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Several weeks have passed since Novella Carpenter was in town as the final event of Reading Together 2014. During that time, we have been busy collecting statistics, photos, and feedback about this year's program.
For instance, did you know:
Of course, we've always believed that last point to be true, but these results affirm it. And it won't be long before we start the process all over again to select a title (or titles?) for Reading Together 2015. Have a suggestion? Use the Contact link to the right and let us know!
Until next year,
We've just received a lovely note from Tracie McMillan about her recent visit to Kalamazoo. Although Reading Together 2014 continues until mid-April, we want to share her sentiments with the community now, since many are presumably still digesting (get it?) their reactions to her compelling book, The American Way of Eating.
In the meantime, we still have three weeks of programs and several related community events left before Novella Carpenter comes to town on April 15-16. Check out the Events links to the right and mark your calendars now. See you there!
Dear Karen, Ann, & the rest of the Reading Together/KPL Crew,
Thank you again for organizing such a wonderful kick-off to your Reading Together series—and for including me in it. I had such wonderful conversation with everyone—from the lively Q&A at the high school to lunch at the Tap Room with your partners; from the high school student presentations to the live chat with the Kalamazoo Gazette. I truly was honored & delighted to be a part of it, and I'll stop in & say hi on my next visit to Kzoo!
Tracie McMillan
As I read The American Way of Eating and Farm City, I became curious about the use of local foods and sustainability at Western Michigan University. This led me to investigate what was happening in the way of sustainable food practices at WMU. What follows is a brief summary of what I learned.
The Dining Services web pages are filled with information on local food sources and initiatives to reduce waste in the dining halls. These pages also take users to a map of regional farmer's markets, lists of recyclables, and an introduction to the Food Diversion Initiative. The latter was started in 2011 as a sustainable way to reuse pre-consumer vegetable and fruit waste. Rather than removing the waste through garbage disposals or to landfills, the Food Diversion Initiative collects the food waste in large bins which are picked up and returned on a regular basis by Bearfoot Farms. The farm uses this waste to feed their pigs or make compost to enrich their soil. At the Dining Services web site there is a video explaining and demonstrating these process for you. To date, WMU is the only one of the 15 Michigan state universities to be practicing sustainability at this level.
Many readers may be familiar with the building at the southeast corner of Howard and W. KL Avenue that used to house the University Bookstore. It is now the WMU Office of Sustainability. I received a tour of the facility, learned about the history of the Office of Sustainability, and about several student projects it supports. In April 2010 the Student Garden Organization with the assistance of the University's landscape services, community gardeners, and Tillers International began the Stadium Drive Community Garden project, a well thought-out and designed vegetable garden. This project was very visible to those driving or walking by the intersection of Howard Street and Stadium Drive. In 2011, those who shared in the work of the garden had grown about 800 pounds of food.
About this same time, The Office of Sustainability was working with student interns to plan, plant, and harvest the vegetable garden at The Gibbs House on Parkview Ave. The Gibbs House provided a program that allowed students from several disciplines to experiment with native and edible plants. Produce from this garden was sold at a farm stand manned by students, canned, distributed to local food banks, or donated to WMU Catering Services. The total yield of produce from this garden in 2011 and 2012 was over 2,500 pounds. In 2013 the garden at The Gibbs House was closed to make room for a new industrial venture on the Parkview campus, it was decided that more garden space could be created near the Stadium Drive Community Garden.
Gardens are not the only projects supported by the Office of Sustainability. Non-motorized transportation, recycling, aquaponics, bee keeping, and vermiculture are among the other interests of the Office of Sustainability. To learn more about this forward-thinking WMU office, view this slideshow annual report. For those interested in working with the Office of Sustainability, part-time student jobs, assistantships, internships, and volunteer opportunities are available. The Office of Sustainability also sponsors events for the greater Kalamazoo community.
Within the department of Family and Consumer Sciences are the Dietetics and Food Service Administration programs. Students electing to study Dietetics or Food Service Administration are involved with food processing at all levels of production.
Students graduating from the Dietetics program can apply for an internship with an emphasis in Sustainable Food Systems. Dietetic interns complete a series of six rotations selected from 25-30 sites. Interns in this program also spend four weeks in a school system working with the food service manager. Once a month the students meet on campus and take a field trip to a local sustainable food location in the Kalamazoo area such as the Kellogg Dairy Farm, Can-Do Kitchen, and the People's Food Co-op.
The undergraduate major in Food Service Administration was recently revised and starting in Fall 2014 will include an emphasis on sustainable food systems. Students will take three courses that focus on food and sustainability. The first is an introductory course, followed by courses that consider local farm-to-table initiatives and global food systems and sustainability. The revisions to this major are intended to prepare food service professionals to be competent in current trends in the field, including a growing interest in sustainable food practices.
