It would be easy to overlook the world's third smallest country as a frivolous waste of time. Nothing could be further from the truth regarding the island of Nauru. It is a multifaceted nation described almost as a topographical micro slice of paradise. The Nauruan people have formed a democratic republic with a constitution that safeguards freedoms and ensures prosperity. At least that's according to publicly available Nauru websites. Countries often appear to the outside like a glossy postcard image. This image does not always correspond to the reality of what is inside. Looking at what the Nauru government and tourism organization have to say can serve as a point of reference for comparing the realities Nauru is facing and the gap between the two. Nauru is a small island located just 26 miles south of the equator with a land mass of just over eight square miles. The government describes the island purely in topographical terms as “surrounded by a coral reef, exposed at low tide and dotted with pinnacles. The coral reef is bordered towards the sea by deep water and inland by a sandy beach. The presence of the coral reef prevented the creation of a seaport... a fertile coastal strip 150-300 meters wide lies landward from the beach. Coral reefs surround the central plateau. The only fertile areas are the narrow coastal strip” (Republic of Nauru [RON], 2012, p.1). The Nauru government is also very proud of their parliamentary democracy and much of their website explains not only freedom but also compulsory voting for ages twenty and up. Their Constitution also calls for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms such as “life, liberty, security of person, enjoyment of property and...... middle of paper ......everything, D (2009 ). Doomed Island: Nauru's shortsightedness and subsequent decline is an urgent warning to the rest of the planet. Alternatives Journal, 35(1), 34-37.Nauru Tourism, Department of Economic Development.(2012). Unique Nauru. Retrieved May 27, 2012, from: http://www.discovernauru.com/Singh, S. (2007, March 28). South Pacific: Island nations struggle with obesity epidemic. Global Information Network, pp. 1. http://search.proquest.com/docview/457564219?Accountid =38569The Republic of Nauru.(2011). Republic of Nauru. Retrieved May 27, 2012, from: http://www.naurugov.nr/index.htmlThe Republic of Nauru.(2011). The Constitution of Nauru. Retrieved May 27, 2012, from: http://www.naurugov.nr/parliament/constitution.htmlU.S, Department of State website (2012) Endnote: Nauru. Retrieved May 27, 2012, from: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16447.htm