Global Economy

It is so difficult to study at the University, especially if you want to study well. It’s spring now and you want to relax somewhere outdoors, but… Business before pleasure

It was hard to get used to my student live at first, but I am an experienced student now and know some ways of making my live easier. For example, I use shortenings while writing different summaries and scripts. In this way I can save my time, because time is money, as you know. By the way I always use «$» instead of the word «money». I think that some of you do the same. But what do you know about this sign and American dollars? I’d like to share my knowledge with you

The word dollar is much older than the American unit of currency. It comes form the word “thaler”, the name given to coins first minted in Joachimsthal in Bohemia (modern Czech Republic).

Those coins circulated widely in Britain’s North American colonies because of a shortage of official British coins. That is why, after the United States gained its independence the new nation chose “dollar” as the name of its currency instead of keeping the pound.

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To be continued…

I’d like to end this topic with some interesting information about this problem…

The world community now understands that human trafficking is of high importance and some measures have been already taken by the UN organization and the governments of separate countries, but I think that it’s not so easy to stop it.

It was interesting for me to know that I also can help to stop human trafficking. You can ask my: «How? ». I will answer that you can do the following:

1. Educate yourself. Many people are surprised to hear that slavery still exists and that it happens within our borders. There is a general acknowledgment that education and employment opportunities can greatly aid in the fight against human trafficking.

2. Tell your friends and family. Once you know the facts, educate your family and friends about this human rights abuse.

3. Support anti-trafficking organizations.

4. Report a suspected case of trafficking.

5. Download the information from web-sites devoted to this problem.

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Lord helps those who help themselves

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons is the modern practice of slavery. It is the third largest criminal industry in the world today, after arms and drug dealing. Traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits every year while victimizing millions of people around the globe. Victims of human trafficking are young children, teenagers, men and women.

Approximately 800,000 to 900,000 victims annually are trafficked across international borders world wide.

Due to physical and psychological damage caused to victims, they are not able to get a proper education. It leads to decrease in future economic possibilities. The productivity of such labor force is very low.

Human trafficking also reflects living standards of the countries; it is obvious that people from developing countries with a high rate of poor people, unemployment are highly subjected to become victims of human traffickers. Moreover, from other side, this can result in increasing of poverty, the number of illiterate people, in decreasing of GNP, trade turnover, and index of human development…

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To be continued…

The advertisement is engine of business. I can’t get rid of it especially while seeing TV. This evening I was trying to see the film «The butterfly effect» with Ashton Kutcher (a cool movie, you will feels tingles down your spine), but a lot of ads were preventing me. >:-/

«You have no rights, no friends …no life» - terrible words from social advertisement devoted to human traffic. This problem is usually considered to be social, but I think that it’s also an economic one. And there is good reason to believe in it…

A friend of mine made a report devoted to human trafficking to present it during the Student Conference. She began her speech with the following words:

« You may say that no sensible person would think that slavery could exist in the 21st century. But I am here to prove you that it does exist and we should be aware of this problem and be ready to solve it. »

But still, why human trafficking is closely connected with the development of international business?

International business is an economic activity carried between nations. It deals with producing, selling, and buying various goods and services. As well as other activities international business is conducted by people, so labor resources play the key-role in it, define its intensity and affect the final results. Nowadays labor market is facing such a problem as human trafficking.

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To be continued…

I’d like to end this topic with the description of my own experience. This summer I had an opportunity to test in practice the level of our service in towns that were spoken about. I spend a week in Nesvizh and only few days in Mir. And I’d like to say that the difference between these two places is striking. Mir is a modern town with new first-class hotel, cafés and restaurant. You can find a guide easily if you want to see the castle. Also you will be offered different books, brochures and CDs with the film about Mir.

And as for Nesvizh, there you will remember Soviet times: old department stores, canteens and a hotel that obtained its first class 20 years ago. It was romantic appeal for me, like if I arrived there by time machine, but I don’t think that foreign tourist will like it too. And I hope that the situation will change to the year 2007 when the reconstruction of the castle is finished.

And now I’d like to draw your attention to some photos…

THE PALACE AND CASTLE ENSEMBLE was founded by Radziville-Sirotka in 1583. Its architect is Jan Maria Bernardoni.

FARNY (JESUITICAL) POLISH ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH

FARNY (JESUITICAL) POLISH ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH was built between 1584 -1593 by Italian architect J.M.Bernardoni in the early Baroque style. It was the first Jesuitical church on the territory of the former Rzecz Pospolita.

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«UNESCO has a long elaborated concept that
natural and cultural heritage should be not only protected
but also taken advantage of it»

Vladimir Schastny, Chairman of the National UNESCO Committee

I’d like to answer to the first yesterday’s question. So, the castles in Mir and Nesvizh were included in the World Heritage List. This is a special list of sights all over the world that are of great importance and have need for protection. Now, Belarusian castles stand alongside the Great Wall of China, the Roman Coliseum and the Giza Pyramids.

