South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent. Its a country that suffered a large process and a lot of changes that led to what it is today.
It has three capital cities, the legislative capital Cape Town , home to parliament ; the administrative capital is Pretoria and the judicial capital is Bloemfontein. The total population of South Africa is 43 million, and is composed of a diversity of races, cultures, beliefs and languages.
In 1910 a limited independence was given to South Africa by the British dominion.They stablished in 1948 a new politic system of racial segregation and discrimination known as apartheid. Finally in 1990 this policy was taken away and the first democratic election was held in south africa and Nelson Mandela was named president of the country been the first coloured person in the goverment. Much has changed since the first nonracial election. But poverty and unemployment remain high. It is known as one of the countries with highest ranked of crime and also faces the highest rates of AIDS infection in the world. And although racial discrimination came to an end, now poor people are discriminated and they don´t have the same possibilities or rights as rich ones, as they are consider inferior.
The need to create employment and a better life for South Africa´s people in the central objetive of the economic policy of the goverment. For this they installed the RDP, Reconstruction and Development Program that remains the basic policy framework . And as a associated macroeconomic strategy the GEAR, Growth Employment and Redistribition, was installed.
However, nowadays we can say that South Africa has increase a lot compared to years before. The consolidation of democracy and the economic stability has created both a new set of opportunities for the country. South Africa is now entering the ninth year of the longest oconomic upswing since national accounts have been recorded. National income has risen by 22 per cent per person since 1999, with increases across all income groups. South Africa is committed to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad). The continent is a key trading partner for South Africa. Its the single largest source of foreign direct investment in Africa. This country ranks 52nd out of 157 countries in the world in terms of economic freedom, according to the Index of Economic Freedom 2007, while global management consulting firms AT Kearney regars the country as the 18th most attractive foreign direct investment destination worldwide.
Also, with the advancement in technology, communication has rapidly improved.The small villages that where left out of society because they had very little or no way of communicating with the bigger suburbs now thanks to the South Africa´s telecommunication provider, telkom, they can interact with society. Over 5.5 million telephones have been installed through out the country and internet is slowly following the guidance of telephones. It is finding its way into businesses and homes, although it is expensive and sometimes lacking in speed. Transportation and traveling is also improving inside the country and habitants are no longer forced to keep passports to move around the country.
We can see that with the end of apartheid things have
Europe is the largest continent of the world and one of the most developed state.It has economic and political power, that contribute to its growth daily, but like any country it has one set of problems that complicate its development. Currently there are still territorial problems between some states that can give place to wars.Also there are drug-related problems that threaten daily to the young europeos.The state is looking for new methods to solve this kind of probelms. At the beginning of the year, an association call new society was created by the state to solve the drug problems. We must not forget the racial problems, there is a division between the different religions and this makes the society not to relate properly and in a friendly way. There is a union of European countries that try to solve the problems in europe, this is the European Union which is composed of 27 countries.Nowadays is important to mention that the European population suffers from many health problems.The European Union (EU) has the responsibility to improve public health, prevent illness and obviating sources of danger to human health that includes the fight against disease and serious more widely available (to support research into their causes, their transmission and its prevention), as well as information and education. It is important to say that europe is one of the contienents with fewer problems of the world as it has great economic power and politic also.Some european countries are capitalists and comunistics,that is why sometimes there are some political conflicts between some countries.As mentioned earlier is a continent very stable in relation to problems.
China is a territory located over a large area in East Asia.China presents a really long culture dating back more than six millennia.It presents one of the worlds biggest populations and it also had and haves a great influence over the world. China is the region from where four of the most important and influent inventions come, this four are paper, the compass,gunpowder and printing,this inventions had spreaded all over the world several years after being first invented in China producing great changes over the society all over the world. China became the union between Europe and Asia after regaining control over Hong Kong, a territory lost after the opium war.Although this territory returned under Chinese comunist control,Hong Kong presents a capitalist system because of an acordance between Britain and China which says that Hong Kong its capitalist system as well as China has control over Hong Kong's international relations.This acordance will long for 50 years(untill 2047). Today China's development and influence over the world has became one of the most important themes of discussion insde the political and economical aspects inside America.In the polictical aspect China has a great influnce over Argentina,Venezuela and Brasil,which worries some people of having a political change from a democratic system into another political system.Some people are in accordance with this but there are also other people who say that this is something imposible, leaving all this disscusion in an open ending.In the economic aspect China presents a really high economic exportation and importation increse from 1999 untill 2004 which is a theme that worries the American authorities,and this is something that we can also see everywhere because of the circulation of many products made in China. As we can see in actual society China had a great development in a verry short periode of time,and it has become one of the most influent countries in the world which can wether be seen as something good or bad deppending of eachones point of view.
China has one of the world's oldest people and continuous civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. This shows a great organization and political capability from China. But in the last decades China has become more than a cultural example for Occidental civilization. It has become a political -economical, scientific and administrative example as it has grew in these sectors in an amazing way. So this the moment for China to show the world that the hard work that she has realized through all this time will impulse her to the top of the most powerful states. And China is doing a good work to achieve this because we can see how lots of countries need products from China and how they start depending on China’s industries to get certain products that they would not get from another source. So, which is the role of China in this changing World? His role in this changing world is to become the main World Economic Power. China's economy grew at an average rate of 10% per year during the period 1990-2004, the highest growth rate in the world. China's GDP (gross domestic product) grew 10.0% in 2003, 10.1%, in 2004, and even faster 10.4% in 2005 despite attempts by the government to cool the economy. With this statistics we can see that China’s economical grow has been huge, as a result of the development of all types of industries along the country. But there is also present a high number of non-performing loans (type of debt that is in default or close to being in default) which affects the state-run banking system. The Fifth Plenum in October 2005 approved the 11th Five-Year Economic Program (2006-2010) aimed at building a "harmonious society" through more balanced wealth distribution and improved education, medical care, and social security. On March 2006, the National People's Congress approved the 11th Five-Year Program. The plan called for a 20% reduction in energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of GDP) and a relatively conservative 45% increase in GDP by 2010.This economic program is the actual in China. So, China’s plan is to power their economy and maintain a good balance in the trading of products. Despite the fact that China's total trade in 2006 surpassed $1.76 trillion, making China the world's third-largest trading nation after the U.S. and Germany, there are serious imbalances behind the great trade performance, the numerous investments and high GDP growth. One of these serious imbalances are the inefficient State-Owned Enterprises (SOE`s) which are still a problem for the economical growth. The oldest country in East Asia has a long way before it gets to the top of the economic power in the world, with a safe and reliable economy based on the necessities of the changing world. Nowadays there are countries that are suffering great problems in their economies as a result of political - economical systems that have not change for decades. So China has advantage as the structure of its economy is relatively new, making possible the change to a new economic. If the Communist government manages to solve his problems it would finally manage to achieve the main role that the world needs nowadays, a new and strong economic power.
Europe in the world today One of the most attractive and over-visited continents today is Europe. It is the birthplace of Western culture, and it is one of the fastest developing continents, from business and politics to culture. European countries played a relevant role in global affairs especially after the nations adopted Colonialism. By the 17th and 18th centuries, most of Africa, the Americans and large parts of Asia were controlled by European nations. Two important events, World War I and World War II, held during the 20th century, changed the destine of the European countries. Since then, European dominance over the world has decreased, giving birth to two new prominent states, the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States, and the formation of the European Union (EU).
Today, what is left of the Soviet Union is a number of independent nations, which were leaded by Russia up to the falling of the USSR in 1991. Recently, Russia has been in dispute with Georgia the region that is called South Ossetia, where the 70 or 80 percent of its population have Russian passports and would vote for membership of the Russian Federation. Therefore, Russia considers that the region belongs to him, and the troops were introduced under the title of peacekeeping operations. A preliminary ceasefire was signed on 12th August, although fighting did not stop immediately. Later, Russia withdrew most of its forces from Georgia, but some remains there.
The European countries did not support the war. French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that the EU would have to re-examine its partnership with Russia if Moscow does not respect a cease fire agreement; but still they don’t want to cut the relationship with Russia as it currently supplies the 40 percent of their gas and a third of their oil. So, Russia is in a strong negotiating position as such a big supplier to Europe, although if Russia turns off the taps, this would also mean for him to lose 70 percent of its energy market.
