spaceoccupied by thé ! civilization which people, to make simpler, hâve agreedto call thé it ^l West.There, fi-om time immémorial, islands hâve been associated in l thé inhabitants' imaginary with a.l extraordinary spaces,where now demoniac,now prodigiousthings can § happen(cf. Van Duzer 2006). vl Thé location of islands, thé fact that they appearassociated with an andthat their boundariesmay eut off from thé world, sums environmentalways involving a cer- be easily outlined; and on up this ambiguity of feelings tain amountofmystery and danger, thé other hand, from an idea conceming a place either seen explains thé tendency towards thé of isolation and remoteness, as a 'refuge', or as a 'prison'. mythicization of islands, and also which is a way of interprcting Thé same exclusion or confi- that they generatesuch a complex thé séparation introduced by nement that sets bounds and and ambiguous représentation in thé water between islands and restrictions, turning islands thécollective imaginary. That image continents. into places of austerity, is also seemsto hâve been constructed, as what,somewhatparadoxically, severalauthors hâve remarked (Hay From thèse two ideas ofexclu- couverts them into -worlds 2003 and 2006, Baldacchino2005, sion and remoteness, thé West in réduction- (Pérou 2005: Béer2003, Pérou 2005, inter allia), has created a séries of images 424), feeding thé myth of an from two sets of ideas: on thé one of thé islands which alternâtes autonomous,independent and hand,from thé concept of bounde-between thé extrêmes ofhorror sovereign life. If isolation, dness,exclusion, and confinement, and of fascination. Robinson on thé one hand, transforms whichdérives from thé objective fact Cmsoe's lost island, isolated islandsinto almostparadigma- thatislands are encircled by water in thé vastness of thé océan, tic placesof exile, of reclu-

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDÂFFAIRS 27

sion or of atonement-(Bemardie- zed manifestationof righteous authors,however, thé problem dénies existing in thé 'real' To fmd out then what other forms who, havinggrown up and lived Tahir 2005: 366), it is even so conduct and upright values with thèsereprésentations is that expérience of islandness and, of représentationof islandness until fairly recentlyin an insular simultaneouslythé origin of one typical of a state of 'primitive not only do they simplify, they therefore, in thé représentations could be those bom out of thé context- théAzores archipelago of thé most attractive images innocence', where even thé do not even faithfully reflect that islanders hâve oftheir own expérience itself of living on an - are now faced with a new of thé island in thé collective harsh living conditions and thé expérience of islandness. condition. But some go even island, or of thé 'lifeworld', as thé expérience, that of living on imaginary, as a metaphor of thé thé lack of resources and of McCall (1996 and 1997) has further and daim that drawing phenomenologicalapproaches thé mainland. Thé sélection of unspoilt place, virgin and not yet opportunities may appearunder asserted that almost ail thèse on thé island as a metaphor suggest (see e.g., Buttimer & this group was due not only to cormpted, and which constitutes thé guise ofa sort ofvoluntary preconceived notions reflect for physical isolation and for Seamon 1980, eds.), becomes practical reasons, on account in itself a -corollary of seclusion, asceticism. erroneous perspectives about exclusionis in fact dangerous:by thé final objective ofthis shidy. of thé interviewéesbeing easy of isolation and ofinaccessibility- islands and islandness,generated propagatingthé idea that thèse to recmit, but mainly becauseit ^ (ibid.: 367). There can be no doubt not from 'within', from what places 'naturally' enclosesthat seemedinteresting to ascertainto that thèse diverse images, as would b e a real or first-hand type of problems,it eventually Methodology and what extentthat forced change of This type of représentations stéréotypés or simplifications expérience of living on an conditions attitudes towards population under study résidencehad producedeffects in West brought into being thé of a much more complex and island, but from 'without', from islands and, therefore, their on their représentations of appearing and dissémination of multiform reality, could hardly thé perspectiveofmainlanders. chances of development (see Thé problem and thé type islandness. many preconceivednotions about reflect what islandness is ail Confinement and isolation, Hay 2006). of questions l aim to address Thé study group was life on islands and about thé about. That is, if we believe, for example, which appearso in this research explain thé recruited among thé social character of island people. As at least partly, that they are in closely associated with thé Thé purpose of this préférence for an existential- network of a more restricted l a matter of fact, not even thé any case images which, in their représentations of islands in study consists in ascertaining phenomenological approach original set of young Azoreans Nî scientific discourse has been effort to simplify, still get at thé collective imaginary, are whether thèse perceptions of as defïned by, for instance, with whom l was acquainted, completely unaffected by thèse thé truth. According to some perceptionswhich that author boundeàiessand of confinement, Seamon (2000) - and for an eventuallycoming up to a total a.l thoughts.In connectionwith those as well as ofremoteness and of intensive, qualitative, and in- of sixteen girls and fourteen »1 ideas of exclusion and of isolation, isolation, which are usually depthresearch methodology. In boys whose âges ranged many of thé préjudicesdescribed linked with islands, shape thé fact, only through this kind of from 21 to 26 years old. Most l sa by P. Hay (2003) corne to light, actual expérience of islandness methodsdoes it becomepossible of thé young people whose l associating islands with self- or not, or to what extenf they to capture thé meaning of thé statementsl took were studying absorbedsocieties, even somewhat can be deemed valid in order expérience of islandness and to in Lisbon but thé group also &l narrow-minded, with little to describe thé island life. In understandhow thébeing-on-an- included some students living 0 prédispositiontowards creativity other words, it is about trying islandmouldsthé représentations in provincial cities, namely in and innovation. Then there are to find out ifthat représentation that islanders hâve of their own Coimbra,Aveiro andPortalegre, ius those who believe they can discem of islands and of living on an condition. enrolled in such diverse courses in thé scarcity of opportunities island is in accordance with thé as Geography, Engineering, which (supposedly)characterizes phenomenology of insularity This study was based on Business Administration, islands thé root causeofa tendency or whether, as critics daim, it thé statementsmade by a group Political Sciences, Nutrition, among island peuples towards reflectsmore thé viewpoint of thé ofthirtyAzoreanundergraduates Sports Science, and Medicine. claustrophobia and dépression. outside,generated and fashioned living on mainland Portugal. Thé perceptionofremoteness and in and by thé mainland spaces. Therefore,they are young people isolation gives also rise to thé not less fi-equentillusion that islands are to sorne extent on thé edge of thé world and 'out' of time, in a kind of suspendedsituation hoveringover thé courseofhistory. This is probably why islandsand their societies appear linked in thé collective imaginary to a certain archaism, which in some cases may appearin thé semblanceof conservatismtending to perpetuate backward-looking habits, and in others under thé more romantici-

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 29 Research was based on a up on an island', and then (b) tionswhich hademerged as work Thé Azores archipelagois one method that bas not been used 'how they had gone through thé progressed on thé statements of thé frwoinsular régions which very frequently until now, but expérience of moving to thé themselves. makeup théPortuguese territory. about which there are a few mainland'.Only afterbeinggiven Obviously, thé conclusions l It is thé farthest from thé "t Criffde&actosa documentedexpériences in some their statements would l embark arrived at dérive partly from mainland, located in thé middle literature (see Kitchin & Tate on more detailed questions, spécifie living conditions in of thé NorthAtlantic, more than tsia Vitorte 2000), and,in this spécifiecase, fayingto clarify lessclear points thé Azores. l admit that results 1, Portuguese 500 Km from thé «ott it has become quite effective. with eachmember individually, might not hâve been exactly capital, atop thé Mid-Atlantic Horta Insteadofface-to-face meetings or then to exploreunanticipated thé same if we were talking Ridge.Thus, it correspondsto a groupmembers, chose e with thé l issueswhich soundedparticularly about another insular reality, groupofvolcanic islandswhich, & t to establishweekly contactsby meaningful. Without ever for instancea less fragmented eventoday, are still subjectedto îtiaGr e-mail for almost three months. disclosingthé researchpurposes archipelago - made up of a volcanic-associated events and onta Delga Firstly, it seemedan efficient entirely (thé participants had smaller number of islands and to an intense seismic activity. manner of overcoming part been informed that it was a of greater size - or doser to of thé obstacles involved in study on identity and on thé thé large continental masses. Thé archipelago is scheduling interviews, as well représentations of islandness Anyway, l believe that thé situated at latitude 39° 43' to 0 as ofavoiding thé costsinhérent amongyoimgAzoreans living on essential experiential structures 36° 55' north and at longitude since 1983. Terceira and Faial, south and 12 Km (about 7.46 in fieldwork andthé subséquent thé mainland),l tried to conduct of insularity can be effectively 25° to 31° 16' west, madeup of l along with Sâo Miguel, are thé miles) east to west, did not reach ?' transcription of thé tapes. Then, thé research by balancing thé captured by analyzing this nine islands, divided into three onlyAzorean islands which hâve a population of 4,000 inhabitants l wantedto explorethé virtuality script of previously selected particular case. groups. Thé Eastern Group managedto avoid démographie in 2001. Corvo Island, withjust of a means of communication topics and E-3-4 thé new direc- (doser to mainland Portugal) losses and where a younger 17.1 km2 had 425 inhabitants which, besides generating thé comprises two islands, with a population still thrives. In thé accordingto thé last census. l illusion of anonymity, hence distance of over 50 Km (about other islands,there has been since Thé Azores archipelago potentially capable of creating 31 miles) between them. This thé 1960sa tendencytowards a is part of thé so-called l an atmosphèreleading to more group includes thé biggest progressivedécline in population Ultraperipheral Régions of thé l clearnessand opennessin thé island in thé Azores - Sâo andtowards an mcreasingly aging European Union, a group of participants, also offers thé Miguel which is alsothé most - population,brought about mostly régions (ail insular) associated l gréât advantageof being able denselypopulated (in thé order by emigration (to mainland with an image of extrême to take on thé appearanceof of 130,000 inhabitantsin 2001, Portugal, but even more to thé 'perificity', and which hâve i certain types of record doser, m an area 744.6 Km2) and of and Canada). l USA to beneficiatedof spécifieprograms s- for example,to testimony or to boaststhé biggest urban centre Flores and Corvo for régional development and memoir. (PontaDelgada, with a little over constitute thé Western supplementary financial aid. 20,000 inhabitants in thé last Group. Flores Island, with an With a fragile economy(a GDP Duringthé research, l hâve census,and thé seat régional of approximate length of 17 Km per capita of 75% below thé alwaysteied to preventstatements govemment). (around 10.6 miles) north to European Union average), thé from being 'contaminated' Thé Central Group by thé theoretical apriority l comprehends five islands mentioned earlier. Instead of with areas between 60.7 km2 asking thé interviewéesloaded (Graciosa)and 444. 8km2 (Pico). questions directly pointing to Therefore,we aretalking about thé propositionswhose validity islands whose length never l intended to ascertain,l opted reaches50 Km. Terceira,with for a type of interaction doser about 56,000 inhabitants in to thé informai conversational 2001, is thé second island in interview. Out of fear that thé archipelagoas far as thé framing questions overlapping populationis concemed,and thé thé researchtopics could shape main urban centre is thé historié or leadtheir answers,l preferred city ofAngra do Heroismo(with inviting participants to share alittleover 10, 000inhabitants), their personal expériencesand to which is included on thé explain (a) 'how it was growing UNESCOWorld Héritage list

