SGML 5ó9G.F)∩ .ó9G.F)∩ ƒ╔FOLD Q physical ∩└ατ=iDτD εε ƒ╔SGML ! SGML . .FOLD Q physƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Physical Globe</title><infobody><p>This particular visualization of the Earth is a 3D terrain model that has been created from various sources, including satellite altimeter readings, 2D maps and nautical charts. Its three-dimensionality has been exaggerated by an artificial light source to create shadows.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The color key to the left of the globe will help you identify height and depth above and below sea level. The zoom buttons beneath the globe will allow you to descend closer to the Earth»s surface to get a better look at key physical features, from hills and mountains to lakes and rivers to canyons and ocean trenches. These features have served to define some of mankind's activities through the ages. To this day, natural barriers act as demarcation points, separating countries, cultures and regions. Wars have been fought over areas that are strategic or have natural resources. No less than six Asian countries have made claims to all or part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Their proximity to the shipping lanes of this economically powerful region and the existence of hydrocarbon deposits in the surrounding sea bed have made them an attractive prize.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Note how some of the biggest mountains in the world are partly underwater, such as Mauna Kea in the Pacific. The individual island named Hawaii is actually the huge Mauna Kea volcano rising over six miles from the ocean floor. Also, be sure to examine the ridges in the middle of the Atlantic and Pacific where new ocean floor is continuously being created from molten rocks below. Finally, don»t miss the high peaks of the Andes and the nearby ocean trench which illustrate where the Pacific tectonic plate is pushing under the South American plate. Some of the world»s most damaging earthquakes and tsunamis have been the result of movement along this line.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>You have several options for navigating around the world. To rotate the globe, position your mouse at any side of the window and hold down the button. If you know the country you»d like to visit, you may also use the Find Dialogue box to the right. Scrolling through the list will get you there, but with nearly 250 country/territory entries, there»s a quicker way to reach your destination. Type the name in the bar above the box. As you key in each letter, the list will move accordingly. When the appropriate location is highlighted, simply press the return key. The globe will then rotate to that country, displaying its name and flag. If you would like to access the profile, simply double click on the name, either in the Find Dialogue box or directly on the globe.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ╩ political *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML Ü SGML . .FOLD ╩ poliƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Political Globe</title><infobody><p>This globe shows the often arbitrary political lines drawn across the surface of the planet. To create this visualization, color-coded country masks were combined with the same 3D terrain model found in the Physical Globe. Some borders follow natural barriers, such as mountain ranges or rivers. Others are merely defined as lines of latitude and longitude. Many borders are highly controversial (see the Disputes and Flashpoints exhibit).</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>You have several options for navigating around the world. To rotate the globe, position your mouse at any side of the window and hold down the button. If you know the country you»d like to visit, you may also use the Find Dialogue box to the right. Scrolling through the list will get you there, but with nearly 250 country/territory entries, there»s a quicker way to reach your destination. Type the country name in the bar above the box. As you key in each letter, the list will move accordingly. When the appropriate location is highlighted, simply press the return key. The globe will then rotate to that country, displaying its name and flag. If you would like to access the profile, simply double click on the name, either in the Find Dialogue box or directly on the globe.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>You»ll see that some of the countries have arrows to the left of their flags. This indicates that sub-national boundaries for states, territories or provinces can be viewed. To open the list, simply position the cursor over the arrow and click.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD regional . *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML ╙ SGML . .FOLD regiƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Regions Globe</title><infobody><p>Thanks to advances in communications and transportation, physical barriers, such as distance, no longer separate nations. Economic and social walls also are crumbling. This is not to say that countries and the ethnic groups will lose their identities, or that political boundaries will become obsolete &en; at least not anytime soon.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>A good indication of the movement towards the true &ladqu;global community&radqu; is the strengthening of relationships within regions. Europe is one example. In the not-too-distant future Europeans are expected to be able to move freely over national borders and to pay for goods with a unified currency. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is another example of a regional alliance. Political forces, and to a lesser degree, social forces have shaped the Middle East since the end of World War I. With peace nearly at hand, it is a good bet that economic development will move to center stage in this part of the world, with relationships that even a decade ago would have been deemed improbable.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The twelve regions that we present here are by no means the definitive grouping of the nations of the world. Certainly, valid arguments can be made that one country or another should have been designated in a different region. The North African nations, for example, are on the African continent so why aren»t they in our Africa region? On some issues they are, but, more often or not, we find that they are linked to the Middle East on a wider range of political, social and economic affairs.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD transition_middle_east . . ƒ╔SGML Θ SGML . .FOLD tranƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Changing Borders - The Middle East</title><infobody><p>This region is among the world»s most complicated. Its very small size leaves different religions and cultures close to one another. Over the years, the Middle East has seen more than its share of conflict, including warfare, acts of terror, political intrigues and civil disturbances. Much of it has been open to the eyes of the world.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Changing Borders provides a visual explanation of the constant state of flux the Middle East has been in during the latter half of the 20th century.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Experience Changing Borders in the Middle East by either clicking on the play arrow or on any year in the timeline. Then, listen to a narrative of the historical significance of the era. A click on any colored geographic area will provide its name in the period you are looking at.</p>