The United States is also interfering in this fact, as it wants to ensure a diversity of energy supplies and supply routes to Europe. The U.S. vice president Cheney, after visiting Azerbaijan, said that the United States has deep interest in the region well being and security, and that Bush would send 1 billion aid package to Georgia. Azerbaijan, which borders Georgia, is an oil and gas rich region, and it would be a key country for U.S. to develop. Because of the conflict in Russia, Europe is even more interested in the United States’ proposal, as Europe wants to lessen its reliance on Russia as an energy supplier. Although the United States does not belong to Europe, its influence and power has determined the development of the contemporary history.
Most of the Western European countries are part of the EU, which is a political and economic union of twenty seven member-states established by the Treaty of Maastritch in 1993. It has developed a standardized system of laws, which apply in all member-states, guaranteeing the freedom of movement of people, good, services and capital. The EU operates through a system of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism. This means that in certain areas, the decisions taken depend upon agreement between the member-states.
The EU seems to be like the Entente Power or the Central Power during World War I, and Russia seems to be the opponent. If one of the EU countries is attacked, the twenty seven member-states would act spontaneously defending it, and the start of a new World War is near. Step by step, it seems that history is repeating, and a new Cold War era is coming forward. Words:614
China is one of the most ancestral and well developed countries of Asia. It’s history, music, customs, temples, and culture in general, seem to be mostly unknown; but when talking about its relationship with the world, many diverse and different factors influence its connection with the rest of the world. Things like: 'Made in China', 'Beijing Olympics', or 'Sichuan’s Earthquake', are commonly heard or seen nowadays, they have become part of our daily lives, making people take as a referent not only Europe or America, but also, this developing country.
Chinese economy’s growth has been one of the most significant developments for the global economy. The repercussions of its growth, in addition to a significant population of 1.4 billion inhabitants, have far reaching implications. The Chinese current account surplus remains extremely high. Despite recent devaluations of the dollar, the Chinese current account deficit is over 10% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), or U$S 250 billion. With all the foreign currency, China is excerting increasing economic and political influence. For example, recent comments by low ranking Chinese officials about the need to “diversify from weak currencies”, led to further falls for the US dollar. Despite the continued growth of the Chinese economy, there remain many potential problems, such as inflationary pressures, the unemployment in northern poor areas due to privatisation of inefficient industries which belong to the state, and the dicrease in US economy, one of China’s main traiding partner.
“During its brief time under British rule, Hong Kong has witnessed war, the rise and fall of empires, and has played a role in intrigues, big deals and diplomacy of global proportions”. Hong Kong is made up of a peninsula on the mainland of China and more than 230 islands. The main island is called Hong Kong Island and lies south of the peninsula. Hong Kong became a British colony when it was ceded from China in 1842. The British used the ports on Hong Kong to export tea, silk, and porcelain to England. At the start of the 19th century, the British realized that they could purchase silks and teas, in exchange for opium. China banned the drug, but many people were already consuming it, which caused the economy of China to suffer. The Opium Wars began when China publicly destroyed a British ship that carried chests of opium. In January 1841, the British navy claimed Hong Kong Island, and in 1997 Hong Kong succesfully returns to Chinese rule staying externally capitalist, yet internally, it also kept its communist regime.
Three years ago, the Chinese government sent a small flote of warships in a slow cruise past the skyscrapers of downtown Hong Kong, as a reminder of who is in charge. It was one of a series of events that suggested that some of the worst fears about Chinese rule might be fulfilled. The authorities in Beijing had just blocked further progress in Hong Kong's steps toward democracy, in April 2004. Less than a year before, China had pushed for a strict internal security legislation, backing down only when 500,000 people took to the streets in protest. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003, seemed to outline Hong Kong's vulnerability to developments on the mainland. "The real estate market was moribund". But now, on the year of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty, the city appears transformed. Real estate prices have rebounded, and apartment rents are among the world's highest. “Hong Kong's stock market led the world last year in initial public stock offerings, thanks to China's biggest banks and other mainland enterprises raising billions of dollars”.
China is increasingly in the world's spotlight. The facts put into evidence how this emergent country repercutes all over the world. Its undoubted power, modern technology, and oriental mysticism make us believe that, in the next ten years, it will probably turn into an important world power.
South Africa is a country that suffered a complex past. After the considered death of the apartheid segregation, the situation in the country changed a lot. Some changes contributed for the best of it, while others contributed for the worst. Despite these changes, South Africa is famous for its beauty and language diversity. Full of flora, fauna, rich resources, and with more than 47 million of diverse population. Politically, South Africa is dominated by the African National Congress (ANC) which received 69.7% of the votes during the last elections in 2004. Thabo Mbeki is its current president. The election that took him to this position and the two elections held before were not easy, as apartheid still remained alive in people’s heads. During the year 1994, there were held the first multi-racial elections, where the ANC won, but since then whites do not seem to get accustomed to vote next to black people, and this clearly reflects how racism still remains in this society. Despite this racial fact, South Africa has a democratic system that provides everybody with the same rights, even though it’s hard to see them incorporated in all the social classes. It supports capitalism as a product of a concession between big capital and the ANC. Thanks to this system, the middle class and bourgeoisie are emerging economically and getting richer, but at the same time it is making the low class grow poorer. Money is not being correctly distributed, and that’s making the poor class protest, which is mostly formed of blacks. It is true that people can choose where to live or which school to send their children, but only if they have money and if neighbors respect them as black or white colored, as racism and economical level discrimination are two of the main problems of this country that don’t let this democracy establish as a real system. Another problem is that many foreigners go to South Africa to look for jobs while people that already live there since a long time are not given one. Anyway, the abroad people get the jobs, mostly low-salaried, and as a consequence, adults make protests everyday against this injustice, not only because these people steal their possibilities, but because they foment crime and rob with the strength born of desperation. South Africa is suffering the epidemic of AIDS. It affects mainly those who are sexually active and is far more prevalent in the black population. At the end of 2007, there were approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV in South Africa, and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day. One in five adults is averaged to have AIDS. As a precaution, now there are several organisms like “The Soul Project” or “loveLife campaign” which try the prevention of this illness, by giving a lot of attention and sexual and caring education to children, adolescents and adults. Crime is also a main problem in this place, ranked first for assaults and rapes per capita, and second for murders. Johannesburg is one of the most dangerous cities, where people suffer poverty and discrimination, and look out any way to survive. Many emigrants from South Africa also state that crime was a big motivator for them to leave. Also crime against the farming community is one of the most used crimes. As a nation of more than 48 million people, South Africa has a wide diversity of origins, cultures, languages, and religions, with a majority still black. The problem is that this huge diversity brings discrimination and resentment between some groups and also increases the loss of communication between them, as there are too many languages to learn. In its constitution, there are eleven official languages recognised, but English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life. Economically, this country exports diamonds, metals like gold, and has also rich fields with crops of sugar, grapes, citrus, nectarines, wine and deciduous fruits. The most produced is maize. It is said that South Africa can feed the whole African continent, as it’s land is very rich in content and nutrients. With a 2,798 kilometres coast, South Africa is a big country with difficulties to progress, with problems of discrimination, economical level, epidemics and criminal people, desperate to find a job. Not with a very good leadership from the government, but still trying to emerge.
