Greece is a country in southeastern Europe, taking up most of the Balkan Peninsula and has over 2,000 islands. It is bordered by Albania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria to the north; Turkey to the east, and mostly surrounded by water. Athens is the largest and capital city in Greece.

Geography

Physical Characteristics- Greece is commonly visited by tourists because of its natural beauty. It is very mountainous, almost four-fifths of it is mountains. One of the most famous and highest mountain is Mt. Olympus it stands at over 9500 ft. In ancient Greek mythology, Mt. Olympus was thought of as the home of the gods.

There are different regions of Greece: the central mountain area, the Pindus; the southeastern part of central Greece, Attica; and the large plain of the eastern coast, Boeotia.

Climate- The climate of Greece is split into two major sections. The northern part of Greece is a temperate climate where is it usually cool and wet. The southern part is a Mediterranean climate where it is usually warm, but winters and mildly wet and summers are hot and dry. The thousands of island are also a Mediterranean climate, except a little bit hotter.

Location- The relative location of Greece is: it is surrounded by Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, plus the Mediterranean Sea. The absolute location of Greece is: it from 20° East-26½° East and 41½° North- 35° North.

Natural Resources- Greece is a very poor country and doesn’t have any natural sources of real worth, but Greece does have a few unique things known to its country. They haves mine that receive lignite, bauxite, magnesium, salt, iron ore, chromium, lead, zinc, silver, nickel, copper, and uranium. Also they have many agricultural resources like wheat, olives, cotton, tobacco, oats, barley, and millet.

Government and Economics

Type of Government- Earlier this century Greece was controlled by a hereditary monarchy, but later Greece was declared a republic and had elections for President. Cities that have more than 100,000 inhabitants are governed by a mayor and a city council, and cities that have 300 to 10,000 inhabitants are governed by a president and a community council. The most popular political parties are: Democratic Center Union; New Democracy; Panhellinic Socialist Movement (Pasok); and the United Left Alliance, which is a type of communist party.

Greece, for administrative purposes, is divided into 13 regions. The 13 regions are Northern Aegean, Southern Aegean, Attica, Crete, Epirus, Central Greece, Western Greece, Ionian Islands, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Central Macedonia, Western Macedonia, Pelopónnisos, and Thessaly.

Currency- The currency in Greece is the drachma. It takes 274 drachmas to equal the United States’ dollar.

People

Customs

Greeks follow many old customs, for instance, they always welcome strangers into their home, because in ancient times they said that gods would come disguised to test people’s courtesy.

Lifestyle

Many people work in Greece from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Since they have these later working hours they usually eat dinner very late, around 8 or 9 p.m.

Work

Most Greeks do work from the hours listed above. Except for the people who work in agriculture which takes up 21% of the economy, they just set up there own working hours.

Greece is one of the poorest European countries economically. Obviously if agriculture is the major source of work it’s going to be a very poor country.

Agriculture is 21% of economy, manufacturing is 19%, the rest is made up of forestry, fishing, and mining.

Religion

98% of all of the Greeks belong to Greek Orthodox Church, the others are just immigrants and mostly Catholic.

Population

The population of Greece is about 10,400,000. That means that there is a population density of about two-hundred and six people per square mile, seventy-six people per square kilometer. Both the birth rate and death rate are going down in recent years. The annual rate of growth in the Greek population, according to the 1991 census, is less than 1%.

Education

Education in Greece is both free and mandatory. Kids have to go from age six to age fifteen. Kindergarten is optional and it starts at age three. Elementary lasts six years. Universities around the country are free to those who are accepted through passing an entrance exam. The literary rate in 1928 was 60%, but now it’s up to 93% which is a really huge improvement over 60%.

Place worth visiting

In Greece there are not many major cities, so I have chosen to do the island of Crete. Crete is the largest island of Greece, and it is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is sixty miles south of mainland Greece. Crete is where the ancient Minoan culture started, and each year one million tourists come to see the ancient Minoan ruins and relics of Crete. Kharia is the capital, and 40% of the residents live in either Kharia, Iraklion, and Rethimin. Most are Greek Orthodox. The farmers there harvest olives, grapes, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and potatoes. Sheep and goats are also raised throughout all of Crete. I would like to visit this place because it definitely has a lot of beautiful things to see, like the natural mountainous background and the ancien Minoan ruins.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Baxevanis, John J., “Greece”. World Book Online. http://www.worldbookonline.com/na/ar/fs/ar234780.htm., Dec 6, 1999.

Culturgram ‘92, Greece. Brigham Young University, 1992.

DuBois, Jill. Greece. New York City: Marshall Cavendish, 1995, pp.37-44.

