Size doesn’t matter

Yesterday, the people of the Falkland Islands elected a new Legislative Assembly. So what? Who cares? Well, as a fan of the Islanders and an admirer of their way of life, I do. And much, much more importantly, the people who live on the Islands do.

The Falkland Islanders are resourceful, resilient people. They need to be: there are less than three thousand of them and their small country lies far out into the South Atlantic Ocean. It would fit into Brazil 700 times.

There are no highways in the Falklands, no railways, no universities and no shopping malls. There is one secondary school, one hospital and one police station. There is one flight a week to mainland South America. It can snow even in mid-summer.

If my description sounds unappealing so far, consider this. There’s also no traffic, no pollution, and no reason for people to lock their doors at night. The environment may be tough but it’s pristine and teeming with wildlife – a photographer’s paradise. The Islanders are a close-knit, peaceful community, where everyone knows everyone else.

In short, the Falklands sounds like the kind of place that exists less and less in today’s urbanised, globalised, hurry-up societies. Part of me can’t help hoping it will stay that way forever: that part which has to deal with insurance companies; with inboxes; with my daily commute; and with my neighbours’ incessant parties every Thursday to Sunday.

The Falkland Islands’ Legislative Assembly is small too, with just eight Members. They share a Chamber with the court. Being so few, they are both politicians and members of the Falkland Islands community, with portfolios covering everything you would expect: economic development, health, education, transport and so on.

The Islands are gearing up for change, with important decisions ahead for the Islanders on developing their economy. The Members of the previous Assembly began a programme of extensive outreach to other countries in South America, including Brazil, to tell the Islanders’ story and explore opportunities for more trade and people-to-people links.

It’s already had an effect. Almost everyone I’ve talked with about it in Brazil knows that the Islanders held a referendum this year, for example. So I hope that continues too.

What do you think?