this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2025
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Today I Learned

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[–] Asetru@feddit.org 84 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Approximately 90% of the land area of Nauru is covered with phosphate deposits, with the majority strip-mined and non-arable. This has led to Nauruan reliance on processed food, high in both sugar and fat, imported from large Oceanian countries such as Australia and New Zealand.[4][2]

Ninety percent??? Ninety!?!?

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 48 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Basically at some point in the 70s they sold their rights to Australia, who came in and destroyed the island. They were, for a bit, the wealthiest people in the world per capita but the money ran out fairly quickly.

[–] breecher@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

They are basically the metaphor for modern human civilisation.

[–] lime@feddit.nu 11 points 3 days ago (2 children)

i'm guessing "phosphate deposits" is a very roundabout way to say "guano".

More than likely it's buildups of marine life deposits considering it's an island. Phosphates are usually mined from naturally occurring porous stones that phosphorus has diffused through over a long period of time.

Guano has some phosphates in it, but is usually sought after for its high nitrogen content, and is typically located near coastal areas or caves as opposed to remote islands.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

These were mineral deposits.

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 59 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Samoa is not far behind. It's because of overly processed diets on islands. Mostly as a result of western nations coming in and having a presence on islands and starting the processed food imports. The most affordable food on these islands comes out of a can because it is shelf stable and easier to transport. Fresh food is very expensive.

[–] MirthfulAlembic@lemmy.world 40 points 3 days ago

The Nauru article linked also points out that the large amount of mining has done away with most of what little arable land there was, making traditional garden culture impractical at scale. So, they sort of have to be dependent on foreign food imports, largely the kind you mention.

[–] kingofthezyx@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

Hawaii 🤝 SPAM

[–] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yep, all the fresh fish that they can catch for free is too valuable for them to eat for themselves. Surrounded by free food that they can't afford to eat.

[–] BakerBagel@midwest.social 10 points 2 days ago

What you fail to understand is that capitalism is the most efficient way to distribute resources. This is simply the will of the market

[–] Godric@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago

"Nauru has used its position as a member of the United Nations to gain financial support from both Taiwan (officially the Republic of China or ROC) and China (officially the People's Republic of China or PRC) by changing its recognition from one to the other under the One-China policy.

On 21 July 2002, Nauru signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC, accepting US$130 million from the PRC for this action (US$211 million in 2023. In response, the ROC severed diplomatic relations with Nauru two days later. Nauru later re-established links with the ROC on 14 May 2005,[95] and diplomatic ties with the PRC were officially severed on 31 May 2005. On 15 Jan 2024, Nauru severed ties with the ROC and re-established diplomatic ties with the PRC."

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 2 points 2 days ago

The Nauru massage is the most desired massage of them all using a VPN under incognito mode. So that's weird. I would think they would be pretty fit.

[–] selkiesidhe@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Daaang. They beat the US? That is impressive as hell.

A lot fewer people. This would be like a small town in rural US of 12k people being 90%+ obese.

I don't have that data at my fingertips, but I suspect that if we don't have a place like that exactly, it'd be pretty close.

Now just turn that into a country.

[–] individual@toast.ooo 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

OK but its only 8 miles squared

[–] HikingVet@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 days ago

Wind sprints, let's go.

[–] skeezix@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (2 children)

They are so fat. The fattest people on the planet. The picture on their dollar bill is a cheeseburger. The national bird is a roast turkey. They play the national anthem on Whistle Pops. The national holiday is hot fudge Sunday and it’s celebrated every week. Their shirts are 100% cotton candy. The national sport is all you can eat contest and citizens are encouraged to practice every day. The national animal is the chocolate moose. When a bride gets married the dowry is a big bowl of macaroni and cheese.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

I have found my people.

[–] funkajunk@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

I'm packing my bags rn

[–] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

And how many people live on Nauru?

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Oh, a tenth the size of the city I live in, give or take, then.

[–] pressedhams@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 days ago

I would say at least 50.

[–] TeNppa@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 days ago

Nauru also means "laugh" on Finnish.

[–] Perspectivist@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Deleted / Wrong thread.

[–] MojoMcJojo@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (3 children)

The American empire is failing on all fronts. Sad.

I got the joke, don't worry lol

[–] Bad_Engineering@fedia.io 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Nauru has been an independent country since 1968.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

How big of a role does spam playing their diet

[–] Godric@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Bro Spam is just 1's and 0's, only thing getting fat off spam is your inbox

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 1 points 2 days ago

so is trans fat

[–] TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I mean yeah, but I don't think it really has a lot to do with this particular situation....

The island has been a victim of colonialism, but mainly from the British empire, then the Japanese, and are now considered a client state of Australia.

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Right, but have you considered - America bad?

[–] rbos@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

America legiit bad right now. Do not travel to the USA or buy American products.

[–] blarghly@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Too late. I live here.

[–] vodka@feddit.org 2 points 3 days ago

He's joking that America is even failing at being the fattest.