Changes in the 20th Century

1. International Conflicts

• World War 1 - A global war which took place mainly in Europe during 1914 to 1918. The assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which caused retaliation by Austria-Hugary against the Kingdom of Serbia, set a chain reaction of war declarations. Within a month, most of Europe was in open warfare. The two forces involved were the Allies and the Central Powers. The Allies involved were Belgium, Montenegro, Serbia, France, Russia, the British Empire, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Greece, and the United States. The Central Powers involved were Germany, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Austria-Hungary. The Allies were victorious, with a peace treaty signed on the 28 of June, 1919.
  


• World War 2 - A global war which took place during 1939 to 1945, it was the deadliest conflict in history, with over 70 million people killed. The German invasion of Poland is believed to have triggered the war, which caused Poland's western allies, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, to declare war on Germany. The Allies involved a lot of countries, but the countries that were involved after the invasion of Poland were Poland, Australia, France, New Zealand, the UK, Nepal, South Africa, Canada, and Czechslovakia. The major Axis powers were Germany, Japan and Italy. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States ended the war after Japan surrended. This meant the Allies were victorious.
  


• Vietnam War - The Vietnam War occured during 1959 to 1975. The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam. The Anti-Communist forces included South Vietnam, the United States, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, the Khmer Republic, Thailand, and the Kingdom of Laos. The Communist forces included North Vietnam, Viet Cong, Khmer Rouge, Pathet Lao, China, the Soviet Union, and North Korea. North Vietnam was victorious, which allowed a communist takeover of South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

2. Inventions that changed the world

• Television - Mainstream television in Australia was first introduced on the 16 September 1956 in Sydney. Colour television was introduced on the 1 March 1975. By 1978 over 64% of the households in Sydney and Melbourne had colour TV sets. Television plays a huge part in our culture and is part of most, if not all, households.
  
  
• Personal Computer - The PC was first introduced in the early 70's, but was too expensive to own for one person. Only 48 thousand computers were shipped compared to 125 million. Now, over one billion people use PCs. Since the PC was introduced, it allowed more jobs for people that are dedicated to computers. Computers are now used for all sorts of reasons, such as gaming, instant messaging, web surfing, and typing up documents.
  
  
• Airliners - These large, fixed-wing aircrafts that are capable of carrying passengers have changed the way we travel. Instead of travelling for months via the sea, it'll take less than a day with airliners, depending where you are travelling to. As air travel becomes cheaper, traveling becomes a lot more common.

3. Social or Politcal changes in Australia

• The Federation of Australia - On the 1st January, 1901, Australia became a nation. Sir Edmund Barton was the first Prime Minister of Australia. When the Constitution of Australia came into force, the British colonies became states of the Commonwealth of Australia.

4. Classic Films and Songs

• Imagine by John Lennon - Probably John Lennon's most popular song, it is often reffered to the greatest song of all time. Yoko Ono has said that the lyrical content of "Imagine" was "just what John believed — that we are all one country, one world, one people. He wanted to get that idea out."
  
  
• London Calling by The Clash - The title song from arguably one of the best albums, this punk song is about the concern of world events around the world. The Rolling Stone has rated the album the best album of the 80's.
  
  
• Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin - Often reffered to as the greatest rock song of all time, It is the most requested and most played song on FM radio stations in the United States, despite never having been released as a single there. It also caused some controvesry, with some people reckon there was a backmasked message recorded onto the song, which supposed to have Satanic references.

5. The Great Depression

• The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn starting in most places in 1929 and ending at different times in the 1930s or early 1940s for different countries. It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history. Australia, with its extreme dependence on exports, particularly primary products such as wool and wheat, is thought to have been one of the hardest-hit countries in the Western World. Unemployment reached a record high of 29% in 1932 and gross domestic product declined by 10% between 1929 and 1931. There were also incidents of civil unrest, particularly in Sydney.

6. Fashion

• Jeans - Trousers made out of denim, they were mainly designed for work. They became popular with teenagers starting in the 50's. Today, they are a very popular form of casual dress around the world.
  

Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper is an alias given to prehaps the most notorious unidentified serial killer who killed at least 5 prostitutes which occured mainly in the Whitechapel area in London in the autumn of 1888. No-one knows for sure who commited these murders, but detectives and "Ripperologists" have come up various theories to who may be the serial killer.

There were 5 victims that were generally accepted that Jack the Ripper killed them, but there were other victims that possibly were also victims of Jack the Ripper. Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Kelly were the 5 main victims.

