2002

You'll find everything in America, so naturally the Yanks have found a name for everything...

Strictly speaking, the term "America" comprises the entire Western Hemisphere, encompassing North, Central and South America. Colloquially, however, when most people say America, they mean the United States. For centuries, the world's richest country has fascinated travelers and attracted immigrants from all over the globe. And America continues to be a dream destination both for tourists and people seeking a better life.

The World Summit on sustainable development was held in Johannesburg, South Africa last September. 6,500 delegates from 185 countries discussed issues such as how economic growth could be encouraged in developing countries without further damaging the earth's environment. Topics such as improving poor countries' water and energy supplies and education systems were also discussed.

British citizen Tracy Housel was executed on13th March 2002 in Jackson, Georgia, in the US. He received a lethal injection and took 11 minutes to die. Housel, born in the British colony of Bermuda, was convicted of the murder and rape of a woman in Georgia in 1986. He also confessed to the murder of 17 other people. His defenders say that he was mentally ill at the time. The British government had asked the US not to execute one of its citizens.

Barry Horne, Britain's most infamous animal rights campaigner, died in prison last year. He had been on hunger strike for over a month. He refused to eat until the British government set up a commission to look into experimentation on animals in the medical and cosmetic industries. Before he died Barry said that he was, "on strike for every animal in every torture laboratory in the world."

Gibraltar is an island just off the coast of Spain. It has been a British colony since 1713. Spain wants it back. The EU is encouraging both countries to come to an agreement. But these negotiations were made even more difficult earlier this year, when British armed forces invaded Spain!

The British Museum | Tate Modern and Tate Britain | The Science and Natural History Museum | Imperial War Museum | Buckingham Palace | The Museum of London |
The Tower of London | Madame Tussaud's and the Planetarium

Everyone knows that St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. But you may not be aware that up in heaven, Scotland, Wales and England are equally loved and watched over by their own patron saints.

Third in line to the throne, young Prince Harry has started to make his mark on the nation's consciousness in more ways than one...

"This is the place" were the now famous words uttered by Brigham Young in 1846, establishing the Mormon Church in the area of Salt Lake City, Utah. Recently the location of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, this is also the first time the Mormon Church in Utah has had widespread exposure in the international media. Known for not drinking tea or coffee, and for men having many wives, the reality of the Mormon faith is even more complex and interesting.