FORESTS, GREEN PLANTS AND Photosynthesi

All green plants are autotrophy organisms – it means that they make its own sustenance (potravu).  Plants are capable of very important changes. Its can change carbon dioxide and water (by energy from the Sun) to sugar – glucose. They make it by very complicated process called Photosynthesis. This process is also very important for human’s life and other living organisms on the Earth. The very important fact about this process is that by these changes is made oxygen. Oxygen which is necessary for breathing. Other advantage is that plants use for this transformation carbon dioxide which is very dangerous greenhouse gas.  Thanks to Photosynthesis we can use fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were created from green plants many many times ago – but without Photosynthesis those plants would not exist at all.

So if we think about this we really need plants and forests – Its are necessary for our lives and not only ours. 

Especially nowadays I recon It is very important to consider things like SEPARATING WASTE or buying recycled items (like toilet paper, notebooks, est.) – because by this we can prevent deforestation.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

GEOHGHRAPHY

It is located in the middle of North America. It is bordered by Canada in the north and Mexico in the south.  It has two cost lines. First in the east, where is Atlantic Ocean and second in the west, where is Pacific Ocean. United States include 50 states.

RIVERS

                Main rivers in USA are Mississippi (Missouri), Saint Lawrence River, Rio Grande whose have outlet to Atlantic Ocean; Columbia, Colorado, whose have outlet to Pacific Ocean.

MOUNTAINS

                The Rocky Mountains are located in the west coast. It is mountain range from western Canada to USA state – New Mexico.

 In the coast run The Coast Range, The Sierra Nevada and The Cascade Range.

In the eastern are The Appalachian Mountains.

In USA are Great Lakes – four lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) near the northeast border with Canada.

NACIONAL PARK

                USA has lot of national parks. I would like to introduce some of them. Places where I have been a couple years ago.

YOSEMITY NP

·         This park is situated to California State. It includes The Sierra Nevada Mountains and couple of very breathtaking waterfalls. The most beautiful view you can see from Glacier point.

There are also absolutely amazing waterfalls like Nevada fall, Vernal Fall.

 DEATH VALLEY NP

·         This park is located to the hottest, lowest and driest area.

GRAND CANYON NP

·         Very old, enormous and colourful canyon shaped by erosion and Colorado River.

ARCHIES NP

·         Nation park with unbelievable shapes of rocks. The best are Delicate Arch – natural piece of rock that looks like a window.

POLITICAL SYSTEM

The United States is a Constitution-based federal republic with a strong democratic tradition.  Lot of states have government system created top-down (from the most powerful and important institutions to lowers).

 BUT USA has historically different system – there were 13 individual colonies under British power – after 1776 War of independent - COLONIES won the independence. Each state has their own system. According to Constitution form 1789 was established a federation - creates basic of the federal government.  Since this time the Constitution didn´t change much – IT IS VERY DIFICULT TO CHANGE (approve of all states). Creators also wanted to have it TOTALLY DIFERENT form British one (they hate England).

1789 - BILLS of Rights – it is base for OSN Charta; lot of other countries was inspirited by this document about human rights.

Each state has an executive, a legislative and a judicial branch. Negative is that everything is very slow and complicated.

Executive Branch – the President of the United States

o   THE PRESIDENT

§  By time He has more and more power.

§  RIGHTS:

·         make treaties, sign or veto legislation, amnesty criminals, recommend measures to Congress, and appoint Supreme Court judges

§  CANNOST DO

·         call special elections, dissolve Congress, overrule the Constitution

Legislative Branch – Congress (the Senate + House of Representatives)

·         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

o   435 members, based on population of states

o   Elections every two years

o   Lower chamber

o   Work in comities (same specialization throw the parties)

o   perform legislative and investigation functions

·         THE SENATE

o   100 members

o    each state has 2 Senators (no matter the size)

o   Upper chamber

o   6-year term – Elections every 3 year (changes 33% of the Senate)

o   confirm most Presidential appointments

Judicial Branch - The Supreme Court (the highest one)

Political elections are created by major system (In CR – The president and Senate). This system is very politically stabile – it usually let only two biggest parties to compete (The Democratic Party   - OBAMA and The Republican Party - ROMNEY.  It not allowed any small or extreme parties. This system could be very unmotivated for people because it did not reflect their wishes.

 

MAJOR CITIES

SAN FANCISCO

This charming city is situated in the west coast in California State.  Usually, it is known for magnificent bridge – GOLDEN GATE bridge and famous prison Alcatraz.  There is a very popular Chinatown and cable cars system (tram). It has about 825 000 people. It was founded on June 29, 1776 by Spanish colonialists, whose build there a fort (pevnost). Thanks to The California Gold Rush (half of 19. Century) - this city developed very quickly. Some  parts of the city was destroyed by earthquake and big fire – but also very quickly rebuilt During Second world war It was major harbour for ships in Pacific Ocean.  There is very usual foggy and rainy weather (as you can see on those pictures above) and cool summers.

