Nice weather!

Now I've got my mum worried I might as well talk about the weather. The Southwest Pacific has two seasons effectively. Cyclone season and not cyclone season. Cyclone season is October to May when the water is warm. They usually get 2 cyclones above category 3 and a heap of smaller storms. Thunderstorms peak between December and March.

Tropical cyclone paths

Added to that there are earthquakes fairly regularly. One last year (magnitude 8.1) caused a 5-10m high tsunami. 900 homes were destroyed and over 50 people were killed.

Earthquake locations

If we go flying it may be a bit bumpy. It may also be a bit sticky. Each day is 27-30 degrees. In fact the average mean daily temperature only varies by 2 degrees throughout the year. Humidity also remains fairly constant at above 80%. Annual rainfall is measured in meters - anywhere from 3 to 9. December is a transition month for the equatorial trough, (I have no idea what this is), what it means is a time of "exceptionally heavy rain".

Every time I've travelled in the tropics I've consciously thought "thank god I don't have to work in this weather!" I have to say I am not looking forward to the constant perspiration, drinking water, feeling drained cycle. It often takes a couple of weeks to acclimatise to the change. Here in Adelaide its unseasonably cool, in the 20's which is no preparation at all.

The Reason for RAMSI

In late 1998 many people on Guadalcanal became unhappy with the number of people arriving from nearby Malaita. Militant locals began a campaign of intimidation and violence resulting in the sudden migration of thousands of Malaitans back to Malaita or to the capital Honiara. Over the next year the country spiraled into anarchy. A four month state of emergency was called. The president was kidnapped by the opposing militia, the colourfully named Malita Eagles. A new president, Manasseh Sogavare was elected with half the cabinet kept away from the vote because the Malaita Eagle force had taken over the military police. A peace agreement was signed in 2000 but by then the government was completely corrupt and out of control.

One Malaitan leader, Harold Keke, didn't sign the peace agreement and continued an all out guerrilla war. Locals in the Western province also began attacking Malaitan settlers. This resulted in the involvement or rebel members of the nearby Bougainville Revolutionary Army becoming involved. Rather than keep the peace they made a significant contribution to the violence.

By 2003 the Solomon Islands were an official "failed state". Honiara was completely lawless, ruled by gangs and witness to many atrocities. The government called for support. In July 2003 the 2200 troops and police led by Australia and New Zealand arrived as RAMSI - the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. About 20 other Pacific nations contributed troops or police in what was quite a new regional peace keeping initiative.

Law and order was gradually restored and an enormous number of guns and weapons removed from the community. Work has continued restoring the parliamentary system, the judiciary, the police and prisons and general utilities.

In 2006 simmering tensions were set off by allegations the newly elected Prime Minister, Snyder Rini, had taken bribes from Chinese businessmen to influence ministers. Rioting broke out very suddenly and the Chinatown district of Honiara was burnt down. More troops from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji quelled the unrest and the Prime Minister resigned.

Manasseh Sogavare was elected and is still the Prime Minister. He has been openly hostile to Australia and the RAMSI force, expelling the Australian High Commissioner on charges of interference with internal matters. In return the recent Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer openly criticised Mr Sogavare and suggested he was corrupt in the Australian media. Relations soured further when Australia requested the the Solomon's Attorney General, Julian Moti, be extradited on child sex charges.

The Australian Government currently recommends a High degree of caution when travelling to the Solomons. While law and order have been restored it is not clever to be out in Honiara after dark.

Where?

The Solomons are part of Melanesia and one of Australia's closest Pacific neighbours. The Nation, which gained independance from the UK in 1976, comprises nearly 1000 islands. More than half of these islands are uninhabited. The capital is Honiara where I will be based and has a population of just over 50,000, or 10% of the national polpulation. English is the official language of the Solomons, however only about 2% of the population speak it. The lingua franca is Solomons pijin. There are about 71 local languages also spoken throughout the islands.

Welcome

Welcome to this, my first attempt at blogging. I am one step off being a card carrying computer illiterate so this will be an adventure for all concerned. I have decided to keep a diary of my month working in the Solomon Islands as a retrieval paramedic, and thought this would be an easy medium for all to see and read about what I am up to. I am now a week away from flying out from Adelaide, South Australia and as yet, other than buying some light weight pants, establishing this blog is the most preparation I have done towards the trip. Stay tuned for more posts.