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 31 populationremains heavily involved gather from thèse statements -- in agricultureand animal husbandry is a feeling of deep affection (dairy products) and fisheries, as for thé sea, comparable to well as thé services, which dominate thé one we could hâve for a employment, especially thé social lifelong companion,a friend, or and administrative services in thé a relative. public sector. "Thé sea is without doubt Smaiïness and 'maritimity' fundamentalin my life. Igrew up with right by my side,wherever two fundamental components it l went it was always there. It sensé place of thé of in keepsus company,us, islanders, Azores alwaysand always.(Elisabete). To live in an island surrounded by thé sea brings Théanalysis ofseveral dozens aboutavery strong connection, it ofanswers collectedduring almost l is almostas ifwe belongedtothé thé truth is that when l cameto or a fence. Anyway, what also 0 three months of e-mails going back t mention thé sea in their imaginée that thé maritime samefamily; sometimesl miss Lisbon l felt disorientated and maypossibly hâve contributed to and forth betweenme andthé young l accounts,or who did not lay border would become in their théAzoressea more thansomeof consequently a little insecure that is thé fact that thé océan is Azoreansin my studyclearly showed my relatives, not nice say because there sea to stress on thé importance of eyesa barrier 'solid, totalising it is to was no not experienced as exterior, that that smalhiessand maritimity aretwo sa that élément. Thé sea seems and domineering'(ibid. ). Thé this but it is true. (Miguel)." guide me. (Ana l). is, as something located beyond essentialéléments in thé representa- .1 to shape (almost inevitably) statements l collected lead their lifeworld, but as an intrinsic tion ofinsularity amongthem. Taking their childhood memories and me, however, to reason that That strong relationship part of it. And this cornes about into account thé récurrence and thé with thé sea cornes at times close it émerges as a fundamental To most of thé young people l because,besides being constantly j centrality of thèsetwo topics in their in that double expérienceof élément in thé constmction of to a feeling ahnostof love. Flâvia, interviewed, that involvement présentin thé traditionalAzorean l discourse, two 'core catégories' maritimity and of smallness their own 'idea of home': there is much more at stake. one of thé female interviewées, with thé océanwhich shapestheir family storiesand being deeply emergedright in thé 'open coding' told me in one of her fïrst e- Consequently,they make me senséof place in theAzores does intertwinedwith their lives (there l stageof thé interviews(to shedlight mails that thé sea was one of Thésound of théwaves with not representanything compa- usuallyare fishermen and sailors on thèsemethodological procédures, align myselfmoreclosely generally brings me peace: it those who believe that 'islands her'gréât passions'. Another one râblé to a feeling of imprison- in thé families), thé seaopérâtes l to see Strauss 1987). Références would confessthat 'what [she] ment on thé island or of being from very early on as a kind of -§ reminds me of holidays and are more varied, diverse, s- thé size of thé islands - and more missed most coming thé disconnected from thé world. walks along thé beach. Thé and complicated places than thé to 'natural' extensionof thé public specifically, to their limited area mainland, besides relatives and smellbrings a bit ofeverything, commonly believed' (Terrell Perhaps, first of ail, because thé spacewhich young people are - were constantly repeatedin thé friends,was sea'(Catarina), memories flooding back, as 2004:11). . thé consciousnessofbeing bounded usedto exploring: statements l collected, and could be smellstypically do, but mainly Thé relationship anabsence which anotheryoung by thé sea did not constitute found, in one way or another,more girl recognized madeher feel a feeling of 'being at home'. with thé sea expressed by it an aspect with which they had "Thé présence of thé or less emphatically,in thé answers 'constricted' and 'nauseated' (Ana l). maritimity is very différent always been faced throughout sea was a constant while l was ofnearly ail participantsin thé study. (Sabrina).Thé seaseems to take from thé perceptionof being their lives. Many of thé respon- growing up. Since l was a child Interestingly enough,this happened on suchessentiality being- dents told me that as children It is not easyto avoid lost in thé middle of thé océan. in thé / got used to swimming,diving, no matter where thé young people thé temptation to ascribe to Thé manner in which that in-the-worldofyoungAzoreans they were not aware of being running on rocks strewn with werefrom, whetherfrom SâoMiguel, to thépoint ofacquiring features that perception of smallness, relationship is described in surrounded by thé sea, and that sea-weeds,recognizing fish and fi-omTerceira or from SâoJorge. as well as of maritimity, thé thé statements l collectée probablyunimaginable for those only happened later - 'During jellyfish, catching crabs, identi- origin of thé exclusion and of shows an intense intimacy whohâve not gonethrough thé childhood l always thought that jying thé tides,etc. (Pedro l). Almost thé samething occu- expérience growing up in a théperception ofboundedness with thé water élément, and of l lived by thé sea,but only in my Thé sea has always been at thé rred with maritimity. Thé récurrence similar place: and isolation frequently an intimacy which bears more youth did l réalise that l lived in centreofmy life sincel was very of this topic and of related thèmes thé middle thé sea'[my italics] already associated to thé islands. Pérou resemblanceto a happy and of small. At five l could in thé discourseof thé respondents l would not like to live inland. l (Marco).Thé seawas something swim in thé sea, and at ten l (2004: 300), for instance, peacefùl relationship than to suggeststhat their relationshipwith ^vouldmiss thé sea. [...J In Sao which had always defined their fished underwaterwith a 40 cm sea another stmctural élément held that 'For island dwellers, an uneasy or anguished one. thé is Miguell alwaysknow on which cons- thé omniprésence of thé sea Insteadofrevealing discontent living framework, which gun(arustySimotalBaby).Well, of thé senséof place. There were side thé sea is and whether it tituted a constant and familiar intensifiesthé feeling ofbeing or displeasurefor what could in thé summerholidaysyou only hardly any participants who did not is thé northern or thé southern présence, one did thought sea. to eut off from thé rest of thé hâve been an isolating effect but which they about thé l used shore,which guides me. [...J actually as a perimeter spend about ten hours sea world', because thé author of thé océan, what we can not look at at

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 33 andïstwted thé holiday season more like an encouragementto of isolation. (Flàvia). ces,although it is not like thaï. that physical narrownessdoes économie cîrcumstances is thé in March/April until October. In unreservedness, as a matter of Ever since l was a small girl l (Joâo). not mean that it automatically range of thé relationships they winter l divedwith a spécialsuit fact there are somewho regard hâve realized that to know what Several fîmes l found myself translates into - at least not establish, of thé distances, of tofîsh underwater.(Fâbio). it as an obstacle. A less common there is beyond our island we -wonderingwhat we could do in just into - a perception of space and of time. Although l topic in thé set of statements l hâveto struggle.Planes are not case a catastrophe happened, boundedness.Experiencing that was born and hâve livedin Ponta l believethat yet another collected, but nevertheless dis- exactlyidéal means of transport. somethingthat would turn thé smalhiessseems to be something Delgada,from very early on we reason why thé océan does cemible within thé categoryof Trips are expensive,we hâve to factthaï we live on an island into that acquires spécifie and would go and spendweekends not take on thé attribute of 'maritimity', is preciselythé one book them in advanceand you an unfortunate disadvantage... more complex characteristics, andholidays in Maia, wheremy boundary to most of thé young of thé sea as an élément inter- do not board a plane asyou do (Rui). pointing, not to a feeling of mother is originally from. [...] people l interviewed, and why fering with an easier, doser or a bus. To meflying has always confinementor ofimprisonment, thé 45 minutes it took to get thé involvement with it does more fréquentrelationship with been stressfuland l hâve been As l hâve already but to an expérience of scale there was somethingwe could thé outside. not signify closing off thé rest doing it since l wasfive. (Elisa- mentioned, smallness is another différent from that on mainland not affordon a daily basis,it -was of thé world, is thé fact that bête) " fondamental dimension to thé spaces: just as by covering a actually a long and exhausting thé sea view is one of thé most Some respondentsrefe- senséof place in thé Azorean small distance one can go on trip. (Vitôria). " evocative of spaciousness.That rred to that by speakingof 'iso- Even realizing that it is context. Thé analysis of thé an island from one environment feature, which always appears lation'. Clearly that 'isolation' not precisely an expérienceof statements shows that thé to another quite différent one, Théfeelings generated by G associatedwith a wide panorama should not be seen in absolute or isolation but more a problem of consciousness of thé narrowness particularly due to thé relief this consciousness of smalbiess and sceneryof gréât emptiness, narrowterms, that is, asa rupture accessibility which is at stake, of thé availablespace is perhaps and to thé effect of altitude, it are contradicto.ry. There is no t relatesto - as Y. Tuan (1977) or a séparation as far as thé out- thé existence of a perception as strong as thé expérience of is also true that short distances denying thé fact that to it we has remarked - thé feeling side world is concemed. It is not of distance and discontinuity maritimity for thé youngpeople acquire,relatively speakingand can associatea sériesof négative of 'being free'. Thé primordial in such tenus that thèseyoung among some of thé respondents l interviewée.There were very taking into account thé small imagesoflife on an islandwhich à expérience of freedom is thé people seemto expériencethat is, in any case,unarguable. As few statements in which l was size of thèse régions, a further thé young islanders share, and mobility andthere is no mobility feeling of isolation. Références a result, we cannot flatly deny unable to fînd références to thé dimension, ail this causingthé which hâve mainly to do with without space.In sum,thé open to insular isolation allude more thé présenceof a certainfeeling small area of thé islands, and in insular space to take on thé perceptions of deprivation (in l spaceis somethingthat implies to a perceptionof discontinuity of detachment in their minds which that fact was not cited as extraordinary appearance of a thé sphèreof consumption)and l thé fiiture and thé unfulfîlled, and of distance.Therefore, they and thé fact that it also partly a 'cause' for severalaspects of 'world in small': of scarcity of opportunities(in and as a result, it promptsus to point to problems of accessibi- defines thé insular condition. their daily life andof thé insular "/ believe that thé main thé sphèreof production). Thé a-l forward, discover.This may distance anses go to lity. This idea of That is thé only explanation society. différencebetween a childfrom awareness that thé market is too 0 hâve contributed to thé fact that from thé awareness that thé sea for thé occurrence of another Thé existence of a keen Sâo Miguel andachildfrom thé small tojustify offering services j therc were plenty of statements is a space to be crossed in thé additional thème, though more and strong consciousness of mainland in similar social and and rare businesses is wide- -§ mentioning a feeling offreedom interactionwith otherplaces, and rarely: thé one ofloneliness and andofrelease experienced by thé in a senséit draws them apart. ofabandonment,with ail it may sea: Concerning thé perception of imply in tenus of anguish, of discontinuity, it arises mainly thé feeling of exclusion and of "Strangely enough, looking at from thé fact - thé extremely vukierability: thé horizon and not seeingthé relevantfact - that you cannot blue makes me feel incarce- travel by land to thé outside and Since we were in thé rated and claustrophobie. To thatpeople are essentially depen- middleof théocéan, ifsomething look aheadand spot thé blue of dent on air transport, which is happened(like a catastrophe), thé water, thé horizon, to know still deemedexpensive and not where would we run to? Would that there is muchmore beyond very user-friendly: anyonehelp us? Andwho would what thé eye can see,gives me do that? Thatwas a gréâtfear of a certain feeling of freedom. mine when l was small. Someti- (Claudia). " "Nowadays thé restric- mes l was 'afraid' of living on tion about being an islander is thé island. (Miguel). Although thé sea is far only connectedwiththefact that You start asking questions, how from representingto thé young whenyouwant to travelyou hâve do materials, products, equip- Azoreansa cémentwall put up to do it by air. (Mafalda) ment get hère? If there were a before their eyes,a wall which Travelling is still expensiveand catastrophewhat wouldhappen? confines or oppresses them, every Azorean has, no matter / had thefeeling that we were a coming across,on thé contrary, howmuch they denyit, afeeling bit alone, left to our own devi-

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 35 existence of a keener sensé of ease and without a care in / would rather hâve spent my community is somethingwhich thé world which promote thé childhood. From being able to young islanders recognize as 'freedom to be'; and, finally, stay outside playing until late a given and which appears to a widespreadatmosphère of without worrying about safety explicitly identified in severalof affection,of attentivecaring, of issues,to havîng my friends / thé statementsl analysée: thé spirit of help, which is thé colleaguesonly a few minutes antithesis of thé indifférence that away onfoot. (Tomâs). " "I think that on thé islands one expériences m anonymity, thereis, without doubt,astronger and which contributes This imageof thé island senséofcommunity: people know substantially to thé construction as a 'home on a large scale', and help each other more often, ofan idyllic représentationof thé in a nutshell, is what this is ail and thé sensé of sharing also insular places: about, and it is precisely this prevails (offering vegetablesto 'feeling at home' which sumsup neighbours,for instance). (Ana "/ grew up surrounded thé expérience ofislandness for 2). by my family, which is always young islanders. On thé islandsthere is a stronger pleasant, to be able to be at G senséof community, there is a any time close to thé ones you l. bondbetweenneighbours [... ], it love. Iwent to schoolonly afew Life 'away' - thé need to l is as ifwe ail belongedto thésame métrés [feetjfrom home, asmall leave and thé expérience family. (Miguel). school, where l formed gréât & Thé senséof communitythat we friendships, with high-quality of exile &s feel on thé islands l believe is learning, becausewhen classes t dueto thefact that they are small are small, thé level of demand spread. Several respondents significant than any potential notice. Over there is différent, places and thaï people end up is higher andso is thé attention. Manyof théyoung people l knowing each other, on Everything wasperfect! Playing mentionedthé small diversity of feeling of confinement. Thé in a day we ean do a million getting in thé study group mentioned l with eachother. (Débora). " shops and thé difficult accessto essential élément of thé things without worrying about was almost always outside, having startedseeing thé island l well-known brands as négative expérience of living on thé distances.(Elisabete). with thé green and thé sea as with fresh eyes from a certain &- aspects of insular life. If we Azoreanislands is not thé feeling In theAzores we hâve more time Ail this familiarity and backdrop, even when we stayed time in their lives. Almost ail of them associated that keep in mind thé importance of 'lack of space',but thé sensé andwe can dévote it to whom we closenesswith thé surrounding at home there was always a fact with l world implied thé narratives adolescence and described thé ^ of consumption in thé social of having everything on hand, like bestandto théthings we love in of friend with whom to play, for island life, and which anses from constmction of identifies in thé hence doser. As ifwhat is lost in to do. (Marco) " in a small place we know thé changethey underwent as thé globalized consumersociety in space could somehow be made thé expérience of concentration neighbours well. (M^agda). appearanceof a new feeling of which we live, we can realize up for in time - 'time there [in This narrownes andneighbourliness l mentioned, Going back as further back as dissatisfaction with life on thé ends up lending islands a to what extent that can be thé Azores] seemsto hâve a wider of thé available space, thé my memory allows, l realize island, but which, in any case, perceived as a disadvantageto dimension'(Flâvia) - and as if on account of thé intense domestic, very friendly, almost there is no other place where would not hâvelasted long. thé insular condition, and even those gains in time would also expérience of concentration childish dimension.Many of thé features which characterize this as an exclusion factor. Thé acquireakindof 'spaciousness', and neighbourliness it offers, other one is employment and contributing, thus, in their own apparently also adds to thé essentialexpérience ofwell-being that Seamon(1979) entitled 'at- career opportunities, where thé way, to a feeling offi-eedom: developmentofa spirit ofgreater homeness',and which has to do alreadymentioned smallness of intimacy with thé place and with 'feeling within' or 'at home', insular spacesémerges again as 'Thefact that everythingon an with thé people inhabiting it. arcclearly présent in thé accounts a négative factor. island is doser is something Thé statements of thé young To that smallness, which l hâvealways valued and people in my study group thatparticipants give of théisland. amreferring specifically an however, one can also associate now much more, because l am frequently suggested exactly l to positive représentations, which more aware how important that that. Références to thé fact that intensefeeling offamiliarity with thésurrounding world which tends correspond to what may be can be. Hère on thé mainland you know practically 'everyone' to melt awaythé perception ofrisk described as a perception we hâveto plan thingsvery well, by sightare réélurent. As a matter and uncertainty; a sensé of concentration and becauseeverything is sofar offact, so are thé référencesto a of to of neighbourliness,and which, in E-3-9 senséofsolidarity andofmutual gréât mastery over thé territory, founded a expérience thé statementsunder analysis, away and we cannot décide help. That relation befrween on lived of are much more fréquent and anything at a moment's physical narrownessand thé théspace; but also feeling at