Halsey, William D., “Crete”. Merit Students Encyclopedia. Vol. 5.

Halsey, William D., “Greece”. Merit Students Encyclopedia. Vol. 8.

The country of Argentina second-largest country in South America, or The Argentine Republic, is located in the southern region of South America between Chile and Uruguay, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean. Slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US, Argentina is 2,766,890 square kilometers in area. Argentina borders Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The capital, Buenos Aires, lies in the eastern part of Argentina, slightly northwest from Uruguay. The currency is Argentine pesos (ARS) and one Argentine Peso is worth 3.06 American Dollars.

Demographics:

Land: Argentina consists of rich plains in northern half, flat to rolling plateau in south, and rugged terrain along the western border. Argentina has a 4,989 km coastline bordering the South Atlantic Ocean. The highest point is the Cerro Aconcagua, which is 6,960 m high and the lowest point is the Salinas Chicas, located on the Valdes peninsula is 40 m high. Cerro Aconcagua is South America’s tallest mountain, and the Valdes Peninsula is the lowest point on the continent. The natural resources are fertile plains of the Pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, and uranium. The land use is 9.14% arable land, 0.8% permanent crops, and 90.06% other. There is 15,610 sq km of irrigated land. Some current environmental issues are deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution.

Climate: The climate in Argentina is mostly temperate, arid in the southeast, and subantarctic in the southeast. In northern Argentina, summer days will be around 90F degrees and nights around 70F degrees. In the winter, the temperature ranges from 40F degrees to 60F degrees. Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of Argentina, is almost always cold and/or rainy, with summer highs in the 50s-60s F and temperatures well below freezing in the winter. Generally, the best time to go is October-April (the seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere). To lie on the beach, go December-March; to ski, go July-October.

Government and economy:

In Argentina, the government is republic. The official name of Argentina is The Argentine Republic. The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. The national holiday is Revolution Day, on May 25, the day it decided (in 1810) to free itself from Spain. Argentina gained its independence on July 9th, 1810 from Spain. Their Constitution was written May 1, 1853. Argentina’s industries include food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, and steel. Its agricultural products are mainly sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat, and livestock. It exports $26.7 billion of edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, and motor vehicles annually.

People:

37,812,817 people call Argentina home, and it has a growth rate of 1.05%. Argentina’s official language is Spanish, although many citizens speak English, French, German, and Italian. 92% of the population consider themselves Roman Catholic, although less than 20% of these actually practice the religion, 2% are protestant, 2% Jewish, and 4% other. Their literacy rate is 96.2%. The ethnic groups are white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 3%.

Customs:

Argentina is like a European country. The people of Argentina are very proud of their country, not only of its recoveries from economical failures but also of it’s past glories. Argentinean people are hard working, business days usually start around 9 a.m. Politeness and manners are very important and anyone who does not mind their act is disliked. Sports are a favorite topic, especially the ups and occasional downs of Argentina’s football (to North Americans, soccer) teams. Fishing, hunting, skiing, food, and wine are other good topics. Argentines place a high value on individuality. Argentines are warm and effusive. They may touch each other when speaking, and they maintain little physical distance between speakers, much less than is customarily maintained in many other cultures.

Celebrations/holidays:

Argentinean Celebrations:

January 1         New Year’s Day

March or April         Good Friday, Easter

May 1         Labor Day

May 25         Anniversary of the First National Government

June 20         Day of the Flag

July 9         Independence Day

August 17         Anniversary of the Death of General José de San Martin

October 12         Columbus Day

December 25         Christmas

One of the major celebrations in Argentina is the “Carnival”. Mainly during Carnival, people dress up, dance, and sing. It is a time to have fun and be wild. Other major celebrations include Independence Day, the anniversary of the declaration of independence from Spain in 1816, and Revolución de Mayo, or Revolution of May (25th), celebrates the revolution on this day in 1810. Christmas is also a major event. Argentineans celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks. They dance to music and have fun.

Foods:

Argentineans have great taste and they have delicious foods. Argentineans like meats, and like other countries near it, they use a lot of spices. Argentinean foods are heavily influenced by European foods and in particular by Italian and Spain foods. Typical meals include different kinds of pasta, mashed potatoes, and a number of meat dishes. Traditional Argentine foods are Milanesa, Empanadas, Asado, Locro, Dulce de Leche, and Mondongo.

Miscellaneous information

In Argentina, soccer is a very famous sport. It is enjoyed by all ages and played everywhere in Argentina. Argentina’s national soccer team is very good.

Where is Kurnell beach located?

