DeviousMelons t1_j85ykww wrote on February 11, 2023 at 9:54 PM

Reply to comment by nickriel in TIL the Pacific island nation of Nauru has been so damaged by phosphate mining that in 1964 Australia offered to repopulate the entire nation to Curtis Island near the Australian Coast. Nauru refused the offer in order to maintain their sovereignty and not become part of Australia. by triviafrenzy

They missed a golden opportunity because they wanted to make a name for themselves.

The mining industry brought the island so much wealth that they could set up a national stipend which would make every citizen set for life for a century but instead they pissed it away on real estate projects.