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FOLD ƒ transition_former_yugoslavia ƒ╔SGML o SGML . .FOLD ƒ tranƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Changing Borders - The Balkans</title><infobody><p>Frequent border changes in the Balkans are not unique to this century. From its earliest days when the Slavic ancestors of the Serbs and Croats first inhabited the region, people living there have been subject to domination by one or more foreign powers. Each authority redrew the map. Given the events of this century &en; including those occurring during the last five years &en; borders continue to change.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Experience Changing Borders in the Balkans by either clicking on the play arrow or on any year in the timeline. Then, listen to a narrative of the historical significance of the era. A click on any colored geographic area will provide its name in the period you are looking at.</p>
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FOLD ú snapshot_political_systems . ƒ╔SGML s SGML . .FOLD ú snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Political Systems</title><infobody><p>A quick look at the globe indicates that an overwhelming majority of countries share the same system of government: a multi-party republic. Such countries, by and large, also call themselves democracies. Yet, one should not confuse the multi-party system of the United States with that of Syria. Benin and Cameroon are two African countries which are multi-party republics. Each has a government headed by an elected president. Recently in Benin, the judiciary overturned a presidential appointment to the Supreme Court. The government accepted the ruling. About the same time, the government of Cameroon banned news conferences, postponed municipal elections and attempted to defend the results of national elections which were declared unfair by international observers. Therefore, a common system of government does not necessarily mean that political and personal freedoms are consistent from one country to another. A look at the Quality of Life Global Snapshot or the Civil Liberties category in Statistics shows this to be true.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>An overwhelming number of countries also have systems based upon a republican form of government. The ancient Greeks were the first to subscribe to such a system, which rejects monarchism and the suppression of individual and societal freedoms.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The categories we use here are general terms. There are further distinctions that can be made between systems. The United States, for example, is a federal republic, a form of multi-party republic. For clarity and comparison, we have selected the following set of classifications:</p>
<p>The rule by one sovereign leader, usually empowered through heredity. As a supreme power, a monarch would make and administer laws, and command the country»s (or empire»s) armed forces.</p>
<p>This might be considered the modern-day evolution of the traditional absolute monarchy. A hereditary leader maintains his or her role as head of state, while a political leader heads the government. The role of the monarchy is largely symbolic but is considered valuable to the state. During times of crisis, for instance, a king or queen and a royal family can represent unity.</p>
<p>A rare, hybrid form of government, where no political parties exist by tradition, force, or choice. In some ways, this system is similar to an absolute monarchy; the leadership position is gained through heredity. However, there is an independent legislature. (See if you can find the few countries which have this political system.)</p>
<p></p><p><subheading>Single-party and Multi-party Republics</subheading></p>
<p>Differentiated by the number of functioning political parties and by a wide chasm in terms of individual freedoms.</p>
<p>Since the late 1980s, the number of countries subscribing to this system has dwindled. (Take a look at the Communism Global Trend display.) Socialism encompasses a country»s political and economic systems. Trademarks of a socialist republic are a one-party political system and a centralized state-controlled economy where most, if not all, industry is government-owned.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>What China has become does not fit this or other general categories. The Chinese leadership is treading in uncharted waters as it tries to maintain an authoritarian, one-party political system and, at the same time, to convert the economy to something that is closer to capitalism.</p>
<p>This form of governing has roots in ancient times. Today, it is only in developing nations, mostly on the African continent. In most cases, military control of a government results from an underlying instability in a civilian regime. It often exists for only a short period of time, until more stability leads to a return to civilian rule (Sierra Leone is an example).</p>
<p>This &ladqu;catch-all&radqu; category includes countries where recent events have signaled a change from one political system to another. It could be where a coup occurred, where the country is in the process of re-establishing civilian rule, or where no discernible national government exists.</p>
<p></p><p><subheading>Other</subheading></p>
<p>There are a small number of countries that do not fit into any of the above categories. Foremost is Irân, which describes itself as an Islamic Republic. Given the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism, it is possible that other Middle Eastern or perhaps southwest Asian countries may someday follow suit.</p>
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FOLD
snapshot_nuclear_powers . . ƒ╔SGML ≡ SGML . .FOLD
snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Nuclear Powers</title><infobody><p>Throughout the Cold War, the fear of global annihilation could never be too far from the front of the world»s collective conscience. The specter of mushroom clouds on the horizon, or of invading armies being met by a tactical nuclear response was no doubt played out time and again in military planning sessions from London to Washington and from Prague to Moscow. The threat of &ladqu;mutual destruction&radqu; proved to be a major deterrent to Armageddon.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Even though the Cold War is over, the world today is not without its nuclear fears. A handful of undeclared and threshold nuclear states &en; most of them located in the least stable areas of the world such as the Middle East and on the Indian subcontinent &en; by and large lack the degree of political stability of the five states that have declared their nuclear capabilities. This stability has provided the ultimate fail-safe guarantee against the use of nuclear weapons.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>It is true that the missiles once targeted at strategic sites can be reprogrammed in a matter of hours, if not minutes. It is also true that the troubles facing the states of the former Soviet Union have raised the possibility for the unauthorized sale of weapons, fissionable material or brain-power. At the same time, there are plenty of environmental concerns to go around, from the clean-up of bomb factories to long-term storage questions in both the United States and the former Soviet Union.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Yet, overall, the nuclear outlook is positive. In 1995, the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was extended indefinitely by a consensus vote of 175 participating nations. The agreement commits the five declared nuclear states to gradually move toward disarmament and the other 170 nations to forgo the acquisition of nuclear weapons.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The Nuclear Globe displays the status of nuclear arms development around the world. Nuclear States shows which countries possess (Declared Nuclear States) or are believed to possess (Undeclared Nuclear States) nuclear weapons. Threshold States describes those which have the ability to create and maintain development programs, and Renounced States are countries which have abandoned their nuclear programs. You»ll see that three of the CIS republics, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, fall under this classification. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, these countries became instant members of the nuclear club, by virtue of the fact that bases, development centers and ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missiles) silos were located within their borders. The three are believed to have since transferred all nuclear systems and materials over to the Russian Federation.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Clicking on the button labeled &ladqu;Non-proliferation Treaty&radqu; will switch the display to a view of countries which are signatories to the 1995 extension and others which are not. It should come as no surprise that many of the states which fall into the undeclared or threshold categories were absent from the treaty conference.</p>
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FOLD ╓ snapshot_quality_of_life . . ƒ╔SGML ª SGML . .FOLD ╓ snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Quality of Life</title><infobody><p>While pictures and words provide vivid images of life around the world, they do not always furnish an accurate illustration of the quality of lives in diverse lands. There are, however, standardized measurements which reveal a country»s economic standing and the well-being of its citizens.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>We have selected four variables to assist you in understanding the living conditions in each country or dependent territory.</p>
<p>The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an internationally accepted measure which assigns a numerical evaluation to a country»s economic performance for a particular period (in this case for the year 1993). The GDP is a valuation based upon the production or output of goods and services.</p>
<p>Newborns can expect to live this number of years in their respective countries &en; assuming that living conditions remain stable throughout their life spans. Life expectancy reflects the general health and well-being of a country»s population, along with the quality of the system that provides health care and related services.</p>
<p>Source: United Nations Development Program (1993)</p>
<p></p><p><subheading>Human Development Index</subheading></p>
<p>The Human Development Index (HDI) was developed as a statistical base of comparison of the quality of life in different countries. Although issued as an annual ranking, its real value lies in the measurement of progress, or decline, over time. It is a complicated formula which includes: average life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real Gross Domestic Product GDP per capita.</p>
<p>Source: United Nations Development Program (1992)</p>
<p></p><p><subheading>Freedom in the World</subheading></p>
<p>Freedom House, an internationally known foundation, has been evaluating political rights and civil liberties worldwide for several decades. Each year, it issues a comparative survey of freedom, which includes reports on every country and most territories. Based upon information collected from a diverse group of sources, Freedom House assigns each country a political and civil liberties rating. Political factors include whether a country holds free and fair elections and whether ethnic and religious minorities are allowed to participate in the political process. Civil liberties track the existence of a free press and the presence of individual freedoms such as speech and assembly.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>This display reflects the political and civil liberties ratings given to each country. Accordingly, Freedom House assigns the labels, Free, Partly Free and Not Free.</p>
<p>Source: Freedom House (1995/96 survey)</p>
<p></p><p>The Quality of Life globe provides you with graphic comparisons of the countries of the world. For quantitative comparisons, find Statistics in the Content menu. Also, look for NewsLinks to provide further explanations of comparisons.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ┼ snapshot_strategic_resources ƒ╔SGML ò SGML . .FOLD ┼ snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Energy Resources</title><infobody><p>The industrialized world is dependent on fossil fuels for 90 percent of its energy needs. Fossil fuels have been stored in the earth for millions of years and are non-renewable. This globe shows where biological and geological conditions have concentrated coal, oil and natural gas. It also shows the sedimentary basins where new reserves might be found.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Coal is formed when decaying plant life is buried by sediments in river estuaries and deltas. Petroleum is formed similarly from the decay of green plankton after it has fallen to the sea bed. Because it is fluid, petroleum migrates through the porous rocks in which it is formed, either up to the surface as a natural seep, or until progress is blocked by a non-porous rock layer. In this way, large concentrations of oil may build up in a single location. Gaseous petroleum usually separates and accumulates at the top of an oil reservoir and is often burned off as an unwanted by-product of the oil extraction process.