Only the suburbs of Cronulla and Woolooware border Kurnell beach. The suburb is diverse in appearance. The commercial and tourist centre consists of hotels, shops and unit blocks ranging from one storey to high rise with virtually no landscaping. Moving away from the thriving business district, the area becomes predominantly one of low height unit blocks and, further on, houses with pretty tree-lined gardens, some with stunning views over the sheltered waters of Port Hacking and Gunnamatta Bay. Kurnell peninsula is on the eastern side of the Sutherland Shire. Part of Kurnell contains 324 hectares known as the Captain Cook landing place, a part of the Botany Bay National Park which is under the care of the N.S.W National Parks and Wildlife service. Within this reserve is the old well dug by men of the Endeavour in their initial search for fresh water.

What is found in Kurnell Beach?

Sheer sandstone cliffs dominate the park’s dramatic coastline. The low heath and open woodland that characterises Kurnell’s vegetation is supported by relatively infertile sandy soils. In spring and summer, spectacular displays of wildflowers on the heath attract a variety of nectar and seed eating birds. Kurnell is without a doubt the most significant historic site to modern Australia. Additionally it adjoins Towra Point Nature Reserve, which is an area of great cultural and natural heritage significance. It is a wetland of international importance.

What is there to do in Kurnell Beach?

In Kurnell there are so many things to see and do. Not only are there safe beaches and swimming, but also fishing, boating, diving, barbeques, wind-surfing, bush walking or just a wonderful place to let the kids run and play, fishing, snorkeling, jet-skiing, water skiing, boating, diving, exploring, sun baking, bush walking in the beautiful National Park. Walk or drive through to the most spectacular cliff top views of the ocean, explore the Museum and find out all about Captain Cook and the discovery of modern Australia, B-B-Q’s picnics, lovely shady areas to relax and take it all in, bike riding, roller bladding, horse riding, walking and jogging. As a result the state of Kurnell beach is quickly deteriorating.

What is the state of Kurnell beach?

Over the years, in addition to becoming a growing residential area, the bay and its immediate surrounds have come to a variety of uses that have been harmful to the environment including industrial sites, ports, airports, oil refineries and recreational activities. In particular, one of the main threats is commercial and recreational fishing. The effects fishing has include effects on food webs and fish communities, by-catch of non-target species and impacts on aquatic habitats. Other environmental impacts of fishing and boating in general include littering, damage to seagrass from anchoring and propellers, and bank erosion from boating wakes.

Due to contaminants in fish and other seafood, the amount of pollution in the water and the health risks that have arose some areas of Botany Bay have been banned of fishing.

Also, Kurnell beach is right next to Sydney airport .The percentage of total aircraft movements from Sydney airport which occur over Kurnell has remained fairly static at about 50-53% in the last five years. Apart from the aircraft noise, the level of airborne pollutants that enter the ecosystems of Botany Bay from aircraft is of concern given the sensitive nature of those ecosystems.

Apart from the aircraft noise, the level of airborne pollutants that enter the ecosystems of Botany Bay from aircraft is of concern given the sensitive nature of those ecosystems.

Due to contaminants in fish and other seafood, the amount of pollution in the water and the health risks that have arose some areas of Botany Bay have been banned of fishing. However commercial industries and recreational fishers are just crowding to less spoiled areas of Botany Bay to do more damage.

Also, the oil refinery

What actions might be appropriate to remedy the problems?

The introduction of a general fishing recreational fishing fee. This is a good solution idea for money raised by the fees will be used on conservation programs for the environment as well as improve the quality of recreational fishing through various other programs such as designated fishing areas. This is a means of resolving conflict between commercial and recreational fishers, and removing impacts of commercial fishing on both the fisheries resources and the physical environment.

Another alternative solution is the establishment of several education centres such as The Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre, each year since 1991 the Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre has taken students on tours of the Peninsula to study the Fragile Ecosystem. This is also a good solution because the students are educated on everything about the Botany Bay environment and encouraged to conserve, doing their own little bit and become active citizens. Another solution could be to close Kurnell and the surrounding beaches to commercial fishing to improve the quality of recreational fishing. This involve the buy-out of all commercial estuarine fishing activity in Botany Bay. Or the council could Close Botany Bay to hauling and prawn trawling to improve the quality of recreational fishing.