Europe is one of the world’s seven continents, with about 50 states. It is a political and economic power. But as any other continent, was not always as it is today. It has been de centre of two World Wars and of the Cold War. After this wars, it changed a lot, not only in the geographical aspect, but also in the political and economical. Nowadays, the continent face new kind of problems, such as terrorism, racism, and drugs. The European Union is, together with many other organizations, trying to solve this problems that are a threat to the states of the old continent. The European Union is a political and economic union of twenty seven member states. Established in 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-excisting European Economic Community. It guarantees the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital. It maintens a common trade policy, and has developed a role in justice and home affairs. Fifteen member states have adopted a common currency, the euro. It also has supranational bodies, able to make decisions without the agreement of all national governments. Since it was established, the EU has grown in size and has increased its power. One of the main problems that affect European states is terrorism. Terrorism is not a new phenomenon in Europe. In Britain, Ireland and Spain alone, thousands of lives have been lost to terrorism over the past thirty years. This experience has taught the EU that the only way to defeat terrorism is to confront it. Within the European Union the co-operation in the fight against terrorism has intensified since the Madrid attacks in 2004. Through good co-operation, several terr.orist attacks in Europe have been prevented, and arrests obtained. European states, specially the UK, have big problems with drugs. According to recent researchs, Britain`s drugs consuming level is higher than USA`s. This level has increased a lot during the last five years, because of the down of the prices. To solve this, many non-governmental associations have been created. But this year, British government formed an association called the New Society to fight agains durgs commerce and consume. Another problem faced by europeans are the racial problems. Ethnic minorities and different cultures in one country are some of the reasons of this problems. In the last twenty years there has been a rise in racist attacks and sentiments against other races in most of the european countries, specially England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. This is really a worring problem, because the citizens can not relate and live together in a paceful way. There are also conflicts related with territories between European countries. Nowadays, Russia is having a problem with Georgia because Russia thinks that South Ossetia, where the 70% of the population has Russian passport, belongs to its territory. So Russian troops were introduced der the title of peacekg operations. Some of the troops were taken, but some still remain there. Europe might be the one of the world`s powers. But, its states, as any other states, have to face many probelms that threaten them and their citizen`s security. So, in order to solve this problems, it is necessary to create an organization capable of solving them, and controlling the relationships between the different states that for Europe, this organization, is the European Union. WORDS:620 approx.
With its successful democratic transition, South Africa emerged during the second half of the 1990s as a new political and economic factor on the continent.After the abolishment of the apartheid system and during the last decade, this country had gone through a serie of changes that brought South Africa to be what it is now, a country with lots of gains, but also lots of pains. Current South African politics are dominated by the African National Congress (ANC). It`s President is Thabo Mbeki, who succeeded former President Nelson Mandela, who was the first black president when the firts multiracial elections were hold.This represented a massive advance for the African working class, insofar as the election signified a new political order in South Africa that outlawed national oppression. In post-apartheid South Africa, millions of South Africans, mostly black, continued to live in poverty. This is partly attributed to the legacy of the apartheid system and, increasingly, as what many see as the failure of the current government to take care of the social issues. Also The colonization and post - segregation system lead to the concentration of the natural sources in the white’s hands, something that nowadays doesn’t seem to be able to change. More than 60% of the population lives under the limit of poverty, whereas less than the 11% concentrates the production of the country, the richest in the African continent. South Africa is the most industrialised country in the continent , is a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products. Corresponding to this level of economic development, it also has the largest working class in Africa. By UN classification South Africa is a middle-income country with an abundant supply of resource . As said before the vast majority of South Africans are poor, and the majority of them are blacks.That is also atributted to the fact that in 2000 the average white household was earning six times more than the average black household.With this system the whites are getting everyday richer and the blacks poorer. Among the main problems in south africa nowadays is AIDS.This illness is affecting the whole country, which also is the country with the highest number of HIV-positive people in the world.AIDS affects especially gold-industry workers, because that is where the sex industry has been installed. It also affects mainly those who are sexually active and is far more prevalent in the black population. Most deaths are people who are also economically active, resulting in many families losing their primary wage earners. This has resulted in many 'AIDS orphans' who in many cases depend on the state for care and financial support. South Africa ranks second in the world for assault and murder and first for rapes, and this is other of the most alarming problems nowadays in the country. People can not feel safe in their homes, and as a aresult of this many middle-class south africans moved into gated communities or even emmigrate. Although it is the largest energy producer and consumer on the continent, south africa is facing a huge electricity crisis. Also have many desemployement problems, this led to the attack of poor black South Africans to poor black foreigners (who arrived south africa looking for a job as it is in africa the country that is in better economical conditions) in and around Johannesburg who they say steal their jobs and commit crimes. At least 40 immigrants have been killed and thousands have fled to refugee shelters. Besides of all this problems, the ones which really affect south africa and seems to be very difficult to be solved are the racial and economical level discrimination. Because in spite of the laws that have been established of equility between south africa `s citizens , in the everyday life in this country many of them are not fulfilled. As it has natural sources and a strategic ubication, South Africa could be considered a mix of the first and third world which results being a dual country. A country that reproduces unacceptable inequalities between the richest countries- represented by the whites of South Africa- and the poor countries - represented by the black people.
The written history of china begins in the year 1600 B.C. approximately making it one of the world’s longest civilizations. Dynasties ruled china over 3500 years and now china is a socialist republic. Today China is becoming more and more powerful economically making it very influential in the world’s economy. It is said that, like in the twentieth century the relations between the United States and URSS defined the century, in the twenty first century will happen the same with the United States and China. Chinese civilization started with Pangu, who according to mythology, created the universe and it is also said that some legendary emperors and heroes taught the first chinese to find food, shelter and clothing. Around 20 dynasties ruled China over 3500 years until 1911, when china becomes a republic after a revolution. This didn’t last long because the power of the government was too weak. The republican China ended in 1949 after a civil war between the government and the Chinese communist party. Mao Tse-Tung became China’s leader establishing communism in China, or how is it called since that revolution, The People’s Republic of China. Mao Tse-Tung only established communism in mainland China, he didn’t took control of some islands; the republican government escaped to island of Taiwan and since that moment it became the Republic Of China. Despite of been communist, China has some characteristics of democratic capitalist countries; for example China has 8 political parties instead of only one, like communist countries normally have; The 8 political parties participate in the People's Political Consultative Conference and in the National People’s Congress. But the Communist Party of China wins almost every time. The support that the Communist Party of China can’t be known because there are no elections and people can’t protest, but according to a survey made in Hong Kong, where people have more liberties, the Communist Party of China received more votes than the leaders of the Republic of China. China, despite of been communist, also maintains diplomatic relationships with most of the countries in the world. China also became one of the five permanent members of The United Nations. China also belongs to G8+5 group which consist of the G8 members, which are the leaders of the countries with leading economies, and the other five leading economies in the world, china is included in this second group, where Hu Jintao, president of the People’s Republic of China, represents China. China’s economy is more likely of capitalist country than a communist. After Mao died, Deng Xiaoping, who seceded Mao, made some economic reforms like permitting the creation of private companies and the investment of foreigner capitals. In 2007 the private property was finally recognized by the government; but this didn’t affect the countryside where this measure would make a big change. Today china’s economy is growing bigger and bigger every year, an example of this is that the 40 percent of the products in the United States are made in china. China has the 4th largest economy in the world after the United States, Germany and Japan. China is having a more and more important role in the actual world, having diplomatic relations with most of the countries in the world, having a very important role in the economy because for example we see that a very large percent of products we see everyday are made in china, and all this been a communist country, normally these countries have another kind of politics, they normally don’t relate diplomatically or economically with other countries. China will continue to grow more and more in the 21st century and will be having with that grow a more importance in today’s world.
