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https://theconversation.com/earths-empty-quarter-many-pacific-nations-now-have-falling-populations-195281>
"In 1989, distinguished Australian geographer Gerard Ward wrote that the
Pacific was emptying out. As people on smaller islands left to seek opportunity
elsewhere, the region risked becoming Earth’s empty quarter. He wrote:
Perhaps 100 years hence, almost all of the descendants of today’s Polynesian
or Micronesian islanders will live in Auckland, Sydney, San Francisco and
Salt Lake City. Occasionally they may recall that their ancestors once lived
on tiny Pacific islands … set in an empty ocean.
Ward’s prediction attracted criticism for its doomsday tone. But was he right?
For some countries, he may have been spot on. Populations are now falling in
many of the smallest states. On tiny Pitcairn Island, with a population of
fewer than 50, it is well over a decade since the last child was born.
But it’s not the same everywhere in the Pacific – while Micronesia and
Polynesia are broadly shrinking, Melanesian nations are booming.
Migration isn’t new, of course. What will be new is the prospect of so many
people moving that small nations effectively cease to exist. Climate change
will only intensify these shifts."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