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 37 fundamental in thé Azorean higher percentage (when when faced with thé new and Not exactlyas a claustrophobie sensé of place and in thé compared to thé mainland) thé différent, and sometimes or boring space,but as a place expérienceof islandness,takes of boys wanting to be pilots, even fascinationexerted by thé in which there was really a an exact shape, or becomes aeronauticalorspace engineers, abundanceand thé sophistication deficiency in many areas. clearer. Previously we noticed or just simply to work at thé of thé expérienceson offer in a (Barbara). that for some young people airport or tojoin thé Air Force. big city, from leisureactivities to Only after coming to thé this meant developingfeelings (Ana l). thé speedof thé underground! mainland was l convinced of of deprivation and scarcity. how small we are and how However, we also saw that this Studying on thé mainland Only a few people isolated. Then l felt small. We was not true for everybody. happenedin thé lives ofmost of in thé study group failed to are so isolated and perhaps so Thé stàtements l collected thé respondents as an actual emphasizethé fact that coming insignificant that many peuple show, as l hâve mentioned, that project for thé future matching to thé mainlandhad changeathé on thé mainland do not even thosefeelings are of secondary that désire to escape. Several way they looked at thé Azores. know what thé Azores are. importance in thé expérience of mentioned,using thèse or words Nevertheless,thé dominant trend (Raquel)." islandness.And that is probably to that effect, that as they got of that transfonnation was not becausethey are dissolved in older they started feeling 'a always thé same. Thé dominant trend thé shape a désire escape, Perhaps this can be ascribed thé outside spaceof discovery of to certain eagemess about going of thé transformation in thé which is another way, a less There were some not to thé séries of emotional that they needed. Hence thé to thé mainlandto study'(Raul), - représentations of islandness 0 changeswhich onegoes through feeling of 'constriction' and bitter and more positive one, not just as a result of économie many, anyway - who seemedto after coming to thé mainland ofdealing on an islandwith thé need, linked to pursuing hâve noticed, on coming to thé was, however, différent. Most I in adolescence. Growing up boredomwhich appearin some ? finitude of thé visible earth: always represents,to a greater statements and which matches their studies and their future mainland, new drawbacks in thé statementspoint out, not a sudden or lesserdegree, beginning not thé perception that thé island had employmentprospects, but also island life, developinga bleaker awareness of thé drawbacks of believe that thé other essential to be content with thé known suddenly become too small or l on a psychologicalor emotional image of islandness.In those islandlife (asifthey had'opened sensé l and an overwhelmingdésire to that it was not enoughfor them pillar structuring thé level, in responseto a yearaing cases,what thé statementsshow their eyes' or seen'thé light'), M- go further. A new unreservedness anymore: of place in thé Azores to escape, to 'go away', to live is that what became obvious but rather to a discovery and w. impelsthé youth to look beyond mantimity - is a crucial factor thé expérienceof leaving and were mainly thé disadvantages appréciation of thé particular to sublimate thé discomfort of l thé domesticand family circle. Asltoldyou inprevious exploring an 'extensiveworld'. associated with thé smallness, qualifies of which they would l feeling deprived or enclosed This may correspond to what leadingin someinstances to thé not hâve had a conscious This curiosity, allied to a new- e-mailsl startedfeeling tired of sas found fi-eedom which is obtained alwaysgoing to thé sameplaces, in a désire to escape. Thé emigration representedin thé life development of new feelings awareness (rationalized) in thé 0- spaciousness thé sea, which asyou get olderand as thé ability of always meeting thé same of plansofprevious générations. predicting a decreasein self- daily expérienceof islandness, § nowadaysbas less to do with esteem: to be independent increases, people, of everybody knowing when they were 'immersed' in sailing than flying, helps l makesadolescence a stagewhen what was going on in everyone with Coming to thé mainland was that reality and simply 'felt' it young people are acquainted else's life. l started to feel thé to lessenthat feeling,nourishing an expériencethat profoundly "when l left thé island, such as thé neamess of thé dreams as with an increasedmobility and needto go to newplaces, to meet ofti-avellingwhich act shaped thé young Azoreans thé yes, l was faced with many sea,thé 'timewith time' (Vitôria) an antidote for thé constrictions when their lifeworld suddenly newpeople andto abandon that l came into contact with. other realities. Andïhen ïstarted which arisesof thé expérienceof felt in thé confi-ontationwith thé expands. monotonyofdaily life. (Joana). Almost ail mentionedthé gréât to look at thé island differently. concentration actual reality ofislands: Théexpérience ofgrowing up on difficulties at thé beginning, Probably that notable an island was wonderful until l thé intense suffering they hâve already a book sadness, unease which adolescence reachedadolescence. [... ] Inthe "/ read in endured:homesickness, dreaming means seems to hâve brought many beginningl already though that that offlying disorientation, fear, feeling of thé young islanders in my thé environment l was in didnot désire for freedom and thaï permanently like 'fish out of study group has to do with an fît my self-image.l started ... l azoreangirls dream thaï 50% water', thé impossibility of unconnectedness between, on cannotsay hating, but l did not morteoften thant thé others. Thé catching their own reflection pla in truth is thatlhave dreamt thé was thé one hand, thé expectations feel well [...] To sumup, if l had in mirror which offlying ail my life, but l do not and thé yeaming for discovery, left thé island in thé early stages thé unknown space, feeling know to what extent that bas to andthé opportunitiesoffered by of adolescence it would hâve dispossessedfor not having a thé insular space and society, beenperfect.(Tomàs)." dowith thefact thatlam always place of their own'. Despite on thé other hand. In this 'home flying, paragliding, etc. l can thé flood of overwhelming on a large scale' that is thé We can surmise that say one thingfor sure: Azoreans, feelingsengendered, one could island, there may be missing, it is around this time that thé especiallyboys, are completely also detect, however, in some to someof thèseyoung people, awarenessofsmallness, so fan- crazy about planes, there is a cases,fleeting signs of wonder

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 39

andneighbourliness generated by This discovery of islandness as thé canteenand to hang out ail going back to thé islands encompassedby thésea. l amnot a dimension of exclusion and thé island smalhiess,thé security an idéal happens at thé same night long. (Pedro 2). someday saying then that thé islandness inaccessibility. andfeeling carefree on accountof time as another process in // is much easier to get on with does not imply a perceptionof being in a familiar and domestic which practically ail young other Azoreans, since we share Conclusion deprivation and of shortage. Thé research l carried environment- and which only peoplel cameinto contactwith thé same opinions, thé same Obviouslythé expérienceofthat out ultimately shows how that being away on thé mainland, hâve become involved. l mean values and we relate to each visible narrownesswill always thé coming of young Azorean and consequently their absence, what may be described as an other,because we hâveail gone arouse, to a greater or lesser to thé mainland hâve changed brought to surface. As a result, enhancementand a reassembling through thé expérienceofbeing l was wondering degree, such feelings. What l their perception of islandness, many young people recognize of thé Azorean identity after in a huge city, where we don't when l started this research am also saying,however, is that and even their self-awareness. that thé désire to escapefelt in coming to thé mainland. To know anyone and we hâve to whether thé ideas which are it does not automaticallymean Unlike what we could imagine, thé past was quickly replacedby overcomethé strong feeling of adapt. Besides,thefact that we normally associated with thé confinement or boundedness. that coming to thé mainland a deep yeaming to retum: being separateand dispossessed are able to speakfreely,without insular condition, namely, thé In their smallness, islands did not engendera crisis in thé l. "Iwouldbe lying ifltoldyou that which seizes them and which having to disguise thé accent, idea of a certain exclusion find a spaciousness of their représentation of thé island. On ?' when l was in Year 12 did not l l hâve described, thé young to use idioms from back home, and confinement, as well as own and différent from that thé contrary,a new image of ail think ofcoming to thé mainland, Azoreans living on thé mainland having thé samememories (some remotenessand isolation, would of other places, which arises that,probably more idyllic, seems but l think that is normal ... ail use thé strategy of meeting ofthem went to school with me, be appropriate to describe thé from thé spatial concentration to hâve emergedalong with thé s- youngpeople when they corne to preferably with studentsfrom thé someknow myfriends) makes thé expérience of living on an and thé neighbourliness, and process itself of reassembling a certain point wish to change archipelagoin similar situations, friendship easier.(Claudia). " island. l was wondering above that is an essential aspect of their own identity as Azoreans, l their lives, tofeel morefreedom, creating among themselves ail whetherthèse représentations thé insular condition which we and consequently,as islanders. » to live with more responsibility. dense networks of contacts and ofislands and oflife within them do not usually take notice of. l [... ] From thé moment l came friendships.It is a sort of little would be in accordance with thé » Thé contact with thé young Furthermore, that smallness S3 to thé mainland, l started to 'community of exiles' taking Azoreans studygroup has or, & in my phenomenologyofislandness which maybring problemsas far 0 appreciatemy islandmore.Deep shape. Ail this does not help shownme very clearly that their on thé contrary,as someauthors asconsumption and employment down,Istartedto seeit withfresh to lessen thé distance between relationship with thé island is daim, thatthey were a misguided are concemed has a substantial ï eyes and to realize that there are youngAzoreans andmainlanders established within a framework readingof that reality, possibly benefit: a domesticand friendly veryfew (good) thingswhich we as fast as it could do, and ends of permanent, and perhaps deformedby a 'mainlandgaze'. dimensionwhich helps subjects do not hâve over there. (Pedro up propagating among them thé insoluble, tension, between thé Thé data l collectedduring thé being 'settledin a place' andthé 2). ideathat they sharea spécialand need to leave, on thé one hand, contactsl kept with thé young atmosphèreof a certain feeling During adolescence,l confess différent mentality,or that there anda deepfeeling of exile which Azorean studentsin my study of at-homeness. E d u ard o that it [thé island] had become a are spécifie facts about fhem - a they expérienceaway from thé group support thé beliefs of Rejectingthé ideathat there is an Brito Henriques is a bit smallfor me and that l waited way of speaking, for example island, on thé other hand, and thosewho opposethé idea that isolation inhérent in thé islandness Geographei-, Auxiliar anxiously for thé day l could - which define an identity: which always translatesinto a thé expérience of islandness is maybe more problematic. Professer in thé corneandstudy on thémainland. deepentreaty to retum. Someof may be reduced to a feeling There aren't obviously doubts DepartmentofGeography That is now ail gone, because "At collège,thefîrst two thé young people l interviewed of confinement and isolation. on this ifwe think about isolation of thé University of coming to Lisbon has made me people l met and spoketo were cherished thé dream of a swifi However,they do not deny that in a strict sensé, or if we are Lisbon (Portugal).He is appreciate more my home place from Sâo Miguel, and l ended retum to thé Azores, preferably similar or related feelings may thinking about shutting off thé also a Researcher in thé and realize how lucky l was to up staying friends with them immediately after graduating, be présentin thé 'insular way outside world. Thé sea is not for Center of Geographical hâve been born in such a beauti- from then on. l don ' t really especially where there was of living', or may even be a thé islandersanything close to a Studies, University of fui place, where l hâve learnt so knowwhy,butitfeltgoodtofind a promise or a possibility of constituent part ofit. perimeteror a fencesurrounding Lisbon (Portugal). many thîngs which hâve made me someonefromtheAzores, even if a romantic attachment with To that idea that islandness is and isolating. In fact, it is an growup andwhichhère are unde- theywere notfrom SâoJorge. It other Azoreans - which is not inextricablyassociated with thé extension, a space opening up [email protected] rrated: l can read, write, drive, seemed that when we started to that rare, because, even on thé bitterand restrictive perception aroundthem, and that represents like any other young person,but talk we alreadyh^iew each other. mainland, they still socialize of being isolated and confined thé possibility of openingto thé / can also milk a cow, gather (Débora). quite a lot with other young l would opposeanother one, outside and to thé future being grapes, make bread, my roots When l arrived in Aveiro to people from thé archipelago. accordingto thé datal was able permanently on thé horizon. It and thé traditions of my home start collège,l wasfacedwith a Others, less optimistically, to examine:thé expérienceof is also true, nevertheless, that it country. (Lena). l hâve always community ofabout 50Azoreans, assumedthat probably would not livingon anisland is by nature meansa discontinuityconceming lîked to be Azorean but, without which was extremely close. be possible due to thé shortage ambiguous,played off in a land mobility and a distance doubt,my beingaway hastaughï This group, with studentsfrom of employment and thé lack permanent tension between thé to be covered, and that - we me to appreciate my origins more. several islands, got together of career opportunities. None, advantagesandthe disadvantages must acknowledge - seems (Marco). " every Friday to hâve dinner in however,could imaginenot °f being in a small place to lend thé insular condition