Francis Tumblety

Little is known about Tumblety's upbringings. According to Evans and Gainey's 1995 edition of Jack the Ripper: First American Serial Killer, he was born in Canada, while the 1996 edition of Jack the Ripper A-Z says he was born in Ireland. His exact date of birth is also unknown, but in any case he would be born sometime during 1833 to James and Margaret Tumblety. He was the the youngest of 11 children who were Patrick, Lawrence, Jane and Bridget (who were twins), Alice, Margaret, Ann, Julia, Elizabeth, and Mary.

Sometime during the next decade, the Tumblety family moved to Rochester, New York, but the exact date is unknown. His father died on the 7th of May, 1851. During 1848, the neighbours thought of him as a 'dirty, awkward, ignorant, uncared-for, good-for-nothing boy... utterly devoid of education.' He was also known to carry pornographic literature on the canal boats of Rochester. During his teenager years he was also known to be working at a drug store which was run by a Dr. Lispenard. It was said to have 'carried on a medical business of a disreputable kind'.

Around 1850, before his father died, Francis left Rochester, prehaps for Detroit. Here he started to practice as an Indian herb doctor which must of went well for him as after 1854 he appeared to have a considerable amount of wealth. He turned up in Montreal in 1857, where he made himself known as a prominent physician. Tumblety was arrested on the 23rd of September, 1857 for attempting to abort the pregnancy of a local prostitute known as Philomene Dumas. No trial was undertaken. During 1858-1860, he left Montreal for Saint John. Here, in September, 1860, a patient of his died after taking medicine which was prescribed by Tumblety. He then left the town for Calais Maine. From there he traveled to Boston. There he would start his trademark; he would wear a military outfit and ride a white steed, occasionally with two greyhounds before him. He went to the capital during the Civil War. This was when Tumblety’s alleged hatred for women became known, as seen in the testimony of a Colonel Dunham, who was once invited to dinner by Tumblety: "Someone asked why he had not invited some women to his dinner. His face instantly became as black as a thunder-cloud. He had a pack of cards in his hand, but he laid them down and said, almost savagely, 'No, Colonel, I don’t know any such cattle, and if I did I would, as your friend, sooner give you a dose of quick poison than take you into such danger.' He then broke into a homily on the sin and folly of dissipation, fiercely denounced all women and especially fallen women."

A Stewart Evans and a Paul Gainey, who researched the suspect together, outline fifteen reasons why they believe Tumblety should be considered a top suspect in the Whitechapel murders, as listed from the Casebook website:

• Tumblety fits many requirements of what we now know as the ‘serial killer profile.’ He had a supposed hatred of women and prostitutes (the abortion with the prostitute Dumas, his alleged failed marriage to an ex-prostitute, his collection of uteri, etc.)
• Tumblety was in London at the time and may indeed have been the infamous ‘Batty Street Lodger’ -- he therefore may have had fair knowledge of the East End environs.
• Tumblety may have had some anatomical knowledge, as inferred by his collection of wombs, his ‘medical’ practice, and his short-term work with Dr. Lispenard in Rochester.
• He was arrested in the midst of the Autumn of Terror on suspicion of having committed the murders.
• There were no more murders after he fleed England on the 24th November, if one counts only the canonical five murders.
• Chief Inspector Littlechild, a top name in Scotland Yard, believed him a ‘very likely suspect,’ and he was not alone in his convictions.
• Tumblety was fond of using aliases, disappearing without a trace, and was the subject of police enquiries before his arrest.
• Scotland Yard and the American police had been in touch numerous times concerning Tumblety’s flight from France to New York.
• One of the three detectives inspectors assigned to the case was sent to New York at the same time, perhaps to pursue Tumblety.
• Tumblety evaded capture in New York City once again.
• Tumblety had the wealth necessary for frequent travel and could afford to change his clothes frequently should they have become bloodstained.
• He was an eccentric; but shrewd.
• He had a tendency toward violence at times, and his career may have included other offences both at home and abroad.
• Several acquaintances of his in America believed it likely that he was the Ripper when interviewed in 1888.
• There is a strong case to be made that he was indeed the Batty Street Lodger.

Timeline

August 31, 1888 -- Polly Nichols killed in Bucks Row.

September 8, 1888 -- Annie Chapman killed in Hanbury Street.

September 30, 1888 -- Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes killed at 1:00 and 1:45 am.

November 9, 1888 -- Mary Kelly killed in Miller's Court.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born Michael but changed later, was a leader in the American civil rights movement. He was born on the 15th January, 1929 to Martin Luther and Alberta King. He lived with his younger brother Alfred Daniel and older sister Christine, his parents, and his grandmother in Auburn Avenue.