For those considering a career in sustainable food dietetics or food service administration, go to the department's informative web page.
There is so much to learn about sustainable food practices. Western Michigan University is a great place to start! I am pleased to say that sustainable food practices are alive and well on the campus where I have spent the past 16 years of my career.
~ Miranda Howard, Reading Together Steering CommitteeHead of Technical Services, University Libraries, WMU
photo: Community Garden, Western Michigan University
This spring we are inspired by two books that explore the journey of food from farm to table – whether that farm is a large operation fueled by the efforts of migrant workers or something that starts as simply as a personal devotion turning a nearby urban patch into a garden.
Novella Carpenter's memoir Farm City shows how in small steps we can start something simple and transform it into something greater than ourselves. Her experience of growing beyond the garden to include raising animals on a small scale in an urban space is the inspiration behind upcoming programs such as Raising Animals for Food and The Farming Life. People's Food Co-op will offer a Cooking Demonstration using fresh and local ingredients. Beyond Food for Thought will bring together a variety of people sharing how they turned small ideas gleaned here and there into life-changing actions; and we've also planned how-to's on Container Gardening and a Farmers Market 101 where you can learn how to select produce and build relationships with local farmers.
As a journalist, Tracie McMillan goes undercover in The American Way of Eating to reveal the journey of food produced and distributed en masse until reaching its final destination on our plate. Her writing encouraged us to learn more about local stories and challenges of food and as a result, our community has come together in collaboration to present and offer to you The Farmworker Story as told by former farmworkers who advocate for safe and dignified working conditions. The Center for Health Equity will open dialog about Food Security or Food Justice: Does it Really Matter? We also have a Midday Film Series of three food documentaries; and we look forward to sharing the Midwestern food experience with authors Peggy Wolff and Bonnie Jo Campbell.
In addition to a grand variety of "side" program selections to choose from, our plate would not be complete without the main dishes: the Reading Together Committee is proud to present to you About the Author programs, where you will be able to meet and hear firsthand the experiences from each of our featured authors Novella and Tracie.
Our Kalamazoo Community will undoubtedly have plenty of food for thought throughout this season, and we look forward to reading, learning, and sharing food ideas (and food!) with you!
~ Jessica L. Enget, Reading Together Steering CommitteeAssociate Librarian, Portage District Library
Interest is building in Reading Together especially for the first book, The American Way of Eating. Three times already this week as I was out and about, people have mentioned the book to me…. they are just reading it, their book group will be discussing it, they are looking forward to the author visits.
One book group I know of, discussed both titles this week. I hear there was good conversation and comments that food is a good theme for this year. They appreciated reading two related books.
My book group will talk about The American Way of Eating later this week over dinner at a local restaurant. Usually we meet in someone's home, so this will be a treat. I'm sure it will be good conversation over good food. We'll talk about Farm City in March.
At the very beginning of her book The American Way of Eating, Tracie McMillan writes, "Like all myths, the idea that only the affluent and educated care about their meals has spread not because it is true, but because parts of it are. Healthier food is more expensive; that much is true. So is the fact that it can be hard to find in poor neighborhoods. And yet it requires an impossible leap of logic to conclude from these facts that only the rich care about their meals" (2). McMillan explains that she had bought into this myth—that home-cooked, healthy, fresh food was "for the rich"—until, as a writer "covering the poverty beat" for a small magazine, she profiled a young New York girl who was attending a cooking class (3). For the first time, McMillan began to ask herself why it was easier and cheaper to eat junk food than it was to eat healthy food. She asked herself, "Why is it so difficult to eat well?" (9), and that question launched her investigation of the American food system and remains at the heart of her book.
On Tuesday, October 8, Kalamazoo College's Mary Jane Underwood Center for Civic Engagement and Farms to K will present a public screening of the recently-released documentary, A Place at the Table, that takes up McMillan's question and asks us to consider why 50 million Americans—1 in 4 children—don't know where their next meal is coming from, let alone have the resources to ensure that that meal contains healthy, fresh, food. The film, by the producers of Food, Inc., traces the story of three food insecure Americans "who maintain their dignity even as they struggle just to eat" (Place at the Table). Following the screening, there will be a discussion of hunger in Kalamazoo, led by Phyllis Hepp, of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, and Dayon Woodford, a K College student working on a senior thesis on food access in Kalamazoo.
This screening of A Place at the Table is open to the public and takes place from 7 pm - 9 pm Tuesday, October 8 in the Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Building on the campus of Kalamazoo College.
~ Dr. Amelia Katanski, Kalamazoo CollegeReading Together Steering Committee


text: Butternut squash has been a favorite on generations of autumn menus—including ours. To help busy cooks streamline prep, we've crafted a velvety puree from ripe organic Oregon squash, gently cooked to preserve its natural goodness. Brown sugar, herbs and spices bring out the rich, buttery flavors. A recipe for butternut squash soup is included, but you can use our timesaving blend in any recipe that calls for pureed butternut squash.