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 41

mappingthé terrain and shaping > ^ thé place, orientation and objective. Possible methods ^

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISIANDÂFFAIRS 43 SocialDevelopment (UNRISD), 2 Reslsting international Regarding "local rootedness" 1995). Indeed, globalization is organizationsor multinational- and "native identification", focuses on geographical inequalitiesin development. widely consideredsynonymous scale concentration of community empowerment is with homogeneity and governance power via "local thé most important aspect of uniformity, replacing "space divisionofpower" and"régional reflecting thé globalization Regardingdevelopment problemsfaced by rural and of place" with "spaceof flow" govemance". challenge. This work first urban areas in thé face of (Castells,1992) examines how globalization globalization,thé phenomenon 3. Coping with thé abstract affects thé development of Even in thé midst of aliénationcausedby globalization rural and urban communities ofurbanpolarization can already be seen Taiwan.One aspect globalization, there hâve also via "communalism". in Taiwan. Furthermore, to in of urban polarization effects been strains of localization respond to thé challenge of to force thé primary city to such as in thé examplesof thé 4. Replacing thé "Dominant globalization, Matzu villages is facethé challenges from global divergence of "global class- SocialParadigm" (DS) by stres- are taken as an example for cities, and strive to be connected culture" and "community sing thé "New Environmental investigating how to provide to global development trend. culture". Global urban politics Paradigm"(NEP). "reshaping place" regarding However, urban polarization involvescontinuous compromise community empowerment, has causedgreater anomy and aspart of thé compétitionamong 5. Resisting"hylicism" by stres- through understanding and possible marginalization of local and global domains(Keil, sing "thé value of non-hyli- acknowledgingthis "place". This industrieswithin big citiesusing is particularly extrême. r local towns and community 1996). Responding to thé cism". work particularly emphasizes thé global économie System l above-mentioned topics, thé thé following aspects of within thé global city network Récent studies hâve development.In responseto globalization, places must be following three governance community empowerment: using thèseproduction chains. assumed that "loss of distance" more open-minded and active. sa déficitsare frequentlyproduced: Thèse local responses B conceptual introduction, or "annihilation of space by ya- social déficit, ecological hâve given thé globalization cognitive compréhension and Under global capitalism, time" bas résultée fi-om this trend déficit and démocratie déficit. Taipei emergedas a significant 3. OrientatioEi process a possibility of self- educationaltraining. ofincreasingtélécommunication tl» w Thé development and local dialect. Local responseshâve, global city in thé 1980s mobility (Cresswell, 2004). and Visualization (S responsiveness of thèse in someplaces, taken thé form (Friedmann, 1986). Numerous However, cities will not of Community l 2. Development Rural » three types of governance of establishing international of empiricalstudies hâve fi-equently immediately disappear or die Empowerment a déficits are also aspects of and UrbanAreas in Taiwan appearedsince thé 1990s(such & or transnationalorganizations, becauseof thé signifîcant face- 0 globalization. Regarding thé while in other placesthey hâve under Globalization as,Beaverstok et al., 1999,2000; to-faceinteractions and thé city's 3.1. MeaningofCommunity § resulting govemance déficits, taken thé form of establishing Taylor& Walker,2001). Such économie collections. On thé 3.1.1.VisuaUzation and Reality thé following responsescan be régional govemmentsor regio- a trend demonstrates that thé other hand, owing to this trend § of a "Community " observed: nal dialogic mechanisms. Fur- During thé 1970s, processof urban polarization is of "loss of distance",thé effect thermore,thèse local responses when thé threat of global fiirtherbeing promoted -city with of "new citypolarizationeffects" Intheearlyl990s,"com- l. Resistingglobalization (espe- daim that thé value ofmateria- capitalism emergedand forced thépotential ofbecoming a world maybe further created, which may munity" dramaticallybecame a cially "Westernimpressions and lism bas increasedits quantity capitalist countries to change city mustfirst facethé pressure of help strengthenurban économie dominantparadigm in Taiwan, values") by emphasizing"local in non govemmentalorganiza- from thé Fordist to a post- compétitionamong transnational aggregation more distinctly ultimately becoming a field rootedness" and "native identi- tions, religions activities, and thé cities. To attract transnational thé future (Hall, 1999). No Fordist production model, in of research interest. Further- fication" social public welfare activities. Taiwanese strategy solidifîed capital and investments in consensus has been reached more, "community" became in terms of outward économie internai capital flows, thèse regarding thèse discussions. an emergmgtopic of political, development. Thus, outward globalcities agglomerate massive However, Taipei had clearly social, économie, and cultural économie development developmentconstructions, emerged as thé metropolis of interest. For over ten years, assists thé state to link with resources and investment Taiwanby thé late 1980s.While various discussions,activities, thé global economy. Under opportunities. However, non- Taipei cannot compareto gréât andpolicies using "community" this developmentpattem, with urban land areas lacking global cities such as New York, as a catchword hâve flourished regard to space development, opportunities for transnational London, and Tokyo, politics, more in Taiwan. Importantly, this besidesrapidly increasing thé developmentare even administration, économies, concepthas not experiencedtoo différences between urban detached from économie culture,and banking and no other manychallenges. This concept and rural areas upgrading development.Thisphenomenon city in Taiwancan compare,not by was available for citizens and metropolitanareas via industrial incursdisparity among régions eventhé other major cities such govemmentsto absorbrapidly, productionchains, thé otherkey andphénoménal polarization; in as Kaohsiung and Taichung. making thé interactionbetween trend hasbeen aggregate Taiwan,combinedwith théglobal Polarization effects are ignored citizensand govemmentan economicnetwork, thé outeome initially. Instead,this study

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 45 are thé collective reflection "relationship." Given économie inséparableplatform of society. participation, communication (Bauman,2001) an existence conditionsand lifestyle changes, This phenomenonis clearly and coordination.Additionally, is thé existence of a common visible in thé bureaubudgets of suchempowerment dépends on in realityor made-upbeliefs? community consensus may cenù-al and local govemments, a concrètefîeld to complète,and overcome geographical where thé use of communities this field is thé commumty. 3. 1. 2. Relationship limitations, not making thé as treasuries to assist others Connections geographical limitations thé has alreadybecome a normal However,whenthese idéal only communicationmédium. policy.However, with regard visionsform anambiguous lexical This phenomenon can apply to their citizens, commumties combination of "commumty Regarding thé contexts of cities and towns, to individuals from différent hâve become a field best used empowerment" within thé thé above question deserves geographicalareas using other for assemblies and intégration community and government, doser examination. Actually, médiums to establish consensus of différent resources,and are andthrough continuous changes cities and towns, thé andcommon characteristics, and considered thé foundation for and consolidations, a résistant within accustomed categonzation thus establishingthé traditional implementingsocial movement and coopérativerelationship "community" is a blurred concepts of social Systems transformation. can be established between of définition. Cities and towns are such as "external autonomy" country and communities. G and "internai interaction and From a historical Simultaneously,a relationship highlymobile, open, and fùll of numerousdifférent relationship coopération". Thé pervasiveness l perspective, émergenceof of dependenceand complicity thé of thé Internet via services such l Taiwan's community issues is also created. Consequently, components(Bauman, 2001). Moreover, citizens within thèse as: www, FTP,e-mail, Gopher, originatedfrom thé collective numerousphenomena worthy of kened. Regarding welfare art, which meets thé démocratie Blog, has associatedparticular sa actions between thé state and reflectionhâve emerged through spatialareas constmct différent évaluations, such évaluations process and erects in numerous groups, organizations, and its citizens. However, thé this process.On thé onehand, relationships with différent are frequently made from thé urban streets and corners, is f teamswith particularobjectives, outcomes of "community" in increasingquantities ofresources segmentsof cities and towns perspective of an individual, being criticized, no one can t according différent activities helpingestablish "social groups" N thé context of politics must areonly superficially in nameof to not from that of a group. Thé ensurethé avoidanceofgood and "community" and increased (e.g., commercial,residential, with collective meanings. satisfaction required for thé bad disputes to thé arts which l not be neglected. Given thé sr or industrial). However, thèse Similarly, communities hâve bottom-upprocess of political systematization.However, owmg materialistic and social demands are createdthrough community as relationshipswithin estranged been constructed via interaction décisions stressedby community to théprocess ofsystematization, of individuals are frequently empowerment processes. l and anonymous cities and between résidents and empowerment, regardless "community" only becomes obtained via marketing towns are generallyestranged, effective interactions between in whether thé bottom-up process a noun, a naming of a field, mechanismsor public services, Thus, if thé functions insignificant and neglected. résidents and thé environment ^ canguarantee thé completenessand a platform of connectmg which can increasingly be of cities and towns (consumer Nevertheless, thé définition and gradually evolve into of thé empowerment process, resources, rather than positive accomplished without group markets, public facilities, of communitycan be viewed différent community patterns. thé legitimacyand essentiality motives and actions which can coopération. For example, upon and public services) can deal from a différent perspective. A Consequently, community of citizen rights hâve already evokeinternai introspectionand discovering a spécifie corner with most problems caused communityrefers to a groupof concept in urban areas does been established, and connects extemal reform. coveredwith garbage,thé village by individual demands, thé résidents with a général sensé not entirely coincide with thé several key conceptsrelated chiefor evenordinary individuals question of why community belonging to a spécifie area. areacovered by neighborhood. to community and democracy Restated, when thé of can make a téléphone call empowerment is necessary anses. Furthermore, a community In contrast, urban community (including grass-roots définition of administrative areas demandingthat environmental If thé personalities, aesthetics describes a combination of concept is only a partial democracy,empowerment, and has been increasinglyregarded protection units résolve this and environmental formation social,psychological and cultural intersection of numerous publicity), making commumties as a proper and accustomed problem. If thé community of urban spaceshâve their own relationships. This définition mterrelationships. an alternativepolitical décision, définition of community (not wishes to hâve a park close to logic for existence, then thé impliesthat thé foundation of pennitting thé democratization conventional catégorieswhich their résidences,thé community questionofwhether community community is a defined area 3. 2. Community of Taiwan to hâve another are not an organic constitution Empowerment and will hâve no difficulty since it has empowerment becomes an occupiedby a groupof people. already been designatedin urban politicaloption. Thé possibility of particular meaningful Community Planning ideologicalprinciple rather than of establishing grass-root contexts),and when commumty Thèsepeople engage in différent planning processes.Furthermore, a significantmeaningful process activities within thé defined democracy bas become a organizations hâve become previous commumty mterest anses.Answering thé abovetwo just anotherauthority-related areas,and are interdependent. Given thé development in topics such as kitchen questions concems thé rôle and platformofpolitical inefficiency of capitalism and thé and even un-satisfaction. operating model resulting in waste, resource recycling, and positionofcommunity plamiers. Restated, commumty advent of thé information Community empowerment thé values of participation and environmental concerns, hâve First, communityis viewed as"a a thé society, relationships among indicates a new démocratie civicnessmore formalized, thé is "dynamic System", already been implemented by dynamic system connectedvia formation of which dépendson commimities and small societies model; a common consensus questionthen raised is that:thé government. Furthermore, as relationships",where "demand" thé interconnection conditions hâvebeen progressively wea- processthat requiresinteraction, conception that communities anotherexample, whenthe public and "scarcity" areboth aspects