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The first oil reserves to be exploited on a large scale were in Texas. Until the discovery of new oil fields in Alaska, the oil reserves of the US were thought to be mostly used up. Today, the US is a large importer of oil and gas. The world»s major reserves are found in the Middle East and the nations of the former Soviet Union. At current consumption rates, it is estimated that oil and gas will last another 50 years and coal just over 200 years. Although more common and more evenly distributed than oil or gas, coal is more expensive to extract and more difficult to transport. As a result, most countries prefer to use petroleum. One exception is China, where coal is used for most commercial energy needs.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Duration estimates for fossil fuels do not include undiscovered reserves or increased consumption. For the moment, consumption has almost stabilized in the industrial world as a result of greater efficiency and the increased use of nuclear power. However, the developing world is becoming more oil-dependent as it industrializes.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In the post-war years, the development of nuclear power promised an era of clean, cheap energy. Today, the problems of waste disposal, the costs of decommissioning nuclear power plants and the risks highlighted by nuclear accidents &en; such as the one at Chernobyl in 1986 &en; are reasons to expect a decline in nuclear power in the developed world. Only Japan maintains active expansion of its nuclear power program. However, in the developing world, nuclear power is often an attractive alternative to dependence on imported fossil fuels. The development of nuclear technology in politically less stable countries continues to bring with it the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Nuclear power is based on the burning of uranium in nuclear reactors. Uranium deposits are less common than those of fossil fuels and more unevenly distributed around the world. The globe shows the locations of major deposits. Reserves are estimated to be sufficient for 50 to 100 years. The lifetime of the world»s uranium reserves could be extended to several hundred years if &ladqu;fast breeder&radqu; reactors were commercially developed. Such reactors produce more fuel than they consume, but they require more advanced engineering than traditional &ladqu;burner&radqu; reactors. Both France and the United Kingdom recently abandoned their research programs, with only Japan known to be pursuing such technology.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Major deposits of oil and gas are located in the sparsely populated regions of the Middle East and Siberia, far from the major consumers in North America and Europe. The development of alternative and renewable energy sources continues, along with improvements in efficiency of energy use. For the foreseeable future, however, the search for and the trade in oil and gas will remain high on the agenda in world affairs.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ╣ snapshot_disputed_territories ƒ╔SGML ë SGML . .FOLD ╣ snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Disputes & Flashpoints</title><infobody><p>Relative to years past, it may seem that today»s world is a somewhat calm place. Looking at the Disputes and Flashpoints globe may change that impression. Position the globe over the South China Sea or Central Asia, and you will see two examples of why all is not calm. While most current disputes are localized, some &en; ownership of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and tensions along the 38th Parallel which separates North and South Korea in Central Asia &en; have the potential to be regional flashpoints.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>On this globe, you will find numerous disputes over borders, territories and islands, as well as various political and ethnic conflicts. You will also find &ladqu;chokepoints,&radqu; maritime passages which would play a crucial role in global, or even regional, hostilities.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>We have shaded those areas in which disputes currently exist. In most cases, you will want to zoom in a couple of levels for a better look.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD t snapshot_world_clock . . . ƒ╔SGML D SGML . .FOLD t snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>World Clock</title><infobody><p>By combining two satellite image globes &en; one by day and one by night &en; we can see how the rotation of the Earth around its axis and around the sun change the patterns of day and night over the year. Notice that from September to March, the North Pole is dark when the South Pole is light.</p>
<p></p><p>Time of day calculations based on code from xearth by Kirk Johnson</p>
<p>(adapted from Practical Astronomy with your calculator, 3rd Edition, Peter Duffett-Smith, Cambridge University Press, 1988.)</p>
<p>(nighttime) Optical Line Scanner (OLS) image mosaic</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD è snapshot_religion *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML Z SGML . .FOLD è snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Religion</title><infobody><p>The practice of religion may be as old as man. The ritualistic worship of the environment &en; of the sun and moon, for instance &en; dates back to ancient times. The major religions of the modern era can trace their roots to the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), to Indian origin (Hinduism) and to Far Eastern origin (Buddhism).</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>As you can see from the globe, Christianity and Islam both have benefited from their disciples, who have spread their beliefs. During the height of colonialism, the work of Christian missionaries went hand-in-hand with the conquests of the imperial powers. This accounts for the presence of Christianity in virtually every corner of the world. Together with Hinduism and Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are the faiths followed by a majority of the inhabitants of the world (the 1.2 billion inhabitants of China, to a great extent, have become atheists under the Communist regime). The &ladqu;Indigenous/Traditional&radqu; category is represented largely on the African continent, and throughout Oceania, where societies of limited size live in relative isolation. Judiasm is represented within this category as well. Outside of Israel no more than 2 to 3% of any one country»s population are followers of Judaism.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The Religion Globe displays the percentage of a country»s population which practice the selected religion. The scale at the left is a color-coded guide. In addition, you may select the country itself to view a numerical percentage.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>A detailed breakdown of the religions found in each country can be found in their respective profiles.</p>
