I would never have thought that I would get interested in the Polynesian country of Tuvalu, a member of the United Nations, the fourth smallest nation in the world after Vatican City, Monaco and another island nation in the Pacific – Nauru. Tuvalu has a population of about 10,000 people and its land size is 26 square km (10 sq mi). At its highest, Tuvalu is only 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level. It is estimated that a sea level rise of 20–40 centimetres (8–16 inches) in the next 100 years could make Tuvalu uninhabitable. Each of the nine islands making Tuvalu has a primary school. Besides, there is a secondary school on the atoll of Vaitupu, the largest of the Tuvalu atolls.
The country spends no money on the military, except that its police have a patrol boat. The Prime-Minister of Tuvalu heads the 15-member Tuvaluan Parliament. There are no formal political parties and election campaigns are largely based on personal/family ties and reputations.
Curiously enough, Tuvalu is involved in Big Politics. It recognizes the separatist regimes of Abkhazia and Osetia, which are a part of Georgia in the Caucasus, but which seceded and have diplomatic ties with some five-six countries of the world, including Russia.
Having read about Tuvalu on the Internet, I thought that there were some similar tendencies in Ukraine: plummeting educational standards, shrinking of science and research, the character of election campaigns, kowtowing to authoritarian states, degradation of the armed forces, Tuvaluans working abroad and sending money to support their relatives in the country … Even the perspective of its existence in 100 years’ time looks similar.
Why did I become interested in Tuvalu? I was announced today that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has authorized Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations to sign a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic relations with that country.
BLOGGING IS LIVING 
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