47 INTERNATIONALJOURNAL0F ISLAND AFFAIRS of thèse relationships. Current physical spatial environment. and further guiding toward Restated, professionalism is settlement fiinctions can surely Consequently thé connections théimplementation of an idéal cmcialfor communityplanners. However, "profession" is not satisfy most demands,but are of community relationshipsare relationship. insufficient to satisfy thé aspect extremely thin and weak. This a generally acknowledged 3. of scarcity. For instance, thé also explains why community 3. Rôle of Community close System.It is thé ability solve market fonctionsto satisfy food, empowermentand community Planner: Providing Context, to be créative and to Collective Governance clothing,housing, transportation, planning lack progressiveness problems.Consequently, thé and entertainment demands, and thé ability to reform. Given training ofcommimity planners, but simultaneously créâtes a continuously attention paid to with respect to students of déficient mindset of a consumer satisfyingindividual needs, thé Regarding thé rôle spacerelated majors, does not of community planners, this involve "rehearsal" of school societyin which only demandsscarcity dimension of people can be satisfied via monetary and other relationships can not work assumes that training courses. Training is also not exchanges. Governmental beunderstood. Consequently, thé plan assignmentis intendedto an intensive learning course meaningand value ofcommunity provide training for community for students with unrelated organizationsconstruct roads 0 to satisfythé growth of traffic, empowermentlies in making planners. However, exactly educationalbackgrounds. Thé but simultaneously continuous up for or changing déficient what community planners are goal is to provide new vision must be clarified. Commumty and methods, and also to leam i land expansion has created relationships. Moreover, thé how to improve thé world. environmental deficiencies. rôle and mission of community empowermentand planning citizensand thé country,but also eastemFujian and small numbers are assumedhère to be distinct. » Installation of monitors in planningis to remindindividuals implies an emphasison "place" of people from Guangdong s Community empowerment 4. Matzu: A "Place" from neighborhoodscanprovide safety, of relationships, providing underthèse new relationships. immigrated in large numbers, & workers and community which to See, Know, and but simultaneously intensifies possiblesolutions and methods Understand thé World constructedbuildings from local for community empowerment. planners also hâve différent ail thé scarcity found in interactive Aplacenot only describes materials,forming settlementsin ?? Restated, community rôle assignments.A commumty and mutual trust relationships 4.1.Identity andLess-advanced a spécifie space, but is also a eachbay, and thus establishing l empowermentaims to not only plarmermust possess not only socialconstmctionprocess social betweenpeople. Advantage in Matzu thé unique settlement seen at se to let résidents consider how to basicknowledge ofcommunity construct.Hence, thé uniqueness Matzu today. However, during à empowerment, also In summary, regardless convey opinions and express but of spatial description and thé thé Kuomintang Govemment advancedknowledge as well. 1990s, of whether community demandsto policy makers, but Since thé affluence of social processare retreat from China to Taiwan, s also act effectively thé face As mentioned earlier, when thé community empowerment in empowerment or commumty to in also part of thé unique appeal Matzubecame a military fortress l vitality andprogressiveness of implementing cultural works planning,much emphasishâve ofscarcity. Moreover, commumty of thé place. Accordingly, thé heavily scarred by tunnels, communities corne from thé in Taiwan has always been focused on thé anthropocentnc plannersshouldnotbe defined by uniqueness and affluence of battlements,slogans, artillery reflections and readjustment considérée an important aspectfor overten years in Taiwan. meetingthé needsofcommunity Matzu indicatesa "place" where batteries, and various battlefield dueto thé scarcityrelationships, démocratie policy. Moreover, Evenregarding thé perspective of résidents; instead, they should identity is présent. relatedmarkings. environment, thé emphasishas be working on sowing thé gap community empowerment this concept has accompanied necessary unifying thé thé political transformations been placed on anthropocentnc betweenscarcity relationships, is in Matzu is located on Différent contextual not country, encouraged meaning of collectives is of thé and thé western side of thé Taiwan writings hâvebeen written related concerned to waves unrest seeking only with how of Strait.Matzu comprises36 islets to thèsehistorical changesthat obtain civicness and solve community autonomy. scattered outside thé mouth of stem from thé enrichedunique Community empowerment is problemsinvolving participation thé Mingjiang River, forming a spatial textures of Matzu. Thé and empowerment, but must a new outlook on résidents and bright pearl on thé océan.Thé people of Matzu still préserve also use internai latent power to théplace they inhabit,and what islands are formed of granité; thé worshipof snakeand fi-og move on toward a "good" path. it cames out is thé writings on and their landscapecomprises totems, showing thé islanders This approachis preciselythé local memories and créations rising andfalling hills, androcky most basic ways of living and ofhistory, to tell thé différence rôle assignmentofa commumty coasts. Remuants of ancient displaying thé thickness of betweenthé local place and thé planner. Through this process, human inhabitants from six thé Fujian custom and culture. nation as a whole, can thé rôle played by commumty which thousandyears ago, during thé However, thé characteristic- plannersis to providemethods further describe features that Neolithic Age, show that thé catchingof temples(a designto and contexts for moving in belongto théself. Restated, thé Fujian tribes in Han Dynasty preventthé spreadoffires) show this "good" path, and achieve émergenceof thé "commimity" established an oceanic tribe thé océan tribe's adventurous "good"results through collective conceptnot only includes thé by traveling far overseas to spirit and dévotion to Matsu managementwith commumty discussedconstruction of thé seek shelter. During thé early (Goddessof thé Sea).Thé years new relationshipsbetween empowerment. Ching dynasty, fishermen fi-om of civil war hâveprovided Ma-

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 49 tics anda communityanchoring vidual anxiety and suspicions, and richnessof Matzu will be zu with a spécial aura of Matzu is not a place where relationshipsbetween inhabitants interweaved life and existence, while unknowingly changing then for thé same reasons, thé neglected. Also, thé fact that economy can conglomerate and thé land, thé establishment thé "place" on which résidents gapofscarcity is alsoinevitably thé practice daily lives is creating a low-profiled défense of regarding its geography, ofMatzu's lifestyle and cultural feature. dépend into "commodities" increasedwhen paying too much thésource localvitality and of transportation, environmental characteristicsthrough everyday which only concerns priée. attention to thé needs. meaning will be forgotten as canymgcapacity, social canying life, and thé establishment of Accordingto this logic, commu- well. Nevertheless,place is not capacity,and location.Restated, their own cultural beliefs. Thèse Besidescreating a need only thé landscapeofspace, but nity empowermentfocuses on owing to thé above-mentioned factors form thé foundation is also thé method and manner outwardmarketing ofthis com- for local autonomy onginatmg 4.3. Mapping thé Terrain and limits, it is impossible for that makesMatzu a "place" of human existence. Place thus modity and obtaining increased from thé reflection of political Matzu to attract transient and Shaping thé Place and further moves toward is inhérent, i.e. thé practice of valueby increasingthé attraction situations, commumty empower- large quantifies of consumers. sustainability.Only in this way (Creswell, 2004). ofunknown others. ment has also undergonereflec- daily life Furthermore, community can thé future of Matzu not be tions and repairs regardingthé Comparedwith Taiwan, due to industriesdo not simply involve left dépendenton unknown, spécialhistorical chances, Matzu This trend undoubtedly capitalism and industrialization mentionedearlier, unique As thé producingmaterialistic goods, foreign,and illusionary tourists. reflects thé needs for économie which causescarcity problems hasbeen relatively untouched by andrich spacepossessed by but, shouldbe a cultural context Only in this way can Matzu sù-ains interperso- l modemization. One thé one hand development.Some communi- ofcreating on Matzuhas constructed a place closely related to living and invite visitorswho respect,favor, l this bas meant that Matzu has ties actually hâve creatednew nal relationshipsand aliénation with strongidentity. However, thé environment. Hence, a and hâvegood intentionson thé ?' avoided thé créative destruction opportunitiesby following this between individuals and other a a spacehas become place is prosperous and sustainable life place, and increasinglyinvite associated with modernism, route. On thé one hand, howe- relations. Thus, commumty becauseit not only describes a is necessaryto support industrial visitors to retum to Matzu, and ver, most situations"places" empowermentmay become an set spaces,but is also thé l thus maintaining relatively rich in of it thickness,and this is alsowhy helpMatzu createnew memories & resources; tend to become others- and institutional depletionand not a emotional attachment between and holistic spatial community empowerment and worth recording. consumer-oriented. Further- créativeparticipation when it is on thé other, this has meant individualsand thé place,and commimalindustries support one l that Matzu bas experienced more, via thé temporary time- viewed as a means for achieving thé meaningand expérience of another. where l Morcover,this is 4.4. Orientation and Goal différent life expériences to spaceconnection, thé worid is needs,and thus against thé origi- théworld. Living makesa place thé potential ofMatzu lies. l Taiwan. A meaningful place is becoming increasingly homo- nal spirits. alive.If therewas no living, a l not a landscapewhich observers genous.Mobility and demotic placewould only be an empty Therefore, before Accordingto census figures, n view fi-om thé outside. Rather thé culture causeplaces to become a Thé reminder of thé spirit spacelacking vitality. Further- examining thé issues of thé Matzubas a populationless meaning a place contained poor and shallow "landscapes". of community empowerment more, thédiversity places of is it is of community industries, thé than 10,000. Meanwhile, thé thé practice concrètedaily However, this trend also arouses spirit is especially meaningful that makes thé world more j in of response of community actual number of long-term lives, and thé provision of and créâtes anxiety because as far as Matzu is concerned. meaningful. Hence, viewing empowerment should be thé islandrésidents is probablyeven différent visions for thé future when community empowerment Thé reasonis becausethé spatial théworld fi-om a place,a place adjustmentof thé relationships smaller.Recently, along with thé to becomean organicpart thé is seen as a tool in thé organi- shapingand social construction seeing, of is merely "a way of between inhabitants and thé changesin thérôle ofMatzu, thé process satisfy process Matzu differ from world (Cresswell, 2004). zational used to of knowing,and understanding thé land. Restated, community island has become a focus for From this perspective, demand,while thé outcomes fail those in Taiwan. From thé cha- world" (Cresswell,2004: 11). empowerment concerns thé govemmentspending. Matzu is not an "off-shore to meet expectations,increased racteristicfishing village before island" to Taiwan,but a "place" anomy and fracturescan occur, thé start of thé cross-strait con- Alongwith adecreasing to see,know, andunderstand thé making social relations more flict, to becoming a battlefield, gamson population, Matzu is world. problematicand cynical. even after retuming to a more graduallyexperiencing changes peacefulstate as hostilities died in spatial formation and social 4. 2. Place of Living This phenomenon has down in 1992, thé expériences constmction.Thé lifestyle and vs. Landscape of occurred in numerous areas and issuesencountered by Matzu économieactivities meeting thé Commodification which hâve experiencedcom- differ significantlyfrom Taiwan. militarypurpose are also facing munity empowennent. Howe- Consequently,failure to carefu- changes.Under thé effects of Given thé policy normalization ver, this dire situation persists lly distinguishbefrween thé two, numerous compétitive factors, of community empowerment most of thé time, while thé rea- and blindly copying Taiwan's Matzumust find a developmen- and thé combination of thé sons causing thé dire situation expériences,concepts, and poli- talroute, and its uniqueand rich dimensions of local industries are neglected. Différent com- cies will lead to processesand cultureand natural charm create and development, community munities invariably encounter outcomes that do not reflect naturalopportunities in tourism. empowermentbas altered from différent problems, and thèse thé actual needsand scarcity of Reflectingon currentconditions ameaningfùlprocess to a formai problems may hâve différent Matzu and further may cause ofMatzu,thé tourist industry is tool. This change is owing to causes.However, if community ossification and increase anxiety. unlikely a one-timematerialistic hastily seekinglocal characteris- empowerment increases indi- Furthermore, thé uniqueness way ofconsumption because

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 51 Thé implementationofphysical and emended consistently. objective descriptions to portray throughstrict aesthetic training construction projects (such as Regardingourunderstanding of thé tme essence ofMatzu. or a display of a form of village préservation,townscape Matzu, introspectionregarding performance. Thé cultivation 4.4.1.2. Constructing Internai renaissance,and off-shore island community empowerment, Confidence of suchaesthetic ability and constmctions) or non-physical knowledge of methods of expérience represents thé most projects (such as community "place" construction, and effectivemeans of achieving empowerment, community thé acknowledgement of thé Thé attraction of a publicity. industries, cultural landscape, orientation of community place dérives not only from and cultural resources)invites empowerment center, we thé perception of unique 4.4.1.4. Establishing increasingworking teamswith propose that thé goal of aestheticsof spatial landscape. Partnership Relations différentstyles and objectives to community empowerment be What really attractsindividuals participatein théfuture opération a continuous processdividing is how inhabitants of a place Regarding thé division and transfiguration of Matzu. into short term (3-5 years) and interact with thé environment of théadministrative boundary, Simultaneously,thèse projects long term (5-lOyears). Based anddevelop their ownlogic and thé four townshipson Matzu also encourage numerous on thèse goals and through valueSystem, which differsfrom are distributedon five différent communities to join together to a step-by-step process, it is thé drive towards homogeneity islets;and thèse townships on thé actively engagein community hoped that Matzu can become associated with globalization. separateislets are further divided activities. How to help thé a meaningful, charismatic and Constmction of such internai into différent communities. In In short, Matzu bas thé best (l) It promotednew spatial limitée population digest thèse sustainable "place". confidence is thé most valued fact,thé relationships among potential and development divisioneffect and inter-city i massive resources to assist and important structure of a ecology,society, and economy conditions comparing to compétition pressure.Numerous 4.4.1. Short-term Goals Taiwan. them in developing identify place. areextremely high in anunique old industrialvillages adopted sas and value of local living and to islandsetting such as Matzu. Thus, enterpnsemanagement methods sa. 4. 4. 1. 1. Mapping thé 4.4.1.3. Developing Living 4. 4. 2. 2 Benevolent »5 move toward sustainability is forming supportive networks m response to thé économie Appearance of thé Place Aesthetics Environmental Protection, thé main orientation and goal with neighboringcommunities demands associated with thé l PromotingSustainability ?? of community empowerment Thé development of living andpartnership relations among impact ofde-industrialization. » center. Thé meaningof "place" aesthetics results from thé island communitiesthrough l exists in spatial memories,life establishment of cultural conversationsand interactions, Given global warmingtrends, (2) Given thé time-space sealevels &l Community trajectory, and ail aspects of customs.However, such cultural while sharingcollectively and thé threat of rising compression, capital flow a living. This study aims to assist is real. However,with respect 0 empowerment is long and customs, similar to living habits, undertakingtasks together, can become significantly § to Matzu, which lies within thé slow process, and must be inhabitants via différent methods form an intégral part of daily shapea commonsensé of place, transnational and rapid Taiwan Strait, is one of thé first l accumulated, introspected such as: verbal, pictorial and life, and do not need to go and fùrther enablecollaboration changesand interlockingof to replacecompétition. to face this challengeMatzu environmental problems were stands to be one of thé first created in cities. Cities thus 4.4.2. Long-term Goals placesin thé world to face this must adopt a management challenge.Thus, Matzu faces a stylebased on sustainability. 4.4.2. 1. Shaping Local major crisis. Thé best approach Furthermore, co-construct Charming, Developing is to beresponsible and provide boomtowns were established ExpérienceEconomy environmentalprotection, while following thé intégration of practicingcommunity empower- entrepreneur cities to form Short-term goals provide ment and canying out régional régénération policies. Based on thé bedrock for long-term opérations to stop global war- thépolitical economy of modem goals.Thé short-termgoals ming fi-omcommunity levels. liberalism,combining thé two mentioned above provide main thèmes can be viewed foundationsfor constructing5. Possible Way-cut as occasionallyresulting from a place's attractiveness.Thèse Facing Globalization: Re- capital accumulationduring foundationsare irreplaceableemphasizing "Place" post-industrialization.Although and unforgettableéléments for théde-industrialization impact Global Economie developingexpérience economy differs from thé expérienceof such as tourist backpackers, reconstmctionduringthe 1970's capitalismin westerncities, it long-stay,spiritual industries, influencedgeographical spaces is graduallyappearing in thé andart villages. in two important ways management ofcities in Taiwa.

