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WINTER 2001-02 GlobalEd Project SIMULATION

 Country Profiles

Choose from any of the links below, or scroll down the page
(all statistical data from the World Bank's World Development Indicators 2001 except where noted)

NORTH AMERICA

SOUTH AMERICA

EUROPE (EU)

EUROPE (NON-EU)

AFRICA

ASIA

 

NORTH AMERICA: General Information

General Info

US
GDP (1999)

$9.1 trillion US
GDI* (1999)

3
Population (1999)

278 million
Leader 
(first year in office)

President George W. Bush
(2001)
Government Federal republic; liberal democratic tradition
Economy Strongly free market-oriented economy
Carbon Emissions (1997) 5,467 million metric tons
Main Trading partners Canada, Mexico, EU, Japan
Current Issues

National security in the aftermath of terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; erratic performance of financial markets and technology industry; growing distance from 
international agreements and conferences 
Info Link http://www.state.gov/

*GDI: United Nations Gender Development Index (GDI) indicates the relative equality between men and women based on quality of life factors. The numbers rank the countries from 1 (the highest level of equality between genders) to 174 (the most inequality between genders).

 

NORTH AMERICA: Policy Positions

Policy Positions

US

Conflict and Cooperation

Ballistic Missile 
Defense Systems
  • Bush Administration has publicly voiced a strong commitment to NMD system and plans to expand it pursuing defenses based on land, at sea and in space
  • U.S. interested in pursuing NMD despite possible violations to various arms control agreements, such as ABM, START, and NPT
  • Emphasis on "homeland defense" in aftermath of terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 has triggered renewed attention on U.S. national security--used by both supporters and critics of NMD

Human Rights

Women's Rights

  • US is one of the few countries to have signed, but not yet ratified the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) convention

  • Openly critical of countries that abuse HR, especially women's rights

  • US is criticized for continuing economic and social inequality between men and women, particularly in the areas of employment and health care 

World Health

AIDS in Africa

  • Has voiced strong commitment to working with the international community on care and prevention of HIV/AIDS
     

  • Largest bilateral donor of HIV/AIDS assistance internationally, providing nearly 50% of all funding

  • Has pursued collaboration with other major donors such as the EU (joint prevention campaign in the Ukraine) and World Bank (providing technical assistance to improve Brazilian national HIV/AIDS program) on large projects in other areas of the world

  • Tends to focus efforts directly on AIDS, rather than broader and more complex issues of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa

Global Environment

Global Climate Change

  • Has signed but not ratified Kyoto Protocol

  • Heavy opposition to Kyoto in Congress and from business community over economic competitiveness and LDC exemption

  • Single largest emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels

  • Leads bloc supporting trading emissions credits

International Economics

The Global 
Digital Divide
  • Likely to support expanding ICT in LDCs, but has reservations about commitments to this development aid effort
  • Clinton Administration key force in motivating G-8 to establish the "dot force" and issued a Global Call to Action to close the digital divide and to create digital opportunity in developing countries
  • Has approximately 148 million internet users (2000)


SOUTH AMERICA: General Information

General Info

Brazil
GDP (1999) $751.5 billion US
GDI* (1999) 79
Population 168 million
Leader
(first year in office)

President Fernando Henrique Cardoso
(1995)
Government Federal republic; 
in transition to democracy with military influence
Economy Establishing free market economy after decades 
of state-run economy; vast natural resource base
Carbon Emissions (1997) 307 million metric tons
Main Trading partners US, Argentina, Germany, Japan, EU
Current Issues Capitalism and democratization has led to increased borrowing from IMF and some financial instability; 
huge gap between rich and poor; major crime and human rights problems with respect to street children
Info Link http://www.brasilemb.org/

*GDI: United Nations Gender Development Index (GDI) indicates the relative equality between men and women based on quality of life factors. The numbers rank the countries from 1 (the highest level of equality between genders) to 174 (the most inequality between genders).


SOUTH AMERICA: Policy Positions

Policy Positions

Brazil

Conflict and Cooperation

Ballistic Missile 
Defense Systems 
  • Brazil is a close military ally with the US and considers hemispheric security of vital importance
  • Brazil has expressed concern about how US defense efforts would affect regional security treaties, such as those under the Organization of American States (OAS)

Human Rights

Women's Rights

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • 'street children' are widely prevalent, leading to significant problems with forced prostitution, child trafficking and the spread of disease for female children

  • Lacks adequate resources to significantly reduce the gender gap in education and political life

  • Large population of female-headed households limits women's access to education and economic resources

World Health

AIDS in Africa
  • Drug use and prostitution among desperately poor 'street children' has increased spread of AIDS, making it serious concern for the Brazilian government
  • Brazil also plagued by serious lack of AIDS-related education and prevention programs
  • Offers diplomatic support, but has limited resources to back efforts to promote disease control and eradication in other regions

Global Environment

Global Climate Change

  • Disputes over ownership and usage of rainforests in Amazon; has vital interest in the role of forest preservation in reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere

  • Problems with sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment) due to transition from state-run economy

  • Has signed, but not ratified, Kyoto Protocol

International Economics

The Global 
Digital Divide
  • Has expressed support for efforts to create digital opportunity in the classroom and in the country
  • Poverty and unequal distribution of wealth limit ICT development
  • Has approximately 8.65 million internet users (2000)

 

EUROPE: General Information

EUROPEAN UNION NATIONS

General Info

United Kingdom

Germany

France
GDP (1999)

$1.44 trillion US

$2.1 trillion US

$1.4 trillion US
GDI* (1999)

11

15

10
Population

60 million

82 million

59 million
Leader
(first year in office)		 Prime Minister Tony Blair
(1997)		 Chancellor Gerhard Schroder
(1998)		 President Jacques Chirac
(1995)
Government Parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarch Federal republic; social democracy Republic; social democracy
Economy Free market oriented Free market oriented; highly committed to EU integration Free market oriented; highly committed to 
EU integration
Carbon Emissions (1997) 527 million metric tons 851 million metric tons 349 million metric tons
Main Trading Partners EU (Germany, France, Netherlands), US

EU (France, UK, 
Italy, Netherlands, Belgium-Luxembourg), 
US, Japan

 EU (Germany, Italy Belgium-Luxembourg, UK), US, Japan
Current Issues

Northern Ireland peace process; support for 
U.S.-led effort against terrorism; considering adopting EU common currency; livestock infections 

 Recent adoption of 
EU common currency; immigration issues; sluggish economy		 immigration issues; 
recent adoption of EU common currency; 
persistently high unemployment
Info Link http://www.britain-info.org/ http://www.germany-info.org/
sf_index.html		 http://www.info-
france-usa.org/

*GDI: United Nations Gender Development Index (GDI) indicates the relative equality between men and women based on quality of life factors. The numbers rank the countries from 1 (the highest level of equality between genders) to 164 (the most inequality between genders).


EUROPE: Policy Positions

EUROPEAN UNION

Policy Positions

United Kingdom

Germany

France

Conflict and Cooperation

Ballistic Missile Defense Systems
  • Greatly concerned that any enhancement of the US NMD system could ignite a new arms race and nuclear instability
  • Supports position that any development in missile defense system should be extended to protect at least the UK, if not Europe as a whole
  • Greatly concerned that any enhancement of the US NMD system could ignite a new arms race and nuclear instability
  • Has criticized proposed system as insufficient for targeting the new threats to international security
  • Believes that the US NMD system is overly unilateral and will generate widespread resentment
  • Greatly concerned that any enhancement of the US NMD system could ignite a new arms race and nuclear instability
  • Believes that the US NMD system is overly unilateral and will generate widespread resentment
  • Has criticized proposed system as insufficient for targeting the new threats to international security

Human Rights

Women's Rights

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • As EU Member-state, supports UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and special initiatives directed at girls and young women to reduce the gender gap

  • In Europe trafficking of women has become a serious problem which the EU has targeted through various measures

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • As EU Member-state, supports UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and special initiatives directed at girls and young women to reduce the gender gap

  • In Europe trafficking of women has become a serious problem which the EU has targeted through various measures

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • As EU Member-state, supports UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and special initiatives directed at girls and young women to reduce the gender gap

  • In Europe trafficking of women has become a serious problem which the EU has targeted through various measures

World Health

AIDS in Africa
  • As EU Member-state, has stressed the fight against AIDS in Africa represents a priority "international course" in the field of public health
  • Strongly supports an overall development strategy to reduce the problems of poverty that limit access to AIDS education and treatment in Africa
  • As EU Member-state, has stressed the fight against AIDS in Africa represents a priority "international course" in the field of public health
  • Strongly supports an overall development strategy to reduce the problems of poverty that limit access to AIDS education and treatment in Africa
  • As EU Member-state, has stressed the fight against AIDS in Africa represents a priority "international course" in the field of public health
  • Strongly supports an overall development strategy to reduce the problems of poverty that limit access to AIDS education and treatment in Africa

Global Environment

Global Climate Change

  • Supports overall EU reductions of 8%

  • Has signed, but not ratified, Kyoto Protocol

  • Seeks to limit emissions trading

  • Facing strong domestic pressure to reduce "green" fuel taxes

 

  • Leader in global environment issues; Green Party part of governing coalition

  • Supports overall EU reductions of 8%

  • Has signed, but not ratified, Kyoto Protocol

  • Strong proponent of high, EU wide "green" fuel taxes

  • Seeks to limit emissions trading

 
  • Active in global environment issues
  • Supports overall EU reductions of 8%
  • Has signed, but not ratified, Kyoto Protocol
  • Proposed "World Environment Organization" to oversee global environment
  • Recently reduced "green" fuel taxes
  • Seeks to limit emissions trading

International Economics

The Global 
Digital Divide

 

  • As EU Member-state, supports the use of ICT in multilateral development efforts
  • Recognizes obstacles posed by that the new electronic information networks pose many obstacles to developing countries
  • Has approximately 19.47 million internet users (2000)
  • As EU Member-state, supports the use of ICT in multilateral development efforts
  • Supports position that ICT must be integrated into each overall development policy differently, depending on each nations need
  • Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems
  • Has approximately 18 million internet users (2000)
  • As EU Member-state, supports the use of ICT in multilateral development efforts
  • Supports position that ICT must be integrated into each overall development policy differently, depending on each nations need
  • Has some degree of cultural aversion (resistance) to Internet use 
  • Has approximately 9 million internet users (2000)

 

NON-EUROPEAN UNION NATIONS

General Info

Russian Federation
GDP (1999)

$620.3 billion 
GDI* (1999)

53
Population

146 million
Leader
(first year in office)

President Vladimir Putin
(May 2000)
Government Federation; transitional democracy
Economy Moving from central-planned economy to free market economy
Carbon Emissions (1997) 1,444 million metric tons
Main Trading Partners US, EU, Japan, Ukraine, Germany, Belarus, Netherlands, China
Current Issues

transition from communist system to democracy and capitalist economy, corruption, organized crime, declining population
Info Link http://www.russianembassy.org/

 

POLICY POSITIONS: NON-EUROPEAN UNION NATIONS

Policy Positions

Russian Federation

Conflict and Cooperation

Ballistic Missile Defense Systems
  • Greatly concerned about U.S. proposed NMD systems and threats to global balance of power
  • Contends that proposed U.S. system would violate US-Russian treaties, thus violating current international law
  • Has expressed commitment to stopping planned reductions in strategic nuclear arsenal if U.S. proceeds with NMD

Human Rights

Women's Rights

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • Major point of transit for trafficking of women involved in prostitution in Europe, the Middle East, and North Asia; Russian government has acknowledged the problem, but has done little to combat it due to lack of resources

  • Difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

  • Supports efforts to educate women, but has limited resources to improve on gender gap

World Health

AIDS in Africa
  • As a country in transition, the impacts of poverty and underdevelopment limit access to adequate health care and drug treatment
  • Has expressed support for improved AIDS education and awareness and disease control efforts in Africa, but has limited economic resources for public health efforts; support primarily political and technical

Global Environment

Global Climate Change
  • Economic transition takes priority over environment
  • Has signed, but not ratified, Kyoto Protocol
  • Strongly supports emissions trading bloc

International Economics

The Global 
Digital Divide
  • Russia has made progress toward building the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy in recent years
  • Supports efforts to close the global digital divide, including commitment of more resources for ICT in Russia
  • Has approximately 9.2 million internet users (2000)

 

AFRICA: General Information

 General Info

Algeria

Nigeria

South Africa

Kenya
GDP (1999) $147.6 billion $110.5 billion US $ 296.1 billion US $10.6 billion US
GDI* (1999) 93 133 84 136
Population 31.2 million 123.3 million 43.4 million 30.3 million

Leader
(first year in office)

 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
(1999)		 President Olusegun Obasanjo
(1999)		 President Thabo Mbeki
 (1999) 		President Daniel arap Moi
(1979)
Government Federal Republic: government facing extreme internal turmoil from Islamic fundamentalist opposition Federal republic: in transition 
from military state to democracy		 Federal Republic: in transition from apartheid system to democracy Republic
Economy State-run in transition to free 
market economy		 State-run in transition to free 
market economy		 State-run in transition to free market economy Transitioning to liberal market economy; plagued by govt. mismanagement
Carbon Emissions (1997) 98.7 million metric tons 83.7 million metric tons 321 million metric tons 7.2 million metric tons
Main Trading Partners Italy, US, France, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, Germany US, EU, Japan, India UK, Italy, Japan, US, Germany UK, Germany, Japan, US, EAC (partnership with Tanzania and Uganda; mainly exports)
Current Issues large-scale unemployment and poverty; need to diversify petroleum-based economy; transition from military state to democracy; internal corruption; issues surrounding growth and development; costly use of military forces in several internal African conflicts; extremely high AIDS and HIV transmission rates  extremely high rate of unemployment; problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged due to transition from apartheid system; high rates of crime,  internal corruption, and gang-related violence; extremely high AIDS and HIV transmission rates govt. continues to resist economic liberalization; widespread government corruption, especially surrounding last election (1997); high population growth rate, spread of disease; ethnic (tribal) violence
Info Links http://www.algeria-un.org
/english.htm

 

 		http://www.info.usaid.gov/
regions/afr/nigeria.html		 http://www.usaembassy.
southafrica.net		 http://www.
kenyaembassy.com/

*GDI: United Nations Gender Development Index (GDI) indicates the relative equality between men and women based on quality of life factors. The numbers rank the countries from 1 (the highest level of equality between genders) to 164 (the most inequality between genders).

AFRICA: Policy Positions

Policy Positions

Algeria

Nigeria

South Africa

Kenya

Conflict and Cooperation

Ballistic Missile Defense Systems
  • Greatly concerned about implications of US NMD for international security
  • Opposed to use of NMD as an effective strategy in dealing with the world's rogue states
  • Emphasizes the proliferation and trafficking of small arms/light weapons as a greater threat to international security, particularly in the African experience
  • Greatly concerned about implications of US NMD for international security
  • Opposed to use of NMD as an effective strategy in dealing with the world's rogue states
  • Emphasizes the proliferation and trafficking of small arms/light weapons as a greater threat to international security, particularly in the African experience

 
  • Relative to other African states, South Africa's military and defense capabilities lend it influence on international security matters
  • Concerned about Middle East response to US expansion of defense systems and overall effectiveness of NMD
  • Emphasizes the preservation of international legal agreements as crucial in maintaining regional and international security 
  • Heightened concern over proposed US NMD
  • Opposed to NMD as an effective strategy in dealing with the world's rogue states
  • Emphasizes the proliferation and trafficking of small arms/light weapons as a greater threat to international security

Human Rights

Women's Rights

 

  • Provisions of CEDAW entered into force as a part of Algeria's national legislation in June 1996

  • Severe disparities between men and women in education and access to the political system

  • society promotes dualistic goals of preserving the legal status of women as full citizens and women's status within the traditional (patriarchal) Islamic family

  • cultural norms limit commitment of resources to education programs

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • racial and cultural tensions extend to consideration of women's rights

  • Severe disparities between men and women in education and access to the political system

  • cultural norms limit commitment of resources to education programs

     

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

    •

  • Sexual violence rampant in schools; often obstructs equal rights of girls to education

  • racial and cultural tensions extend to consideration of women's rights

  • cultural norms limit commitment of resources to education programs

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

    •

  • Severe disparities between men and women in education and access to the political system

  • Sexual violence rampant in schools; often obstructs equal rights of girls to education

  • racial and cultural tensions extend to consideration of women's rights

  • cultural norms limit commitment of resources to education programs

World Health

AIDS in Africa
  • Cultural and religious norms influence policy and medical treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
  • Lacks resources for successful disease control or eradication

 
  • Cultural and religious norms influence policy and medical treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
  • Has world's highest  number of HIV-infected persons at 4.2 million
  • Lacks resources for successful disease control or eradication

 
  • Cultural and religious norms influence policy and medical treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
  • South African President has questioned basic notions about HIV and AIDS
  • Population suffering from fastest growing rate of HIV infections
    in the world
     
  • Lacks resources for successful disease control or eradication
  • Cultural and religious norms influence policy and medical treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
  • Among the highest rates of HIV infection and AIDS cases in the world
  • Lacks resources for successful disease control or eradication

 

Global Environment

Global Climate Change
  • Has not signed or ratified Kyoto Protocol
  • Lacks the adequate resources to balance economic growth and environmental protection
  • As LDC, proponent of "environmental double-standard" argument

 
  • Has not signed or ratified Kyoto Protocol
  • Lacks the adequate resources to balance economic growth and environmental protection
  • As LDC, proponent of "environmental double-standard" argument

 
  • As country in transition out of apartheid, has problems with sustainable development
  • Lacks the adequate resources to balance economic growth and environmental protection
  • As LDC, proponent of "environmental double-standard" argument
  • Has not signed or ratified Kyoto Protocol
  • Has not signed or ratified Kyoto Protocol
  • Lacks the adequate resources to balance economic growth and environmental protection
  • As LDC, proponent of "environmental double-standard" argument

International Economics

The Global Digital Divide
  • Concerned primarily with issues of access to electricity and telephone lines
  • Telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons
  • Telephones, main lines in use, 2.3 million 
  • Has approximately 45,000 internet users (2000)
  • Concerned primarily with issues of access to electricity and telephone lines
  • Telephones, main lines in use, 500,000
  • Development of ICT  considered by some as irrelevant; the majority of the population lives in extreme poverty and lacks access to safe water, sanitation and basic health services
  • Has approximately 100,000 internet users (2000)
  • Concerned primarily with expanding access to electricity and telephone lines
  • Telephone system is the best developed and most modern in Africa
  • Has approximately 1.82 million internet users (2000)
  • Concerned primarily with issues of access to electricity and telephone lines
  • The wiring of the eastern coast of Africa is very problematic
  • Extremely underdeveloped telephone system, only has 290,000 main telephone lines
  • Development of ICT  considered by some as irrelevant; the majority of the population lives in extreme poverty and lacks access to safe water, sanitation and basic health services
  • Has approximately 45,000 internet users (1999)


ASIA: General Information

*GDI: United Nations Gender Development Index (GDI) indicates the relative equality between men and women based on quality of life factors. The numbers rank the countries from 1 (the highest level of equality between genders) to 164 (the most inequality between genders).

 General Info

China

Japan

India

Pakistan
GDP (1999) $4.8 trillion US $2.95 trillion US $1.80 trillion US $344 billion US
GDI* (1999) 93 13 128 131
Population 1.3 billion 1.3 million 1 billion 1.35 million
Leader
(first year in office)		 President Jiang Zemin
(1993)		 Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi (2001)		 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(1997)		 President General 
Pervez Musharraf 
(2001)
Government one-party Communist Constitutional monarchy; democracy Federal republic; democracy Federal republic: democracy with strong military influence
Economy Moving from centrally planned to state-run market economy Free market economy Free market economy Moving towards free market economy; heavy foreign debt
Carbon Emissions (1997)

3,593 million 
metric tons

1,204 million 
metric tons

1,065 million 
metric tons

98 million
metric tons
Main Trading Partners US, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, EU, Taiwan, Singapore US, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia UK, US, Hong Kong, Germany, Belgium, Japan, Saudi Arabia US, Japan, Hong Kong, UK, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Germany
Current Issues

facing mounting international criticism for alleged human rights violations; managing growing liberalization of economy; rapidly escalating HIV epidemic

overcrowding of habitable land area and aging population; continued economic slump and budget deficit; long-term territorial disputes with Russia; seeking a permanent UN 
Security Council seat

border dispute and arms race with Pakistan; extreme internal ethnic and religious violence; increasing population growth rate; territorial dispute with Bangladesh

Border dispute and arms race with India; heavy indebtedness and lack of foreign exchange; overpopulation and extreme poverty; increasing ethnic and tribal violence, instability related to recent military takeover
Info Link http://www.china-
embassy.org/		 http://www.mofa.go.jp/ http://www.indian
embassy.org/		 http://www.pak.gov.pk/

ASIA: Policy Positions

Policy Positions

China

Japan

India

Pakistan

Conflict and Cooperation

Ballistic Missile Defense Systems
  • Greatly concerned about effect of US NMD on international balance of power
  • China considering increasing own arsenals in response to proposed US NMD
  • Greatly concerned about effect of US NMD on international balance of power
  • General anti-nuclear weapons stance given legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
  • Depends heavily on U.S. for national security, particularly in Asia
  • Greatly concerned about effect of US NMD on international balance of power
  • High probability of enhancing own nuclear capabilities if U.S. pursues NMD
  • Locked in regional arms race with Pakistan
  • Greatly concerned about effect of US NMD on international balance of power
  • High probability of enhancing own nuclear capabilities if U.S. pursues NMD
  • Locked in regional arms race with Pakistan

Human Rights

Women's Rights

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • Frequent target of human rights criticism regarding labor practices and role of women
  • Strongly opposed to what it calls "cultural interference" in own and other countries' human rights affairs 
  • The ratio of those who receive secondary education is about 3 men to every 2 women

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • Home to thousands of "trafficked" women participating in sex industry

  • Supports efforts to educate women as part of overall development strategy

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • severe disparities between men and women in education and access to the political system

  • More than 40% of married women reported being physically or sexually abused 

  • Offers political support to efforts at educating women, but strongly opposed to cultural interference by West
  • the ratio of those who receive secondary education is about 3 men to every 2 women

     

  • Has signed and ratified the CEDAW convention

  • Severe disparities between men and women in education and access to the political system

  • Target of criticism by HR advocates for failure to fully implement CEDAW to protect women's rights 

  • Pakistan is a source, transit, and destination country for an increasing number of trafficked persons, particularly women and children

 

World Health

AIDS in Africa
  • Supports efforts to promote disease control and eradication of AIDS in Africa
  • Advocates anti-AIDS measures as part of a comprehensive development strategy
  • Supports efforts to promote disease control and eradication of AIDS in Africa
  • Advocates anti-AIDS measures as part of a comprehensive development strategy

 
  • Plagued by AIDS outbreak of epidemic proportions
  • Lacks government resources for widespread disease control & eradication efforts
  • Cultural norms and extreme poverty are an obstacle for education and awareness about the spread of the disease
  • Plagued by AIDS outbreak of epidemic proportions
  • Lacks government resources for widespread disease control & eradication efforts
  • Cultural norms and extreme poverty are an obstacle for education and awareness about the spread of the disease

Global Environment

Global Climate Change
  • Use of coal for heating large source of emissions
  • Has signed, but not ratified, Kyoto Protocol
  • Rapid economic development expected to increase emissions
  • Seeks to make the developed countries commitment to reduce emissions binding under international law 

 
  • Hosted Kyoto Conference in 1995
  • Seeks to export "green" technology to help other countries reduce emissions
  • Has signed, but not ratified, Kyoto Protocol
  • Supports emissions trading and credits

 
  • Poverty and basic human needs precede environmental protection
  • Has not signed Kyoto Protocol
  • Vocal critic of developed countries for "environmental double-standard"

 
  • Has not signed Kyoto Protocol
  • Poverty and basic human needs precede environmental protection
  • Has initiated some climate change research, using international funds and technical support

 

International Economics

The Global Digital Divide
  • Supports position that ICT must be integrated into each overall development policy differently, depending on each nations need
  • Supports efforts to create digital opportunity in the classroom and in the country and other ICT efforts
     
  • Has approximately 22 million internet users (2001)
  • Japan has committed $15  billion over five years to send computer technology to LDCs
  • Strong supporter of EDC's efforts to create digital opportunity in LDCs
  • Has approximately 27.06 million internet users (2000)
  • Development of ICT  considered by some as irrelevant; the majority of the population lives in extreme poverty and lacks access to safe water, sanitation and basic health services
  • Despite major recent improvements in urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the majority of the rural population
  • Has approximately 4.5 million internet users (2000)
  • Development of ICT  considered by some as irrelevant; the majority of the population lives in extreme poverty and lacks access to safe water, sanitation and basic health services
  • Despite major recent improvements in urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the majority of the rural population
  • Has approximately 1.2 million internet users (2000)