Martin Luther King, Jr. helped the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957. He was the first president of this American civil rights organization. Before that, he was part of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. This started when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to comply with the Jim Crow laws that required her to give up her seat to a white man. Martin was part of the Washington rally with the SCLC in 1963. This is where he spoke his infamous speech, "I Have a Dream", from the the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. A year later, he was awarded for the Nobel Peace Prize on the 14th October, 1964. He became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Martin was probably most remembered for his speech, "I Have a Dream" during the Washington rally, and was the younged recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He will be remembered as an influential leader in the American civil rights movement, and his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through non-violent means.

Howard Thurman, a civil rights leader, theologian, and educator was an early influence on Martin. Howard mentored a young Martin and his friends. Walter Fluker, who studied Howard Thurman's writings, believed there wouldn't be a Martin Luther King, Jr. without Howard Thurman. Martin was also influenced by Mohandes Gandhi. Martin visited Mohande's family in India in 1959. “Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity. In a real sense, Mahatma Gandhi embodied in his life certain universal principles that are inherent in the moral structure of the universe, and these principles are as inescapable as the law of gravitation," Martin reflected. African American civil rights activist Bayard Rustin was King's main advisor and mentor during his early activisim.

Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in equality between different races and religion, and to end segregation. He believed that people should not be judged by the colour of their skin, but their character. He believed that all men are created equal. He believed that everyone, white and black people, Jews and Gentiles, and Protestants and Catholics, will be able to live without violence and live equally, and in his speech, "I Have a Dream", the people will hold hands and sing an old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!".

Martin Luther King will be remembered as an inspiring and courageous leader that stood up to the world to get his point across without using violent ways. Despite being a non-violent person, he was often arrested because of segregation laws and even had his house bombed. Despite this, he still had the courage to bring his point across. Unfortunately, his luck ran out and was assasinated on the 4th of April, 1968.

Because of Martin, USA and the world are more tolerant of other races. Obviously racism hasn't disappeared completely, but it has certainly decreased. Martin inspired people to stand up for their country and get their point across without using violence.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/special/mlk/

The Sweden Economy

What natural resources does this nation have?
Sweden's main natural resource is iron ore.

What sectors of the economy are the biggest employers?
Services (67%), industry (31%) and agriculture (2%) are the main sectors of the economy that are the biggest employers.

How are economic decisions made? Who makes them?
Mostly businesses, but the government has some influences on things such as public transport, energy and telecommunication.

What the most important industry is in this nation? Is it more labour-intensive or capital intensive?
Services (such as education and health care) is Sweden's most important industry. It is more of a labour intensive industry.

Does this nation use advanced technology in its economy?
Sweden does use advanced technology. One example is automated car manufacturing.

What is one of the major economic problems faced by this nation?
Sweden suffered a severe crisis in the 90's thanks to high and increasing infation. This caused a high unemployment rate (more than 8% in the early 90's). In 1996, the government set out a goal of reducing unemployment down to 4% by the year 2000. This goal was reached that year in Autumn. However, in August 2006, the unemployment rate raised up to 5%.

In what ways is this nation's economy similar to and/or different to Australia's economy?
Australia also has a mixed Economy, which is the same as Sweden's economy. Australia's main industry is also services, but Australia also has another industry, which is mining. Australia is rich in natural resources. Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products such as grains and wool, and minerals, including various metals, coal, and natural gas.

The West Australian Economy

The economy in Western Australia is heavily based on mining, such as iron ore, lead, and gold. Other goods and services provided by WA are agriculture (such as wheat, barley and sheep products), fishing and tourism.

There are several regions located in Western Australia. Each region provides different goods and services. Gascoyne, located north-west of WA, has a diverse economy. Tourism, pastoralism and mining (mainly salt and gypsum) are the main goods and services provided by the Gascoyne region. Goldfields-Esperance, a region located in the south-east corner of WA, provides mining (such as gold and nickel), fishing and agriculture. The Kimberly, located in the northern part of WA, features diverse industries such as pearling, mining (mainly diamonds, zinc and lead), agriculture, and even indigenous art. The Pilbara's economy is dominated by mining and petroleum industries, and also provides tourism. Most of Australia's iron ore comes from the Pilbara.