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 53 Furthermore, due to its increased participation can lead developmental history and to self-govemance.Regarding Références thé political effects causedby ideology,participation is abelief. r geopolitics of thé two-party Participation stressesthat self- ^^ Cresswell,T. (2004),Place: A ShortIntro- . l. '. -^ < < Systems,Taiwan has developed déterminationis a human right duction. London: Blackwell. Friedmann, entrepreneur cities based on that can create better cities and J. (1986),"Thé WorldCity Hypothesis", sustainable development, a betterworld (Ogilvie, 1999). Developmentand Change,17(1): 69-83. Hall, P.(1999), Thé FutureofCities, Com- Which hâve induced régional puters,Environment and Urban Systems, ^=^ governance facing numerous 23: 173-185.Keil, R., (1996), World City unstable factors and potential If community Formation,Local Politics, andSustainabi- lity. In Keil, R., G. R. Wekerle,& D. V. J. ByVictor Mallia-Milanes conflicts. empowermentunder thé trend Bell (Eds.) Local Places:In théAge of thé of globalization is viewed as a GlobalCity. Montréal: Black Rosé Books. community movement,then its pp.37-44. Lubbers, R. F.M. (1999),«Thé Dynamic of Globalization,» http://www. I, . n his classic work on thé préservée and eventually Basedon thé perspectives descriptionshould be focusedon globalize.org/publications/dynamic.html forgottenrévolutions'. In 1530, Mediterranean,Femand Braudel developed into a distinct ofaccumulatingand controlling explainingconstmcts rather than Ogilvie, R. S. (1999),Participation and thé island passedinto thé hands Autonomy,Thé SecondAnnual made some very pertinent resources, thé core-peripheral activity objectives. As a form Local language;it hadits owncustoms, of thé military-religiousOrder Pacifie Rim Participatory Community observations on islands, to an archaic economy, and its St John. Malta was about to gapsare expandingwith respect of community participation, Design Conférence.Taylor, P. J. & D. R. of whichhe attributed a far greater own set of Christian values and to globalization. This same communityempowerment is thé F. Walker (2001), World Cities: A First expérience long-term changes l Multivariate Analysis of their Service importance 'than is generally beliefs. In a sensé it was ' a phenomenonoccurs in TaiwanD s continuityof socialrelationships. andto assumea newleading rôle l Complexes,Urban Studies,38(1): 23-47. supposée'.He highlightedwhat self-containedworld', with few history of city transformation. However, thé créative power United Nations Research Institute for in Mediterraneanpolitics. Thé he thought were thé inhérent necessary but unsophisticated Nevertheless, societies do possessed by community Social Development (UNRISD) (1995), Order of thé Hospital, as it came » States Disarray: Thé Social Effects of featurescharacterizing them a not submit to thé structural empowermentis visible in its of links with nearbySicily. By thé to be known,set up its conventual & Globalization. An UNRISED Report for - thé problems thèsestretches of sixteenth century, thé whole y dominance compositions. public acceptance,which can thé World Summit for Social Development, headquartersthere, converting land, largeor small,surrounded Globalization results from be verified by participation and London: Banson. humangamut ofcivilizing forces over thé years a barren rock in on ail sidesby thé sea,had had thé Mediterranean, from ffil variousprocesses andhas effects self-determination in thé centralMediterranean into a » to face, thé positive rôle most thatare simultaneously separated prehistoryon without exception, formidableEuropean stronghold ofthem playedin history,and had visited Malta éloquent » and unified. Globalization Yung-JaanLee: Director-general,Urban and Rural PlaimingBureau, -an against Islam, an impressive advantages enjoyed &ss has created new methods of TaoyuanCounty Government,Taiwan. thé they testimonyto thé appréciationof fortress-citadelagainst thé spread and extended to commercial 0 stratification, and frequently Email: 076057@mail. tycg.gov.tw théisland's stratégie value and its of plague and other forms of trade and shipping. Indeed, causes différent outcomes in geo-physicalfeatures; there were disease, a remarkable base of Ching-Ming Huang:Ph. D. Candidate,Guangzhou Jinan University, numerous différent communities theirsignifîcance in 'providingno spécialnative commodities, no opérationsfor Christiancorsairs, j Guangzhou,China indispensablelandfalls on thé sea natural resourcesto hâve enticed or areas. Globalization may Email: hcmew@yahoo. com.tw and an international slave market. routesand affording stretches of settlers. Some cultures cause thé destruction of local early When thé British eventually comparatively calm water to sojoumedlonger others,each activities, but those who are than rcplacedthé Hospitaliers as thé which shipping is attracted'. affectedare likely to reflectupon leavingpermanent or transitory mling bodyin 1816after thé brief They constituted ' a cohérent thèse situations and reorganize traits oftheir own way oflife in Frenchinterlude, astrong élément human environment' and thé its vanous manifestations. Each their thoughts. Globalization of continuity was retained,both form of pressuresexerted on thus has created an increased trait bears 'living witness to as a fortress, them determinedthé nature of emphasison place worldwide. theirrôle andcharacter- whether it was archaic or innovative, whetherthey were 'far behind" However,thé coreconcept or 'far ahead' thé général of community empowerment directionthé graduaiprocess in thé face of globalization is of historicaldevelopment was "participation", which includes leadingthé Mediterranean. both method and ideology. Regardingmethod, participation Latemédiéval Malta was poor is a process. Participation enables citizens to résolve and humble island, sparsely inhabited,with a few weak and their uncertainty regarding thé inadéquatewalls to défendit; it future of society; furthermore, hadits owndialect, which it

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 55 a military and naval base,and as a hospital. Thé Hospitalier mmodatehundreds of irregular and British expérience hâve migrantsfairly comfortably. both underscored one simple But thé steady,uninterrupted reality- that insularity is not flow of thèsepeople and thé synonymous either to isolation very limited spaceavailable or to remoteness. on tiny Malta which, unlike Tenerifeor Lampedusa,,Sicily With long-term or Crète, cannot resort to an historical developments, like own mainland,to an 'off-shore' thé spectacular progress in refuge, place thé State in a science and technology, thé similarpredicament. With only sh-umingrévolution in thémeans some314 squarekilometers of of transportand communication, land lying at thé southemmost and thé powerful process of borderof thé EU, Malta is thé globalization, most of thé smallest of ail EU member featureswhich had historically Statesand thé most densely of thé African continent sail out, Canary Islands in thé Atlantic. marked Mediterranean islands, irregular immigrants. With populated. Yet, as a civilized points Others hâve followed other for fear of their piratical generally from différent state, it is, like ail thé others, hâve either disappeared sudden jerk or j oit from intentions, they are now for on thé North African coast, in routes. To cite a few illustrative awarethat 'humanenessshould altogether, or their impact anyoneon board, they often humanitarianreasons offered a searchofabetter, safer,healthier figures, 1000 had land in one neverdetained'. Thé authorities on thé insular indigenous overturn and sink. Thèse are temporarysojoum. Once thèse future in Europe. several Malta's bays. About 200 arealso conscious, and hère lies population subdued,rendering tragic occurrences that are boat people hâve reached thé boats with over 12500 people thé dilemma,that either should thé effect completelyor almost becomingtoo catastrophically safety of thé sheltered shores Numbers alone are had landed on Lampedusa. At thèse people be allowed to completely innocuous. But regular. Corpsesof young piercingly vociferous. It has one point 'no fewer than 15 alive,they are temporarily taken others hâve been fmstratingly Africans, recovered from thé hâvetheir aspirationsdashed, recently beenclaimed that around boats, with over 400 immigrants, to détention centers. About exacerbated. In thé sixteenth- Mediterranean,including those callouslyand ruthlessly. Thèse a million peoplein Libya today landed on thé tiny Italian island 1500 are currently held in century Mediterranean, babieswho die of too much rightly or wrongly,had given arelooking forward impatiently in 24 hours, at thé ferocious rate détention centreson Malta. A piracy or thé fear of pirates exposure to thé éléments and their precious little ail in thé for their first opportunityto take ofthree minutes'. Over 22000 centrebuilt for 190people on had renderedeveryday life on for shortageoffood anddrink, hopeofreaching their promised their ill-fatedjoumey to hopeful reached Los Cristianos and other Lampedusahosts an estimated land. most of thé islands 'withdrawn aredreadfully common sights Europe. From January to mid- ports on Spam's Canary Island of 400.such centers offer irregular and insecure'. Today, in other on our TV screensand in daily August this year, thousands Tenerife. On 7 Septemberalone, immigrants a safe roof over seas, on oceanic highways, newspapers. Théexpérience ofMalta of irregular migrants hâve some 900 landed there. Most of their heads, food, and drink this samephenomenon bas re- in this field is vast,direct, and , clothing and reasonably swamped thé islands of Malta thé crossings are made in old immédiate.Thé island enjoys emerged in ail its force and it Islands, like Malta, respectablesanitary conditions and Lampedusa in thé central fishing boats, or small, flimsy domestic stability, political would not be very surprising Tenerife,and Lampedusa, and - a modicum ofhuman warmth Mediterraneanand thé Spanish mbber dinghies,packed with and économie. Within thé to see it reappearing also in thé thé several Greek islands in andréassurance. They also offer Mediterranean. On thé other wider internationalcontext, théeastem Mediterranean, are thérest of théinsular population hand, several Mediterranean it enjoys equal freedom from gatewaysto Europefor irregular protection from thé potential any threateningforces. But thé islands are today re-enacting migrantsand genuine refugees, spreadof contagionwhich thèse one traditional rôles they immédiate neighborhood can of thé théfirst stagesthey normally immigrantscould be unwittingly createunpleasant conditions, had for long experiencedduring reach,offering them a breathing carrymg with them. This is thé potentiallypromotinginstability their historical évolution - that space,indeed a ray ofhope, if leastcivilized societiescan offer in ail sphères. Thé events ofproviding whatBraudel called theyare fortunate enough to by way of introduction- a taste convenient stopping place', conceming thé massive flow 'a survive thé grave périls and ofdecencyand civility, a feeling of irregular migrations and not, this time, for 'Christian msensitiveobstinacy of thé sea of Christian graciousnessand thé fact that this is allowed to pirate vessels' as they did in and wind 'when both contend considération. There hâve even developinto a consistenttrend thé sixteenth century, but for whichis thémightier'. Rarely, been suggestionsin thé local underscorea number of social boatstransporting loads ofwhat however,are such islands their press in Malta to couvert certain realities - severaland diverse. is being termed 'irregular' or promised desired destinations. monasteries and couvents, left As hasalready been indicated, 'illégal' or migrants. Masses of Insteadof being forcedly half-empty by thé décline in logistics, or thé mère force inhabitants, from ail quarter repelledaway fi-om our shores, Catholicvocations on thé island, of numbers,and thé lack of asused to happenin thépast into centers like thèse to acco- adéquateand décent space, is