China in the world today China as one of the older if not the oldest civilization ever, is thought to have a certain advantage comparing it to other civilizations. China since it was created, it’s been gaining experience, and this is one of the reasons of its great development through history. Actually china is one of the main producer and provider of hand labour. This is because of the excessive population china has. By producing practically the cheapest things in the market, China makes sure that the other countries buy his products. And by this it controls the market; and has economical influence over other countries. As economy is strongly linked with global growth, we assume that a country with good economy is a prosperous country in the actual world. China started competing in the globalized world in the late centuries and it’s catching up very fast the time it lost. It is reached the point where it’s now considered as the largest economy in the world after the United States, Germany and Japan. In the New York Times, an American newspaper, publishment of August 19, 2007, titled: “A Chinese Century Maybe It’s The Next One”. It compared China to other globalized country, North America. It showed statistics of the Chinese Economical growth in the twenty-first century. It questioned the official statistic numbers shown by Chinese government related to economical growth. This number was between the 10 % and 11 % and it showed how this was not true and the growth was just of the 5 % and 6 %. Comparing this numbers to United States of America’s actual growth percentage (America grows at the 3 percent rate it has averaged for the last 15 years) we see that it will take more than a few years to China to reach to its level. Because even do china is growing a little bit faster, the difference that already exists between these countries is pretty big. So China has one of the biggest economical systems in the actual world. But this doesn't mean that Chinas economical situation is growing fast, but this doesn't mean that it's the most industrialized country. As it's true that China has grown incredibly in the few past centuries, but it's also true that it will need to grow a lot more if it wants to compete with greatly industrialized countries as England or as United States among others. Number of words: 413
Europe is one of the most importante and powerful continent around the World.As this continent is so large , gives place to be conformed by 50 states.Some of them extrememly rich an Developer and some others that are in a lower level, but trying to grow up and become more important.Besides,it has many positives aspects , such as lot population, diferent languages, religions and cultures, good economy, a wonderful political organization and a strong influence towards others countries.It also suffer or problems like heavy pollution, terrorism, also some territorial conflicts that afect the relation and sometimos givee place to wars.Moreover, there is a union that is in charge of the main political and economical problems of Europe, it is called European Union .It is conformed by 27 member status, was established bty the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993.This union Developer a single market throught a system of laws which is apply in all member states.Provides freedom of movement of people, goods, service and capital.Only fifteen member states have adopted a common currency that is the EURO,that nowadays is really very powerful and valuable.Terrorism is considered the main europena problem, this is not something new , buy day by day is starting to become more dangerous and destructive.The most affected states are Spain,Britain and Ireland where thousands of lives have been lost, and the frightned has increas. After the Madrid attacks in 2004 the EU started to focused more in this theme.The are more concentrate in some methods to avoid it or to take more control and precautionsSecondly, Europe is also affected by ethnics confrontations, that are making important dissasters between some states.The Fact that are presented and Developed lots of cultures is a point in favour to all this conflicts.The matter is taht are many states that do not want to solve this racial problems so the climax is horrible and they can not live together in a peaceful place, by the correct way.Drugs problems are affecting Europe more than in the US.According to some resent researches the Uk the most affected by this problem, and the level of consume has increased during the last five years.By the way, the British government has formed the New Society, that is a organization that fights againts this problems, to prevent consume and stop it comerce.
South Africa is the only country with three capital cities. Cape Town, the largest of the three, is the legislative capital; Pretoria is the administrative capital; and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.
Since 2004, the country has had many thousands of popular protests, making it, according to one academic, the "most protest-rich country in the world". Many of these protests, some violent, have been organized from the growing shanty towns that surround South African cities.
In 1990 the National Party government took the first step towards negotiating itself out of power when it lifted the ban on the African National Congress and other left-wing political organizations, and released Nelson Mandela from prison after twenty-seven years' incarceration on a sabotage sentence. Apartheid legislation was gradually removed from the statute books.The first multi-racional elections were held in 1994, which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority. It has been in power ever since.
In post-apartheid South Africa, millions of South Africans, mostly black, continue to live in poverty. This is partly attributed to the legacy of the apartheid system and, increasingly, what many see as the failure of the current government to take care of the social issues. The colonization and post - segregation system lead to the concentration of the natural sources in the white man’s hands, something that nowadays doesn’t seem to be able to change. More than 60% of the population live under the limit of poverty, while less than 11% concentrates the production of the country, the richest in the African continent. As it has natural sources and a strategic location, South Africa could be considered a mix of the first and third world which results in it being a dual country. A country that reproduces unacceptable inequalities between the rich (represented by the whites of South Africa) and the poor (represented by the black people).In 2000 an average white household was earning six times more than an average black household.
Despite the fact that South Africa has suffered huge racism towards black people, and despite the poor economical situation it has been through, it is the richest country on the continent, as it is the most industrialized one, and it has the largest working class. In 1991, it recieved over 50% of Africa´s total income. The country is a very popular tourist destination, although South Africans have attacked poor black foreigners, in and around Johannesburg, who they say steal their jobs and commit crimes. More than 40 immigrants have been killed and thousands have fled to refugee shelters.
South Africa has a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products. There are almost a thousand cooperatives and agribusinesses throughout the country, and agricultural exports have constituted 8% of South African total exports for the past five years. The agricultural industry contributes relatively low formal employment, compared to other parts of Africa. Although the commercial farming sector is relatively well developed, people in some rural areas still survive on subsistence agriculture. It is the eighth largest wine producer in the world, and the eleventh largest producer of sunflower seed.
In spite of english being recognised as the language of commerce and science, and the fact that South Africa was a British colony for many many years, it was spoken by only 8.2% of South Africans at home in 2001, when a 23.8% spoke isiZulu; but these two are only a few of the eleven official languages that exist in the country.
After all economical, social and political problems, South Africa is now in quite good and stable condition.
I have decided to base my opinion column on the situation of today’s teenagers, and the adults’ role in it. I chose this topic because I think that adults have a lot to do with what is happening to teenagers nowadays. They are the ones that put, in ours reach, things like drugs, among others. Adults are also the ones that can help us to change.
OPINION COLUMN Being a teenager nowadays is much more difficult than in any generation before. That happens especially because we live in a world where drugs, alcohol, gambling are in our reach; in a world where we are constantly exposed to violence at schools and streets, and teen pregnancy seems to be something normal. So being a teenager is a huge challenge. And in this world of addictions, unsafe sex and uncontrolled use of the media, adults have a lot to do with all these. Teens today have a world at their feet, a virtual world. This virtual world where we chat with friends, upload pictures to spaces or facebooks, and leave comments for ours friends or to people that we do not even know, is where we spend a lot of time. Most people find these harmless; but the problem is that most teens aren’t careful enough when they give out information about themselves online, and this information exposes naive teenagers to kidnappings or sexual harassments. In most cases parents are even more naive than their children, or they just do not care about what we may be doing, surfing on the internet for so many hours, and not paying attention to our school work, for example. Media and TV have a great influence on teenagers acts and way of thinking. Nowadays, the media emphasises the ideal “perfect body”, and that having material things, being beautiful and thin, equate happiness. As teenagers are the most vulnerable age group, because we are in a period of life where we are looking for our self-identity, we tend to copy everything that we see on TV or magazines. We think that because it is on TV it is correct, or it is fashionble. Besides, most TV progams expose sexuality on television and this is directly related to the initiation of sexual activities in teens. This world, presented by adults, lead teens either to eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia nervosa, generally in women, or to the steroid use among young men in order to develop the muscular ideal. Also teens are having sex at much younger ages than previous generations, as a consequence of what it is shown on tv. These children are having adult experiences when they are too young to be aware of the consequences of their acts. That is why their risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases undoubtedly begins earlier. And the most alarming problem is that it seems to be something normal to loose their virginity at 12 years old. Alcohol is tolerated as a socially acceptable drug, but it is responsible for most drug-related deaths among teenagers. The consumption of alcohol starts approximately at 12, and it is used as a way to lose one's inhibitions and leads to impulsive actions and risky behaviors. Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common, and they will try them to feel accepted by a peer group, in order to gain confidence or self-esteem, because they may be following an example(from parents or older brothers) or to escape from physical or physiological pain. But mainly because of drug’s availability. If we think of teens addictions like alcohol and drugs, adults are also involved. The access to them is really easy, although there are laws that prohibit the consumption of alcohol and drugs in those who are under age, teenagers still cosume them. The only way we can get them is if there are adults in drugstores, pubs or discos that sell alcoholic beverages or drugs to us. And the biggest and most alarming problem is that most teenagers think that they will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems, but the majority end up developing a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and harming themselves and possibly others. However, the fastest growing addiction among teengers now, is gambling. Even though legal gambling is also restricted to those under 18, an increasing number of teenagers borrow money, neglect themselves, miss class, and lie to hide their gambling addictions. Most of them play the lotery, or gamble in the casino or at slots machines. Of course we are the ones that make the desicions and choose what we want for us, if we want to consume drugs or not, or if we want to follow the fashion or not. But these desicions are harder to make in a world in which all these things are in our reach.
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South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent. Its a country that suffered a large process and a lot of changes that led to what it is today.
