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.