Практикум 1 курс - устные темы

celebrated on 23 April. The white “X” is on the blue background of St Andrew for Scotland. Saint Andrew’s Day is celebrated on 30 November. The red “X” on white background of St Patrick for Ireland. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated on 17 March.

The Welsh flag shows a dragon. It isn’t represented on the British flag. Saint David is the patron saint of Wales. St David’s day is celebrated on 1 March.

It is worth remembering that the Union Jack is more popular in England than in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The reason is that the Welsh, Scottish and Irish do not like being reminded of the time when they lost their independence to England.

In 1603 James V1 of Scotland (Stuart) became also James 1 of England when Queen Elizabeth1 of England died without children. In 1651 Scotland was united with England. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland

In 1301 after defeating the native princes of Wales, King Edward 1 of England named his son Prince of Wales. In 1536 Wales was brought into the English system of national and local government by the Act of Union. Cardiff is the capital of Wales.

Only in 1800 an act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland was signed. Belfast is the capital of Ireland.

LANGUAGES

Most British people speak English, but Gaelic is also spoken in the west and north of Scotland and in the Northern Ireland. Welsh is spoken by over half a million people in Wales.

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN

IRELAND

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RELIGION

The Church of England, which was separated from the Roman Catholic in the 16th century, is the Established Church (Anglican)

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Britain has diplomatic relations with 169 countries. The UK is the member of some 120 inter-national organisations, including the European Community (EC); the United Nations (UN), where it is a permanent member of the Security Council; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and the Commonwealth.

Britain’s principal agency for cultural relations overseas is the British Council.

The UK is fully committed to the principles of the United Nations and its Charter, maintaining peace, assist developing countries and protect human rights and freedom.

LONDON

London was founded in the first century A.D. by the Romans. In the 11th century it became the capital of England. Medieval London grew as a trading centre and in 1215 its citizens won the right to elect their own leader, the Lord Mayor.

London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is the largest city in Europe. The population of London is about 7.4 million of people. The river Thames on which London stands is navigable and that played an important part in the city’s development. London consists of 33 separate boroughs (districts). Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, The West End, and the East End.

The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. The Bank of London and the Stock are in the City too. Among the multitude of London streets there are well-known

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streets even outside the City. Oxford Street and Regent Street are major shopping areas, Fleet Street continuous to be used as a synonym for the British press. Downing Street 8 is the official residence of the Prime Minister. Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official London residence.

Everybody knows the double-decker buses of England, and the most famous red ones have run through London since 1956. The London Underground, or the Tube, runs both above and below the ground. It is the oldest and the biggest underground system in the worldits operations began in 1863.

№ 7: THE UNITED STTES OF AMERICA

The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal district for the capital of the country. The largest state is Alaska, while the Rhode Island is the smallest American State. Hawaii became the fiftieth and last state in 1959.

On July 4, thirteen North American colonies declared their independence; they finally gained independence from Britain in1783. They formed the United States of America. In 1789 the American democratic government was established and George Washington was elected the first president of the USA.

There is no state church in the USA, and there is a strict separation of church and state. But the freedom of religion became a basic right in America, according to the First Amendment to the Constitution (1791).

WASHINGTON (D.C.)

Washington is the capital of the USA. It is situated in the District of Columbia. A special district, named after Christopher Columbus, was created for the American capital. The city was named so in the memory of George Washington, the first president of the USA. Washington is also called as ‘one-industry city’, because it is the home of the federal government.

The White House, where the US President lives and works, the Capitol, the home of the US Congress, and the Supreme Court,

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are all situated in Washington. The largest library of the USA, the Library of Congress, is also there. International organizations such as the Organsation of American States and the World Bank are in Washington too.

There are several universities in Washington; the oldest one is Georgetown University. It is private.

Washington has a subway and public buses but private cars are the most important means of transport.

№ 8: International Organisations in details Europe day, 9 May

On 9 May 1950 the first move was made towards the creation of what is now known as the European Union. The French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman read to the international press a declaration calling France, Germany and other European countries to pool together their coal and steel production as "the first concrete foundation of a European federation". What he proposed was the creation of a supranational European Institution, charged with the management of the coal and steel industry, the very sector which was, at that time, the basis of all military power.

Everything, therefore, began that day. That is why during the Milan Summit of EU leaders in 1985 it was decided to celebrate 9 May as "Europe Day".

Today, the 9th of May has become a European symbol (Europe Day) which, along with the flag, the anthem, the motto and the single currency (the euro), identifies the political entity of the European Union. Europe Day is the occasion for activities and festivities that bring Europe closer to its citizens and peoples of the Union closer to one another.

The European Flag

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It is the symbol not only of the European Union but also of Europe's unity and identity in a wider sense. The circle of gold stars represents solidarity and harmony between the peoples of Europe.

The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of Member States. There are twelve stars because the number twelve is traditionally the symbol of perfection, completeness and unity. The flag therefore remains unchanged regardless of the EU enlargements.

The anthem of the European Union

The melody comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven. In 1985, it was adopted by the EU heads of State and government as the official anthem of the European Union. In 1972, the Council of Europe (the same body that designed the European flag) adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" theme as its own anthem. The well-known conductor Herbert Von Karajan was asked to write three instrumental arrangements - for solo piano, for wind instruments and for symphony orchestra. Without words, in the universal language of music, this anthem expresses the ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity for which Europe stands.

The motto of the European Union

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The motto of the European Union is “United in diversity”. The motto means that, via the EU, Europeans are united in working together for peace and prosperity, and that the many different cultures, traditions and languages in Europe are a positive asset for the continent.

№ 9: INTERPOL's DISTINCTIVE SIGNS

The official name is 'ICPO-INTERPOL'. 'ICPO' stands for 'International Criminal Police Organization'. The word 'INTERPOL' is a contraction of 'international police', and was chosen in 1946 as the telegraphic address. In 1956, the International Criminal Police Commission changed its name to become the International Criminal Police Organization - INTERPOL.

The emblem, in use since 1950, comprises the following elements:

·a representation of the globe, to indicate that INTERPOL's activities are worldwide

·olive branches at either side of the globe to symbolize peace

·the name 'INTERPOL' below the globe in the centre of the olive branches

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·a vertical sword behind the globe to represent police action

·the abbreviations 'OIPC' and 'ICPO' above the globe at either side of the sword

·the scales below the olive branches to symbolize justice.

THE FLAG OF INTERPOL

The flag has been in use since 1950: it has a light-blue background , the four lightning flashes arranged symmetrically around the emblem represent telecommunications and speed in police action.

In 1971, motivated by their vision of a green and peaceful world, a small team of activists set sail from Vancouver, Canada, in an old fishing boat. These activists, the founders of Greenpeace,

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believed that a few individuals could start changes. Their mission was to "bear witness" to US underground nuclear testing at Amchitka, a tiny a volcanic island in the southwest of Alaska, which is one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions.

NATO

NATO Emblem was adopted as the symbol of the Atlantic Alliance by the North Atlantic Council in October 1953. The circle is the symbol of unity and cooperation and the compass rose suggests the common road to peace taken by the member countries of the Atlantic Alliance.

THE UNITED NATION

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In 1945, the representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organisation to draw up the United Nations Charter. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 member states. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.

The motto is - The UN Works for People and the Planet.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on 16 November 1945. UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. The Organisation has now 193 Member States and 7 Associate Members. Most Member States have established Permanent

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