A Hybrid Intergovernmental and Supranational Organization: Meet the EU

The European Union is defined by the CIA World Factbook as an "intergovernmental and supranational organization." But what does that mean? And what is the EU? In simpler terms, the European Union is a collection of 27 sovereign nations who, for political and economic reasons, have formed an organization that spans much of the continent. Though founded on an earlier prexisting institution, the EU came into its present form in 1993.

Today member states essentially share a single market. This means that all 27 states have a common set of laws, ensuring the free movement of goods, services, people, and capital between countries. Many changes have developed, and continue to develop, as a result of the EU. For instance before the European Union, travlers were required to show a passport each time they moved between countries. Today once an individual has entered an EU state, there is no need to show a passport again when going from one member country to another.

On a related note, the EU introduced the Euro in 1999. The Euro is a standard form of currency used in 16 of the member states. It allows individuals to travel between countries without having to exchange money. Several countries have opted not to use the Euro, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark.

In many ways, the European Union is more like an independent nation than an economic organization. Because, in addition to having its own currency, the EU has its own flag and its own anthem. According to the CIA World Factbook, as the EU continues to evolve, it will likely continue to expand this "nation-like characteristics." This makes the European Union unique-- no organization like this has ever been seen before in history.

Quiz on Friday!

Fascinating Facts

This week we'll finish our discussion of South America in class. On Thursday we'll have a review day and the South America test is on Friday. It's not to early to start studying!

On Thursday, before the studying starts, each student will be required to share one fascinating fact about South America. Your fact should NOT be something discussed in class. Instead you should research to find something interesting about the continent or one of its countries that we haven't covered during the lectures. This is a homework assignment worth ten points. Your fact should be written down on a sheet of paper. Please include your source on your paper (the web address or title of the book you used-- an MLA citation is not necessary). The student with the most intriguing fact will receive five extra credits points on his/her test.

Good luck researching!

Half an Inch of Rain a Year or Less...

When I think of South America, I usually picture rivers and rain forests, sandy beaches and tall mountains. I do not think of cactus or desert, yet one of the driest spots on earth is located on this continent. The Atacama Desert, located in northwestern Chile, is widely regarded as the driest desert on the planet. The Atacama is a narrow strip of land nearly 700 miles long. It lies nestled between the Andes Mountains to the east and the coastal ranges of Chile in the west. Because it is bordered by mountains on either side, very little precipitation reaches the interior. In many parts of the desert, rainfall has never been recorded and no vegetation whatsoever can grow. In other parts of the desert, some moisture (primarily in the form of fog) allows a few types of cactus and lichen to survive. Very few species of animal have been able to adapt to this extremely harsh climate and the desert is virtually uninhabited.

The Atacameños, an ancient Indian culture, once made their home in the foothills of the Andes which lies along the desert. Today only a few port towns are located on the edge of the Atacama desert. In the 1940's Bolivia, Peru, and Chile were involved in a dispute over the Atacama, primarily because of the high levels of sodium nitrate found there. However, the dispute died with the decreased demand for sodium nitrate (after scientists learned how to create it artificially). Other mineral resources are found and mined from the Atacama, including copper, iodine salts, and sodium chloride.

The desert also provides an ideal place to stargaze. It is seldom cloudy there and conveniently removed from major cities, so several important observatories are located in the desert. Somewhat ironically, because of its barren and almost alien appearance, the Atacama has been used to represent Mars in more than one Hollywood production. Most notably, the television series Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets was filmed here.

Quiz over this entry on Friday!