<p></p><p>Source: CIA World Factbook (1996)</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD Ñ snapshot_language *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML u SGML . .FOLD Ñ snapƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Language</title><infobody><p>This globe displays the predominant languages spoken in every country or territory. Not surprisingly, the most commonly used languages are often the same as those of the imperial powers of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>There are some countries where the official language is not dominant or where there are multiple official languages. In those cases, &ladqu;primary/secondary&radqu; distinctions are made. In some of the larger countries where a single language is listed, there may be several dialects. In China, for example, several regional dialects are spoken, not to mention hundreds of local dialects. There are also cases where one official language is considered appropriate for business, commerce and government, and another language is more widely used in everyday life.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The word &ladqu;local&radqu; is used to designate many languages. In many instances, &ladqu;local&radqu; is self-explanatory. In Greece, for instance, &ladqu;local&radqu; means Greek. In Italy, it means Italian. Czech is the language of the Czech Republic. However, Bhután is an entirely different matter. While its official language is Dzongkha, ethnic Nepalese and Bhotes each use numerous local dialects. This is in a country with a population of under two million people.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Further language information can be found in the country profiles. Simply locate the country using the globe or the Find box, then double click on it.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ó trend_colonialism *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML r SGML . .FOLD ó trenƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Colonial Powers</title><infobody><p>By and large the Colonial Era ended in the 1960s, when many countries on the African continent gained their independence from European control. With Hong Kong and Macao slated to come under rule by China in the next few years, the ranks of foreign-controlled territories will thin even further.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Vestiges of colonial rule remain to this day &en; particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The judicial systems of many of these nations, for example, are based upon those of the former imperial powers. Decades of colonial rule have left scars on these societies. Exploitation of people and resources has made many newly independent countries ill-prepared for national sovereignty.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In reality, many of today»s territories, dependencies and possessions, such as Bermuda (United Kingdom), and the Northern Marianas (US) have forsaken independence, with economic and defense concerns outweighing the benefits of complete self-government.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ▌ trend_communism *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML ¡ SGML . .FOLD ▌ trenƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Communism</title><infobody><p>Communism, a term that applies both to political and economic systems, can trace its roots back to Karl Marx, a German philosopher. Using Marx»s writings as a basis, Vladimir Lenin refined and further developed the principles of Communism, culminating in the 1917 Bolshevik victory during the Russian Revolution.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>If you position the globe to show the Russian Federation and set the date to 1917, you can watch as Russian domination extends to the Ukraine and over the Asian republics. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed in 1922.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>As World War II drew to a close, Soviet troops came to occupy most of Eastern Europe and fought the German army from Russia to Berlin. You can see how, from 1945 to the early 1950s, Communism»s &ladqu;Iron Curtain&radqu; expanded westward in Europe, which would become the first &ladqu;battleground&radqu; of the Cold War. Arguably, Europe would be the focal point of the fight between Communism and capitalism throughout the Cold War period.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Now, set the date back to 1945 and move the globe eastward to Asia. The civil war in China ended in 1949, when the Communists led by Mao Zedong took control of Beijing (Peking), and Chiang Kai-Shek and his Nationalist followers fled to the island of Taiwan. About the same time, a Soviet-sponsored Communist regime was established in the northern half of Korea. The Korean War (1950-1953) was fought to make certain that the Communists didn»t extend their control to the south.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>By the late 1950s, the focus of the Cold War centered on Southeast Asia. Ho Chi Minh»s victory at Dien Bien Phu, Viêtnam, in 1954, signaled the end of French colonial rule over Indochina (Viêtnam, Laos and Cambodia). Shortly thereafter, the United States entered the fray. Successive Presidents (Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson) were guided by the fear of the &ladqu;domino theory&radqu; becoming a reality, where one Southeast Asian country after another would fall to Communism.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Since 1959, Fidel Castro»s Cuba has been a hemispheric irritant, at least to the United States. Zoom in on the globe and you»ll see why. Cuba»s location &en; less than 100 miles off the Florida coast, surrounded by many other Caribbean islands and situated between North and South and Central Americas &en; has made this economically poor island strategically important to the US.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>As the 1980s came to an end so did Communism as a global force. Precipitated by the Communist Party»s fall from power in the Soviet Union, Communism staged a breath-taking retreat across Eastern Europe and in the Asian Soviet republics.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD + trend_spread_of_aids . . . ƒ╔SGML √ SGML . .FOLD + trenƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Spread of AIDS</title><infobody><p>The Spread of AIDS, seen in this display, is measured by the number of new cases reported each year. Given the locations where the disease has struck the hardest &en; sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia &en; there is great difficulty in determining the actual numbers. Health officials caution that the true number of people with AIDS most likely is significantly higher.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>But what of HIV, the precursor to AIDS? There is simply no way to determine the number of people infected on a global basis. In underdeveloped regions of the world, where even basic medical care is difficult to come by, testing for the presence of HIV is rare. It is only when people develop AIDS, and seek medical care, that they officially become casualties of this disease, one of the deadliest ever to afflict mankind.</p>
