UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

18.3 The 1992 census enumerated 9,199 people, made up of 6,831 Nauruans and 3,088 non-Nauruans
employed by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation and the government. The Nauruans are predominantly
Micronesians. The Nauruan language is widely spoken, but English is the official language. The society is
matrilineal and drawn from 12 tribes, which are totemic in origin.
18.4 The phosphate industry has been the basis of Nauru’s economy and has made Nauru one of the
wealthiest nations on a per capita basis. The mining of phosphate, a non-renewable resource, will cease at the
turn of the century and new millennium as primary stocks dwindle to nothing. The phosphate deposits are
extracted from the central plateau, which covers seven eighths of the land area. In the wake of mining, the land is
stripped of its once lush vegetation leaving a crowd of tall corral pinnacles on acres of useless land. Moreover,
the phosphate industry is the unique catalyst that has transformed completely the life, culture and destiny of
Nauru and its people. From this industry, the Nauruan people have experienced immense affluence, material
wealth and Western influence. While mining has provided attractive economic benefits, it has at the same time
precipitated a culture of dependence on ready-cash exchange. The once prosperous industry has effectively
transformed Nauruan culture into a culture that is compatible with a cash economy and takes Westernization as
the model for its lifestyle. Moreover, such providence has enabled the system of governance to be predominantly
that of a welfare state. The legacy of a century of mining is the degradation and loss of traditional Nauruan
culture.
18.5 As we move into the next millennium, we face another set of standards that further challenges and places
undue pressure on our efforts to preserve, revitalize and transmit our culture. The new information technology
draws people closer together and builds information highways that break down geographical isolation, thus
contributing to cultural globalization. Growing tourism, increasingly multicultural societies and other such trends
towards uniformity arouse fear in small islands like ours that they will lose their identity. With small populations,
a smaller land space, a narrow economic base, limited environmental resources and dependency on imports of
food and services, we become more vulnerable to the influx of outside influences.
18.6 With such a fragile cultural base, there is a call to stimulate the revitalization of indigenous traditions
and values which will enhance our way of life. There is also the challenge to use the diversity of cultures as a
resource to increase awareness of each culture’s sense of difference and identity. There is the challenge to create
a living culture which will soon be valued as the heritage of the future. There is the challenge to mobilize the
community to participate actively in the stewardship and preservation of the cultural heritage. There is the
challenge for policy-makers to implement cultural policies and facilitate evaluation of the benefits of cultural
expenditure. The key to these challenges is education. Education, in both the formal and non-formal sectors, will
create a better basis for a broader understanding of the cultural heritage and its role in development.
18.7 The Republic of Nauru acknowledges and is very grateful for the valuable assistance that UNESCO has
rendered to our national programmes of education, culture, communication and youth. Such support in the form
of advisory, technical and financial assistance has enabled our programmes to move ahead. We especially thank
the Apia Office Director and her staff for their excellent services and support for our programmes. Our
relationship with UNESCO has been very constructive and fruitful. We look forward to working closely with the
Organization for many more years to come. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Mwa Tubor Kor. Thank you for
your attention.
19.1 Le PRESIDENT :
Je voudrais remercier vivement Monsieur le Secrétaire général de la Commission nationale de Nauru
pour son exposé. Cet appel concret, fournissant quantité de précisions utiles sur son pays, tranche avec bonheur
sur les considérations abstraites qui dominent dans bon nombre d'interventions. Cela me fait songer aux grands
globes construits au XVIIe siècle par Coronelli, dont le diamètre de quatre mètres permettait de donner à chaque
point de la Terre toutes sortes d'indications sur les espèces animales, l'aspect des populations, etc. Au-delà du
respect mutuel que nous nous témoignons dans ces circonstances, il est bon que nous nous penchions aussi sur
cette richesse concrète de nos différents pays.
19.2 Je donne à présent la parole à M. Langi Kavaliku, ministre de l'éducation des Tonga.
20.1 Mr BLOOMFIELD (Tonga):
Mr President, Mr Director-General, Mr Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mr Deputy Director-
General, honourable Ministers of Education and heads of delegation, distinguished participants, ladies and
gentlemen, may I humbly endorse on behalf of Tonga’s head of delegation, Dr Kavaliku, all the salutations that
the eminent speakers have made before me, at this 30th session of the General Conference of our beloved
UNESCO house and family. Mr President, I now beg your indulgence and make a special plea from the Pacific -
our subregion of now 16 Member States, two of which are founding Members, followed thereafter by the rest our
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