It has three capital cities, the legislative capital Cape Town , home to parliament ; the administrative capital is Pretoria and the judicial capital is Bloemfontein.
The total population of South Africa is 43 million, and is composed of a diversity of races, cultures, beliefs and languages.
In 1910 a limited independence was given to South Africa by the British dominion.They stablished in 1948 a new politic system of racial segregation and discrimination known as apartheid. Finally in 1990 this policy was taken away and the first democratic election was held in south africa and Nelson Mandela was named president of the country been the first coloured person in the goverment.
Much has changed since the first nonracial election. But poverty and unemployment remain high. It is known as one of the countries with highest ranked of crime and also faces the highest rates of AIDS infection in the world.
And although racial discrimination came to an end, now poor people are discriminated and they don´t have the same possibilities or rights as rich ones, as they are consider inferior.
The need to create employment and a better life for South Africa´s people in the central objetive of the economic policy of the goverment. For this they installed the RDP, Reconstruction and Development Program that remains the basic policy framework . And as a associated macroeconomic strategy the GEAR, Growth Employment and Redistribition, was installed.
However, nowadays we can say that South Africa has increase a lot compared to years before. The consolidation of democracy and the economic stability has created both a new set of opportunities for the country.
South Africa is now entering the ninth year of the longest oconomic upswing since national accounts have been recorded.
National income has risen by 22 per cent per person since 1999, with increases across all income groups.
South Africa is committed to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad). The continent is a key trading partner for South Africa. Its the single largest source of foreign direct investment in Africa.
This country ranks 52nd out of 157 countries in the world in terms of economic freedom, according to the Index of Economic Freedom 2007, while global management consulting firms AT Kearney regars the country as the 18th most attractive foreign direct investment destination worldwide.
Also, with the advancement in technology, communication has rapidly improved.The small villages that where left out of society because they had very little or no way of communicating with the bigger suburbs now thanks to the South Africa´s telecommunication provider, telkom, they can interact with society. Over 5.5 million telephones have been installed through out the country and internet is slowly following the guidance of telephones. It is finding its way into businesses and homes, although it is expensive and sometimes lacking in speed.
Transportation and traveling is also improving inside the country and habitants are no longer forced to keep passports to move around the country.
We can see that with the end of apartheid things have
Europe is the largest continent of the world and one of the most developed state.It has economic and political power, that contribute to its growth daily, but like any country it has one set of problems that complicate its development.
Currently there are still territorial problems between some states that can give place to wars.Also there are drug-related problems that threaten daily to the young europeos.The state is looking for new methods to solve this kind of probelms.
At the beginning of the year, an association call new society was created by the state to solve the drug problems.
We must not forget the racial problems, there is a division between the different religions and this makes the society not to relate properly and in a friendly way.
There is a union of European countries that try to solve the problems in europe, this is the European Union which is composed of 27 countries.Nowadays is important to mention that the European population suffers from many health problems.The European Union (EU) has the responsibility to improve public health, prevent illness and obviating sources of danger to human health that includes the fight against disease and serious more widely available (to support research into their causes, their transmission and its prevention), as well as information and education.
It is important to say that europe is one of the contienents with fewer problems of the world as it has great economic power and politic also.Some european countries are capitalists and comunistics,that is why sometimes there are some political conflicts between some countries.As mentioned earlier is a continent very stable in relation to problems.
China is a territory located over a large area in East Asia.China presents a really long culture dating back more than six millennia.It presents one of the worlds biggest populations and it also had and haves a great influence over the world.
China is the region from where four of the most important and influent inventions come, this four are paper, the compass,gunpowder and printing,this inventions had spreaded all over the world several years after being first invented in China producing great changes over the society all over the world.
China became the union between Europe and Asia after regaining control over Hong Kong, a territory lost after the opium war.Although this territory returned under Chinese comunist control,Hong Kong presents a capitalist system because of an acordance between Britain and China which says that Hong Kong its capitalist system as well as China has control over Hong Kong's international relations.This acordance will long for 50 years(untill 2047).
Today China's development and influence over the world has became one of the most important themes of
discussion insde the political and economical aspects inside America.In the polictical aspect China has a great influnce over Argentina,Venezuela and Brasil,which worries some people of having a political change from a democratic system into another political system.Some people are in accordance with this but there are also other people who say that this is something imposible, leaving all this disscusion in an open ending.In the economic aspect China presents a really high economic exportation and importation increse from 1999 untill 2004 which is a theme that worries the American authorities,and this is something that we can also see everywhere because of the circulation of many products made in China.
As we can see in actual society China had a great development in a verry short periode of time,and it has become one of the most influent countries in the world which can wether be seen as something good or bad deppending of eachones point of view.
China’s role in the changing world?
China has one of the world's oldest people and continuous civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. This shows a great organization and political capability from China. But in the last decades China has become more than a cultural example for Occidental civilization. It has become a political -economical, scientific and administrative example as it has grew in these sectors in an amazing way. So this the moment for China to show the world that the hard work that she has realized through all this time will impulse her to the top of the most powerful states. And China is doing a good work to achieve this because we can see how lots of countries need products from China and how they start depending on China’s industries to get certain products that they would not get from another source. So, which is the role of China in this changing World? His role in this changing world is to become the main World Economic Power.
China's economy grew at an average rate of 10% per year during the period 1990-2004, the highest growth rate in the world. China's GDP (gross domestic product) grew 10.0% in 2003, 10.1%, in 2004, and even faster 10.4% in 2005 despite attempts by the government to cool the economy. With this statistics we can see that China’s economical grow has been huge, as a result of the development of all types of industries along the country. But there is also present a high number of non-performing loans (type of debt that is in default or close to being in default) which affects the state-run banking system.
The Fifth Plenum in October 2005 approved the 11th Five-Year Economic Program (2006-2010) aimed at building a "harmonious society" through more balanced wealth distribution and improved education, medical care, and social security. On March 2006, the National People's Congress approved the 11th Five-Year Program. The plan called for a 20% reduction in energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of GDP) and a relatively conservative 45% increase in GDP by 2010.This economic program is the actual in China. So, China’s plan is to power their economy and maintain a good balance in the trading of products. Despite the fact that China's total trade in 2006 surpassed $1.76 trillion, making China the world's third-largest trading nation after the U.S. and Germany, there are serious imbalances behind the great trade performance, the numerous investments and high GDP growth. One of these serious imbalances are the inefficient State-Owned Enterprises (SOE`s) which are still a problem for the economical growth.
The oldest country in East Asia has a long way before it gets to the top of the economic power in the world, with a safe and reliable economy based on the necessities of the changing world. Nowadays there are countries that are suffering great problems in their economies as a result of political - economical systems that have not change for decades. So China has advantage as the structure of its economy is relatively new, making possible the change to a new economic. If the Communist government manages to solve his problems it would finally manage to achieve the main role that the world needs nowadays, a new and strong economic power.
Europe in the world today
One of the most attractive and over-visited continents today is Europe. It is the birthplace of Western culture, and it is one of the fastest developing continents, from business and politics to culture. European countries played a relevant role in global affairs especially after the nations adopted Colonialism. By the 17th and 18th centuries, most of Africa, the Americans and large parts of Asia were controlled by European nations. Two important events, World War I and World War II, held during the 20th century, changed the destine of the European countries. Since then, European dominance over the world has decreased, giving birth to two new prominent states, the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States, and the formation of the European Union (EU).
Today, what is left of the Soviet Union is a number of independent nations, which were leaded by Russia up to the falling of the USSR in 1991. Recently, Russia has been in dispute with Georgia the region that is called South Ossetia, where the 70 or 80 percent of its population have Russian passports and would vote for membership of the Russian Federation. Therefore, Russia considers that the region belongs to him, and the troops were introduced under the title of peacekeeping operations. A preliminary ceasefire was signed on 12th August, although fighting did not stop immediately. Later, Russia withdrew most of its forces from Georgia, but some remains there.
The European countries did not support the war. French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that the EU would have to re-examine its partnership with Russia if Moscow does not respect a cease fire agreement; but still they don’t want to cut the relationship with Russia as it currently supplies the 40 percent of their gas and a third of their oil. So, Russia is in a strong negotiating position as such a big supplier to Europe, although if Russia turns off the taps, this would also mean for him to lose 70 percent of its energy market.
