Socio-cultural Topic I

Continuing the topic, we will continue with some comparisons from other countries with Venezuela, today we'll talk about New Zealand, South Africa and USA. Beginning as it always has to know about the most important aspects of each country.

Politically, we note that in New Zealand, the system is a constitutional monarch, with a parliamentary democracy, where Queen Elizabeth II is head of state and Queen of New Zealand, for Royal Titles Act, the Queen is represented by Governor Jerry Mataeparae who is advised exclusively by Prime Minister John Key who is in charge of the Cabinet and preside but without being a member of the Executive Council. The political system of New Zealand is similar to that of Wales, Canada, England and Scotland, if you remember the previous comparisons.

In South Africa, the political system works under the parliamentary system modeled on the Westminster, does not mean that is the same but a political system similar to it. This country is ruled by President Jacob Zuma, who is the Head of State and Government, elected by the bicameral parliament.

In the U.S., the country is a federal presidential republic, means a constitutional republic, democratic and representative, led by President Barack Obama, who leads the political system according to the constitution, in which citizens are subject to the three levels of government: federal, state and local levels. The president is elected every 04 years and may be re-elected no more than twice, so that citizens vote for their President.

In contrast, in Venezuela we know that the political system is democratic and that the people also choose its President elected to the presidency every 06 years, but not like in America that are each 04 years. Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias who is the current president, is the Head of State and Chief Executive, is Commander in Chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Force and directs external relations of the Republic and the National Assembly as well. Compared to New Zealand and South Africa are very different system of government, as one is monarch, another is parliamentary and other democratic, but the United States that has many similarities in the political system and government of Venezuela, are not equal altogether.

If we speak the language, we can focus the importance of English, which is a world language, is the predominant language in these bilingual countries like New Zealand are the Maori and English, South Africa are Afrikaans and English, and U.S. english its native language, although being a multicultural country with many languages ​​including Spanish, French, among others.. English is the official language.

Another case would be the climate of these countries, in New Zealand climate varies depending on the north or south, because they are islands, north and northeast of the islands is more sunny and tropical, as opposed to the islands of the south and southwest is milder weather, colder. In South Africa, the climate also varies because of the vast country in the south and the highlands the climate is temperate, while the north is subtropical, and the West is semiarid. In the U.S., is one of the countries with most potential climates with arid climate such as California, Washington, etc. Humid subtropical in the south, humid continental in the north, in Alaska's polar climate and others. In Venezuela, we only have hot weather or rain, which vary from time to time, almost tropical climate.

Getting to the country's economic point, these countries have in common oil, agriculture, livestock, minerals and tourism as the country's main economic activities in which South Africa does not export oil, its major exports are minerals as gold, diamonds, platinum, etc.. And New Zealand is tourism and agriculture. In the U.S., are the chemical and oil. In Venezuela, the biggest export is oil, as many know.

In education, we can add that in America children at six or seven years are required to begin to attend school by law until they are eighteen years like Venezuela, and have public and private schools and the top universities more prestigious in the world like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Berkeley, etc. In New Zealand, the education system is equal to the British system as the countries of Wales, England, Scotland and Canada, in which we discussed earlier, students have the chance that while you study you can switch to another institution within New Zealand or other English speaking countries. This educational system is well recognized in the world. In South Africa education is a little different, primary children only learn performing arts, designs, ceremonies, games, dances, songs, etc.. And young people are prepared to study in what they can serve in the future in South Africa and they tend to make the passage ceremonies as children move into adulthood. Another aspect of this country is that they teach according to gender is female or male and every member in this country is responsible for each education, and is like the old British Educational system. In Venezuela, the education system is similar to the U.S. as previously talked about, but anyone who is not able to get an education has the chance to look back again to finish his studies.

Socio-culturale Topic

Introducing this issue, we begin with some ideas of the countries of Scotland, Canada, England and Wales, and then make some comparisons with our country Venezuela, to know what things or aspects stand out or differences it from our country.

First, the British countries like Canada, England, Wales and Scotland have the British Royal Family, and Queen Elizabeth II who is the monarch of the United Kingdom, which are countries having the same political system, since all are constituents of the United Kingdom, ruled by a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary government, the only thing is that each has its own parliament or assembly. In contrast, Venezuela is a democracy country headed by a president who is elected by the Venezuelan people every 06 years. Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias who is the president, is the Head of State and Chief Executive, is Commander in Chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Force and directs external relations of the Republic and the National Assembly, in which he can appoint and remove ministers and the executive vice president as well.

Wales, Canada and Scotland are bilingual countries; Wales is the Welsh and English, Canada is the French and English , Scotland is the Scottish and English, England has only their native language and the language which is more predominant in the world, the English. Moreover, Venezuela has only Spanish, although English is a predominant language in the world, but in Venezuela a few people know how to speak about.

Another comparison we can find is the big difference in our climate, because in countries such as Wales, England, Scotland and Canada have 04 seasons, like winter, fall, spring and summer, however, in Venezuela did not find these stations, as a country located in the tropic, we are just warm and rainy climates, obtaining different stations for being a tropical country.

Culturally, England, Wales, Canada and Scotland have been influenced by some Western ideologies and the British Empire, since they are monarchs country and moreover that they are multicultural in some zones, always having inmigrations of many foreign countries. In Venezuela, the culture comes from the indigenous, African and Spanish, all of them have come to be a mixture of what is in itself the Venezuelan culture.

We can also focus on the economy, these countries except Wales have great similarity in the oil as a great source of export of the country. In Wales, its strongest point are minerals such as iron, coal, copper, lead, gold, etc.. In Scotland, the wiskhy; in England, is oil and agriculture; and Canada are minerals like zinc and uranium, energy, and oil. In Venezuela, moreover of the oil well, also have agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Another important factor is tourism, which is a great addition to all these countries in the economic area, with its greats natural beauty.

In education, we can find some small differences in the educational system, except for that education is structured preschool, elementary, diversified and higher and there are also private and public schools.  In Venezuela, everyone has the right to education, in how old are you, if that person could not at an early age, they can do it by law. In contrast, British countries (England, Wales, Canada and Scotland), education is compulsory from 05 years, there are cases as in some British schools make admissions tests. In Scotland, the children do these tests with 14 to 16 years and they can decide if they want to continue with their college studies and which college.

In sport, England, Wales, Canada and Scotland have great fanaticism for football, in addition to hockey, rugby, cricket and among others. Therefore, in Venezuela is baseball, as well as coleus, basketball and soccer.

Doing these little comparisons of our country like Venezuela with British countries like Canada, Wales, England and Scotland give much more importance to want to know and enjoy more of our country, of how large differences can make us grow and understand many things. So, let's appreciate and care over Venezuela, for being reflected in the world.

Some Sceneries of Wales