TURKEY!!!

Country Name:
Turkey

Year Founded:
117 BC

Population:
71,517,100

Primary Language:
Turkish

Ethnic Make-up:
Turkish

Political System:
Parliamentary Republic

Year Entered the European Union:
1992

Representative of the European Union (include party):
President of the Republic

Type of Economy:
quasi-statist

Currency:
Turkish Lira

Current Exchange rate for American Currency:
1 USD = 1.65 Turkish Lira

GDP:
$798.863 billion

Percentage of Trade within the European Union:
59% of exports and 52% of imports

Unemployment Rate:
10.3%

Chief Exports:
Automotive Industry

Key Imports:
Natural Gas and Crude oil.

Major Religions:
Islam

Surrounding Countries:
Bulgaria to the northwest;Greece to the west;Georgia to the northeast;Armenia, Azerbaijan (the exclave of Nakhichevan)and Iran to the east;and Iraq and Syria to the southeast.The Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus are to the south;the Aegean Sea and Archipelago are to the west;and the Black Sea is to the north.

Literacy Rate:
95.3%

One Interesting Fact:
Surprisinlgy, Turkey is not a bird. (Just kidding) Due to its strategic location astride two continents,Turkey's culture has a unique blend of Eastern andWestern tradition.

Italy(Repubblica Italiana)

• Year Founded: republic of italy was founded in 1946 and the kingdom of italy was created in 1861
• Population: 58,751,711 people according to the latest census.
• Primary Language: Officially Italian; others include: German, French,
  Slovene.
• Political system: parliamentary, democratic Republic and of a multi-party system.
• Year Entered the European Union:1957

• Representative of the European Union (include party):North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Type of Economy: industrial country
• Currency: The currency in Italy is the Euro
• GDP:
  

  	Total	$1,787 trillion
  -	Per capita	$30,365

• Unemployment Rate: 6.20 %
• Chief Exports: Engineering products, textiles, clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals, food, beverages, tobacco, minerals, non-ferrous metals.
• Key Imports:Engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals, non-ferrous metals, textiles, clothing, food, beverages, tobacco.
• Major Religions: 90% belong to Roman 10% are Protestant or Jewish
• Surrounding Countries: Monaco, France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.
• Literacy Rate: 98.4

· Country Name: Denmark

· Year Founded: Around 980 by Harold Bluetooth

· Population: 5,500,510

· Primary Language: Danish

· Ethnic Make-up: Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

· Political System: constitutional monarchy

· Year Entered the European Union: They joined in 1973

· Representative of the European Union (include party): Michael MATTHIESSEN (can’t find the party)

· Type of Economy: Free-Market Capitalist System

· Currency: Danish Krone

· Current Exchange rate for American Currency: 1 US Dollar = 5.75 Danish Krones

· GDP: Total- $303.519 billion
Per Capita - $55,207

· Percentage of Trade within the European Union: European Union markets account for 70% of total exports with Denmark.

· Unemployment Rate: 2%

· Chief Exports: butter, pork, eggs, beef, horses, hides, and skins.

· Key Imports:
Machinery and transport – 26%
Chemical products - 13%
Foodstuff, live animals – 15%
Fuels and lubricants – 10%

· Major Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Christianity, Muslim

· Surrounding Countries: Germany in the south and Sweden and Norway in the North

· Literacy Rate: 99% in Males and Females, people from 15 can read.

· One Interesting Fact: The Faroes Islands used to be from Norway, but they lost ownership to Denmark after the King of Norway lost drunken in a game against the King of Denmark

The united kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning Great Britain, the northeast part of Ireland, and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to France by the Channel Tunnel.

The United Kingdom is a unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. The UK is a developed country, with the fifth (nominal GDP) or sixth (PPP) largest economy in the world. In 2007 the estimate on the GDP was of $2.23 trillion.

On 1 May 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain was created by the political union of the Kingdom of England (which included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland. This event was the result of the Treaty of Union that was agreed on 22 July 1706

Some of the main languages they speak in the UK are English, Irish, Ulster Scots, Scottish Gaelic , Scots, Welsh, Cornish.

The UK is conformed of the following ethnic partys; 85.7% White British, 1.2% Irish, 5.3% White Other, 1.8% Indian, 1.3% Pakistani, 0.5% Bangladeshi, 2.0% Black, 1.2% Mixed Race, 0.4% East Asian, 0.4% Others.

2007 sensus estimate around 60,975,000 people living in the UK, and its currency is the Pound sterling, worth 1.4705 U.S. dollars.

Christianity is the major religion, followed by Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and then Judaism in terms of number of adherents.

The UK economy is made up of the economies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Based on market exchange rates, the United Kingdom is today the fifth largest economy in the world and the second largest in Europe after Germany.
The Industrial Revolution started in the United Kingdom with an initial concentration on heavy industries such as shipbuildin, coal mining, steel production, and textiles.

Kim Darroch is the UK's Permanent Representative. He has overall responsibility for the work of UKRep and sits in the UK seat in the Committee of Permanent Representatives a.k.a COREPER II or Coreper. This focuses mainly on the issues covered in European Councils and in the General Affairs, ECOFIN, Budget, Justice and Home Affairs, and Development Councils.

Year of EU entry: 1973

Literacy rate: 99.0 %

The unemployment rate: Rose to 6.5% - up 0.5% over the quarter and 1.3% on last year.

Mayor imports of the uk

Pharmaceutical preparations … US$3.8 billion (8.3% of British imports from U.S., up 186.7% from 2005)
Non-monetary gold … $2.9 billion (6.4%, up 186.7%)
Civilian aircraft engines … $2.4 billion (5.3%, up 6.4%)
Computer accessories … $2 billion (4.4%, down 4.3%)
Civilian aircraft parts … $1.7 billion (3.8%, up 11.6%)
Precious metals other than gold … $1.5 billion (3.3%, up 175.3%)
Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.4 billion (3.1%, up 12.2%)
Telecommunications equipment … $1.4 billion (3%, up 6.6%)
Minimum value shipments … $1.3 billion (2.8%, up 22.3%)
Medicinal equipment … $1.2 billion (2.6%, up 11.1%)

Mayor UK exports

Medicinal, dental & pharmaceutical preparations …US$8.2 billion (15.3% of Britain to U.S. exports, up 41.8% from 2005)
New & used passenger cars … $5 billion (9.3%, down 12.5%)
Other petroleum products … $3.6 billion (6.8%, up 22.7%)
Crude oil … $2.9 billion (5.5%, down 37.2%)
Civilian aircraft engines … $2.3 billion (4.4%, up 18%)
Goods returned to U.S. then reimported … $2.1 billion (4%, down 0.9%)
Collectibles (e.g. artwork, antiques, stamps) … $1.6 billion (2.9%, up 13.2%)
Materials handling equipment … $1.24 billion (2.3%, up 36.1%)
Precious metals other than gold … $1.237 billion (2.3%, up 36.1%)
Alcoholic beverages other than wine … $1.2 billion (2.2%, up 11.8%)

The UK was the world's first industrialised country and the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries,but the economic cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs.

Spain

Spain

It’s Oficial name is “Reino de España”.It was founded during the 15th century, joining the European Union in 1986.
It has an estimate population of 46,157,822 people, being the official language Spanish, with Aranese, Basque and Valencian (Catalan) as secondary or regional Languages.
Ethnic groups living in Spain are 88.7% Spanish, and 11.3% are Romanian, Moroccan, Colombian and Ecuadorian.
Spain has a Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy, wich mean they have a democracy and at the same time, they have a “king”.

Spain uses the Euro as currency, for belonging to the European Union.

An Euro equals $1.3866,on january 2009. Unemployment stood at 7.6% in October 2006, a rate that compares favorably to many other European countries, and which is a marked improvement over rates that exceeded 20% in the early 1990s.

They export machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods mostly to France 18.8%, Germany 10.8%, Portugal 8.6%, Italy 8.5%, UK 7.6%, US 4.2%, in 2007.

Its imports are machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments. Spaniards have a literacy rate of 99.0%, standing at place 17 worldwide, Cuba being number 1.
One interesting fact about Spain: Spain still uses the monarchy, but the "king" has no real purpose or responsability related to the functions of burocracy in the country.

Slovakia

oYear Founded: 1993

oPopulation: over five million

oPrimary Language: Slovak

oEthnic Make-up: 85.8% Slovaks,
9.5% Hungarians,
1.9% Roma,
2.8% other minority groups

oPolitical System: Parliamentary republic

oYear Entered the European Union: 2004

oRepresentative of the European Union (include party): Maroš Šefčovi

oType of Economy: The Slovak economy is considered a tiger economy, with the country dubbed the Tatra Tiger. Slovakia has achieved a difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern, high-income market economy. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in private hands, and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy is characterized by sustained high economic growth.

oCurrency: Euro

oCurrent Exchange rate for American Currency: Slovakia has a small, open economy, and therefore needs high export efficiency. After the fall of communism, Slovak companies had major problems selling their products abroad since restructuring and privatization brought significant changes to the structure of the economy

oGDP: 2008 estimate
- Total $109.677 billion (59th)
- Per capita $22,241, (41st)

oPercentage of Trade within the European Union: More than 85.1% of its trade is with EU members

oUnemployment Rate: 8.4% (2008)

oChief Exports: Vehicles 25.9%,
Machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%,
Base metals 14.6%,
Chemicals and minerals 10.1%,
Plastics 5.4% (2004)

oKey Imports: Machinery and transport equipment 41.1%,
Intermediate manufactured goods 19.3%,
Fuels 12.3%,
Chemicals 9.8%,
Miscellaneous manufactured goods 10.2% (2003)

oMajor Religions: Roman Catholic 68.9%,
Protestant 10.8%,
Greek Catholic 4.1%,
Other or unspecified 3.2%,
None 13%

oSurrounding Countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and Ukraine

oLiteracy Rate: Total population: 99.6%
Male: 99.7%
Female: 99.6%

oOne Interesting Fact: The most famous American of Slovak descent is probably pop artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987), whose parents immigrated from Miková in north-eastern Slovakia.

Defying Genocide

First Set
1.What did Damas Gisimba, Carl Wilkens, and Simon Weil Lipman value, and what risks did they take by holding onto their values?

2.What values did the children of the orphanage demonstrate?
As events unfolded, what were Damas Gisimba's concerns?

3.What does it mean - as both Simone Weil Lipman and Damas Gisimba state - to "see the other as yourself?"

Second Set
Think back to the incidents that took place during the Rwandan genocide:
1.What role did the international community play during the genocide?

2.Does the international community have the responsibility of assisting countries threatened by genocide?

3.How can students get involved and make their voices heard against genocide? (For suggestions, visit www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/students/)


Third Set
Think about challenges you face in your everday life:

1.Have you ever witnessed an incident by which a bystander took the responsibility of offering assistance to someone in need of help? What happened?

2.When someone needs help, do bystanders have the responsibility to offer assistance? What do bystanders risk when they intervene and when they do not get involved?


Fourth Set
At the end of the film, Damas Gisimba stated that hatred must be "banished" to make the world a peaceful place. Reflect on that and answer the following:

1.What is "hatred?" When is it dangerous?

2.What are examples of different forms of hatred in the global community?

3.Can hatred be banished?

4.What would it take to banish hatred?

5.Whose responsibility is it to work to end hatred or to respond when hatred provokes violence?

Slumdog Millionaire

• The game show format brings into to focus the culture of meaningless competition. What does the spectacle of the game say about what people value today? What values does the media promote? Are they humanizing values?
I think it means like people now on days do everything for money eaven if they reduce all their moral.


• Greed, corruption and the misuse of power are highlighted in the film through a variety of characters. How are those who have money and power glamorized in this film? What happens to the victims?
In this movie the rich people where like the bad people, in all the movie the rich people where abusing the poor people. And all the poor people were represented as the ones that suffered.

Same title as the other posts... (Movie questions)

What do you think the film is saying about the globalization of culture through media? We see the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” adapted in the Indian culture. Is this a sign of progress?

I think it is a sign of globalization, thus not progress, because I've always hated the fact that people copy other people's ideas for their own benefit. Like here in México. All stuff you see on T.V. (In mexican channels), comes from ideas from channels of other countries. I really don't like that. But anyways, I guess that helps the country's economy somehow.

What is this film staying about the effect of money on culture?

Money "improves" culture, making it more advanced in technology, hygiene, life quality ect... Of course if the money is used for the good of the community, which happens rarely. All our money is in hands of just a few, and only for their own.

In one exchange of dialogue in the film during the interrogation of Jamal, the police inspectors discuss the impossibility of what Jamal knows.

Police Inspector: Doctors... Lawyers... never get past 60 thousand rupees. He's on 6 million. [pause]
Police Inspector: What can our slumdog possibly know?
Jamal Malik: [quietly] The answers.
Discuss the irony in the film that Jamal “knows too much” and is suspected of cheating. Discuss the irony that in the end, his poverty may make him rich. What point is the film making? What is real wealth?

Jamal went through so many things and lived life the hard way. All of the things he remembered when answering the questions, were involved with tragedies, losses, and things that impacted Jamal as a kid. It is hard for people to forget that kind of events, besides, living on the street gives you a lot of cultural knowdledge even if you lack the proper education. Still, being asked questions that were somehow linked to his childhood took a lot of luck. I think that a person who knows too much, doesn't need money to succeed in life, as we saw the example in this movie.

Slumdog Millionaire

13. In the final scene, we see Salim and the choice he makes - filling the bathtub with money, etc. Why does he make this choice?
The whole movie centered in the show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” because it meant the acquiring of a high social status by means of money. In the case of Salim, who also gained a lot of money, meant the acquiring of a high social status, but since he was going to die, he chose to fill the bathtub with money because I think that meant to him dying with dignity.