The United States is also interfering in this fact, as it wants to ensure a diversity of energy supplies and supply routes to Europe. The U.S. vice president Cheney, after visiting Azerbaijan, said that the United States has deep interest in the region well being and security, and that Bush would send 1 billion aid package to Georgia. Azerbaijan, which borders Georgia, is an oil and gas rich region, and it would be a key country for U.S. to develop. Because of the conflict in Russia, Europe is even more interested in the United States’ proposal, as Europe wants to lessen its reliance on Russia as an energy supplier. Although the United States does not belong to Europe, its influence and power has determined the development of the contemporary history.
Most of the Western European countries are part of the EU, which is a political and economic union of twenty seven member-states established by the Treaty of Maastritch in 1993. It has developed a standardized system of laws, which apply in all member-states, guaranteeing the freedom of movement of people, good, services and capital. The EU operates through a system of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism. This means that in certain areas, the decisions taken depend upon agreement between the member-states.
The EU seems to be like the Entente Power or the Central Power during World War I, and Russia seems to be the opponent. If one of the EU countries is attacked, the twenty seven member-states would act spontaneously defending it, and the start of a new World War is near. Step by step, it seems that history is repeating, and a new Cold War era is coming forward.
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China is one of the most ancestral and well developed countries of Asia. It’s history, music, customs, temples, and culture in general, seem to be mostly unknown; but when talking about its relationship with the world, many diverse and different factors influence its connection with the rest of the world. Things like: 'Made in China', 'Beijing Olympics', or 'Sichuan’s Earthquake', are commonly heard or seen nowadays, they have become part of our daily lives, making people take as a referent not only Europe or America, but also, this developing country.
Chinese economy’s growth has been one of the most significant developments for the global economy. The repercussions of its growth, in addition to a significant population of 1.4 billion inhabitants, have far reaching implications. The Chinese current account surplus remains extremely high. Despite recent devaluations of the dollar, the Chinese current account deficit is over 10% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), or U$S 250 billion. With all the foreign currency, China is excerting increasing economic and political influence. For example, recent comments by low ranking Chinese officials about the need to “diversify from weak currencies”, led to further falls for the US dollar. Despite the continued growth of the Chinese economy, there remain many potential problems, such as inflationary pressures, the unemployment in northern poor areas due to privatisation of inefficient industries which belong to the state, and the dicrease in US economy, one of China’s main traiding partner.
“During its brief time under British rule, Hong Kong has witnessed war, the rise and fall of empires, and has played a role in intrigues, big deals and diplomacy of global proportions”. Hong Kong is made up of a peninsula on the mainland of China and more than 230 islands. The main island is called Hong Kong Island and lies south of the peninsula. Hong Kong became a British colony when it was ceded from China in 1842. The British used the ports on Hong Kong to export tea, silk, and porcelain to England. At the start of the 19th century, the British realized that they could purchase silks and teas, in exchange for opium. China banned the drug, but many people were already consuming it, which caused the economy of China to suffer. The Opium Wars began when China publicly destroyed a British ship that carried chests of opium. In January 1841, the British navy claimed Hong Kong Island, and in 1997 Hong Kong succesfully returns to Chinese rule staying externally capitalist, yet internally, it also kept its communist regime.
Three years ago, the Chinese government sent a small flote of warships in a slow cruise past the skyscrapers of downtown Hong Kong, as a reminder of who is in charge. It was one of a series of events that suggested that some of the worst fears about Chinese rule might be fulfilled. The authorities in Beijing had just blocked further progress in Hong Kong's steps toward democracy, in April 2004. Less than a year before, China had pushed for a strict internal security legislation, backing down only when 500,000 people took to the streets in protest. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003, seemed to outline Hong Kong's vulnerability to developments on the mainland. "The real estate market was moribund". But now, on the year of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty, the city appears transformed. Real estate prices have rebounded, and apartment rents are among the world's highest. “Hong Kong's stock market led the world last year in initial public stock offerings, thanks to China's biggest banks and other mainland enterprises raising billions of dollars”.
China is increasingly in the world's spotlight. The facts put into evidence how this emergent country repercutes all over the world. Its undoubted power, modern technology, and oriental mysticism make us believe that, in the next ten years, it will probably turn into an important world power.
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South Africa
South Africa is a country that suffered a complex past. After the considered death of the apartheid segregation, the situation in the country changed a lot. Some changes contributed for the best of it, while others contributed for the worst. Despite these changes, South Africa is famous for its beauty and language diversity. Full of flora, fauna, rich resources, and with more than 47 million of diverse population.
Politically, South Africa is dominated by the African National Congress (ANC) which received 69.7% of the votes during the last elections in 2004. Thabo Mbeki is its current president. The election that took him to this position and the two elections held before were not easy, as apartheid still remained alive in people’s heads. During the year 1994, there were held the first multi-racial elections, where the ANC won, but since then whites do not seem to get accustomed to vote next to black people, and this clearly reflects how racism still remains in this society.
Despite this racial fact, South Africa has a democratic system that provides everybody with the same rights, even though it’s hard to see them incorporated in all the social classes. It supports capitalism as a product of a concession between big capital and the ANC. Thanks to this system, the middle class and bourgeoisie are emerging economically and getting richer, but at the same time it is making the low class grow poorer. Money is not being correctly distributed, and that’s making the poor class protest, which is mostly formed of blacks. It is true that people can choose where to live or which school to send their children, but only if they have money and if neighbors respect them as black or white colored, as racism and economical level discrimination are two of the main problems of this country that don’t let this democracy establish as a real system.
Another problem is that many foreigners go to South Africa to look for jobs while people that already live there since a long time are not given one. Anyway, the abroad people get the jobs, mostly low-salaried, and as a consequence, adults make protests everyday against this injustice, not only because these people steal their possibilities, but because they foment crime and rob with the strength born of desperation.
South Africa is suffering the epidemic of AIDS. It affects mainly those who are sexually active and is far more prevalent in the black population. At the end of 2007, there were approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV in South Africa, and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day. One in five adults is averaged to have AIDS. As a precaution, now there are several organisms like “The Soul Project” or “loveLife campaign” which try the prevention of this illness, by giving a lot of attention and sexual and caring education to children, adolescents and adults.
Crime is also a main problem in this place, ranked first for assaults and rapes per capita, and second for murders. Johannesburg is one of the most dangerous cities, where people suffer poverty and discrimination, and look out any way to survive. Many emigrants from South Africa also state that crime was a big motivator for them to leave. Also crime against the farming community is one of the most used crimes.
As a nation of more than 48 million people, South Africa has a wide diversity of origins, cultures, languages, and religions, with a majority still black. The problem is that this huge diversity brings discrimination and resentment between some groups and also increases the loss of communication between them, as there are too many languages to learn. In its constitution, there are eleven official languages recognised, but English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life.
Economically, this country exports diamonds, metals like gold, and has also rich fields with crops of sugar, grapes, citrus, nectarines, wine and deciduous fruits. The most produced is maize. It is said that South Africa can feed the whole African continent, as it’s land is very rich in content and nutrients.
With a 2,798 kilometres coast, South Africa is a big country with difficulties to progress, with problems of discrimination, economical level, epidemics and criminal people, desperate to find a job. Not with a very good leadership from the government, but still trying to emerge.
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Europe in the world today
Europe is one of the world’s seven continents, with about 50 states. It is a political and economic power. But as any other continent, was not always as it is today. It has been de centre of two World Wars and of the Cold War. After this wars, it changed a lot, not only in the geographical aspect, but also in the political and economical. Nowadays, the continent face new kind of problems, such as terrorism, racism, and drugs. The European Union is, together with many other organizations, trying to solve this problems that are a threat to the states of the old continent.
The European Union is a political and economic union of twenty seven member states. Established in 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-excisting European Economic Community. It guarantees the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital. It maintens a common trade policy, and has developed a role in justice and home affairs. Fifteen member states have adopted a common currency, the euro. It also has supranational bodies, able to make decisions without the agreement of all national governments. Since it was established, the EU has grown in size and has increased its power.
