Posts Tagged ‘smallest continent’

Australia is a wealthy country with a population of over 21 million people (2008 estimate) that sits on the world’s smallest continent. Today, Australia is currently one of the best places to migrate to for a variety of good reasons as listed below.

1. Aggressive migration program: Australia’s migration policies welcome migrants. As a nation founded on immigration, Australia’s population growth is accounted for mainly by an aggressive and ambitious immigration program introduced shortly after WW I and this program continues to be in operation today.

2. Beautiful Climate and Geography: Australia is a beautiful land and although temperatures in the country can get high, it usually occurs in the interiors of the country. Australia benefits from the maritime influence and has a beautiful countryside.

3. Shortage of skilled labour: Australia is in need of skilled labour. The rapid economic growth has resulted in a requirement for qualified workers. The country is addressing this labour supply problem through its immigration policies which invite qualified people to live and work in Australia.

4. Vast economic opportunities: Australia’s robust economy ensures vast opportunities for human development and a better quality of life. In fact, Australia has always ranked within the top ten of the United Nation’s Human Development Index.

5. Affordable housing costs: While some of the biggest economies in the world struggle with escalating rental and housing costs, housing remains affordable in Australia. In the early 2000, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) had undergone a major research project to evaluate housing affordability for lower-income Australians. Thus far, Australia has kept the rise in housing costs in check, maintaining housing costs at affordable levels for Australians.

6. Excellent education system: Australian education is western-style and is one of the best in the world at 8th in the worldwide rankings. Australia’s education system is run by both public and private sectors and education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15. Also, the government-run primary and secondary schools are free.

7. Full coverage under the public healthcare system: Australia’s public healthcare system is at par with the world’s best. Australian Medicare covers all Australians and pays for hospitalization and medical services in public hospitals.

8. No language barrier: English is spoken by virtually all Australians. It is the official language and is spoken at home by at least three quarters of the population. Those who do not speak English at home are usually bilingual.

9. Plenty of entertainment and recreation options: Whatever you enjoy, Australia has it. Sports fans and arts enthusiasts can find excellent sports facilities, art galleries, events and more in various places throughout Australia.

10. Laid back lifestyle: Australia fosters a great community spirit where a class boundary that is almost palpable in some societies is absent. The people in Australia lead fairly relaxed lifestyles and there is a general sense that everyone is contributing to the greater good of the society.

Author: Bob Smiths
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: PCB Prototype & Manufacturing

Europe has been the center of much of Western Civilization throughout the history of mankind. Here are 20 interesting things about Europe you should know, but may not.

20 Interesting Things About Europe

With the amazing history of Europe, picking 20 things out can be a controversial effort to say the least, but here we go anyway.

1. Europe is the second smallest continent with roughly 4 million square miles.

2. Europe is designated as a continent for political reasons. There is no geographic basis for the claim.

3. Europe is home to more than 700 million people, but birth rates are stagnant.

4. Most scholars believe Europe was named after Europa, a Phoenician Princess in Greek mythology.

5. The smallest country in Europe is the Vatican, which is considered a separate country from Italy even though it is in the middle of Rome.

6. The largest city in Europe is Paris with a population of just under 10 million people.

7. La Sapienza University in Rome is the largest university in Europe with a whopping 184,000 students.

8. Europe produces just over 18 percent of all the oil in the world.

9. The European Union has 25 country members.

10. 80 to 90 percent of Europe was once covered in forest, but this has been reduced to 3 percent in Western Europe.

11. Europe has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world.

12. Europe has been racked with war throughout its history to the point where more than 70 former countries have been conquered and no longer appear on maps.

13. The great Roman inventions so often cited by scholars actually were created by Etruscans, a small empire in the south of present day Italy.

14. The Dark Ages in Europe lasted from 476 to 1,000 A.D. or twice as long as the United States has been a country.

15. The Renaissance followed this period and lasted roughly 200 years.

16. The first country to join the industrial revolution in Europe was Great Britain.

17. The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918 and resulted in four empires radically changing or dissolving completely: the German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and the Russian.

18. Adolf Hitler was not German. He was Austrian, born in the small town of Braunau am Inn.

19. It is estimated that 62 million people died in World War II, 2.5 percent of the worlds population at that time.

20. The 10 most generous countries in the world when it comes to charitable giving are all located in Europe.

To be honest, the 20 items mentioned about Europe cited above are just scratching the surface. If you have a hankering for history, Europe is a fascinating subject to study.

Author: Richard Monk
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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