<p></p><p>Source: World Health Organization</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD l trend_deforestation G. . . ƒ╔SGML < SGML . .FOLD l trenƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Deserts and Forests</title><infobody><p>Throughout history, people have increasingly used the land on which they live, tailoring it to their purposes. In Europe and North America, forests were cleared over the centuries to make room for agriculture. Today, machinery can change the face of the landscape, deliberately or accidentally, at an alarming rate. Increasing populations in the developing world are putting natural ecosystems under extreme pressure. Changes in land use can be felt outside the territory in which they occur, even globally. This globe shows changes in forest and desert areas during this century.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In the tropics, it is estimated that only half of the original rain-forest cover remains. Most of the remaining forest is in the Amazon basin in South America. In 1990, satellite surveys showed that the rate of destruction in the Amazon was almost double that of 1980. Brazil has now ended its policy of encouraging city dwellers to settle the forest areas and enforces a licensing arrangement to control the cutting of forests. Other countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, eager for export earnings often to pay off loans from the developed world, are continuing with large-scale logging and the clearing of forest lands for agriculture.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Forest land is not suitable for sustained agriculture. Once cleared of trees, the topsoil is quickly washed away and cultivation must move to fresh areas. Meanwhile, the increased sediment load of rivers can cause siltation and flooding downstream. In addition to the suffering caused by such side effects, the development of forest lands can be tragic for native populations who have exploited the forest in a sustainable way for centuries.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, using sunlight to turn it into oxygen and carbohydrates. The tropical rain forests are the lungs of the planet. When they die, trees release the stored carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, which can lead to warming by enhancing the &ladqu;greenhouse effect.&radqu; Seventeen percent of the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today has come from burning forests.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In sub-Saharan Africa, the &ladqu;carrying capacity&radqu; of the land is under severe strain. Increasing population has led to destruction of trees and shrubs for fuel. The reduction of fallow periods on poor soils has been made worse by several years of drought. When rain or wind comes, the depleted vegetation cover can no longer hold the soil in place, leading to severe erosion.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In the developed world, intensive cultivation of marginal land, often reliant on large-scale irrigation, can lead to long-term decline. Salt can build up if irrigated land is not drained properly, resulting in soil unable to support crops. Countries of the former Soviet Union, as well as the southwestern United States, suffer in this way.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Another problem associated with the industrialized countries is &ladqu;Waldsterben,&radqu; or &ladqu;forest death&radqu; in German. The remaining forests in Europe, North America and China are declining for a number of reasons. Originally mixed forests, they are now often harvested and restocked with the same species, reducing ecological diversity and increasing vulnerability to insects, fungi and other stresses.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>One of the largest contributors is &ladqu;acid rain,&radqu; sulfates and nitrates from the burning of fossil fuels, carried by the winds and washed out by rain or snow. Airborne pollutants do not respect national boundaries, with forests in Sweden, Germany and Canada afflicted by pollution from the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe and the northeastern United States. Acid rain also leads to the acidification of lakes and rivers, affecting the health of fish stocks and reducing nutrients in the soil.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD D trend_population *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML SGML . .FOLD D trenƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Population Density</title><infobody><p>The world»s population is about 5.5 billion and rising. This globe shows where the world»s population is distributed today. There are two readily identifiable trends. Although there are high population densities in the industrial areas of both the developed and the developing world, population levels in the developed world have virtually stabilized while in the poorer nations the population explosion continues.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>While improvements in health care have decreased child mortality, the tendency in many areas is to produce as many children as possible in an attempt to increase the future economic potential of the family and to provide security in old age. However, this increasing population is not supported by the kind of agricultural advances that aided the population growth in Europe in the 17th century. In Africa especially, populations are rising beyond the &ladqu;carrying capacity&radqu; of the land. Soil is worked beyond its capacity to support crops. Droughts which would previously have been survivable now result in chronic food shortages.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In most cases, increasing population hampers economic development. Many people head for large cities seeking economic advancement, only to find unemployment and inadequate housing and sanitation. Educational opportunities, key to economic development, are also key to reducing birthrates.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The education of women is particularly important. In countries with high female enrollment in secondary education, birth control is more widely used. By contrast, female enrollment is low in much of Africa and the average woman still bears six children. Without improved education opportunities, there may be little hope of Africa making the demographic transition that generally accompanies improvements in health care.