One of the main problems that affect European states is terrorism. Terrorism is not a new phenomenon in Europe. In Britain, Ireland and Spain alone, thousands of lives have been lost to terrorism over the past thirty years. This experience has taught the EU that the only way to defeat terrorism is to confront it. Within the European Union the co-operation in the fight against terrorism has intensified since the Madrid attacks in 2004. Through good co-operation, several terr.orist attacks in Europe have been prevented, and arrests obtained.
European states, specially the UK, have big problems with drugs. According to recent researchs, Britain`s drugs consuming level is higher than USA`s. This level has increased a lot during the last five years, because of the down of the prices. To solve this, many non-governmental associations have been created. But this year, British government formed an association called the New Society to fight agains durgs commerce and consume.
Another problem faced by europeans are the racial problems. Ethnic minorities and different cultures in one country are some of the reasons of this problems. In the last twenty years there has been a rise in racist attacks and sentiments against other races in most of the european countries, specially England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. This is really a worring problem, because the citizens can not relate and live together in a paceful way.
There are also conflicts related with territories between European countries. Nowadays, Russia is having a problem with Georgia because Russia thinks that South Ossetia, where the 70% of the population has Russian passport, belongs to its territory. So Russian troops were introduced der the title of peacekg operations. Some of the troops were taken, but some still remain there.
Europe might be the one of the world`s powers. But, its states, as any other states, have to face many probelms that threaten them and their citizen`s security. So, in order to solve this problems, it is necessary to create an organization capable of solving them, and controlling the relationships between the different states that for Europe, this organization, is the European Union.
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With its successful democratic transition, South Africa emerged during the second half of the 1990s as a new political and economic factor on the continent.After the abolishment of the apartheid system and during the last decade, this country had gone through a serie of changes that brought South Africa to be what it is now, a country with lots of gains, but also lots of pains.
Current South African politics are dominated by the African National Congress (ANC). It`s President is Thabo Mbeki, who succeeded former President Nelson Mandela, who was the first black president when the firts multiracial elections were hold.This represented a massive advance for the African working class, insofar as the election signified a new political order in South Africa that outlawed national oppression.
In post-apartheid South Africa, millions of South Africans, mostly black, continued to live in poverty. This is partly attributed to the legacy of the apartheid system and, increasingly, as what many see as the failure of the current government to take care of the social issues. Also The colonization and post - segregation system lead to the concentration of the natural sources in the white’s hands, something that nowadays doesn’t seem to be able to change. More than 60% of the population lives under the limit of poverty, whereas less than the 11% concentrates the production of the country, the richest in the African continent.
South Africa is the most industrialised country in the continent , is a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products. Corresponding to this level of economic development, it also has the largest working class in Africa. By UN classification South Africa is a middle-income country with an abundant supply of resource .
As said before the vast majority of South Africans are poor, and the majority of them are blacks.That is also atributted to the fact that in 2000 the average white household was earning six times more than the average black household.With this system the whites are getting everyday richer and the blacks poorer.
Among the main problems in south africa nowadays is AIDS.This illness is affecting the whole country, which also is the country with the highest number of HIV-positive people in the world.AIDS affects especially gold-industry workers, because that is where the sex industry has been installed. It also affects mainly those who are sexually active and is far more prevalent in the black population. Most deaths are people who are also economically active, resulting in many families losing their primary wage earners. This has resulted in many 'AIDS orphans' who in many cases depend on the state for care and financial support.
South Africa ranks second in the world for assault and murder and first for rapes, and this is other of the most alarming problems nowadays in the country. People can not feel safe in their homes, and as a aresult of this many middle-class south africans moved into gated communities or even emmigrate.
Although it is the largest energy producer and consumer on the continent, south africa is facing a huge electricity crisis. Also have many desemployement problems, this led to the attack of poor black South Africans to poor black foreigners (who arrived south africa looking for a job as it is in africa the country that is in better economical conditions) in and around Johannesburg who they say steal their jobs and commit crimes. At least 40 immigrants have been killed and thousands have fled to refugee shelters.
Besides of all this problems, the ones which really affect south africa and seems to be very difficult to be solved are the racial and economical level discrimination. Because in spite of the laws that have been established of equility between south africa `s citizens , in the everyday life in this country many of them are not fulfilled.
As it has natural sources and a strategic ubication, South Africa could be considered a mix of the first and third world which results being a dual country. A country that reproduces unacceptable inequalities between the richest countries- represented by the whites of South Africa- and the poor countries - represented by the black people.
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The written history of china begins in the year 1600 B.C. approximately making it one of the world’s longest civilizations. Dynasties ruled china over 3500 years and now china is a socialist republic. Today China is becoming more and more powerful economically making it very influential in the world’s economy. It is said that, like in the twentieth century the relations between the United States and URSS defined the century, in the twenty first century will happen the same with the United States and China.
Chinese civilization started with Pangu, who according to mythology, created the universe and it is also said that some legendary emperors and heroes taught the first chinese to find food, shelter and clothing. Around 20 dynasties ruled China over 3500 years until 1911, when china becomes a republic after a revolution. This didn’t last long because the power of the government was too weak. The republican China ended in 1949 after a civil war between the government and the Chinese communist party. Mao Tse-Tung became China’s leader establishing communism in China, or how is it called since that revolution, The People’s Republic of China. Mao Tse-Tung only established communism in mainland China, he didn’t took control of some islands; the republican government escaped to island of Taiwan and since that moment it became the Republic Of China.
Despite of been communist, China has some characteristics of democratic capitalist countries; for example China has 8 political parties instead of only one, like communist countries normally have; The 8 political parties participate in the People's Political Consultative Conference and in the National People’s Congress. But the Communist Party of China wins almost every time. The support that the Communist Party of China can’t be known because there are no elections and people can’t protest, but according to a survey made in Hong Kong, where people have more liberties, the Communist Party of China received more votes than the leaders of the Republic of China. China, despite of been communist, also maintains diplomatic relationships with most of the countries in the world. China also became one of the five permanent members of The United Nations. China also belongs to G8+5 group which consist of the G8 members, which are the leaders of the countries with leading economies, and the other five leading economies in the world, china is included in this second group, where Hu Jintao, president of the People’s Republic of China, represents China.
China’s economy is more likely of capitalist country than a communist. After Mao died, Deng Xiaoping, who seceded Mao, made some economic reforms like permitting the creation of private companies and the investment of foreigner capitals. In 2007 the private property was finally recognized by the government; but this didn’t affect the countryside where this measure would make a big change. Today china’s economy is growing bigger and bigger every year, an example of this is that the 40 percent of the products in the United States are made in china. China has the 4th largest economy in the world after the United States, Germany and Japan.
China is having a more and more important role in the actual world, having diplomatic relations with most of the countries in the world, having a very important role in the economy because for example we see that a very large percent of products we see everyday are made in china, and all this been a communist country, normally these countries have another kind of politics, they normally don’t relate diplomatically or economically with other countries. China will continue to grow more and more in the 21st century and will be having with that grow a more importance in today’s world.
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China in the world today
China as one of the older if not the oldest civilization ever, is thought to have a certain advantage comparing it to other civilizations. China since it was created, it’s been gaining experience, and this is one of the reasons of its great development through history. Actually china is one of the main producer and provider of hand labour. This is because of the excessive population china has. By producing practically the cheapest things in the market, China makes sure that the other countries buy his products. And by this it controls the market; and has economical influence over other countries. As economy is strongly linked with global growth, we assume that a country with good economy is a prosperous country in the actual world.
China started competing in the globalized world in the late centuries and it’s catching up very fast the time it lost. It is reached the point where it’s now considered as the largest economy in the world after the United States, Germany and Japan.
In the New York Times, an American newspaper, publishment of August 19, 2007, titled: “A Chinese Century Maybe It’s The Next One”. It compared China to other globalized country, North America. It showed statistics of the Chinese Economical growth in the twenty-first century. It questioned the official statistic numbers shown by Chinese government related to economical growth. This number was between the 10 % and 11 % and it showed how this was not true and the growth was just of the 5 % and 6 %. Comparing this numbers to United States of America’s actual growth percentage (America grows at the 3 percent rate it has averaged for the last 15 years) we see that it will take more than a few years to China to reach to its level. Because even do china is growing a little bit faster, the difference that already exists between these countries is pretty big.