THE CZECH REPUBLIC

GEOGRAPHY

The Czech Republic is located in Central Europe (is heart of Europe). It is bordered by (ohraničeno) four countries - Poland, Slovakia, Germany, and Austria. The Czech Republic is landlocked (vnitrozemní) which means that it has no cost line (sea). The Czech Republic is divided to three big parts called Bohemia (Čechy), Moravia, Czech Silesia (Slezko). We can also divide The Czech Republic to 14 regions.

RIVERS

The Czech Republic has three river basins (povodí). Basin is an area from all rivers has outlet (výtok) to the same sea.  The basin of the Elbe (Labe + Vlatava) has outlet to the North Sea. The basin of the Danuble (Dunaj, Morava) has outlet to the Black Sea. The basin of the Oder has outlet to Baltic Sea.

MOUNTAINS

·         Grammar: THE+ mountains

The Czech Republic is surrounded by a natural border of low mountains.  In the northern (severní) part of the Czech Republic are situated the Krkonoše – highest point of the Krkonoše and whole country is Sněžka(1602 m.).In the west (západní) of the Krkonoše are the Jizerské hory, the Ještěd and the Lužické hory. In the western part is the Krušné hory. In the south is the Šumava. In the central part of the Czech Republic, we can find the Brdy and the Vysočina. In the eastern part (východní) are the Bílé Karpaty, the Javorníky, the Beskydy, the Jeseníky. The Orlické hory are in the eatern part of the Krkonoše.

CLIMATE

The Czech Republic has a temperate continental climate, with relatively hot summer and quite cold cloudy and snowy winters. Temperature depends on the location and altitude (nadmořská výška). Temperature differences between seasons are quite big. Average temperature in the summer is about 20 to 30 degrees of Celsius. In the winter it is about -6 to 10 degrees of Celsius. Average of year temperature is about 8 degrees of Celsius.

UNESCO

§  world heritage sites in the Czech Republic

§  Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž (1998)

§  Historic Centre of Český Krumlov (1992)

§  Historic Centre of Prague (1992)

§  Historic Centre of Telč (1992)

§  Holašovice Historical Village Reservation (1998)

§  Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc (2000)

§  Jewish Quarter and St Procopius' Basilica in Třebíč (2003)

§  Kutná Hora: Historical Town Centre with the Church of St Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec (1995)

§  Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (1996)

§  Litomyšl Castle (1999)

§  Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora (1994)

§  Tugendhat Villa in Brno (2001)

§  The historic centre of Prague

·         was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992

·         The Müller Villa - built in 1928-1930; projected by architects Adolf Loos, Karel Lhota; cubic building

·         The Brevnov Abbey - Baroque complex

·         The Hvězda Hunting Lodge With lts Game-park - Renaissance building

  §        Holašovice

·         traditional central European village

·         from 18th- and 19th-century

·         in style South Bohemian folk Baroque

CZECH POLITICAL SYSTEM

Main power in The Czech republic has Parliament, so the constitution (zřízení) is Parliamentary democracy. An independent Czech state was established on first of January, 1993. Whole law system is based on main and the most important collection of law – CONSTITUTION (ústava). Czech constitution is inspirited by USA constitution, Czech constitution from 1920 and Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms. Czech constitution determines (stanovuje) how the power in the Czech Republic should be split.

·         POWER IS SPLIT

o   LEGISLATIVE BRANCH/ POWER (zákonodárná)

§  It is bicameral(= two-chambered; dvoukomorový)Parliament  

·         Chamber of Deputies (poslanecká sněmovna)

o   200 members

o   Politicians are elected  for 4 years

§  21+, citizen

o   Elect  (volit) a new government

o   Vote – for one specific person, political party (strana) - někoho

o   Political parties (strany, kluby)

	Czech Social Democratic Party
	Civic Democratic Party
	TOP 09 – Mayors and Independents
	Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party
	Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
	ANO
	Czech Pirate Party

o    Discuses and approve/ discuses low

o   Approve/ discuses state budget (drafted by government)

o   Draft a bill (předložit návrh)

o   Lack of Confident (nedůvěra) to government

o   Committees (výbor)– politician form different parties with same interest

·         Senate

o   81

o   Politicians are elected, every 2 years for 6 years

§  ONE - THIRD SYSTEM

o   Balance to Chamber of deputies

o   Can draft the bill

o   EXECUTIVE BRANCH/EXECUTIVE POWER (výkonná)

§  President should be  representative

·         Appoint a judge (jmenuje)

·         Accept resignation of politicians

·         Appoint new prime minister

·         Appoint the boss of national bank

§  Government (ministries + prime minister)

·         Government of the Czech Republic,Ministry of Foreign Affaire, Ministry of Defence,Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,Ministry of Industry and Trade,Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports,Ministry of Justice,Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Culture,Ministry for Regional Development

o   JUDICIAL BRANCH/JUDICIAL POWER

§  CONSTITUTIONAL COURT  (ústavní Brno)

§  SUPREME COURT  (nejvyšší Brno)

§  SUPREME ADMINISTRATIVE COURT (vrchní Praha, Olomouc)