Country's Backgrounds and Profiles...

ed-u.com - Your Start Page for Education!

Mystery Shoppers Needed Now... Get paid to shop and eat for free! Find out how to join the hugely popular UK Mystery Shopping Club (now 14 years old with over 5000 members!). Please click here now. Choose a page below...  Education Resources: Homepage | Web Search Education Resources Art | Film | Dance | Bands Countries of the World Digs UK | US | Canada Finance | Economics/Biz Homework Helpers | Exams Kiddies Korner | Tots | Pets Jobs UK/EU | US | Canada Bartending Work Medicine and Health Museums and Galleries Mystery Shopping Club PE | Sports | Sporting Events Power & Politics | Civil Rights Print Media, TV and Radio Problems and Advice Shops | Fashion | Books Subjects | Religion | Language Technology Education & ICT Teens | Just for Fun Travel | Destinations Schools UK | US | Canada Unis/Colls UK | US | Canada  Special Features: Essays - Full Writing Course What is Bullying? Stress in Teaching Drugs  Guest Contributors: The best Dad? You're an Idiot! Slave Caster of Freedom Out of the mouths of babes The Right to Life? The Nostradamus Hoaxes Explaining terrorism to a child Internet 2 a scam? Break a Rule, Bad Girl Britannica near extinction? The 1st time I really lied Nigerian Scam Letters Singular turns plural English Writing In debt? Too busy at work? Bullying... Our Stories Start to live your dreams Recognize your potential Stop worrying, please! Public speaking Elegant resumes In praise of black sheep Ritalin - Straight-jacketing?  Webmasters' Education: Start here - Why me? Slow pages equal more traffic ed-u.com's full list of pages ed-u.com brings you the World Extensive information about every country and geographic area in the world. Please choose a link below Full Country Profiles Agriculture Area of Countries Country Backgrounds Birth Rates Capitals of Countries City Info. Worldwide Climate of Countries Country Age Structures Currency of Country Exports by Country Ethnic Groups Full Names of Country Geo-Pol. Abbreviations Geographic Notes Imports by Country World Orgs. & Groups Languages of Country Latitude & Longitude Products of Countries Guide to Profiles World Power & Politics The Mystery Shopping Club (Operated by ed-u.com's sister site) Are you a student over 18? Part-time teacher? Parent? Just someone that needs some extra income? Some free food and drinks perhaps? Would you like to pick your own hours? - Casual work is available to you now... The following is an article taken from Choices Magazine after a visit to the Mystery Shopping Club. "Wanted: Shopaholic nosey parker with excellent observational skills, a good ear and flexible attitude to part-time work. Anyone can apply. Work available in all areas. Must be prepared to eat free meals, enjoy shopping discounts and visit pubs - and be paid for it." Believe it or not, the above job advertisement is not as far fetched as it sounds. If you love shopping, you'll be pleased to hear that it's possible to shop for a living. In fact, it's a multi-million pound industry for market research companies who employ "mystery shoppers" to shop up and down the country - all in the name of customer service and research. There are a number of mystery shopping companies who organise whole armies of professional shoppers on behalf of retailers, pubs, restaurants, banks and other service industries. Their mission? To mingle in, look inconspicuous and file a report on anything from customer service to cleanliness in the restrooms. If you visit one or two pubs in a night, you'll get your food and drink paid for, travel expenses and you'll be paid anything from £6.00 or £7.00 (US$12) up for each visit. But there is one problem with mystery shopping: truly dedicated shoppers never switch off from their work. You'll find yourself compulsively evaluating service and checking ceilings for cobwebs even when you're not on duty. It eventually becomes a part of your life. To find out more about casual employment opportunities in the "Secret Shopper" industry, please visit ed-u.com's sister site: Click here for the Mystery Shopping Club UK or USA or Canada

The Transatlantic Education Mega-Site... We invite you to add ed-u.com to your list of favorites/bookmarks. Internet Explorer users please click here, and others, right click here -> ed-u.com. Also, you can learn how to make any ed-u.com page your start page by clicking here.   Web ed-u.com  Micronesia, Federated States of All other countries Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communication Transportation Military Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of Introduction Background: In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid. Geography Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 6,112 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Totolom 791 m Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December) Environment - current issues: overfishing Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands People Population: 133,144 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 3.28% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 27.09 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 33.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.63 years male: 66.67 years female: 70.62 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.83 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3% Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.) Government Country name: conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) abbreviation: FSM Data code: FM Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 Capital: Palikir Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979) Constitution: 10 May 1979 Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Leo A. FALCAM (since NA May 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since NA May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leo A. FALCAM (since NA May 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since NA May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held NA May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of state - to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population - to serve two-year terms) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003); elections for two-year term seats last held NA March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2001) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 14 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: no formal parties International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186 Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern Economy Economy - overview: Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1.3 billion in the islands in 1986-2001. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth. GDP: purchasing power parity - $240 million (1997 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1997 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 4% services: 77% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1996 est.) Labor force: NA Labor force - by occupation: two-thirds are government employees Unemployment rate: 27% (1989) Budget: revenues: $58 million expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7 million (FY95/96 est.) Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: NA kWh Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% Electricity - consumption: NA kWh Electricity - exports: NA kWh Electricity - imports: NA kWh Agriculture - products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens Exports: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) Exports - commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper Exports - partners: Japan, US, Guam Imports: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) Imports - commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages Imports - partners: US, Japan, Australia Debt - external: $111 million (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $79 million (1998); note - under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001 Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 8,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997) Televisions: NA Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 6 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) Military Military - note: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries