| Revision as of 07:43, 31 May 2008 view sourceFaradayplank (talk | contribs)Rollbackers13,561 editsm Reverted edits by 190.226.82.127 to last version by ClueBot← Previous edit | Revision as of 07:47, 31 May 2008 view source 190.226.82.127 (talk) ←Replaced content with 'jgbhjlkfghldjkbf vkjabfvkljabngljkdfbjvbldkfsgvfdkbvkjldfvbldafhgarhggbvudfhaun gyuentuvhsnnnsrghvcmoooootnuwerutcmweoiuceowchroihghsdghoiruhiuhgtriuhgiohgihagt...'Next edit → | ||
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| <!--Do not edit this article to include or remove any Spanish names without first discussing it on Talk. Any substantial changes without consensus on Talk may result in an immediate block from editing.--> | |||
| {{redirect|Malvinas}} | |||
| {{Infobox Country | |||
| |native_name = Falkland Islands | |||
| |common_name = Falkland Islands | |||
| |demonym = Falkland Islander | |||
| |image_flag = Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg | |||
| |image_coat = Coa Falkland.svg | |||
| |image_map = LocationFalklandIslands.png | |||
| |national_motto = "Desire the right" | |||
| |national_anthem = "]" | |||
| |official_languages = ] | |||
| |capital = ] | |||
| |latd=51 |latm=42 |latNS=S |longd=57 |longm=51 |longEW=W | |||
| |largest_city = ] | |||
| |government_type = ] | |||
| |leader_title1 = Head of state | |||
| |leader_name1 = ] | |||
| |leader_title2 = ] | |||
| |leader_name2 = ] | |||
| |leader_title3 = Chief Executive | |||
| |leader_name3 = ]<ref>{{cite press release |title=Falkland Islands Government appoints new Chief Executive |publisher=Falkland Islands Government |date=2007-08-30 |url=http://www.falklands.gov.fk/news-2007.php |accessdate=2007-10-29}}</ref> | |||
| |area_rank = 162nd | |||
| |area_magnitude = 1 E10 | |||
| |area_km2 = 12,173 | |||
| |area_sq_mi = 4,700 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |percent_water = 0 | |||
| |population_estimate = 3,060 | |||
| |population_estimate_rank = 226th | |||
| |population_estimate_year = July 2005 | |||
| |population_census = | |||
| |population_census_year = | |||
| |population_density_km2 = 0.25 | |||
| |population_density_sq_mi = 0.65 <!--Do not remove per ]--> | |||
| |population_density_rank = 240th | |||
| |GDP_PPP = $75 million | |||
| |GDP_PPP_rank = 223th | |||
| |GDP_PPP_year = 2005 | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $25,000 (2002 estimate) | |||
| |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = ''not ranked'' | |||
| |sovereignty_type = ] | |||
| |established_event1 = Liberation Day | |||
| |established_date1 = ] ] | |||
| |HDI = n/a | |||
| |HDI_rank = n/a | |||
| |HDI_year = n/a | |||
| |HDI_category = n/a | |||
| |currency = ]<sup>1</sup> | |||
| |currency_code = FKP | |||
| |country_code = | |||
| |time_zone = | |||
| |utc_offset = -4 | |||
| |time_zone_DST = | |||
| |utc_offset_DST = -3 | |||
| |cctld = ] | |||
| |calling_code = 500 | |||
| |footnotes = <sup>1</sup> Fixed to the ]. | |||
| }} | |||
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| The first sentence has been established as a compromise consensus between many editors in a long and difficult discussion (see talk page). Trying to change the sentence will be reverted on sight without discussion by many of the editors part of the discussion. If you have overriding NEW arguments, please bring them to the talk page first! Also note that the NPOV tag is in place because this text and its sentiments are in dispute. | |||
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| The '''Falkland Islands''' ({{lang-es|Islas Malvinas}}<ref></ref>) are an ] in the ], located 300 miles (483 km) from the coast of ], 671 miles (1,080 km) west of the ] (]), and 584 miles (940 km) north of the ] (which overlaps with the ] and ] claims to ] in that region). They consist of two main islands, ] and ], together with 776 smaller islands.<ref name="islands">{{cite web | |||
| | title = The Islands: Location | |||
| | work = Falkland Islands Government web site | |||
| | publisher = | |||
| | url = http://www.falklands.gov.fk/location.php | |||
| | date = 2007 | |||
| | accessdate =2007-04-08}}</ref> ], on East Falkland, is the capital. The islands are a self-governing ] of the ], but have been the subject of a ] by Argentina since the ].<ref> (Spanish and English)</ref> | |||
| In pursuit of this claim in 1982, the islands were ], precipitating the two-month-long undeclared ] between Argentina and the United Kingdom, which resulted in the defeat and withdrawal of Argentine forces. Since the war there has been strong economic growth in both ] and tourism. The inhabitants of the islands are full ] (since a ]) and under Argentine Law are eligible for Argentine ].<ref></ref> Many trace their origins on the islands to early 19th-century ] immigration. The islands' residents reject the Argentine ] claim.<ref> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | title = Country Profile: Falkland Islands, Sovereignty of the Islands | |||
| | work = Countries & Regions | |||
| | publisher =] | |||
| | url =http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/south-america/falkland-islands?profile=history&pg=3 | |||
| | date = ] | |||
| | accessdate =2008-04-04}} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| ==Name== | |||
| {{See also|List of Falkland Islands placenames}} | |||
| The islands are referred to in the ] as " Falkland Islands". This name dates from an expedition led by John Strong in 1690, who named the islands after his patron, ]. The ] name for the islands, ''"Islas Malvinas"'', is derived from the ] name ''"Îles Malouines"'', bestowed in 1764 by ], after the mariners and fishermen from the ] port of ] who became the island's first known settlers. The ] designation is "Falkland Islands (Malvinas)". | |||
| As a result of the continuing sovereignty dispute, the use of many Spanish names is considered offensive in the Falkland Islands, particularly those associated with the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.falklands.info/background/99agree.html|title=AGREEMENT OF 14th JULY 1999|publisher=Falklands.info|accessdate=2007-07-23}}</ref> General Sir ] would not allow the use of Islas Malvinas in the ], dismissing it as a ] term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psywar.org/falklands.php|title=PSYOP of the Falkland Islands War|publisher=psywar.org|accessdate=2007-07-23}}</ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| {{main|History of the Falkland Islands|Timeline of the history of the Falkland Islands}} | |||
| The Falkland Islands have had a complex history since their discovery, with ], ], ], and ] all claiming possession, and establishing as well as abandoning settlements on the islands. The ] was nearly the cause of a war between a Franco-Spanish Alliance and Britain. The Spanish government's claim was continued by Argentina after the ] in 1816 and the ] in 1817. The United Kingdom ] following the destruction of the Argentine settlement at ] by the ] sloop ] (] ]). Argentina has continued to claim sovereignty over the islands, and the dispute was used by the ] as a pretext to invade and briefly occupy the islands before being defeated in the two-month-long ] in 1982 by a United Kingdom task force which returned the islands to British control. | |||
| The islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by ]. There is disputed evidence of prior settlement, based on: | |||
| *The existence of the ], or Warrah (now extinct). It is thought that humans brought it to the islands, but it may have reached the islands via a ] when the ] was much lower during the last ]. | |||
| *A scattering of undated ]s including ]s and the remains of a ]. | |||
| The first European explorer to sight the islands is widely thought to be ], a ] sailor, in 1600. Although several British and Spanish historians maintain their own explorers discovered the islands earlier, some older maps, particularly Dutch ones, used the name "Sebald Islands", after de Weert. | |||
| In January 1690, ] sailor John Strong, captain of the ''Welfare'', was heading for ] (in Argentina); but driven off course by contrary winds, he reached the Sebald Islands instead and landed at Bold Cove. He sailed between the two principal islands and called the passage "Falkland Channel" (now ]), after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland (1659–1694), who as Commissioner of the ] had financed the expedition, later becoming First Lord of the Admiralty. From this body of water the island group later took its collective English name. | |||
| ] ] | |||
| The first settlement on the Falkland Islands, called ], was founded by the French navigator and military commander Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1764 on Berkeley Sound, in present-day ], ]. | |||
| Unaware of the French presence, in January 1765 British captain ] explored and claimed ], at the western end of the group, where he named the harbour of ], and sailed near other islands, which he also claimed for ]. A British settlement was built at Port Egmont in 1766. Also in 1766, Spain acquired the French colony, and after assuming effective control in 1767, placed the islands under a governor subordinate to the ]. Spain attacked Port Egmont, ending the British presence there in 1770. The expulsion of the British settlement ], but a peace treaty allowed the British to return to Port Egmont in 1771 with neither side relinquishing sovereignty.<ref name="briefhistory2">, Accessed ]</ref> | |||
| As a result of economic pressures resulting from the forthcoming ], the United Kingdom unilaterally chose to withdraw from many of her overseas settlements in 1774.<ref> A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS: Part 2 - Fort St. Louis and Port Egmont</ref><ref> FALKLAND ISLANDS TIMELINE: A chronology of events in the history of the Falkland Islands</ref> Upon her withdrawal in 1776 the UK left behind a ] asserting her claims. From then on, Spain alone maintained a settlement ruled from ] under the control of the ] until 1811. On leaving in 1811, Spain, too, left behind a plaque asserting her claims. | |||
| When Argentina declared its independence from Spain in 1816, it laid claim to the islands according to the '']'' principle, since they had been under the administrative jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. | |||
| On ] ], Colonel ] raised the flag of the ] (Argentina) at Port Louis. ] was an American sailor and ] in the employment of businessman Patrick Lynch to captain his ship, the frigate ] (Lynch had obtained a corsair licence from the Buenos Aires Supreme Director Jose Rondeau). ] had put into the islands the previous month, following a disastrous eight month voyage with most of his crew disabled by scurvy and disease. After resting in the islands and repairing his ship he returned to Buenos Aires. | |||
| Occupation began in 1828 with the foundation of a settlement and a penal colony. The settlement was destroyed by United States warships in 1831 after the Argentinian governor of the islands Luis Vernet seized U.S. seal hunting ships during a dispute over fishing rights. They left behind escaped prisoners and pirates. In November 1832, Argentina sent another governor who was killed in a mutiny. | |||
| In January 1833, British forces returned and informed the Argentine commander that they intended to reassert British sovereignty. The existing settlers were allowed to remain, with an ] member of Vernet's settlement, William Dickson, appointed as the Islands' governor. Vernet's deputy, Matthew Brisbane, returned later that year and was informed that the British had no objections to the continuation of Vernet's business ventures provided there was no interference with British control.<ref>{{cite book|first=Laurio H.|last=Destéfani|title=The Malvinas, the South Georgias and the South Sandwich Islands, the conflict with Britain|location=Buenos Aires|date=1982}}</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/User:Apcbg/Darwin-1834 Extracts from the Diary of Charles Darwin</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=EHBeagleDiary&viewtype=text&pageseq=304&keywords=falklands |title=Darwin's Beagle Diary (1831-1836)|pages=p.304|publisher=The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online|accessdate=2007-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpel.uba.ar/filargenta/correo/malv0020.htm|title=Ocupación británica: Port Stanley (Puerto Argentino)|language=Spanish|accessdate=2007-07-23|publisher=}}</ref> | |||
| ].]] | |||
| The ] built a base at ], and the islands became a strategic point for navigation around ]. A ] naval battle, the ], took place in December 1914, with a British victory over the ]. During ], Stanley served as a Royal Navy station and serviced ships which took part in the ]. | |||
| Sovereignty over the islands became an issue again in the latter half of the 20th century. Argentina, which had never renounced its claim to the islands, saw the creation of the ] as an opportunity to present its case before the rest of the world. In 1945, upon signing the ], Argentina stated that it reserved its right to sovereignty of the islands, as well as its right to recover them. The United Kingdom responded in turn by stating that, as an essential precondition for the fulfilment of UN Resolution 1514,<ref></ref> regarding the de-colonisation of all territories still under foreign occupation, the ] first had to vote for the British withdrawal at a ] to be held on the issue. | |||
| ].]] | |||
| Talks between British and Argentine foreign missions took place in the 1960s, but failed to come to any meaningful conclusion. A major sticking point in all the negotiations was that the two thousand inhabitants of mainly British descent preferred that the islands remain British territory. | |||
| ===Argentine links=== | |||
| There were no air links to the islands until 1971, when the ] (FAA), which operates the state airline ], began ] between ] and Stanley using ] aircraft.<ref></ref> Following a FAA request, the UK and Argentina reached an agreement for the FAA to construct the first runway. Flights began using ] and continued with ] aircraft twice a week until 1982. This was the only air link to the islands. ], the Argentine national oil and gas company, now part of ], supplied the islands' energy needs. | |||
| ===Falklands War=== | |||
| {{main|Falklands War}} | |||
| ]On ] ], Argentina ] and other British territories in the South Atlantic (]). The ] which had ruled Argentina since 1976 sought to maintain power by diverting public attention from the nation's ]. They attempted to do this by playing off long-standing feelings of the Argentines towards the islands.<ref>{{PDFlink||185 ]<!-- application/pdf, 189962 bytes -->}}</ref> British writers hold that the United Kingdom's reduction in military capacity in the South Atlantic also encouraged the invasion.<ref>{{cite web | title = Guide to the conflict | work = Fight for the Falklands — 20 years on | publisher =] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/uk/2002/falklands/guide2.stm | quote = The Foreign Secretary, ], and two junior ministers had resigned by the end of the week <nowiki></nowiki>. They took the blame for Britain's poor preparations and plans to decommission ], the Navy's only Antarctic patrol vessel. It was a move which may have lead the Junta to believe the UK had little interest in keeping the Falklands. | accessdate =2007-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =Secret Falklands fleet revealed | work =] | quote =], who was foreign secretary in 1977, said that if ]'s Conservative government had taken similar action to that of five years earlier, the war would not have happened. | publisher =] | date =] | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4597581.stm | accessdate =2007-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Casciani | first =Dominic | title =1976 Falklands invasion warning | work =] | quote =The ] Report into the eventual war noted that as tension mounted during 1977, the government covertly sent a small naval force to the islands — but did not repeat the move when relations worsened again in 1981-2. This has led some critics to blame prime minister Margaret Thatcher for the war, saying the decision to plan the withdrawal of the only naval vessel in the area sent the wrong signal to the military junta in Buenos Aires. | publisher =] | date =] | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6213121.stm | accessdate =}}</ref> | |||
| The ] issued Resolution 502, calling on Argentina to withdraw forces from the Islands and for both parties to seek a diplomatic solution.<ref> </ref> International reaction ranged from support in the ]n countries (with the exception of ]), to opposition in Europe (with the exception of ]), the ], and eventually the United States. The British sent an ] to retake the islands, leading to the ]. After short but fierce naval and air battles, the British landed at San Carlos Water on ], and a land campaign followed until the Argentine forces surrendered on ]. | |||
| Following the war, the British increased their military presence on the islands, constructing ] and increasing the military garrison. Although the United Kingdom and Argentina resumed diplomatic relations in 1989, no further negotiations on sovereignty have taken place. | |||
| ==Politics== | |||
| {{main|Politics of the Falkland Islands|Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands}} | |||
| ] of the ].]] | |||
| ] is vested in the ] and is exercised by the ] on her behalf. The Governor is also responsible for the administration of ], as these islands have no native inhabitants. Defence and Foreign Affairs are the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The current Governor is ], appointed July 2006. | |||
| Under the ], the latest version of which came into force in 1985, there is an ] and a ]. The Executive Council, which advises the Governor, is also chaired by the Governor. It consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and three Legislative Councillors, who are elected by the other Legislative Councillors. The Legislative Council consists of the Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and the eight Legislative Councillors, of whom five are elected from Stanley and three from ], for four-year terms. It is presided over by the Speaker, currently Darwin Lewis Clifton. | |||
| The loss of the war against the United Kingdom over control of the islands led to the collapse of the Argentine ] in 1983. Disputes over control of the islands continue. In 1992 Argentina and Britain resumed diplomatic relations and reopened their embassies in each other's countries. In 1998, in retaliation for the arrest in London of the former Chilean president ], the ] government banned flights between ] and ], thus isolating the islands from the rest of the world. ] and ] refused to authorise direct flights between their territories and Port Stanley, forcing the Islands' government to enter negotiations with the Argentine government which led to Argentina authorising direct flights between its territory and Stanley, on condition that Argentine citizens be allowed on the islands.<ref> AGREEMENT OF 14th JULY 1999</ref> In 2001, British Prime Minister ] became the first Prime Minister to visit Argentina since the war. On the twenty-second anniversary of the war, Argentina's President ] gave a speech insisting that the islands would once again be part of Argentina. Kirchner, ] in 2003, regarded the islands as a top priority. In June 2003 the issue was brought before a United Nations committee, and attempts have been made to open talks with the United Kingdom to resolve the issue of the islands. As far as the Falkland Islands Government and people are concerned, there is no issue to resolve. The Falkland Islanders themselves are almost entirely British and maintain their allegiance to the United Kingdom.<ref></ref> | |||
| On ] ] (exactly 25 years after the Argentine invasion), Argentina renewed its claim over the Falkland Islands, asking for the UK to resume talks on sovereignty. | |||
| Falkland Islanders were granted full British citizenship from ] ] under the ]. | |||
| ] ], ] reported the UK government was preparing to stake new claims on the sea floor around the Falklands and other UK remote island possessions, in order to exploit natural resources that may be present.<ref name="Guardian"> | |||
| {{cite news |first=Owen |last=Bowcott |title=The new British empire? UK plans to annex south Atlantic |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,,2174616,00.html |publisher=The Guardian |date=2007-09-22 |accessdate=2007-09-23}}</ref> In October 2007, a British spokeswoman confirmed that Britain intended to submit a claim<ref name="Reuters_Antartica"> | |||
| {{cite news |first=Kate|last=Kelland|title=Britain to claim a million square km of Antarctica |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL1721422020071017 |publisher=Reuters |date=2007-10-18 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> to the UN to extend seabed territory around the Falklands and South Georgia, in advance of the expiry of the deadline<ref name="Prof_Dodds">{{cite news |first=Prof Klaus|last=Dodds|title=Icy imperialism or reinforcement of the Antarctic treaty? |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2194803,00.html |publisher=The Guardian|date=2007-10-19 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> for territorial claims following Britain's ratification of the ].<ref name="Law_of_The_Sea"> Table of Contents to the UN Law of the Sea Convention</ref>. If the claim is disputed, the UN will suspend the claim until the dispute is settled.<ref name="Reuters_Antartica"/> The claim is largely theoretical and does not affect the ] or confirm new rights upon Britain. Neither does it permit the exploitation of oil or gas reserves, since these are banned by a protocol to the treaty. It would enable Britain to police fishing within the zone to prevent over exploitation of natural resources by commercial fishing in line with Britain's obligations under the treaty.<ref name="Prof_Boyle">{{cite news |first=Prof Alan|last=Boyle|title=Icy imperialism or reinforcement of the Antarctic treaty? |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2194803,00.html |publisher=The Guardian|date=2007-10-19 |access date=2007-10-20}}</ref> Nevertheless many commentators have criticised the move for going against the ''spirit'' of the ].<ref name ="Prof_Dodds"/> Argentina has indicated it will challenge any British claim to Antarctic territory and the area around the Falkland Islands and ].<ref name="Argentine_protests">{{cite news |first=Owen |last=Boycott |title=Argentina ready to challenge Britain's Antarctic claims |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/19/climatechange.fossilfuels |publisher=The Guardian |date=2007-10-19 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> | |||
| ==Geography== | |||
| ] | |||
| <!-- ]an ] and ]]] --> | |||
| {{seealso|Geology of the Falkland Islands|Rivers of the Falkland Islands}} | |||
| The Falkland Islands comprise two main islands, ] and ] (in Spanish Isla Gran Malvina and Isla Soledad respectively), and about 776 small islands.<ref name="islands"/> The total land area is 4,700 ]s (12,173 ]), approximately the same area as ] or ], with a ] estimated at 800 miles (1,288 km). | |||
| Much of the land is part of the two main islands separated by the ]: ], home to the capital of ] and the majority of the population, and ]. Both islands have ]s, rising to 2,313 ] (705 ]) at ] on East Falkland. There are also some ]gy ]s, most notably ], on the southern half of East Falkland. Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as ] for ]. | |||
| Smaller islands surround the main two. They include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The ] lie to the north west of the main archipelago, and ] some distance to its south. Speedwell Island and George Island are split from East Falkland by ]. | |||
| The islands claim a territorial sea of 12 ]s (22 km) and an ] of 200 nautical miles (370 km), which has been a source of disagreement with Argentina. | |||
| Surrounded by cool ] waters, the Falkland Islands have a climate very much influenced by the ocean with a narrow annual temperature range of only 7°C. January averages about 9°C, with average daily high of 13°C, while July averages about 2°C with average daily high 4°C. Rainfall is relatively low at about 24 inches (610 mm). ] and winds, however, are constantly high. Snow is rare, but can occur at almost any time of year. | |||
| ], the Falkland Islands are classified as part of the ] realm, together with South America. It is also classified as part of the ]. | |||
| ==Economy== | |||
| {{main|Economy of the Falkland Islands}} | |||
| ] farming (as of 2002, there were 583,000 sheep on the island<ref>http://www.falklands-meat.com/statement.htm</ref>) was formerly the main source of income for the islands, and still plays an important part with high quality wool exports going to the UK, but efforts to diversify introduced in 1984 have made ] the largest part of the economy and brought increasing income from ]. | |||
| The government sale of fishing licences to foreign countries has brought in more than ]40 million a year in revenues, and local fishing boats are also in operation. More than 75% of the fish taken are ], and most exports are to ]. Tourism has shown rapid growth, with more than 30,000 visitors in 2001. The islands have become a regular port of call for the growing market of ]s. Attractions include the scenery and wildlife conservation with ]s, seabirds, ] and ]s, as well as visits to battlefields, ], fishing and ]. | |||
| An agreement with Argentina had set the terms for exploitation of offshore resources including large ], however, in 2007 Argentina unilaterally withdrew from the agreement.<ref name=""Kirchner_oil">{{cite news |first=Sophie |last=Arie |title=Argentina snubs UK over oil deal as anniversary nears |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/29/warg29.xml |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=2007-04-03 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> In response, Falklands Oil and Gas Limited has signed an agreement with ] to investigate the potential exploitation of oil reserves.<ref name="Times_Oil_Deal"> | |||
| {{cite news |first=Carl |last=Mortished |title=BHP Billiton strikes $100m Falklands drilling deal |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article2577806.ece |publisher=The Times |date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> Climatic conditions of the southern seas mean that exploitation will be a difficult task, though economically viable, and the continuing sovereignty dispute with Argentina is hampering progress.<ref name="Argentine_response">{{cite news |first=Jude |last=Webber |title=Argentina protests at Falklands oil stake |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/aa2294fe-71d7-11dc-8960-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 |publisher=The Financial Times |date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> | |||
| Defence is provided by the UK, and British military expenditures make a significant contribution to the economy. The islands are self sufficient except for defence; exports account for more than £125 million a year. | |||
| The largest company in the islands used to be the ] (FIC), a publicly quoted company on the ] which was responsible for the majority of the economic activity on the islands, though its farms were sold in 1991 to the Falkland Islands Government. The FIC now operates several retail outlets in Stanley and is involved in port services and shipping operation. | |||
| ] | |||
| The currency in use is the ], which remains in parity with the ]. Sterling notes and coins circulate interchangeably with the local currency. The Falkland Islands also ] their own coins, and ], which forms a source of revenue from overseas collectors. | |||
| ==Demographics== | |||
| ] with whale bone arch, ].]] | |||
| {{seealso|Falkland Islanders|Origins of Falkland Islanders}} | |||
| The population is 2,967 (July 2003 estimate), the majority of which are of British descent (approximately 70%), as a result of primarily ] and ] immigration to the islands.<ref>{{cite book|first=Patrick|last=Vincent|title=The Geographical Journal, Vol. 149, No. 1, pp 16-17|date=March 1983}}</ref> The native-born inhabitants call themselves "Islanders". Outsiders often call Islanders "Kelpers", from the ] which grows profusely around the islands, but the name is no longer used in the Islands. Those people from the United Kingdom who have obtained Falkland Island status became what are known locally as 'belongers'. A few Islanders are of ], ]ian (such as the ]), ] and ]n descent. Some are the descendants of ] who reached the Islands during the last two centuries. Furthermore there is a small minority of South American, mainly ]an origin, and in more recent times many people from ] have also come to work in the Islands. The Falkland Islands have been a centre of English language learning for South Americans. | |||
| The main religion is ]. The main denominations are ], ], ], and ]-based denominations. Other smaller numbers of Christian churches are active, including ], ] and ]; with the latter being due to Greek fishermen passing through. There is also a small ] presence <ref></ref>. | |||
| ==Medical care== | |||
| The Falkland Islands Government Health and Social Services Department provides medical care for the islands. The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) is Stanley's only hospital. It was partially military operated in the past but is now under complete civilian control.<ref></ref> There are no ] or ]s on the islands, although an optician from the United Kingdom visits about every six months and an ophthalmologist comes to do ] surgery and eye exams on irregular intervals (once every few years). There are two ]s on the islands. | |||
| ==Broadcasting and telecommunications== | |||
| ===Broadcasting=== | |||
| *] television, using the UK UHF allocation is standard. | |||
| *FM stereo broadcasting using the UK allocation is standard. | |||
| *MW broadcasting using 10 kHz steps (standard in ] Region II). | |||
| ===Telephone=== | |||
| The Falkland Islands has a modern telecommunications network providing fixed line telephone and DSL and ] in Stanley. | |||
| Telephony is provided to outlying settlements using ]. | |||
| A ] mobile network was installed in 2005 which provided coverage of Stanley, Mount Pleasant and surrounding areas. | |||
| ==Transport== | |||
| ] of the ] at ].]] The Falkland Islands has two airports with paved runways. ], thirty miles west of Stanley, acts as the main international airport, with flights operated by the ] to ] in ], ] via a refuelling stop at ]. RAF flights are on ] although it is common for charter aircraft to be used if the TriStars are required for operational flights. At present (December 2007) the RAF air link is operated by ], using ]s. Weekly flights are also available to/from ], operated by ]. | |||
| ] is a smaller airport outside the city, and is used for internal flights. Most settlements have grass air strips which are served by ] aircraft of the ] (FIGAS). The internal flight schedule is decided a day in advance according to passenger needs and an announcement made on the radio detailing arrival and departure times the night before. The ] company also operate two ] helicopters for passenger flights between the islands. The ] operates a transcontinental air link between the Falkland Islands and the ] airfield, servicing also other British bases in the ] using a ]. | |||
| The road network has been improved in recent years. However, not too many paved roads exist outside Stanley and the RAF base. | |||
| ==Landmines and ordnance== | |||
| Approximately twenty five thousand ]s remaining from the 1982 war are securely and clearly fenced off. Free maps are available from the EOD (]) office in Stanley. Care should still be taken as some beaches were mined, and there have been concerns the tides could have moved some mines. The same applies where mine fields are close to rivers. Care should be taken in case mines have been washed out of the marked area by flooding. There is also ] left over from the war, although finds of this type are becoming rarer with the passage of time.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} | |||
| In February 2005, the charity Landmine Action proposed a ]-style credit scheme, which would see a commitment by the British government to clear an equivalent area of mined land to that currently existing in the Falklands in more seriously mine-affected countries by March 2009. This proposal was supported by Falkland Islanders, for whom landmines do not pose a serious threat in everyday life, but the British government is yet to declare its support or opposition to the idea. | |||
| ==Military== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| The island has a number of ] stationed on it at most times, but also has its own defence force known as the ]. This is one ] in size. It is completely funded by the ] and uses vehicles such as; ]s, ]s and ]s to traverse the islands terrain. The ] uses the ] as its main ]. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| ] | |||
| {{wikisource|CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)}} | |||
| {{columns | |||
| |width=270px | |||
| |col1 = | |||
| * ] | |||
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| * ] (1982) | |||
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| }} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{sisterlinks|Falkland Islands topics}} | |||
| * {{dmoz|Regional/South_America/Falkland_Islands/}} | |||
| * {{wikitravel}} | |||
| * official site | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * official site | |||
| * official site | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| * L.L. Ivanov et al, ''The Future of the Falkland Islands and Its People'', Double T Publishers, Sofia, 2003, 96 pp. () ISBN 954-91503-1-3 | |||
| * Carlos Escudé and Andrés Cisneros, eds., ''Historia de las Relaciones Exteriores Argentinas'', Work developed and published under the auspices of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI), GEL/Nuevohacer (Buenos Aires), 2000. | |||
| ( in Spanish) ISBN 950-694-546-2 | |||
| <references/> | |||
| </div> | |||
| {{Template group | |||
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| {{Falkland Islands topics}} | |||
| {{British dependencies}} | |||
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| {{Outlying territories of European countries}} | |||
| }} | |||
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| |title = Territorial disputes | |||
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| {{Territorial disputes involving the United Kingdom}} | |||
| {{Territorial disputes involving Argentina}} | |||
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Revision as of 07:47, 31 May 2008
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