Talk:Gabon/Archive 1

Version 0.5 review

I've tagged this for inclusion in Version 0.5, but this article is noticably incomplete compared to most country articles. Could this be made a priority for improvement? I'll try to post a request in other suitable places. Walkerma 05:30, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

• Added infobox entries for largest city, official language and government Ygoloxelfer 19:22, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

Origniality problem

The intro is very similar to the one in CIA world factbook, it's only slightly longer and there is minimal editing. Could someone who rewrite the intro?--M3rrick 09:29, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Proposed WikiProject

In my ongoing efforts to try to include every country on the planet included in the scope of a WikiProject, I have proposed a new project on Middle Africa at Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals#Middle Africa whose scope would include Gabon. Any interested parties are more than welcome to add their names there, so we can see if there is enough interest to start such a project. Thank you for your attention. Badbilltucker 16:36, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

Pictures

This article needs more pictures of the environment. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.252.4.81 (talk) 20:03, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Economy

What does this sentence mean? "On December 5, JPMorgan acted as Joint-Bookrunner on the Gabonese Republic’s (BB-/BB-) debut international US$1 billion 10-year bond issue. The issue was very well received despite the challenging market environment." — Preceding unsigned comment added by Paul Tyrrell (talk • contribs) 23:13, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

Yes, it doesn't mean anything since it's unsourced and POV. I will remove the last sentence. Gabon is off the news map on the internet, can't find much relating to this, but will try to find a source. David 218.143.30.1 (talk) 03:01, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

Factual inaccuracy

In the Government section, it states "President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, in power since 1967 and the longest-serving head of state in the world". I believe that Queen Elizabeth II has served for about 15 years more (since 1952) and is currently serving as the head of state of 16 independent states. Source not reliable (reference #1) or "scope" not correctly considered? Unable to locate referenced remote article to re-read it. pricez (talk) 11:02, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Low-density population

I was wondering if someone could explain in the article why the density population in Gabon is so low. If there are so many natural resources why is that the density is much lower than in Camerron or the Republic of Congo. The few countries in Africa with lower rates have the Sahara and Kalahiri deserts in their area. Thanks for the answer.85.50.97.41 (talk) 02:49, 11 September 2009 (UTC)

Not the lowest population density

The statement that Gabon has the lowest population density on the continent is not correct. Nambia population density is about 2.6/km2, while Gabon is about 5.7/km2 (US state dept data). On the wiki list of african countries by popn density, Gabon is actually 6th lowest (including western sahara as a separate listing). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.164.117.19 (talk) 15:27, 13 September 2009 (UTC)

If you're talking about the demographics section, it says that Gabon has "one of the lowest" population densities, which is true, not *the* lowest. Graham87 15:49, 13 September 2009 (UTC)

This article is almost pure propaganda

I don't know exactly how to protest an article, but here's my contribution: today's New York Times (Sept. 15, 2009) has a feature article on Gabon. In essence, almost all the wealth is controlled by a very few people in the ruling family and their cronies. Most people make about $2 a day, while the "in crowd" lives in the lap of luxury. I don't see that mentioned in this article, and I have no stomach for looking at the subsidiary articles. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.98.226.113 (talk) 16:34, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

It also doesn't say anything about this: http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/416579 'Silence of the state' indeed. This article is embarrassing. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.69.237.165 (talk) 20:36, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

Photo of Chancery Building

This is the same photo as on the Libreville page, but there it is labeled as the Embassy of the US. Which is correct? Fix please! Amber388 (talk) 17:39, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

HDI

"with the highest HDI in Sub-Saharan Africa"? Seychelles and Mauritius are Sub Saharan countries right? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 189.177.197.59 (talk) 19:11, 7 April 2010 (UTC)

Sources for expansion

• Cuisine (in French)
• Literature

— Preceding unsigned comment added by Calliopejen1 (talk • contribs) 13:25, 20 November 2010 (UTC)

Education section

On 1 June, I moved most of the content in the education section to education in Gabon, so it could be the main article. This was reverted on 2 June by the user who wrote the original content. Please see Wikipedia's page about summary style for more information about why I moved most of the text. Graham87 03:42, 3 June 2011 (UTC)

Origin of name

The remark In the 15th century, the first Europeans arrived. The nation's present name originates from "Gabão", Portuguese for "cloak", which is roughly the shape of the estuary of the Komo River by Libreville does find some confirmation in several English sources (though I cannot see any garment in that estuary shape, it looks more like a high-heeled boot to me), but the German Wikipedia attributes the "cloak" to the dense fogs which often lay over that stretch of coastline. Can someone confirm this, possibly by looking Portuguese sources (which I cannot read)? WernR (talk) 13:08, 31 August 2012 (UTC)

The Portuguese Wikipedia states: "The first Europeans to arrive in current Gabon were Portuguese traders, who arrived in the region in the fifteenth century, and gave the region the name "Gabão" (a kind of coat, whose shape resembled that of the estuary at the mouth of the Komo River)". Claravdw (talk) 11:48, 5 June 2013 (UTC)