So China has one of the biggest economical systems in the actual world. But this doesn't mean that Chinas economical situation is growing fast, but this doesn't mean that it's the most industrialized country. As it's true that China has grown incredibly in the few past centuries, but it's also true that it will need to grow a lot more if it wants to compete with greatly industrialized countries as England or as United States among others.
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Europe is one of the most importante and powerful continent around the World.As this continent is so large , gives place to be conformed by 50 states.Some of them extrememly rich an Developer and some others that are in a lower level, but trying to grow up and become more important.Besides,it has many positives aspects , such as lot population, diferent languages, religions and cultures, good economy, a wonderful political organization and a strong influence towards others countries.It also suffer or problems like heavy pollution, terrorism, also some territorial conflicts that afect the relation and sometimos givee place to wars.Moreover, there is a union that is in charge of the main political and economical problems of Europe, it is called European Union .It is conformed by 27 member status, was established bty the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993.This union Developer a single market throught a system of laws which is apply in all member states.Provides freedom of movement of people, goods, service and capital.Only fifteen member states have adopted a common currency that is the EURO,that nowadays is really very powerful and valuable.Terrorism is considered the main europena problem, this is not something new , buy day by day is starting to become more dangerous and destructive.The most affected states are Spain,Britain and Ireland where thousands of lives have been lost, and the frightned has increas. After the Madrid attacks in 2004 the EU started to focused more in this theme.The are more concentrate in some methods to avoid it or to take more control and precautionsSecondly, Europe is also affected by ethnics confrontations, that are making important dissasters between some states.The Fact that are presented and Developed lots of cultures is a point in favour to all this conflicts.The matter is taht are many states that do not want to solve this racial problems so the climax is horrible and they can not live together in a peaceful place, by the correct way.Drugs problems are affecting Europe more than in the US.According to some resent researches the Uk the most affected by this problem, and the level of consume has increased during the last five years.By the way, the British government has formed the New Society, that is a organization that fights againts this problems, to prevent consume and stop it comerce.
South Africa is the only country with three capital cities. Cape Town, the largest of the three, is the legislative capital; Pretoria is the administrative capital; and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.
Since 2004, the country has had many thousands of popular protests, making it, according to one academic, the "most protest-rich country in the world". Many of these protests, some violent, have been organized from the growing shanty towns that surround South African cities.
In 1990 the National Party government took the first step towards negotiating itself out of power when it lifted the ban on the African National Congress and other left-wing political organizations, and released Nelson Mandela from prison after twenty-seven years' incarceration on a sabotage sentence. Apartheid legislation was gradually removed from the statute books.The first multi-racional elections were held in 1994, which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority. It has been in power ever since.
In post-apartheid South Africa, millions of South Africans, mostly black, continue to live in poverty. This is partly attributed to the legacy of the apartheid system and, increasingly, what many see as the failure of the current government to take care of the social issues. The colonization and post - segregation system lead to the concentration of the natural sources in the white man’s hands, something that nowadays doesn’t seem to be able to change. More than 60% of the population live under the limit of poverty, while less than 11% concentrates the production of the country, the richest in the African continent. As it has natural sources and a strategic location, South Africa could be considered a mix of the first and third world which results in it being a dual country. A country that reproduces unacceptable inequalities between the rich (represented by the whites of South Africa) and the poor (represented by the black people).In 2000 an average white household was earning six times more than an average black household.
Despite the fact that South Africa has suffered huge racism towards black people, and despite the poor economical situation it has been through, it is the richest country on the continent, as it is the most industrialized one, and it has the largest working class. In 1991, it recieved over 50% of Africa´s total income. The country is a very popular tourist destination, although South Africans have attacked poor black foreigners, in and around Johannesburg, who they say steal their jobs and commit crimes. More than 40 immigrants have been killed and thousands have fled to refugee shelters.
South Africa has a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products. There are almost a thousand cooperatives and agribusinesses throughout the country, and agricultural exports have constituted 8% of South African total exports for the past five years. The agricultural industry contributes relatively low formal employment, compared to other parts of Africa. Although the commercial farming sector is relatively well developed, people in some rural areas still survive on subsistence agriculture. It is the eighth largest wine producer in the world, and the eleventh largest producer of sunflower seed.
In spite of english being recognised as the language of commerce and science, and the fact that South Africa was a British colony for many many years, it was spoken by only 8.2% of South Africans at home in 2001, when a 23.8% spoke isiZulu; but these two are only a few of the eleven official languages that exist in the country.
After all economical, social and political problems, South Africa is now in quite good and stable condition.
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RATIONALE
I have decided to base my opinion column on the situation of today’s teenagers, and the adults’ role in it. I chose this topic because I think that adults have a lot to do with what is happening to teenagers nowadays. They are the ones that put, in ours reach, things like drugs, among others. Adults are also the ones that can help us to change.
OPINION COLUMN
Being a teenager nowadays is much more difficult than in any generation before. That happens especially because we live in a world where drugs, alcohol, gambling are in our reach; in a world where we are constantly exposed to violence at schools and streets, and teen pregnancy seems to be something normal. So being a teenager is a huge challenge. And in this world of addictions, unsafe sex and uncontrolled use of the media, adults have a lot to do with all these.
Teens today have a world at their feet, a virtual world. This virtual world where we chat with friends, upload pictures to spaces or facebooks, and leave comments for ours friends or to people that we do not even know, is where we spend a lot of time. Most people find these harmless; but the problem is that most teens aren’t careful enough when they give out information about themselves online, and this information exposes naive teenagers to kidnappings or sexual harassments. In most cases parents are even more naive than their children, or they just do not care about what we may be doing, surfing on the internet for so many hours, and not paying attention to our school work, for example.
Media and TV have a great influence on teenagers acts and way of thinking. Nowadays, the media emphasises the ideal “perfect body”, and that having material things, being beautiful and thin, equate happiness. As teenagers are the most vulnerable age group, because we are in a period of life where we are looking for our self-identity, we tend to copy everything that we see on TV or magazines. We think that because it is on TV it is correct, or it is fashionble. Besides, most TV progams expose sexuality on television and this is directly related to the initiation of sexual activities in teens.
This world, presented by adults, lead teens either to eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia nervosa, generally in women, or to the steroid use among young men in order to develop the muscular ideal. Also teens are having sex at much younger ages than previous generations, as a consequence of what it is shown on tv. These children are having adult experiences when they are too young to be aware of the consequences of their acts.
That is why their risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases undoubtedly begins earlier. And the most alarming problem is that it seems to be something normal to loose their virginity at 12 years old.
Alcohol is tolerated as a socially acceptable drug, but it is responsible for most drug-related deaths among teenagers. The consumption of alcohol starts approximately at 12, and it is used as a way to lose one's inhibitions and leads to impulsive actions and risky behaviors.
Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common, and they will try them to feel accepted by a peer group, in order to gain confidence or self-esteem, because they may be following an example(from parents or older brothers) or to escape from physical or physiological pain. But mainly because of drug’s availability. If we think of teens addictions like alcohol and drugs, adults are also involved. The access to them is really easy, although there are laws that prohibit the consumption of alcohol and drugs in those who are under age, teenagers still cosume them. The only way we can get them is if there are adults in drugstores, pubs or discos that sell alcoholic beverages or drugs to us. And the biggest and most alarming problem is that most teenagers think that they will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems, but the majority end up developing a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and harming themselves and possibly others.
However, the fastest growing addiction among teengers now, is gambling. Even though legal gambling is also restricted to those under 18, an increasing number of teenagers borrow money, neglect themselves, miss class, and lie to hide their gambling addictions. Most of them play the lotery, or gamble in the casino or at slots machines.
Of course we are the ones that make the desicions and choose what we want for us, if we want to consume drugs or not, or if we want to follow the fashion or not. But these desicions are harder to make in a world in which all these things are in our reach.
(753 words) Maria Alejandra Herrera Jure.
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