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD trend_global_warming . . . ƒ╔SGML ß SGML . .FOLD trenƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Global Warming</title><infobody><p>In many ways, the Earth»s climate is a result of the delicate balance of chemicals in the atmosphere. About 0.03 percent of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. Together with water vapor, carbon dioxide traps heat within the atmosphere, ensuring a reasonably stable temperature which is comfortable for life: the &ladqu;greenhouse effect.&radqu; Since the start of the industrial phase of mankind»s development, the concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases has increased. Carbon dioxide levels today are about 25 percent higher than in 1700.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>There is evidence that the increase in carbon dioxide is producing an &ladqu;enhanced&radqu; greenhouse effect, leading to global warming. In 1995, the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change reported an increase of average global temperature of one degree Fahrenheit this century. The primary cause of the increase is thought to be increased levels of greenhouse gases due to fossil fuel burning in power stations, industrial plants and automobiles.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The Earth»s climate system is complex and not completely understood. Models of atmospheric composition and circulation can be used to estimate what will happen to the climate under conditions of increased carbon dioxide content. These globes show predictions for surface temperature and precipitation after a doubling of carbon dioxide content.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Some experts believe that climatic changes would not be consistent throughout the world. While the average worldwide temperature increases some areas could become cooler. As the Earth becomes wetter overall (a result of increased evaporation from warmer oceans) some areas could become drier. Temperature increases could occur at the poles, perhaps leading to changes in the size of the polar icecaps. Water released from the polar icecaps, together with the expansion of the warmer oceans, could lead to a rise in sea levels which might threaten low-lying areas such as Bangladesh or the Nile Delta. If the atmosphere does heat up, it will contain more energy, and the occurrence of extreme weather conditions such as storms and drought is likely to increase.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Other experts believe the case for global warming is not conclusively proven. They claim that an initial heating up of the atmosphere and an increase in evaporation would eventually cause greater cloud cover. More clouds could reflect more sunlight away from the Earth, producing a net cooling effect. While higher temperatures may expand the oceans and start to melt the polar icecaps, increased precipitation as snowfall could cause the icecaps to grow more quickly than they melt. This also could moderate the temperature increase by reflecting more sunlight away.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Climatic changes could alter the locations in which some crops can grow. Under this model, the corn belt in North America moves north. Overall, cereal production would increase in the developed world, but decrease in the developing world, expanding the current gap between rich and poor nations</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>There are many questions which continued research can help to answer. However, there can be little doubt that the atmosphere is being changed more rapidly than at any other time in the Earth»s recent history. Action now to lessen mankind»s impact on the atmosphere by reducing the use of fossil fuels is one way. Nevertheless, the legacy to future generations may already be a changed or unstable climate system.</p>
<p>Let»s face it, a regular dose of statistics is hard to avoid. Not a day passes when some numerical measure doesn»t find its way into the news. It might take the form of an economic indicator, a social or environmental value or a measure of a country»s military might. Health and education reports are often laden with numbers as well. Sports fans find themselves immersed in team standings, box scores and batting averages. These numbers aren»t necessarily statistics. However, once you start analyzing and grouping them and using them to make inferences to support hypotheses or to predict probability, you»ve crossed over the threshold into the science of statistics.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The statistics area of ABC NewsLinks contains over 100 current and historical measures grouped within 11 categories. These numbers are particularly useful for making country-to-country comparisons (military strength and economic performance, for example) or for examining trends (health, environment, lifestyles and other subjects).</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In developing a statistics database, we selected our sources according to their expertise in a particular field. The United Nations, as well as several of its organizations, (namely the UN Development Program and World Health Organization) is a primary source. Others include the World Bank, CIA (1996 World Factbook), World Resources Institute, Jane»s Information Group, Ltd., and the International Energy Agency (an arm of the OECD - the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).</p>
<p></p><p><heading>Using the Statistics Tools</heading></p>
<p>There are two presentations available for any particular variable:</p>
<p></p><p><subheading></subheading>Global</p>
<p>All categories can be viewed on the globe. Data is color-coded, giving the user a quick comparison across continents. A numeric value is available for each country. To make a selection, either locate the country on the globe or use the Find Dialogue Box.</p>
<p></p><p><subheading></subheading>Bar Chart</p>
<p>The Bar or Ranking chart is an ordered display, with the highest number usually receiving the highest ranking (#1). The easiest method for locating a country is to use the Find Dialogue Box, which is tied to the ranking display on the left.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow>
