Argentina Information and brief History

Argentina, meaning "land of silver," is a rich and vast land-second largest (after Brazil) in South America and eighth largest in the world. Its heartland is a broad grassy plain known as the Pampas (pronounced PAHM-pahs). Here Argentina's gaucho, like the U.S. cowboy, has galloped into the country's folklore.

The Spanish first arrived around 1516, and Argentina gained independence in 1816. The small native population died from European diseases, and today's population is over 95 percent European. For Spanish, Italian, German, and other immigrants in the late 19th century, Argentina held great promise. Today the literacy and urbanization rates are high, the birthrate and the infant mortality rate are low, and most Argentines consider themselves middle class. Rotary is now thriving in Argentina.

The recent past has been tumultuous. Some 30,000 people disappeared-the Desaparecidos-in the "dirty war" during the military junta's 1976-1983 rule. In April 1982 Argentine forces invaded the British-held Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Islas Malvinas. Defeat by Britain during the 1982 Falkland Islands war loosened the military dictatorship's stranglehold on democracy. Now Rotary's South American Center for the Study of Peace and Conflict Resolution is located at University of Salvador in District 4800.

Since then much has been won: greater freedom of the press, tolerance of opposition, and increased foreign investment. However, a deep recession caused economic collapse at the end of 2001-followed by fragile economic growth. Unemployment plagues the economy, even as the nation enjoys the continent's highest per capita income.

The Andes mark Argentina's western edge, forming the boundary with Chile. The highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua, dominates the Andes at 6,960 meters (22,834 feet). From the Andes, gently rolling plains extend eastward toward the sea. Much of the Pampas, including a rich agricultural section, occupies this region. Northeast Argentina features rain forests and Iguazú Falls. These spectacular falls, on Argentina's border with Brazil, drop along a 2.7-kilometer (1.6-mile) front in a horseshoe shape. South of the Pampas, dry and windswept Patagonia stretches to the southernmost tip of South America with the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia.

ECONOMY

Industry: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles.
Agriculture: sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans; livestock.
Exports: edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles.

Population 38,592,000
Capital Buenos Aires; 13,349,000
Area 2,780,400 square kilometers
(1,073,518 square miles)
Language:Spanish, English, Italian, German, French
Religion:Roman Catholic

A Rotary Club is much more than a local service club. It has a global reach. The Rotary International Foundation, Group Study Exchange is a dynamic cultural exchange program designed to: 1) provide outstanding business and professional persons opportunities for studying another country, its people, and institutions through participation in an organized program of study and discussion in the country concerned; 2) further international understanding by allowing persons of goodwill to meet, talk, and live with each other in a spirit of fellowship, so that they may get to know each other's problems and aspirations, and to permit such personal contacts to develop into lasting friendships; 3) involve Rotarians in a specific, practical and meaningful international service projects by organizing educational programs for Group Study teams and providing hospitality for them.

This year the Rotary Foundation will support a Group Study Exchange between our Southern New Jersey, U.S.A., District 7640 and Northern Argentina, District 4800. The dates for the exchange include the in-bound Argentinean team traveling to New Jersey to arrive April 1, 2009 - depart April 27, 2009; and our out-bound team visiting Argentina from May 1 - May 28, 2009. GSE dates coincide with district conferences in both countries.

Celebrating this Rotary partnership with an international perspective can be as close as your living room! We want to provide many opportunities for our South Jersey Rotary clubs and families to experience and share the gifts of good-will and international understanding. How can you participate? Rotary members and friends who are involved can:
# Be a host club providing home hospitality to the visiting GSE team members.

# Be a club sponsor for a day touring sites of interest in our area.

# Attend an interpretive GSE dinner meeting in a district multi-club setting.

# Provide a vocation experience for a GSE team member in your professional field.

# Invite the GSE team to attend a special event in your local club or area.

# Attend the district conference and welcome our GSE guests with open arms.

# Suggest names of non-Rotarian young professionals to be out-bound team members.

Be a part of the excitement this year; learn what the Argentineans and South America are all about! GSE is a great opportunity for international service, fellowship, and understanding.

Contact:
Dr. Thomas J. Venables, Chair Phone: 856-225-6098
Rotary GSE Committee D7640 Fax: 856-225-6524
Rutgers University at Camden Email: tvenable [@] camden.rutgers.edu
319 Cooper Street
Camden, New Jersey 08102