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 57 a serions one indeed. Cultural only in part to Spainand Italy, this décision. If most of thé Océ and linguistic différences;thé to Malta and Greece. It is irregularmigrants appear to method oftheir identification; quintessentially a European proceedfrom various points on andthé impacton thé economy problem of gargantuan théimmensely vast Libyan coast of such heavy unexpected proportions, and as such it (some6000 kilometers long), incursionsunfailingly flooding compellingly demands a then,to beeffective and to save into thé island, are a few others. collective European approach, lives, thé patrolsshould act in Thé enormous scale of thé crisis a holistic effort to arrive at a harmonywith Libya. Itself a sharply highlights another common long-term solution transitcountry in needofhelp, élément that looks and sounds based on 'active solidarity'. Libyahas now, it wouldappear, very familiar to historians of agreedto collaboratewith thé médiéval and early modem On august 11 2006, EUm this monitoring activity. Malta - on vividly recalling to curb thé influx of irregular thé island's utter dependence migrants into Europe,thé EU Thé professedintention of thé ten meters long, wobbly and immigrants their right to seek launched border in thé distant past on outside its first 'joint ^m overall policy is, no doubt, overloaded, may also, as has asylum,even though thèse are conséquences patrol mission', thé Hera-II. A help. And thé to hâve such patrols act as a already happened,cause thé very likely in a tiny minority? are growing more unpleasant budgetof 3.2 million would déterrent,to scareirregular poor people on board to react Unfortunately, thé current milar mission, Jason I, should than that. Thé problem is go to finance thé exerciseof migrants away. Thé missions instinctively, to panic, to move, solutionappears somewhat short- commence shortly in thé central creating tensions. Inhumanely patrolling thé CanaryIslands. will succeedifhis aim is realized for example abruptly to one sightedand superficial.And this Mediterranean to help Malta and unchristian though this Coordinatedby thé EU border and lives are saved. Loss of side,and thé boat to capsizeand for two major reasons.First, it and Italy address effîciently and may sound, sectors of thé agency Frontex, thé Hera-II life resulting from human sink. fails to reach thé roots of thé mission involves two naval effectively 'their spécifie migration population on Malta, as on traffickingis not only a tragedy. problem.What drivinghuge pressures'.Thé philosophy inspiring is other islands, are beginning to vesselsfrom Italy and Portugal It is a crime.Such tragédies and Thé EU surveillance numbersofAfiicans out oftheir such policy, it has been pointed considerirregular immigrants in a joint opération off thé suchcrimes will multiply no missions, however, pose a few out, is not thé désire to build a if country is simply abjectAfrican worse than uninvited guests, Canaries,supported by military immédiatepractical solution is intngmng questions.First, once poverty, misérable inhuman 'fortressEurope'. Rather, such joint than intruders. They are not planesfrom Italy and Finland found to dismantlethé criminal thé patrol shipsand helicopters conditions at home, dismal measuresare prompt genuine welcome; they are unwanted. for aerial surveillance, and by by orgamzation. Traffic in human mterceptan immigrant boat, what humanitarian and Christian motives prospectswhich do not inspire Theirprésence tends to promote Spanishmilitary vessels and beings,like traffic in drugs, methodwould be employedto hopeor aspiration.To Endeavour - to save hundreds oflives at sea, to a dangerousélément of racial helicopters. Thé launch of involves ruthless criminals redirectit to its territorialpoint of to eradicatepoverty in ail its reduceirregular immigration, and to discrimination and hatred Hera-II has been defined as and substantial amount of origin? Would thé use of force be expressions and manifestations combatthé rapidly increasingtraffic within sectors of society. Thé 'a historié... a very tangible illegitimategains and profits. allowedif thèsepatrols encounter isthé fîrst logical step. Only that in humanbeings. problem this phenomenonis expression of EU solidarity Thousandsof dollarsare paid for résistanceas they almost certainly will startmaking thé sharp and Secondly, such currently creating belongs amongstmember states. A si- anill-fatedjoumey from Lybia would? wouldnot enticmg contrast Europe Thé successand impact of with to thé first Europeanisland. opérations negate some of thèse lessincisive, less sévère, and suchmissions canonlybe gaugedover Italy basrecently st up (or is incisive, less sévère, and less to realizethat to stopirregular thé long term. It cannotbe expected aboutto setup) two taskforces pungent.No military equipment, migration one problem; to that irregular migration would is to combattraffic in irregular howeversophisticated, and no hâve irregular immigrants grind to an abrupt hait, suddenly, migrants on a pattern similar form of compulsion,however deportedis another;and to stem ovemight, simply becauseHera-II to units investigatingthé Mafia subtle, will ever succeed in entire altogetheris a and Jason-I hâve been launched. thé trend and terrorism.There is thé fear wiping out. Malta can do more third. Now, Brusselsappears In fact, notwithstanding Hera-II, that thèse joint humanitarian in this field, by endeavoring,to hâve understood that none notwithstanding thé coopération opérations policing thé to cite frwoinstances, to act in a of thèse problems can succeed ofMorocco and Mauritania in that Mediterraneanmight very well morepractical way 'as a régional without Libya's coopération. exercise, thousands of irregular encouragearmed conflict at sea hub of socially innovative Europeshould encourage Libya immigrants are still inundating m response not much unlike technology' - to expert its to participate in and to contribute Tenerife, to extent that Spain has pnvacy in early modem times. expertise in thé 'desalination of to its programmes.To do this, decidedto changeits approachto Monitoring thé seas and thé water', andin 'developingand Lybia needsEurope's help. théproblem. Once caught in Spanish sighting of thèse well-armed sharing' its expertisein 'coastal To be ableto controlits long territorialwaters or on Spanishland, andwell-equipped naval forces, management'. Mediterranean coast and its ail migrantswould be repatriated. '\ by small dinghiesor wooden southern frontier, to prevent One thousandSenegalese were fhe Thé second reason is fishingboats, hardly potentialmigrants from entering first to suffer thé conséquencesof thatBrussels has taken too long its subsaharaianflank (Nigeria

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 59 is oneexample) and firom leaving others'.Illegal emigration and diterranean islands hâve T its endless shores illegally, immigration are both threats lost, they hâve indeed shed, f l M Libya needsEurope's expertise to national sovereignty theirproverbial historical and sophisticated equipment. sovereignty- both Libya's and marginality and assumed a Thé North African country Europe's. thé quintessenceof centrality, albeit perhaps a requires 'resources, machines, thé whole solution is a healthy négative one, that has gained technology,[and] vehicles'. What multinational relationship, a them thé highestpriority on thé should be avoided, however, is determined coopération to avoid EU agenda. -^_-^ - to allow Libya's participation, thé loss ofprecious life and stem Victor Mallia-Milanes. fbiTnerlv head its contribution, to be defined criminality. No stateshould be of thé Histoiy Department and Dean simply asa businesstransaction. allowed to exploit thé issuefor of thé Faculty of Arts of thé Uni\ers]ty ByPier Giovanni d'Ayala By helpingto controlits northem ulterior motives. Within thé of Malta. is Professor of Earlv Modem Histoi-y at thé same Universitv. andsouthem flanks, Libya would context of thé phenomenon of victor. mallia-milanesîaaim. edu. mt not be providing 'a servicefor irregular migration, certain Me A few years ago, Les Gonaiveswas first submerged bythé fiuy ofanangry humcme. A groupof Haitianpoets each H wrote a poem for thé injured city. iffi One of them wrote- ^ Earth, our Earth, our cities and villages under thé load ofwaters...and this rain...not théone that pleases gardens, refi-eshingthé soil such a promise givento théforthcoming flowers - notthat one - butpure violence / that sweepsaway, drowns, kills...' ' ^ - -,

Last September three hurricaneshit again,almost simultaneously, Les Gonaives locatedon thénorth-west of thé island.One was not sufficient. Thécity was hit harder than ever; mostof thé casualtiescame from there. Will therebe any poet to lament thé victims, thé drowned children?

Théimages that we hâve received from our friends in Haiti are scarcelybearable. One could say thatthé disasterwas foreseeable, thatwhat happened could happen againif thé conditionsat source remainthé same. In fact,they are stillthé same - deforestedhills,

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS

61 ravaged soils and degraded habitats, insufficient prévention servicesand ;\ risk so on. 7- Why so? Thé time for questioning will cornelater. Today it is time for solidarity. Thé calls for solidarity stemming from thé authorities and from other sectors cCJ and involved parties should be listened T y^- to, such as thé Ebenezer Mission headed by Pastor Michel Morizet or Médecins sansfrontières, fîghting presentlyin Les ByMario Lupoli (contact cantieregiovanionlus@yahoo. it) Gonaives to bring relief to survivors having lost their few belongings,shelter, fùmitures, clothing and often their loved ones. Those calls should be heeded, lish because thé Haitian deaths, missing of thé island.The subjectmatter thé Cantiere-Giovaniinitiative. children, are part of us, of ail of us, eachone from thé other by for thèseyouths coming from islanders or not. colors thé s theirbright offering Germany,Ukraine, Japan, Czech Thé Cantiere-Giovani uniqueprofile ofan architecture RepublicU. , S.,South Korea, and initiative in Procidais part of Thé needed mobilization should not be whichfits extraordinarilywith Slovenia,togetherwith volunteers its national and international thé Mediterraneanvégétation limitée to bare gifts. Of course,money, from Italy and Morocco was to social-promotion policy andthé deep blue of thégulfof goods and suppliesare neededurgently. buildand organize a library in implementedwith due attention But also time should be dedicated and Naples. théancient Villa Scotto-Pagliaroto ail its environmental and 3!S~ words. Ideas and actions should also be to be put at thé disposaiof ail culturalcomponents. A successful a Procida is thé smallest 1 inventéeto fùlly expresssolidarity. citizens. methodology,indeed. ai of threeislands, perhaps lesser s knownthan its sistersCapri Thereare many ways to expresssolidarity. This historical mansion A blend local and and Ischia, but endowedwith of Only indifférence and unconcern can is by thé way thé headquarters international actions based on l an outstanding natural and bridle inventivenessand imagination in thé to ThéAssociation Vivara-Small théprinciple that thé cultural and créationofdynamic solidarity networks. culturalhéritage. A héritage that IslandFriends,of course partner in is worthy of be better known géographieorigin diversity of Everybody should join in, including and cherishedand more so to III youth, children and their educators. be lived as intégralpart of thé ?'-.. y s Young people can be made aware that citizen'ssocial identity. .i everywhere disasterscan strike our homes and familles, whereverwe might live. It Thé Italian NGO « is also important that thé youngstersand GantièreGiovani » (youth people of Haiti know that friends from workshop) has chosen to many other countries and islands consider apply in Procida its innovative Les Gonaives as their own stressed methodologyand contributeto home. enhancethé island's héritage orgamzing last September Recallingthé old adage,a country is also an international workcamp, what it is able to do in responseto thé sponsoredby thé Campania catastrophiesthat strike. A gréât deal, a régionalauthorities hosting , very gréât deal, if solidarity and friends young people from ail over thé stepin andjoin handsin support. worldin théframe ofa project aiming at thé environmental and cultural réhabilitationofan importanthéritage item of thé

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANOAFFAIRS 63 young people engagea in a common concrète project is Youth,Challenges a genuine créative process. » to confront in a common endeavor, explains Giovanni D'Errico, chairman of Gantière Giovani, cultures expériences h._

, sensitivities ofyoungvolunteers from ail parts of thé world with thé local volunteers initiâtes an in depth transformation process. To rethink and work, within sucha context upon, thé By JennyMarday multifaceted environment of thé islandofProcida opensnew , iducationparticularlyin Small potentialities, opens to larger resources.Childrenhave always of thé textbooksis enoughto Islandsis not alwaysan easy andplural opportunities». participated to thé related tasks understandwhy. Illustrations of challengeforpupils and teachers sincetheir earlychildhood. Girls childrengathered around a birth- to overcome.Despite being are usually needed to work in t Thé young volunteers daycake covered incandies may s- scatteredaround thé worid, thé work consistedin thérefurbishing thémarket gardens and thé boys be in no relation to their islands small islandsface often similar of thé premises that will host areexpected to go out to seaand reality. Thé school teachersare j problemsof educatingtheir catch fish with their elders.For thé library and to catalogue obligeato play a difficult rôle of l youth.Thé reasons may dépend in thé publicationsfor an optimal thé parents,thé mostpressing mediatorbetween two visionsof l fact on thépattems oftraditional citizen's pemsal. Thé secondnot concem is not whether a child life andare unable to givethèse life which still characterise lessimportant task consistedin can read or write but where thé many small islands. Their youngpeople neither any support thé rearrangementof thé Villa's next meal is coming from. social and économie welfare in theirpursuitofknowledge and belvédère,an enchantedgarden On thé other hand thé identity nor any footholds in or what is thé most closest to children are tuned to their tra- of fmit and orangetrees at thé theirquest masteringreading thatconcept originates fi-om thé in disposai of thé library visitors permanentexposition is organized believe on their side that thé ditional life with their backson and writing. traditionaluse ofland andmarine and ail citizen attractedby thé at thé Villa's basementoffering présence of thèse youth on school, and a glanceat some Thé four expériences extraordinaryview of thé gulf thé appropriate resources for thé island has created ties and andthé island of Capri. educational and awareness friendships with thé islanders. raising activities. No doubt that that this was for Thé Library brings them an opportunity to feel as a together books, journal Thé work camp in thé communityproud ofits héritage and many other documents words of Giovanni D'Errico, and eager to show and to shareit adressing environmental was more than implementing with thé young visitors. matters related to Procida and a project, It was an important thé other islands. Thé Villa is intercultural expérience for thé Anyhow thé citizen of Procida also thought as a socializing whole community , a strong were really at thé core of thé spacefor ail parties interested opportunity for change. This project. Ail citizen including in thé island's environment is thé spirit wich animâtes fîshermen, who brought at thé and culture.A startingpoint for thé CCIVS , thé coordinating Villa thé fresh fished fish while public activities and collective committee for international others came with traditional actions concerning Procida's voluntary service ,created in mozzarellaand other gastronomie héritage. 1948under UNESCO's auspices. items. A deed that considerably Cantiere-Giovani belongs to contributed to thé success of thé Thé Library is a CCIVS. inaugurationof thé Villa andthé componentoffhe Documentation présentation of thé new library andStudy Center of thé national Margherita Tramutolo and Sirio to thé public. Vivara natural réserve. A Per- Fusco thé two camp leaders,