subset: commoncrawl


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Globe Trekker: Food Hour: Ireland | Saturday, 7 P.M.
Globe Trekker Bobby Chinn samples oysters in Galway, fishes for salmon in Connemara, plays a tune or two with The Chieftains in Westport, visits the Nenagh Agricultural Show, judges a baking competition in Tipperary, and learns the history of Guinness in Dublin.
Song Stage IllinoisFriday | 7:00 P.M.
Song Stage, Illinois is a music competition show that strips away the Hollywood glamour and
cuts to the core of the music scene, by offering real musicians, singing singing their own songs,
a chance to connect with an audience. Tune in to follow Song Stage all season long and see who
will be crowned champion this season on Song Stage, Illinois.
May 6 Winner of Ep. 1 vs. Winner of Ep. 3
May 6 Winner of Ep. 4 vs. Wild Card 1
May 13 Winner of Ep. 2 vs Wild Card 2/Grand Finale
Time ScannersSunday | 8 P.M.
Colosseum The team uses incredible new laser-scanning technology to uncover the engineering secrets behind ancient Rome's Colosseum. Structural engineer Steve Burrows leads his team of laser-scanning experts to Rome in Italy on a quest to uncover some of the engineering world's oldest mysteries of the Colosseum. Using cutting-edge 3D laser-scanning technology, the team want to answer three questions. How did the Romans produce some of the most impressive gladiatorial games ever seen in Europe? How did the Colosseum's mysterious roof really work? Finally, how does the mighty Colosseum perform in state of the art computer testing against the sports stadiam of the 21st century? Armed with incredible scanning technology, the data will provide the clues to help Steve find the answers.
Omaha BeachThursday | 8 P.M.
Omaha Beach: Honor and Sacrifice On D-Day, a roughly 7,000-yard stretch of beach in Normandy, France given the code name "Omaha" proved to be the Allies' biggest obstacle to the success of Operation Overlord. The assignment to take Omaha Beach, establish a beachhead, and move inland into France was given to two American divisions - the already battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) and the untested 29th Infantry Division (The Blue and the Gray), who had yet to see any combat in World War II. American Naval Combat Demolition Units also hit the beach that day, writing their own individual stories of horror and heroism. Seven decades after the "Boys of Omaha Beach" landed, many veterans are returning to this part of the Normandy coast for the last time. Other soldiers who were there on D-Day have also come back for the first time since that historic day, looking for closure as they enter the final years of their lives. OMAHA BEACH: HONOR AND SACRIFICE shows the very personal stories of several veterans as they return to Omaha Beach and documents the celebration in Normandy that continues to this day as a result of their acts of courage and determination on June 6, 1944.
Globe TrekkerSaturday | 7 P.M.
Globe Trekker Bobby Chinn samples oysters in Galway, fishes for salmon in Connemara, plays a tune or two with The Chieftains in Westport, visits the Nenagh Agricultural Show, judges a baking competition in Tipperary, and learns the history of Guinness in Dublin.
Bill Hill - Charleston, IL
"Education has been my life. Learning has been my life ... and it's so important that we have the educational programs offered by WEIU. The opportunities (for students) to get hands on experience is immeasurable."
WEIU membership is important to Bill, and you can also be a proud member! Also, send us a message and let us know what WEIU means to you!
Jon Roemer - Dakota, IL
"I actually came to Eastern looking for a degree in broadcasting or journalism of some sort. When I came through (Hit-Mix 88.9) on a student tour, they said you can get experience on-air. That's pretty cool."
WEIU membership is important to Jon, and you can also be a proud member! Also, send us a message and let us know what WEIU means to you!
Andrea McKenna - Program Manager
When Did You Start at WEIU? June 2012
Favorite Show on WEIU-TV: Masterpiece Classic, such as Downton Abbey, Birdsong and Mr. Selfridge and Masterpiece Mystery such as Sherlock, Inspector Lewis and Wallender. The best of British television drama comes right to your TV without commercial interruption! What's not to like?
What have you learned while working at WEIU? Coming from a very different market in Texas, I've had to quickly learn about the community that WEIU serves, and I've become very fond of it. As I've gotten to know the staff at WEIU, I've learned how dedicated they are to bringing the kind of quality television that has relevance to the community, but still entertains and stimulates viewers — no easy feat in the age of 200 channels.
Why should someone become a member of WEIU? The question should be "Why wouldn't someone become a member of WEIU?" If you've ever enjoyed the wide range of programming WEIU provides; if your children or grandchildren have ever learned about letters or numbers or even social skills from the 11.5 hours of stimulating, non-violent and educational kids' programming WEIU provides each day; if you've been able to experience an opera or a Shakespearean play or a rock concert or a Broadway show that you wouldn't otherwise have had access to; if you've learned to knit or do woodworking or to cook by watching WEIU's programming, then why shouldn't you be a member of WEIU?
