October 8, 2009

The Independent State of Samoa (Malo i Samoa Tuto’atasi or Sisyphus) or Samoa (Western Samoa or Western Samoa from 1914 until 1997, German Samoa from 1900 to 1914) Is a country comprising a group of islands belonging to the archipelago of the Polynesia south of Pacific.Samoa’s history began when immigrants from the Lau islands in eastern Fiji arrived in the Samoan islands about 3500 years ago and settled there in the rest of Polynesia. There is evidence to suggest that traveled to South America. Contact with Europeans began in the early years of 1700But not intensified until the arrival of British traders and missionaries in the years of 1830.

Through nineteenth centuryThe United Kingdom, Germany and United States claimed parts of the kingdom of Samoa, and established trading posts.

King Malietoa Laupepa died in 1898 and was succeeded by Malietoa Tooa Mataafa. The U.S. and British consuls supported Malietoa Tanu, Son of Laupepa. American warships and British, including the USS PhiladelphiaBombed Apia the March 15 of 1899.

In the Samoa Tripartite Convention, A joint commission of three members, Bartlett Tripp by United States, C. N. E. Eliot, C.B. by Great BritainAnd Freiherr Speck von Sternberg by Germany, Agreed to divide the islands. Germany received the western portion (later known as Western Samoa, Samoa today only) containing Upolu and Savaii and other adjacent islands. These islands became known as German Samoa. The U.S. accepted Tutuila and Manu’a, which today comprise the territory of American Samoa. The United Kingdom renounced its claims in Samoa, in exchange for Germany ceded its protectorates in the Solomon Islands North. The monarchy was disestablished.

From 1908With the establishment of the Mau movement ( “opinion”), Western Samoans began to demand independence.

Shortly after the outbreak of the World WarIn August 1914, New Zealand sent an expeditionary force to seize and occupy German Samoa. Although Germany refused to officially surrender the islands, there was no resistance and the occupation took place without any fighting. New Zealand continued the occupation of Western Samoa over the First World War. In 1919Under the Treaty of VersaillesGermany abandoned its claims to the islands.

New Zealand administered Western Samoa first as a mandate from the League and then as a trust of United Nations until the country gained its independence on January 1 of 1962 with the name of Western Samoa. Samoa was the first Polynesian nation to restore independence in twentieth century.

In July 1997The constitution was amended to change the country name of “Western Samoa” to “Samoa.” Samoa had been known simply as Samoa in the United Nations since joining the organization in 1976. The neighboring U.S. territory of American Samoa protested the move, feeling that the change reduced its own Samoan identity. The American Samoans still use the terms “Western Samoa” and “Western Samoans.

In 2002, Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, Formally apologized for two incidents during the administration of this country: a failure to quarantine a ship that transmitted the flu in 1919, leading to an epidemic that devastated the entire Samoan population, and the shooting of Mau leaders of the antiwar movement during a ceremonial procession 1926.

Malietoa, Died May 12 of 2007 at the age of 94, is head of state since the death of the second “big boss” in 1963. His successor was appointed by the legislature for a term of 5 years, has kept the title O le Ao O le Malo but the term limits of the Head of State to five years since then, Samoa has become, de jure, in a republic.

In September 2009 it was hit by a Tsunami.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Samoa
Samoa’s economy has always been dependent on agricultural exports and Currency sent by their nationals as well as foreign aid. Two thirds of the population is engaged in agriculture, Being the most important export activity of copra and oil coconut and other derivatives of the same plant.

The sector industrial is devoted almost entirely to the processing of agricultural products. The most booming sector is the tourism, Which currently provides employment for 20% of the population.

The damage caused by two cyclones in the early 1990s caused major damage to agricultural infrastructure and tourism in the country, reducing the GDP by 50%. Alongside this, a serious disease in plantations taro, Main export product of the mid-90s, worsened the financial crisis. International aid was received from United States, Australia and New Zealand, With a commitment to make adjustments to the economic policy. Thus, the IMF recommended a financial sector restructuring and diversification of economic activity and an increase in the potential that tourism accounted for.

The new policy allowed the country to reach U.S. $ 14.5 million in 2001 revenue from tourism, they made up 55% of national wealth, and introduce a more extensive cultivation coconut, Drawing on all export products. The diversification of export destinations, deconcentrated New Zealand and Australia, Allowed to enter markets Asian, American, And something in the European.

Following the directions of the IMF and World BankSamoa has improved its financial structure, allowing the entry of foreign banking partners and controlling inflation

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