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__JAMAICA__  FAST FACTS: Population: 2,772,000 Capital City: Kingston Languages: English, Creole, Patois Religious Affiliations: Anglican, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Rastafarian Ethnic Groups: African, East Indian, Chinese, White, Mixed and Others Natural Resorces: bauxite, limestone, marble, silica, sand,  gypsum Agricultural Products: sugar, bananas, coffee, citrus fruits, condiments, and spices Government Type: Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy Climate: tropical Literacy rate: (over age 15) 79.9% <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">*[] GEOGRAPHY:
 * http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2032.htm
 * Jamaica is an island in the West Indies, 90 mi (145 km) south of Cuba and 100 mi (161 km) west of Haiti. It is a little smaller than Connecticut. The island is made up of coastal lowlands, a limestone plateau, and the Blue Mountains, a group of volcanic hills, in the east.

<span style="font-size: 300%; color: #008000; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 300%; color: #008000; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 300%; color: #008000; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> HISTORY:<span style="font-size: 300%; color: #008000; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">* <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Jamaica was originally inhabited by an indeginous people group called the Arawaks. However, the Spanish soon invaded in 1494 and wiped out the entire race. By 1655, the British captured the island and used the small piece of land for economic purposes (i.e. trade of manufactured goods). They soon initiated African importation for the purpose of slavery to advance their colony. In 1838, the slaves were emancipated due to the rise in production costs of sugar, leaving the British unable to compete with other sugar manufacturers. Rev. Sam Sharpe was named a hero for leading the famous slave rebellion of 1831, several years before emancipation. Ex-slaves began to settle down in the land, however not without struggle for land. 1944 was the token year that Jamaica gained full independence from England and created its own constitution. From this point, 1962 was the first year of full political independence and henceforth, Jamaica endured several more decades of various forms of political independence. Today, Jamaica attests to possessing its own culture, music, language, and form of government. <span style="font-size: 70%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">*http://www.jamaicans.com/info/brief.htm <span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="font-size: 300%; color: #008000; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="font-size: 300%; color: #008000; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> Rastafarianism <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">**Known for**: religious use of marijuana, dreadlocks, worship of Haile Selassie (emperor of Ethiopia) <span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">CHRISTIAN CONCERNS FOR JAMAICA
 * http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107662.h tml<span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">
 * Founded**: November 2, 1930
 * Place Founded**: Jamaica
 * Founder**: Marcus Garvey ("the second John the Baptist")
 * Interesting Facts**: abstain from alcohol, vegetarians, most famous Rasta: Bob Marley (known for reggae music), resist "Babylon" (white power structures)
 * http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/rastafarianism.htm
 * Although Christianity is numerically strong, it is **spiritually weak**
 * **Moral decline** in Jamaica (ex. sex and drugs are rampant)
 * Less evangelized: the **very poor and Rastafarians**
 * **Little missions vision** in the church
 * **Young people** will be reached in order for the next generation to curb the moral decline
 * "Operation World" by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk

<span style="display: block; font-size: 160%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: right;">DANGERS FOR VISITORS <span style="display: block; font-size: 80%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; text-align: left;">*http://www.jamaicancaves.org/jamaica-crime.htm
 * Despite being one of the most murderous countries, visitors should **not fear for their lives**.
 * Homosexuality: If you are gay, you should not visit Jamaica. **Homosexuality is illegal** and some Jamaicans believe in killing gays.
 * Rape: Generally, women will **not have to fear rape** even though most Jamaicans will pursue sex relentlessly. However, **caution** should still be used.
 * Even though Jamaica is relatively safe for visitors, they must realize that most nationals carry guns and thus should understand the possibility of being hit by a **stray bullet** meant for someone else.
 * Theft: **Stealing is quite common** in Jamaica and you should not be surprised if it happens to you.
 * **Harrassment**: Jamaicans (especially in the western parts) will tend to call out to white people and your best bet is to ignore it.

<span style="font-size: 180%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">JAMAICAN FOOD <span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">**Ackee**: a fleshy, yellow part of a seed pod from a local tree; generally cooked with saltfish <span style="display: block; font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: left;">media type="custom" key="3724561"media type="custom" key="3724645" REGGAE MUSIC <span style="font-size: 150%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"><span style="display: block; font-size: 50%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; text-align: left;">**Founded**: Jamaica, 1960s Beautiful Montego Bay Beach <span style="display: block; font-size: 220%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: left;"> Kingston
 * Bammy**: resembles breadfruit in texture and flavor; used by locals as a potato subsitute
 * Cho-Cho**: member of the squash family and served as a vegetable, often in soups
 * Escorvitch Fish**: fish pan-fried in a mixture of onions, peppers, lime, vinegar, and allspice
 * Jerk Meat**: fish, chicken, pork, and beef can all be used with this sauce, which ranges from mild to hot
 * http://fsweb.bainbridge.edu/bdubay/jamaica/food.html [[image:fish.jpg width="244" height="178"]][[image:ting.jpg width="206" height="185"]][[image:jerk_chicken.jpg width="241" height="192"]]
 * Style**: characterizes off-beats, slower than ska
 * Song lyrics include**: religion, love, sexuality, peace, injustice and other social and political issues
 * Most popular reggae artist**: Bob Marley
 * [] <span style="font-size: 300%; color: #008000; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">[[image:marley.jpg width="362" height="263"]][[image:reggae.jpg width="353" height="267"]]

<span style="display: block; font-size: 210%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: left;">Ocho Rios



<span style="display: block; font-size: 210%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: left;">Negril



<span style="display: block; font-size: 190%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: left;">Glistening Waters: water that glows due to a special bacteria