Section2.UnitedKingdom

** 1.History/Background of E.U. Country **

Click on the picture in order to see a 3D picture of the area. || Some of the first recorded people in the United Kingdom where around 5000 B.C but the first known structures were not around until 3000 B.C Acts of union: Whales (1535) – Scotland (1707) – Ireland (1801) – joined England to make up the United Kingdom. In 1609 parliament passes the Bill of Rights and established a Constitutional Monarchy with Parliamentary Democracy on the King and Queen. After WW I, British colonizing stopped under Prime Minister Winston Church Hill. During WW II the British withstood intense Nazi bombings Children begin schooling at the age of 5 yrs. old and go to school until the age of 16 when they go to college. A popular newspaper in the United Kingdom is called "the sun" and is a daily read for most people. Cricket and soccer are popular sports. Soccer may not have been invented in the U.K but the official rules for the game were after some college thought about it. Rugby is also a highly popular sport although it was not invented here. Most housing in the United Kingdom is two stories high with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. A garden and a garage are also popular to have. Literacy rate is high in this country: male- 99%, female- 99% literacy rate. Most children take part in a highland dance competition. In 1997 Tony Blair came to power making the decision to enter the war in Iraq. The country is still healing after all the bombings from July 7 2005 when suicide bombers attacked subway trains killing 50 people and injuring 700 more. In 2008 the country slipped into a recession. They have small families, usually 2-3 kids per house. It is ideal to have a house and a garden. Houses are often made of brick or cement with sloped, tilted roofs. It is common to find houses with two stories and three bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room. Yards and garages are also common features of a home. ||
 * [[image:stinehenge.jpg width="260" height="193" link="@http://www.360cities.net/image/stonehenge-on-a-busy-summers-day-england"]]


 * 2. Year of Admission to E.U. History and General Information about the E.U.**
 * [[image:stainedglass.jpg width="205" height="233" caption="click here for more info on united kingdom" link="http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=228&cn=United_Kingdom"]] || Most Britons enjoy a good standard life of living. The United Kingdom was admitted to the European Union in 1973. The official currency for the U.K. is the pound Sterling (or known as the pound). In the United Kingdom they are able to travel freely to find good work. The European Union includes 27 different countries. The original 6 countries are Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Italy. In 1950 steal/ coal industries start unite Europe over trade economically and politically peaceful. Following this the treaty of Rome creates European Economic Community. From the time of 1960-1969 E.U countries stop charging custom duties when trading with each other. They also have created joint control of food production- this decreases starvation. From 1970-1979 there was an overthrow of a Portugal dictator making the country weaker but soon join the European Union in 1986. Also in this time period the E.U regional policy gives money to start jobs, and infustructure in poor areas. In 1979 all E.U countries are allowed to directly elect their leaders. From 1980 to 1989 Spain and Portugal follow in 1986. In 1981 Greece becomes the tenth member of the European Union. From 1990-1999 communism collapses in the east and makes Europeans closer. In 1993 E.U gains Austria, Finland, and Sweden. The schengen agreement allows people to move freely in E.U countries without passport. ||


 * 3. How does the E.U. and your country feel about global temperatures/climate change? (//environmental issue)// **
 * [[image:euclimate.jpg width="127" height="97" caption="click here to read more about climate" link="@http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=228&cn=United_Kingdom&sname=Land_and_Climate&snid=1"]] || The United Kingdom supports 20% mandatory target for renewable power as a share of European generation capacity. The European Community EC is part of United Nations frame work convention (unfccc). Since 2003 energy consumption has declined slowly. In 1990-2007 green house gases have also decreased. EC is strongly committed to assisting developing countries in fight against poverty and achievements of UN millennium development goal. From 1990-2007total energy consumption grew. EC has committed to a 20% reduction to total energy consumption by 2020. 17, 00 scientists are confident that global warming does exist from the main purpose of human activity. The scientists state that:

"The evidence and the science are deep and extensive. They come from decades of painstaking and meticulous research, by many thousands of scientists across the world who adhere to the highest levels of professional integrity." They also say that: "The science of climate change draws on fundamental research from an increasing number of disciplines, many of which are represented here."

> > The scientist also state that: "As professional scientists, from students to senior professors, we uphold the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report." media type="file" key="Declan.wav" width="300" height="50" Click on the link to hear our view! ||
 * warming of the climate system is unequivocal
 * most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (man-made) greenhouse gas concentration

media type="file" key="Declan 2.wav" width="300" height="50" Click on the link to hear our view! ||
 * 4. How does the E.U. and your country feel about supporting the war in Afghanistan? //(political issue)// **
 * [[image:iraq.gif width="241" height="224" caption="click here to read more about afganistan" link="@http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?&contid=3&wmn=Asia&cn=Afghanistan&cid=1"]] || The country of the United Kingdom keeps asking themselves "How long must our troops stay in the United Kingdom to succeed?", and how they can help a country with corruption and lawlessness. They believe they should be committed to Afghanistan for the "Long Haul". In a report from //Times ​of London// British military operations in Afganistan has more than trebled, going from $1.3 billion in 2006 to 4.4 billion in 2008. British public patience is wearing thin. "Britan will commit additional troops because theres such a sound logic to it militarily"- says Cornish. The British government will search for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The British government will open negotiations between midlevel taliban leaders in order "to seperate hard-line edeologues who are essenteally irreconelable and violent from those who can be drawn into a domestic politecal process"-military leaders. Britan has the highest number of troops in afganistan behinde the United States. When giving all of these soldiers you lose some. 220 british soldiers have died. Other countries have sent troops over but only for nation-building exercises. The British and the Canadians have recently been taking heavey calualties.

media type="file" key="Declan 3.wav" width="300" height="50" Click on the link to hear our view! ||
 * 5. What is the economic background of your country and how does your country feel about supporting the economies of weaker countries in the E.U? //(economic issue)// **
 * [[image:UK_Flag.gif width="152" height="192" align="left" caption="click here for a view of the european union" link="@http://www.360cities.net/search/european-union"]] || Despite the United Kingdom recently falling into a recession the U.K. remains a global economic power with one of the largest economies in Europe. During the British Empire the United Kingdom was the largest economy in the world. Today it is the sixth largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity. The British economy is cone of the most globalized economies in the world today, thanks to London. London is considered to by the largest financial center in the world. The bank of England had cut interest rates to 1.0% in 2008, and was expected to drop to 0.5% in 2009. In 2008 the United Kingdom had the forty third largest public debts at 47.2%. It also had the fifty eighth lowest inflation rates in the world at the end of 2008. Unemployment rate is high, and has reached 6.3% at the end of 2008. 6.3% is equal to 2 million people unemployed in the United Kingdom, and is likely to grow to 2.5million at the end of 2009. The United Kingdom had the second largest recipient of foreign direct investment in 2007. Due to these facts we support the fact that the United Kingdom does not support helping the other countries of the European Union with weaker economies.