Madagascar, Africa

Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. Full independence from France came on June 26, 1960. Agriculture, fishing and forestry are mainstays of the economy. Major exports are coffee, vanilla (Madagascar is the world's largest producer and exporter of vanilla), sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts and livestock products. Vanilla has historically been of particular importance, and when in 1985 Coca-cola switched to New Coke which involved less vanilla, Madagascar's economy took a marked downturn, but returned to previous levels after the return of Coke Classic! Homosexuality is legal in Madagascar. The age of consent is 21. Neither homosexuality nor sodomy are mentioned in the criminal laws of Madagascar. The government acts to curb sex tourism with punishment for prostitution and pornography.