Environmental and Cultural Changes (4 gen 1970 anni – 10 ottob 2176 anni)

Descrizione:

Coastal areas of Tutuila become especially stressed since this is where most of the population resides. The island begins to face such problems as overfishing, pest and weed species, solid waste, sedimentation from land erosion onto coral reefs, and a limited supply of drinking water. Most remarkable is rapid population growth. It is expected that the
population will more than double by 2020.

Much of fa'a Samoa (the Samoan way) is still observed. The Samoan language is intact, and the faalavelave is alive and well. However, the modern day American Samoan has more of a choice to participate in fa'a Samoa. The rigid traditional ranking of ones place in society has changed with the introduction of consumerism; wealth also holds status. Youth have generally lost interest in their heritage and knowledge of historical sites, genealogies, traditional farmind and fishing methods, and traditional arts are being lost.