Global Economic Crisis

The current financial crisis is the worst the world has seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. For younger generations, accustomed to mild recessions of the new phase of globalization, the misery of the Great Depression is hitherto nothing more than a distant legend. However, the collapse of two Bear Stearns Hedge funds in summer of 2007 exposed what came to be known as the subprime mortgage crisis, reintroducing the world to an era of bank failures, a credit crunch, private defaults and massive layoffs. In the new, globalized world of closely interdependent economies, the crisis affected almost every part of the world, receiving extensive coverage in the international media.

3rd Term

Just starting the last term, almost finished!!!

World Cup 2014: Curitiba stadium earns Fifa reprieve

Brazilian city Curitiba will remain a venue for this year's World Cup but world governing body Fifa said progress must continue at the "highest pace".

The Arena da Baixada in the south of the country was one of six venues to miss an initial 31 December deadline.

Organisers brought in hundreds of extra workers to meet building requirements and avoid being the first ground to be dropped from a World Cup.

The 40,000 stadium will stage four group matches at the tournament.

Last month Fifa warned that Curitiba could be excluded unless work speeded up, with secretary-general Jerome Valcke commenting that operations were seriously behind schedule.

However, after financial guarantees for the improvement works were provided, the home of Brazilian top-flight club Atletico Paranaense was cleared to continue.

Valcke said: "It is essential that the works are maintained at the required levels and that a collective effort by all the stakeholders involved in Curitiba continues.

"It is a race against a very tight timeline and will require regular monitoring, but we are counting on the commitment made by Atletico Paranaense, the city and the state of Curitiba."

At least 1,500 workers are now expected on site, and is it hoped the stadium will be completed by mid-May.

Ricardo Trade, chief executive of the local organising committee, said: "There is still a lot to be done but we have always been confident that Curitiba will deliver.

"The necessary measures to finish the stadium in time for proper testing are implemented, but close monitoring is key because we have no time to lose.

"Soon it will be time to look forward and plan for the test events and finish operational details for the competition."

Israel vs. Palestine: PowerPoint

Eneko and I made a PowerPoint in order to present the conflict we've been working on to our classmates in a simple way so that they could remember the main aspects of it.

What is globalization?

Every day we hear it on the news, read it in the papers, overhear people talking about it… and in every single instance the word globalization seems to have a different meaning. So, what is globalization?

At political and economic level, globalization is the process of denationalization of markets, politics and legal systems, it is the rise of global economy. Many international organizations, governmental institutions and the whole academic world discuss the consequences of this political and economic restructuring on local economies, human welfare and environment.

At a business level, the process of globalization is when companies decide to take part in the emerging global economy and establish themselves in foreign markets. They adapt their products or services to the linguistic and cultural requirements of different nations. Then, they might take advantage of the Internet revolution and establish a virtual presence on the international marketplace. More and more companies do their business online. E-commerce has changed traditional business practices by providing direct international access to information and products.

Some scientists agree that globalization has also cultural and ecological connotations, and that it is not only political or economic phenomenon. It means that countries all over the world become interdependent in many possible ways. There is probably no area of human activities left that is not affected by globalization. We listen to the same music, eat the same food, wear the same clothes, and decide ecological and war and peace issues together.

But I think that the core sense of globalization is economic. In recent years more and more economic activity in the world seems to be taking place between people who live in different countries (rather than in the same country). It takes different forms, like international trade, growth of import and export, foreign investments, foreign loans and bonds, and many others. Economic globalization has different consequences on businesses all over the world and influences almost every other sphere of human life. Globalization has potential benefits on the one hand, and costs or risks on the other. Globalization increases economic development and reduces poverty. Globalization makes us vulnerable to changes all over the world. For example the huge market or foreign goods in the United States creates jobs overseas and keeps foreign workers employed. SimilarlyPsychology Articles, the health of the U.S. economy depends on how well American products sell in foreign countries.

Seven of the world’s leading industrial nations meet annually at a “Group of Seven” summit to coordinate policies for worldwide economic issues.

Each one of us is now more fully involved in a global economic system than were our parents or grandparents. There are probably no industries left that have much “natural protection” from international competition. Globalization in its core sense is the expansion of cross-border economic ties. Geographical distance does not matter any more.

The world and me

We were asked to write about taking take part in a NGO 's activity, project or something to do with helping less fortunate people. As soon as we were told to do this I knew exactly what I was going to write about. A couple of years ago me and my family started donating money to organisation in Burkina Faso so that the children there could all have the option to go to school. It's incredible to see how enthusiastic the kids are about learning new skills and languages. Every now and then a girl who is able to go to school thanks to our dontations writes us a letter telling us how things are going in her part of the world and how glad she is that we're helping her. It's great to see how helping just a little bit can make a big difference to someone in another part of the world.

UNICEF Article

Eneko and I have been writing an article about UNICEF's project in the Central African Republic. Here it is:

UNICEF

What's happening in the Central African Republic?

Over a million children in the Central African Republic (CAR) are in need of aid in a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian emergency.

Violent conflict has left hundreds dead, including children. Just last weekend, a convoy of civilians fleeing their homes was attacked, resulting in the deaths of three children and 19 adults.

"Recent months have been a time of horrific violence, suffering and fear for children in the Central African Republic,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake from Bangui.

"They have suffered death and injury and have witnessed terrible things that no child should ever see, much less endure. Too many have been displaced from their homes, separated from their families and recruited by armed groups."

Over half a million children have been forced to flee their homes over the last six months, many hiding in the forests with little or no access to basic services or help.

The rainy season, beginning in March, will only worsen the situation for hundreds of thousands of children living in temporary sites across the country. So why not give a helping hand?

If you want to donate go to

http://www.unicef.org.uk/landing-pages/donate-unicef2/?utm_expid=30781767-20.8D2OktCCSFa5pCnb4LB9uQ.1&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unicef.org.uk%2F

How is UNICEF helping?

You'll probably want to know where your money is going to, don't you? Well, right now, a UNICEF-supported emergency vaccination campaign is underway, and plans to reach over 210,000 children displaced by violence in Bangui.
They've flown in 77 metric tons of blankets, soap, jerry cans, medicine, water purification supplies, plastic sheeting, and health and midwifery kits for up to 37,500 people.
Their teams are also working hard in order to set up safe spaces for children, and to reunite unaccompanied children with their families.
UNICEF continues to appeal to leaders of all armed groups so as to



stop attacks on civilians, to protect hospitals and displacement camps, and to provide the space needed for humanitarian workers to reach people who need critical assistance.
They've been working in the Central African Republic since 1968 and have 150 staff members on the ground in Bangui, Bossangoa, Kaga Bandoro and soon in Bambari.
Whenever and wherever children are in danger UNICEF responds rapidly with life-saving assistance and protection from the crisis in Syria to conflict in the CAR and South Sudan. Help for children caught in emergencies complements their long-term work to change children's lives for good.

Globalization 2

We had to find three different food and technological brands in our house and check where the products are made.

Regarding the food brands, I found out that many of them came from the USA like  my cereal (Kellogg's), soft drinks (Coca-Cola) and ketchup (Heinz). 

The technological brands vary a bit more. My phone is from a South Korean company (Samsung), my iPod comes from an American company (Apple) and my Play Station is Japanease (Sony).