14. This film weaves together nightmare and impossible dream. What do you take away as the most important message or impression from the film?
The most impressive scene was when Salim was acting as a tourist guide for some Americans. When they came and found out that somebody robbed their car and suddenly the Indian guy started to hit Salim. The phrase he said, “want a piece of what real India is?” Then what the Americans said to him, “we will give you a piece of what real America is,” and gave him (money). Those scenes were the ones that had the greatest impact for me from the entire movie because it represented the contrast between the Indian and the American culture. It show the difference in how to solve problems or treat children. In the case of Indians, it is correct to hit them, or at least what they always do, and Americans with love and money.




Roberto Cai Wu

Slumdog millionaire

11.-Describe how loss, chance, luck, suffering, and street smarts are also characters behind the scenes. The film explores gain and loss side by side. Triumphs are tempered with loss. Where do you see this evident?
A: The whole movie is based on explaining this extra character, so that you understand that even though these kids are from the slums, they come from a place in common, just trying to make their way in life, trying to understand it in there very own way, and you wouldn’t understand this way, if you didn’t see were they developed during they’re lives, a place that takes and gives in a drastic derailed way.

12.-The chaos and the constant noise and motion of Mumbai at the center of the film, (supported by a fabulous soundtrack) are contrasted with a deeper silent seeking. Describe what each of the main characters is seeking.

A: Like everyone I know and interact with, they are looking for they’re place, even if its corruptive or extreme they must find it, and in general they all do what’s best to understand it and translate it into a less fluctuating movement.

Jamal: I wouldn’t consider him a hero like most do, I think he is the guy with less bad ideals, the one who took what most I’m thinking clean road, he was looking for a meaning in life, he seams to be someone who was a lot more into a bigger purpose, and understanding as something practical, like a way to live, seeing it every day in Latika´s eyes, wrong maybe, but in the end his sole purpose.

Latika: Even if we didn’t see Latika for the most part of the movie I think I can describe her as an object, and I’m not meaning to sound like a macho man or anything like that, I think that I don’t understand what happened to her in the first scenes, making me think that she was kind of a lost puppy, who was perfectly fine by finding comfort in someone else’s eyes, its not wrong, I can tell you that much, but I think that she didn’t mind being tossed around as long as she found a place to be identified with, and this place was jamal

Salim: Would I say I saw a bad ass? Maybe, what I saw was a kid who grew up to fast, because his brother needed him, and in the process ended up hating him as well because he couldn’t remain a kid for the time he needed to, he found his way around crooks, and this was because he identified with all the frustration and anger that surrounded him along the way.

Fco. Alan Velazquez Fontanot

Slumdog Millionaire

1-.What does the title mean? How does the title and the contrasts within it provide symbolic summary of the film? Well, slum is an area of a city that is marked by extreme poverty, and I read that calling someone a slumdog it's an offense in India, and maybe in another places. Slumdog millionaire, by traduction means simply... someone considered as the lowest from the poorest, becoming rich. Actually, the title has a lot of problems and issues behind it. Some representatives from slums in India filled a lawsuit alleging that "Slumdog" was too rough and it could offend people from the slums in that country. The guy who thought that using the word "Slumdog" wouldn't be problematic was wrong. Besides, the movie itself has provoked a lot of movements: some said it depicts poverty in India so the world could make a new stereotype, some said that India isn't even like that anymore. I think it's a "romantic" way for us to see India.



2-.Early in the film we see the young Jamal dive into a latrine pit to steal a glimpse at a visiting movie star. How does his single-mindedness to see this movie star reveal his determination? What other examples do you see in the film of his determination? Well, all along the movie Jamal fights for what he wants. Through all of his life, he fighted and tried to find Latika, thinking that it was his "destiny" to be with her. I think that for jumping into a pool of poo just for an autograph.. you need to have a lot of guts and a lot of desire for something to do that. The biggest example of his determination is the fact that he chased Latika until he got her.

Slumdog Millionaire: Questions 3&4

• In the film, the theme of destiny is a central theme. What does it mean that all Jamal desires is just out of his reach? (The prized autograph, Latika, his brother, the answers, etc.)
that doesnt matter that almost everything its against you, because if it is your destiny to become someone important in life, and you never give up to do it, it would happen eventually.

• Compare and contrast three pivotal choices or decisions made by Jamal and Salim. How do their choices affect their respective paths in life or “destinies”?
Salim.- Whe he decided to got look the enemy of maman when he killed him to become more importart, thats lead him to the "bad side" and he sell latika to the guy. that was a very crucial decision in salim's life because change the curse of their lifes.
Jamal.- When Jamal decided to keep looking for Latika, was a very important decision because if he wouldn't go for her, she would became maybe a prostitute or a women that sells her body, because Maman was using her to make money.