Western Australia has the highest per capita output than any of the other states, thanks to the economy highly based on extraction and export of mining and petroleum commodities. The average full time income for a Western Australian in 2007 was $61,662, compared to the national average of A$57,387. Western Australia is ranked 2nd behind the Australian Capital Territory. Thanks to its booming economy, this causes a massive rise in property value. The average residential property increased in value by over 40% in 2006. Perth property is now the second most valuable in Australia behind Sydney. Also, the WA economy heavily depends on the countries that they export to.

The Western Australian economy might be deteriorating as there are still labour shortages. This might lead to losing significant economic opportunities. If these economic opportunities are taken, obviously this could increase the WA economy, but might cause the property price to increase even more.

Climate change in the UK

Climate change is an issue that could have devastating impacts if we do not stop it. The global temperature over the years have gradually risen, and could rise up to nearly 6 degrees Celsius by the end of century. It may not seem much, but this has a dramatic impact on the global climate. It is important to know about climate change, what will it effect, how to adapt to it and what may happen in the future.

Climate change can increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, such as hot spells, droughts and storms. Heat waves in London, 2003, which saw record-breaking temperatures and floods in South Yorkshire, 2007, which caused 3 deaths are just some of the extreme weather over the decade.

Global warming, a specific part of climate change, is the warming up of the Earth's atmosphere over a long period of time. This is caused by harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gases are caused by humans.

These higher temperatures may reduce the water-holding capacitiy of the soils, which will increase the likelihood of soil moisture deficits, especially if precipitation does not increase as well. Higher temereatures may also have a major effect on types of crops, trees or other vegetation that the soils can support. The stability of building foundations and other structures would be affected if summers became drier and the winters became wetter. The increased sea levels and magnitudes of storms, storm surges and waves would caused more frequent coastal flooding.

The climate change will effect the flora and fauna. There may be significant movements of species northwards and to higher elevations. It may be too much for many of the species, especially when trees are to adapt genetically. Many native species and communities may be lost, especially threatened species which occur in isolated damp, coastal or cool habitats. There are also increased chance of invaison and spreading of alien weeds, pests, diseases and viruses.
Agriculture will be effected quite a lot by climate change. The higher temps will cause decreased yields of cereal crops, but potatoes and sugar beet will increase.

We can help by using less electricity, which means we would be cutting down carbon dioxide. We can use reneweable energy sources like solar, wind, and tidal energy. Next time you buy a car, get a hybrid car (uses both electricity and petrol) , as they are very fuel efficent compared to normal petrol cars. Instead of driving to work or school, you can walk, ride, or take the public transport. As the sea levels are rising, we may have to build barriers across rivers to stop floods, and may have to move to higher ground.

As you can see, climate change is an important issue, and we must do anything to stop it from getting worse. The effects and the future effects of climate change can be devastating, so we must adapt to it.

Bibliography
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/global_warming/older/british_isles.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article694819.ece
http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/U/ukweather2080/3_predicting_global.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/evidence/

Siberian Tiger

The critically endangered Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur, Manchurian, Korean or North China tiger, is a rare subspecies of the tiger. They are confined to the Amur Region in the Far East, which is now protected. They are considered to be the largest Big Cat in the world.

Their habitats ranges from hot, humid jungles to cold forests. The size of their territories depend on the amount of food availiable, usually about 26 to 78 square kilometres. Tigers usually live alone, but their territories often overlap. A male's territory usually overlaps with several other female territories.

The Siberian tigers are carnivores. They mainly eat wild boar and red deer, which takes about 65% to 90% of their diet. They also eat moose, roe deer, sika deer, musk deer, goral, brown bears and black bears. The tiger's job is to stop these animals from over-populating, which could alter the biodiversity.

The Siberian tigers reach sexual maturity by 3 years of age. They mate any time of the year. The litter size is usually about 3 or 4 cubs, but can be up to 6. There are more females then males, about 2 to 4 females for every male.

Thanks to poaching, habitat loss, and population fragmentation, the population of the Siberian tiger has vastly decreased. In fact, there are only about 450 of them left in the wild. Now, the Amur region (where Siberian tigers are now confined to) is protected, and poaching is now illegal. The Siberian tiger is also bred within the Species Survival Plan, or SSP, where 83 wild tigers were caught. There are now several hundred Siberian tigers of the captive population.

References:

http://www.tigerhomes.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.tijgeritorium.net/index_EN.html

The Mountain Gorilla

The mountain gorilla, a subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla, is a critically endangered species. There is only around 700 of these gorillas left in the world. These gorilas were threatened from poaching, habitat loss, disease, and war and civil unrest. To conserve these species, frequent patrols in wild life areas and the destruction of poacher equipment and weapons will hopefully save these gorillas from extinction.