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reunion |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Reunion \Re*un"ion\, n. [Pref. re- + union: cf F. r['e]union.] 1. A second union; union formed anew after separation, secession, or discord; as a reunion of parts or particles of matter; a reunion of parties or sects. 2. An assembling of persons who have been separated, as of a family, or the members of a disbanded regiment; an assembly so composed. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: reunion n 1: a party of former associates who have come together again 2: the act of coming together again [syn: {reunification}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Reunion (overseas department of France) Reunion:Geography Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar Map references: World Area: total area: 2,510 sq km land area: 2,500 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 201 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast Natural resources: fish, arable land Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 35% other: 39% Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano international agreements: NA Reunion:People Population: 666,067 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (female 104,924; male 109,972) 15-64 years: 62% (female 210,762; male 203,774) 65 years and over: 6% (female 21,606; male 15,029) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 1.98% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 24.59 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 4.79 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.46 years male: 71.39 years female: 77.67 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.75 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Reunionese (singular and plural) adjective: Reunionese Ethnic divisions: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian Religions: Roman Catholic 94% Languages: French (official), Creole widely used Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982) total population: 79% male: 76% female: 80% Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981) Reunion:Government Names: conventional long form: Department of Reunion conventional short form: Reunion local long form: none local short form: Ile de la Reunion Digraph: RE Type: overseas department of France Capital: Saint-Denis Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France) Independence: none (overseas department of France) National holiday: National Day Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: French law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: Prefect of Reunion Island Hubert FOURNIER (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council General Council: elections last held March 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA seats - (47 total) PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7 Regional Council: elections last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA seats - (45 total) UPF 17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6 French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA seats - (3 total) RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1 French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA seats - (5 total) PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1 Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel) Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain DEFAUD; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Elie HOARAU;; France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean-Claude FRUTEAU Social Democrats (CDS), leader NA Union for France (UPF - including RPR and UDF); Free-Dom Movement, Marguerite SUDRE Member of: FZ WFTU Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France) US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France) Flag: the flag of France is used Economy Overview: The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $3,900 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: 35% (February 1991) Budget: revenues: $358 million expenditures: $914 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.) Exports: $166 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%, lobster 3%, vanilla and tea 1% partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA%; about 25% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 180,000 kW production: 1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,454 kWh (1993) Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, several small shops producing handicraft items Agriculture: accounts for 30% of labor force; dominant sector of economy; cash crops - sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco; food crops - tropical fruits, vegetables, corn; imports large share of food needs Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $14.8 billion Currency: 1 French franc F = 100 centimes Exchange rates: French francs F per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990) Fiscal year: calendar year Reunion:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 2,800 km paved: 2,200 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km Ports: Le Port, Pointe des Galets Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 Reunion:Communications Telephone system: 85,900 telephones; adequate system; principal center Saint-Denis local: NA intercity: modern open-wire and microwave network international: radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 13, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 18) televisions: NA Reunion:Defense Forces Branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 173,693; males fit for military service 89,438; males reach military age (18) annually 5,781 (1995 est.) Note: defense is the responsibility of France
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