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 65 Child Friendly Schools or gud feiïa frenly skul ^n& opened in Vanuatu. In théTafea Province on thé island of Tanna,Vanuatu, in thé SouthPacifie Océanthé formerlydrab, stérile school buildingshâve been tumed into brightly coloured,dynamic classrooms filled'with books,activity stations and enchanting pictures.Little Davilla whoonly a few monthsback resented thé idea ofgoing to schoolnowisstmgglingnot toleavethe classroomonce thé school day is over. Tanna,Vanuatu, 15 May 2008, Davillawakes up everydaybefore dawn g- to getready for school,reading over her lessonsas she packs her bag. For this l sixthgrader leaming is fim "I loveschool s especiallyEnglish, " shesays. Davilla liveswith her five brothers l and sistersin thé Provinceof Tafeain l Vanuatu.Her mother stays at homeand her father is a fisherman.

whichhâve been brought forward environment is not home; well hours a week in a small room in a by UNICEF certainly deserved thé teacheris certainly not their ù-ainer's house afterwards when further attention. mum or dad and thé only thing thé BEFA centreswere opened Danette in thé Island of thé pupils hâve in mind is to go she went regularly. And not Rodriguesreceived training from home . Danette who is now an only did sheacquire knowledge BEFAto makea freshstart in life; adolescent of 17 was a victim of but shewas also gaining values Child fi-iendlyschools opened in thé above dilemmas, failed thé and skills that would serve as a Vanuatu; Pink elephants and end of thé primary éducation foundationfor life long leaming. marbles energize éducation in twice (CPE) despite spending Thé secondphase of thé BEFA Indonesia and in PNG, Girls are six years in primary school. She project was a Professional fighting for their rights to go to was unable to read or write and IntégrationProgramme aimed at school. found herself at home ail day encouraging young adolescents with few prospects. Danette to discover their professional Danette in thé island of was isolated from thé rest ofher mterests. Rodriguesreceive training peers and had no friends in her from BEFA to make a neighbourhood. Danette's dream was to fresh start in life. becomea car mechanicdespite thé fact that in Rodrigues,this But oneday Danette heard wasexclusively a boys' domain. Rodrigues, an island aboutBEFA (Basic Education for Her dream became tme when her located 574 km east ofMauritius Adolescents)which wasinitiated request to spend three months in is one among many islands by thé Rodriguanadministration a garage was approved.Danette aroundthé world wherethé early with thé technical and financial now has a clear vision of her years of primary school can be supportofUNICEF. Initially, she future careerin Rodrigues. a scaryaffair. For onething, thé attended BEFA classes for three

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL0F ISLAND AFFAIRS 67 For most children coming fi-om thé land around Kalisari is fer- only listeningto thé teachertaUc, Yearningto learn in Papua theycould only affordto keep and so much " poor familles quality éducation tile, thé area in thé Banyumas now we aremuch encouraged to writing New Cuinea her olderbrother and sister at thé is ail too often out of reach. district remainsextremely poor. ask our questions.,our teacher boardingschool where they are Schoolsdo not provide enough Betti often goes to thé fîelds guides and assistsus but we do Susannahis one girl Papua New Guinea is now studying. Her older sister classrooms and thé teachers to help her parents.According thé work. representmg many who face thé known to be a richly diverse grade 11 and brother is are not properly trained. But to thé school officiais 70 % of is in her same issus in PNG.As fmancial countryand its rapidly developing grade lO. fées are a total thé familles survive farm in Their difficulty increasingmany things are now changing with from Magazines hang from society . While thé cities a is in 2,000kina per year, including thé concept "From Drap to labour and small home indus- thé outside walls of thé class- of parents are asking whether it numberof educatedpeople hâve cost tries. Thé broadcast is delibera- her unifonn it would is worth sendingtheir children Dynamic"child fiiendly schools. rooms and administration buil- lead sophisticatedmiddle class an extra 200 Kinato let Susannah to schools' but things are Thispilot projectis puttingstrong tely timed to reachhomes in thé dings, which are arrangée in lifestyles while, many rural stay in school. changing thanks to thé School emphasis on teacher training mid afternoon so that parents a horseshoe around a central people survive as traditional becauseteachers are thé key to would be encouragedto allow volley bail andbasketball court. FéesAkepile (Akepile means subsistence farmers. Poor But Susannah smiles making thé school a rich place their children to retum from thé Thé Studentsand teachers,and to assit) which gets thé whole familleslack thé money to pay shyly when she passes her for learning. Thé workshops fields three hours before sunset everyone happy". commumtyto contributeto pay is for their children'sschool fées. fi-iends dressedin their uniforms helped them to examine their to do their homework. thé féesfor ail of thé children of r As a result school enrolmentis walkinghome from schoolas she own ways of teaching and Back at thé MB S Radio, thé village. This way forward thélowest and thé gender gap in retums from five hours ofhand l revisiting how children can leam is interesting as little by little And at Karanglo ele- thé taie of thé pink elephantis pnmaryschool is théhighest in s picking tiny red coffee beans thingsare changing for thé best » in an mteresting environment .In mentary school, just north of winding up andNovii is getting thé région fi-ombushes, which sheholds in Papua New Guinea. m addition to that thé Parents and Purwokero, thé educational ready to read thé aftemoon's in a basket By. contrast,her friends eldersare helping thé community théories behind active, joyful homework assignments1 . want l In théKundiawa District, dressed in their uniforms are to createchild fi-iendly schools. and effective learning are put to be ajoumalist so this is very ChiumbutuProvince, Papua carrying books. Davilla mostofiten stays at school into practice, Yulia another little good practice for me. My New Guinea, Susannahat thé late with thé other kids to help girl says that" Before it was so motheris very proud to hearmy âge of ten had to drop out of feel very sad thé teachersto put up pictures boringjust sitting there every voice on radio. "I schooland help her family on that can't go to school",says to create a subject corner. And l théfamily coffee plot. SusannahSusannahin Melpa, thé local this iniative has been adopted saysthat her parents told her that by Solomon Islands who hâve language"I usedto likereading startedimplementing thé Child Friendly SchoolProject. Pink Elephants and Ma r blés Energize Education in Indonesia

"Assalamu'alaikum", in thé most gracionsname of god says a sweet little voice on thé 97 FM, MES radio. Hère are A^q, today's stories about thé adven- turesof théPink elephantand his friends thé catsfor thé pupils at Kalisari elementary school, in Indonesia.

Betti, bas been selected to read out stories on air , in addition to that school assign- mentsare read out classby class reaching ail radios within a two kilomètre radius and ail but three of théstudent's homes. Although

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 69 . < . . . . l AMuItidiscipIinarydebate oiîi thé followiingthèmes Nature and Sciences st ri" Con enc - Advancesingeo-sciences, geo-engineering andvolcanology - PopulationSafety and Risk Management < - . ( - Biodiversityand Soil Fertility, Volcanic Ecosystems 20 - Education,Public Awareness -Etc...

Nature and Culture , nsula,thé International Scientific Council for IslandDevelopment, contributes to théorganization of thé First World Conférenceon "Volcanoes,Landscapes and Cultures", underthé auspicesof -^Parks,ProtectedAreas, Biosphère Réserves, UNESCO's Worid Héritage, Temtorial and : )-Parks "' -----r---. - o""""> UNESCO, thé Council of Europe, thé Italian government, and in partnershipwith UNESCO's - Memoriesand Footprints of thé Past, History and Archeology Man and thé BiosphèreProgramme (MaB), thé Sicilian RégionalGovernment, thé University - Myths and Societies ofCatania, thé Etna Régional ParkAuthority, and otherrelevant organizations, such as LAVE thé - Literature and Cinéma European Association of Volcanology. -Etc...

SustainableDevelopment - New and Traditional Resources Uses ThéConférence, thé first ofits kind,will addressfrom a holisticand multidisciplinary point ofview - Mining

thé coreaspects of thé ages-oldrelationships between humaiikind, thé volcaniclandscapes, and thé - SpecializedAgriculture obscure turbulences world. of thé minéral - RenewableEnergies and Geothermy 1 - Thé SpécialCase ofVolcanic Islands -Etc... Participantsfrom ail geographicaland professional horizons are invited to sharetraditions, knowledge 0' andexpériences, and uncover together promising areas for innovationand peaceful development of à Volcanoes:Swprising Laadscapes volcanic territories. 0 - Tourism:Volcanoes, a trendy destination - Exploration ï Thé meeting finally aims at thé création of a permanent"on line" platform, in order to foster an - Trekking 3 - ThermalWaters and Health intercontinentaldialogue and knowledge exchanges, provisionally called "thé HouseofVolcanoes". .1 - Omisesamong volcanoes -Etc... g Thé venuewill take place in Catania(Sicily), at Mount Etna's slopesfrom 11 to 14 November 2009 n For more information, visit thé websiteof thé Conférence:WWW. etnacatania2009. COm Thé«House ofVolcanoes» - International Networking { Créationofa permanent «on-line» platfonn fostering an intercontmental dialogue and knowledge exchanges includir ua virtual visit e-< Tocontact us, please mail to : conf-volcano@etnacatania2009. com ofworld's mostsignifi cant volcanoes l i& l» ai sa B a- lg '3

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 71 constantlyweaker. A reality which and that of Tourism hâve initiated thé Govemment has realized mdeed that thé /?^ influences obviously thé labor créationof a national inventory of thé undertakingofsustainability initiatives ^ market. built cultural héritage as, well asof thé dépends on thé mobilisation of thé rich featuresof thé Country'snatural privateand thé public sector together. Forthé saké ofour analysis, to Heritage.Also immaterialHéritage is With thé increasingcompétition for Interviewwith Her Excellency,Mrs Laura F axas,Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of makea stepfurther, we may split your carefùllyrecorded in orderto shape a thétourism pie, especiallyon Islands,a question in two parts. On one side let's soundevolving tourism - offer aiming long term strategy wich takes in thé Dominican Republic to Unesco. considerthesituation nationalwhite of at high classtravellers and quality account thé community needs,within collarsand thé possibility for themto cultural tourism .By thé way,with a holisticframework for development INSULA : reach higher responsibilities. On thé UNESCO's supportwe are preparing is more than essential.The Dominican other side let's examine thé situation of NORTH AT ANTIC OCEA a digitalGateway allowing to explore Republicis thereforeactively engagea Tourism is supposed to be a thélabor force acceding to less qualified thégreath wealth ofnatural andcultural in promoting ways to reconcile thé reliable source income most of in of employments.Thé latter get jobs such sitesexisting in thé Countryfacilitating need for overpassingthé standardized thé Caribbean Countries. But is this 0 as maids,gardeners, drivers, security thé virtual explorationof thé national all-inclusiveturistic resort opérations, puertopi's(5'a--?îâQSua - really so? guardsand maintenance.Thé national Landscapesencouraging a forth coming while proposingmcentives to innovation Nagua white collars,at leastin thé Dominican direct encounter with thé Countrie's and diversification. H.E. L. FAXAS: San Franctsco d® Maoort» Republic, hâve few chances to reach inhabitants and their culture. Ail sectorsof our society important positions as thèseposts are are thus called to participate to such . Ootnendador Bonao Tourism is in fact today a SanPedns reservedto foreigners,in particular INSULA : a dynamic move,in particular thé considérable source ofincome in most ialca eiuidulllo SANTO DOMINGO veMswam Higùey from Spain.This gives a hint aboutthé younger générations.It is amazing to of thé Caribbean islands. A simple s- . ' Crietât»al ... ^ (-a Ro

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS 73 thé policies implementedto face resultoflessframed policiesthen ook Review thé local energy demand. thé outcomeofevents appearingat random outside or inside thé islands This volume offers not only a way geographicalspace. To Uimhazards

COORDONNÉ PAR : to understandisland's diversity but, in opportunitiesis a quality shared GlttES GUERASStMOFF NADIA MAfZi through thé considérablequality by thé islandersail over thé world. of thé documentspresented, thé This is thé reason why Kakazu ÎLES ET ÉNERGIE: resultsof thé analytictools adopted. recalls thé Manx motto. This is thé un paysage de contrastes It representspositively a consistent reason why thé author pursues in professionalréférence. théprésent volume his questioning of thé principles mling thé non- OSE:Research group of thé Center linearprocesseswhich characterize of Applied Mathematics of thé islandtrajectories in a world that is r s Paris "Ecole des mines". familiar to him, thé East-Asia and Publishedby Mines-Paritech-Les Pacifie archipelagos. ^r PressesParis 2008 www.ensurp. 0 e atio fr/press Headopts a see-sawmethodological notionconfi-onting figures and facts Iles et énergies : un paysage SUSTAENABÎt!: from his native island Okinawa, de contrastes r-i

INTERNATIONALJOURNAL 0F ISLANDAFFAIRS Published by INSULA Thé International Scientific Council for Island Development with thé support of UNESCO