Many specialists admit that they worried greatly while awaiting this verdict. To earn its place on the list, the site should have obvious world significance.

I believe that this decision will have far-reaching consequences in the sphere of international tourism. Undoubtedly, it is a great honor for the country and a huge responsibility not only for Belarus, but for the whole world.

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I was in Mir and Nesvizh this summer, but that is another story altogether
To be continued…

Nowadays international business originates international competition, and none of the countries in the world can remain aside. The process of globalization impacts on social and economic development. But globalization stimulates inverse process: development of national cultures and growing interest in international tourism…

I’d like to return to my project, which I presented during the 3^rd Annual Student Conference «International Business: Challenges for Belarus». I set out the problems in the sphere of international tourism, providing judges with some statistics. My audience felt bored, but some facts made them cheer up. A very interesting piece of news made an impression on them:

«…Belarus has an opportunity to develop the tourist industry. Last year a World Heritage Committee session, held in Durban (South Africa) approved the addition of the Architectural Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh into the World Heritage List. The castle in Mir was also included in this list.

The conference of World Heritage status brings responsibilities and great opportunities; it should spur to greater efforts to maintain and restore these fine sites and promote them globally…»

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Why is this fact so significant for our country? And how will the Belarusian castles help us to improve the situation in the field of international tourism? You will know it only tomorrow…

Yesterday was a remarkable day for me. The 3^rd Annual Student Conference «International Business: Challenges for Belarus» took place at my university. I was glad to take part in it. Every year the Chair of Business English invites respected and influential representatives of different enterprises or political entities from English-speaking countries. This year His Excellency ambassador from Great Britain honored us with his presence. During the opening ceremony students had an opportunity to listen a professor from the USA. He read a very interesting lecture. After that all the students presented their projects.

My project was devoted to international tourism. It’s a very important sphere of international business for my country. The Republic of Belarus, located at the crossroad of trans–European transport and communication corridors «West–East» and «North–South», has an exclusively rich natural, historical and cultural potential favorable for international tourism. But there are some problems in this field. I gave my own view on these issues and won third place!!! I was very glad to hear my name among winners.

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Victors need never explain???

YOU CAN TAKE A HORSE TO THE WATER

BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE IT DRINK

an English proverb

Have you seen the film «Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl»? If not, you ought to do it, since it’s a wonderful cliff-hanger. I’ve done it for the second time today, because I like Johnny Depp.

It would be very nice to see this film in a movie theatre, but I’ve done it using Crystal Player on my computer. I use Windows XP as absolute majority of my friends, but I don’t use Windows Media Player and they do the same. It’s not because we have a lot of money to buy new licensed software…

A well-known problem in the countries of the former Soviet Union: breach of copyright. You can’t get away from facts. Therefore I have an opportunity to use not only freeware and shareware, but also commercially available software absolutely free of charge.

It’s a notorious fact, that European Union imposed a fine ($ 613, 5 million) on Microsoft Corporation in March. The company includes Windows Media Player in its operating system Windows - it was one of the reasons.

I agree that users, who buy this operating system, have an opportunity to use Windows Player. They don’t want to buy players from other software publishers and Microsoft’s rivals are indignant at it.

But breach of copyright brings advantages for users, who don’t pay for their software, they have freedom in choosing. Fortunately or unfortunately, infraction can be non-punishable…

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What player do you use?

“Blogging is the new model of interactive journalism,

COMMUNICATION and learning.”

from ABBYY Lingvo 11

Hi there!

Here will be my weblog devoted to global economy. It will be a kind of Live Journal where I will express my own opinion and comment on different events in business field.

There is an English saying: “Wise after the event”. It means that it’s easy to give many pieces of advice after something happens. But it’s rather difficult to predict everything in order not to get involved in an unpleasant incident.

I thing, that this saying is quite right for modern economy: a great many of experts like to make appraisals of economic crises and collapses, but only a few specialists can prevent them. And I will do the same in my blog.

But, first of all, I would like to tell some words about myself. My name is Alexandra. I’m a third-year student of Belarusian State Economic University and study international economic relations. But I don’t content myself with my studies. I go mad on cinema and music, like to spend my time with friends and in Global Network. Also I take a great interest in anime (Japanese animation) and Japanese culture (I am even trying to learn the Japanese language). I collect English proverbs and sayings and use it anywhere, even out of place

I’m from Belarus. This is a country of blue rivers and green forests in the heart of Europe. I live in the capital of Belarus, in Minsk. My country and its culture are not well-known; many from distant lands mistakenly consider it as a part of Russia. But in some countries Belarus is known for its economy. For example, Australians and Cubans associate our country with tractors. >:-)

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It would be interesting to know what do the people, who will read this post, know about Belarus and it’s economy? What goods from this country do they use? [:-)