I think the country in Africa that is most likely to have sustainable growth is Gabon. The literacy rate in Gabon is 61%. This isn’t as high as the US or Europe, but it is one of the highest in Africa. If the country has high education, then they may know what to do to make their country improve. Gabon has one of the highest education levels, and also has one of the highest health care systems. The education may have been a factor of this. Also, Gabon is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa. The government is under control, which leads, again to having high education. Gabon has one of the world’s finest virgin rainforests. They could learn to use this to their advantage. It is possible that they could make part of the rainforest into a national park. This would be benefiting to the whole country. It would give employment to more people, save scarce wildlife, and the country could use the money they receive as profit. Some of the money would pay the people, and the rest would go to making the country prosper. They could make fields on where to concentrate, such as health care, education, and government. Since it is already urbanized, they can concentrate on saving energy and not polluting. The population in Gabon is 1.2 million, which is very little. The infant mortality rate is 94 per 1 000 people. With such a little population, this is very high. Doctors are pretty good, but can be better. The GNP per capita is $3,500. This is rather high for all of Africa. The cause of this is the low population and oil deposits. Many of the countries have a relatively high amount of natural minerals, and most are unused. Gabon has large unexploited deposits of uranium, manganese, and iron ore. It would benefit the country to make use of these, but moderately. Overall, I think Gabon has the best chance of becoming a sustainable country. It is doing relatively well in the areas of education, and health care, but could boost in using their natural forests and minerals.

The country, which is worst off in achieving sustainable growth is Mozambique. It doesn’t have the essential, and many other requirements, in even almost becoming sustainable. The literacy rate is 33%, which is horribly low. Out of ten people, three can read; this is the main reason why Mozambique isn’t prospering. There was a devastating civil war, which was a cause of nearly all schools closing. The government as promised to focus on rebuilding them, but not much has been done. Health care is horrible; there is one doctor per 50,000 people. Tuberculosis, gastro enteric infections, and pneumonia are the leading causes of death. All these could be prevented with vaccinations. Doctors would tremendously help the country. The GNP per capita is 80$. This is also very low. Mozambique could build better transportation systems, which would help the economy. If sufficient roads were built, then people could have access to the mineral reserves. This would give more people employment and money. Also, the country could try to improve industrialization and trade; this would be its only chance of becoming a better and sustainable country. There is bad land with much flooding and droughts that they country cannot make money off of, and it doesn’t have natural resources. Its last resort would be to turn to industrializing their country. Unfortunately, even if they get the infrastructure and investment, it still wouldn’t work because they are lacking the education to produce these ideas into actual events.

The country that is fourth on my list is Uganda. It is doing moderately in achieving sustainable growth. They have a chance of improving their nation. Many countries in Africa don’t even have a chance of achieving that goal, but Uganda does. The literacy rate is 62%, which still isn’t great, but better than many countries. They have even better chances, because under President Museveni, the country has done things in order to rebuild their economy and democracy. This is good to hear, because it means that the

country knows that they have problems, and are trying to fix them. They have been able to maintain peace for almost twenty years, which is an improvement. Their government shouldn’t make school cost money, because the people are already relatively poor (200$ GNP). If the schools cost money, the parents would rather make the children work at home. There are money things that they country can improve on, and they are already trying to rebuild it. So, they are slowly and gradually getting better. If they continue this gradual ascending, then they have a good chance of achieving sustainable growth.

UN Recommendations

Gabon is on its way to becoming a country that has sustainable growth in economical, governmental, and environmental areas. Their government has it under control, and it is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa. This means that they have efficient road systems, sewage, and factories. They need just little help from us, and could become very successful. For example, there are large amounts of unexploited deposits of uranium, manganese, and iron ore. The people of Gabon don’t mine the minerals. When we help them, Gabon could make a lot of money. They will get into the trading industry, as soon as we get them started. This would benefit the country greatly. Since they have little farming land, this would suit them very well. They would trade the iron, oil, and uranium for food. Also, Gabon will use the money to support education. There aren’t enough doctors in Gabon, and the leading causes of death are things that could be prevented if more people got educated and became doctors. As more doctors come, the population of Gabon will increase. This will be good, as long as it doesn’t overpopulate too quickly. So we will also need to ensure gradual and safe population climbing. There isn’t really a lot of work we need to do, compared to other countries such as Mozambique. And when we help them, they will do very well.

On the other hand, Mozambique will need a lot of working on. We will first need to start an educating system there. Once that gets taken care of, we will need to support them in getting doctors. Their health care is very bad, and we will need to supply nurses for a period of time. We should educate their people about health care and hygiene. This will improve living conditions greatly. There are perennial floods and droughts in Mozambique, and when we help to protect the land from the erosion, this will start to result in farmable land. Mozambique doesn’t have sufficient roads, which block access to the modest mineral reserves. This, and the farming, is going to be two ways, which Mozambique will make most of its money. Still, other things are troubling the country, but once we accomplish these tasks, other things will be much easier to handle. Our help will steadily lead Mozambique to become a more stable country.