FOLD timeline_cuba *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML ╧ SGML . .FOLD timeƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Cuba Timeline</title><infobody><p>Will relations ever normalize between the US and its island neighbor? In February 1996, two civilian planes belonging to &ladqu;Brothers to the Rescue,&radqu; a Cuban exile group, were shot down over international waters. This brought the modest warming trend in relations between the two countries to a cold stop.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>With the Cuban capital, Havana, less than 100 miles from the American mainland, it»s not surprising that the histories of the two countries have often crossed. You»ll see this in your journey through the Cuba timeline.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ▓ timeline_innovations . . . ƒ╔SGML é SGML . .FOLD ▓ timeƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Innovations Timeline</title><infobody><p>Given the overall tenor of ABC NewsLinks you might have certain expectations from a display with the title &ladqu;Innovations&radqu;: perhaps a timeline containing the world»s most important inventions, or those that have led to the betterment of our lives. It would be fair to say that this collection includes some important and noteworthy developments, as well as some that are simply interesting. As for their contributions to the overall good of mankind, you can judge for yourself.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD _ timeline_middle_east . . . ƒ╔SGML / SGML . .FOLD _ timeƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Middle East Timeline</title><infobody><p>This timeline represents an overview of recent history in the Middle East. The intricacies of the Middle East can puzzle even the most studied historians and certainly a majority of politicians. This timeline &en; along with the Changing Borders exhibit &en; will provide you with a basic visual understanding of how this region got to where it is today.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>The dizzying pace of events in this region is unlike that in any other part of the world. Trends are difficult to predict. The peace process between Israel and its Arab neighbors could stall or unravel because of unforeseen events caused by competing interests within the region.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ; timeline_south_africa . . ƒ╔SGML SGML . .FOLD ; timeƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>South Africa Timeline</title><infobody><p>Our interest in this intriguing and dynamic country remains high, even as the images of Nelson Mandela walking through the prison gates and the snaking lines of voters move from the top of the broadcast and front pages, to their place in history books.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>We are just in the middle of the story. The South Africa timeline is a review in pictures, words and sounds, of the dramatic events that have occurred so far. As events continue to unfold, concerns remain for sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. A peaceful and prosperous South Africa would provide the cornerstone of stability for the entire region.</p>
</infobody></miniwindow> FOLD ∙ timeline_weapons *AG. . . ƒ╔SGML ╔ SGML . .FOLD ∙ timeƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Weapons Timeline</title><infobody><p>Even during its most frigid moments, the post-World War II era known as the Cold War never developed into armed conflict between the two superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union. Yet, during that period (1948 &en; 1991), the world saw an &ladqu;arms race&radqu; the likes of which it may never experience again. There are those who believe that the 1980s buildup during the administration of US President Ronald Reagan may have literally broken the bank in Moscow, bringing an end to the Soviet Union»s superpower status and helping to bring about its dissolution.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>While the specter of mutual nuclear destruction no longer seems likely, the arms race left a destabilizing legacy. The widespread availability of conventional arms has helped to support regional and ethnic conflicts, from the Balkans to the armies of drug lords in Southeast Asia. The development and availability of Cold War technology, such as short-and medium-range rockets, concerns governments and populations from Tel Aviv and Islamabad to Seoul and Taipei.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Using this overview of the past, present and future, we asked the experts at Jane»s Information Group Limited to select the entries for this timeline. The timeline depicts what they believe are and will be the Cold War era»s most important developments and legacies. In light of current talk about developed high-technology weapons systems for the future, you may be surprised at the number of years some of today»s &ladqu;hot ticket&radqu; items have been around.</p>
SGML . .FOLD : nameƒ╔<miniwindow><paper>INFO</paper><title>Names & Faces</title><infobody><p>People make news. They may be people who have an impact on world events, such as prime ministers, presidents and dictators. They may be people who have attained a high level of recognition in their chosen fields, such as sports or entertainment superstars. They may be famous, such as internationally known writers, or infamous, such as suspected terrorists. They may control the destinies of other people, as business executives do. They may have left a mark on history; or they may simply be an interesting name and face.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Our list of Names & Faces is by no means definitive. We do not suggest that these are the most important people in the world. On the contrary, we can all list people who are more important to us as individuals. However, that doesn»t necessarily make them well-known newsmakers.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>In most cases, newsmakers are in positions of influence. The British Prime Minister sits in a position of power. John Major»s decisions have the potential to influence events around the world. So do the decisions of the President of the United States. When Bill Clinton was elected President in 1992, he arguably became the most powerful person in the world. In 1990, Saddam Hussein, the dictator who leads Iraq, touched off the Persian Gulf conflict when he sent his army into Kuwait. Individually, their judgments can affect the lives of thousands, indeed millions of people.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>Sports superstars don»t have the same measure of influence. However, they know how to draw attention. Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls commands an audience every time he steps onto the basketball court. Timothy McVeigh, charged with the worst act of terrorism ever to take place on American soil, will spend many days in a courtroom. His trial will be the subject of intense media attention. Celebrities, such as Madonna, will make headlines in the entertainment world. Some, like Mother Teresa, will make headlines through their work for others.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>People who are in positions of power, who have been recognized for their achievements or who are simply interesting, are people most of us want to know more about. That»s what makes them newsmakers.</p>
<p><paraindent></paraindent>As you click on Names & Faces to learn more about a newsmaker, keep in mind that our list is transitory. People are newsmakers one day, only to disappear from the world scene the next. Prime ministers and presidents come and go. So do singers and basketball players. So, periodically, we will include new faces through ABC NewsLinks» on-line component.</p>
