Tristan Islanders
Thatching Traditions on Tristan da Cunha
The people of Tristan da Cunha have a lot they could teach the rest of the world—more than just their skills at defusing conflicts and getting along peacefully. Some retired Tristanians are building a replica of a traditional thatched-roof dwelling on the east side of their settlement as a museum for visitors and as a […]
The Repetto Family Builds Peace
Ian Brown, a native of Tristan da Cunha but now a resident of the UK, paid a visit last month with his wife to the Italian town of Camogli, the birthplace of Andrea Repetto, his great grandfather. Unlike a lot of news reports from Tristan da Cunha that are only of local interest, this seemingly […]
Competitive Football on Tristan
Competition is anathema to some of the peaceful societies, such as the Kadar, Semai, Piaroa, and Chewong, where people fear it might provoke resentment, anger, and even violence. For other peaceful societies, it is simply a harmless and enjoyable part of life. Tristan da Cunha is one of those places, where the spirit of friendly […]
Tristan da Cunha Celebrates the Diamond Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee has just been celebrated on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha by 262 British subjects, who are among the world’s most enthusiastic supporters of the English monarchy. The quiet, judicious style of the Queen has endeared her to her subjects, including those on Tristan. The celebrations commemorating her 60 years […]
Daily Life on Tristan da Cunha [book review]
“A few chickens have been killed and the dogs chased some cattle, which were grazing in the village,” Conrad Glass reports, describing a typical day in his job as the policeman of Tristan da Cunha. Investigating a complaint relayed by the village vet, the officer wrote that he was able to identify the persons who […]
Difficulties of an Isolated Doctor
A lot of Internet services today are based on “the cloud,” but on the island of Tristan da Cunha, due to slow Internet connection speed, the practice of medicine is based partly on the gut—the intuition of the island’s doctor. Dr. Gerard Bulger, the physician on Tristan da Cunha, has published an article describing his […]
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Evacuation of Tristan
Fifty years ago, on October 8th, 1961, two months after the rumbling and shaking had started, a new volcanic cone shattered the earth only two hundred yards east of the settlement on Tristan da Cunha. This past week, the British media have been commemorating the eruption, and the evacuation of the islanders that had become […]
Condolences after a Mass Murder
Last week, the Tristan da Cunha website revealed that Chief Islander Ian Lavarello, on behalf of the Tristan Island Council, had sent a letter on August 1st to the Norwegian Embassy in London expressing condolences for the mass murders in Norway on July 22. Mr. Lavarello’s letter, portions of which were quoted on the website, […]
Tristan Fishery Earns Certification
Last Thursday, the Marine Stewardship Council announced that the rock lobster fishery operation of Tristan da Cunha has been certified as sustainable and well-managed. During a ceremony in the Shoreline Café, at Cape Town’s popular Two Oceans Aquarium, the MSC gave its award to the Ovenstone Agency, the local firm that manages the Tristan fishery. […]
Tristan Disaster So Far
The news about Tristan da Cunha last month was dire. A huge ship had crashed on a reef near Tristan, threatening not only thousands of sea birds but the economy and social traditions of the Tristan Islanders as well. On March 16th, the MV Oliva, a 75,000 ton bulk carrier taking a load of soy […]