Is WEIU as important to you as it is to Andrea? Become a member today! Also, send us a message and let us know what WEIU means to you!
We love to hear from you!
I support WEIU because I know that at any time, day or night we can tune in and we can count on good, quality entertainment and good wholesome programming made available to us. WEIU is what I consider to be a family friendly television station because I know that if my children or grandchildren are visiting and they enter the room where I'm watching TV, I don't have to worry about anything inappropriate being on my TV screen. I know that I can trust WEIU and I love that!
-- Sam, Ashmore
Is WEIU as important to you as it is to Sam? Become a member today! Also, send us a message and let us know what WEIU means to you!
Kelly Comstock - Man With A Big Heart
Kelly Comstock tells of the joy her father, Steve Comstock ('Man with a Big Heart'), gets from playing Santa Claus during Christmas time.
Kelly would love for you to tune in to Effingham: This is Our Story on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. We hope you'll join us!
Jeff Hodge - Hodge's Hardware
Jeff Hodge shares of some unique experiences at Hodges Hardware.
Jeff would love for you to tune in to Effingham: This is Our Story on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. We hope you'll join us!


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Goodguys Truck Show - Make The Charlotte SceneWritten by on May 1, 2008 Goodguys 14th Southeastern Nationals
As part of our jobs here at CLASSIC TRUCKS we have to-or get to rather-travel across the country to cover events to share with all of you. It seems that we rarely have a chance to go all the way across the country with so many of the shows being located in the Midwest. Well, this time I got to fly practically all the way to the other side of our fair continent late last October to the 14th Annual Goodguys Southeastern Nationals at the Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina-my first trip this far South.
It's hard to realize sometimes that in a mere five hours on a plane you can be 2,500 miles away in a "whole other world", so to speak, especially coming from the hustle and bustle/concrete jungle of Southern California, but it's nice to get away! I enjoy visiting parts of the country I've yet to traverse as well as checking out the landscape, the culture, meeting new people, and of course, the food!
Goodguys shows always manage to pull in plenty of entries from surrounding areas as well as droves of spectators, rain or shine, thanks to their reputation. Unfortunately, Friday put this to the test with plenty of late October rain soaking the Lowes Motor Speedway, but that didn't stop the crowd armed with umbrellas and ponchos, in both storebought and improvised versions.
I did make use of the rainy weather later on to go visit a few nearby shops. First stop was Fatman Fabrications where at long last I had a chance to meet everyone who holds down the fort that I've only talked to on the phone, while Brent, aka The Fat Man, is out on the road as a vendor at large shows like Goodguys. I also talked my way into a tour of the grounds and checked out firsthand how all their products are made and engineered.
My next stop was to Dennis Carpenter Reproductions and it was a good thing I had my walking shoes on! Reading any of Dennis' catalogs gives you a pretty good idea that they know their stuff and make quality products-enough so that Ford gives them licensing for many of them. Actually seeing in person what goes into making this possible; however, is astounding. From all the weather stripping machinery to the building where huge multi-ton presses bang out things like stainless hubcaps, using the original Ford machines no less, the tour was eye opening. To top it all off, Dennis has his own museum on the property that's open to the public and is filled with more cool stuff than you can shake a stick at. From vintage Fords, motorcycles, pedal cars, signs, scooters, and plenty of stuff I missed I'm sure, it's a must for anyone in the area.
The rain cleared out by the time the show started on Saturday and soon there were around 2,000 entries filling the center of the Speedway along with a pretty decent swap meet. There was also the ever-popular Air Ride Autocross track where you run-what-ya-brung through a course outlined in cones, you are timed, and have the whole weekend to best yourself, a friend, or maybe even a friendly stranger.
All in all, the show was a success and a good opportunity for me to meet many of our readers on "that" side of the country as well as see lots of "new to us" iron. Get ready for the Goodguys '08 show season by logging onto www.goodguys.com to find out about event locations, dates, as well as past award winners and more. See you out on the road!
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
In Charlotte there were a few "surprise" trucks there like Randy Carter's '47 Dodge Canopy Express from nearby Concord, NC. Randy bought the rare truck from a chicken farmer that came down his driveway one day asking if he would be interested in buying an "old truck" from him. We have a full feature coming soon.Building a clean '67-72 C-10 is almost effortless, thanks to GM. Richard and Anna Brown's '72 looks good in candy tangerine paint with a black interior. Lowered over a set of artillery-style wheels, it makes something even older look new.As far as clean early-model Ford trucks go, Ken Baxter's mild custom '41 with a '40 front end was putting smiles on faces all weekend.Got a '54 Chevy and aren't jazzed about its love-it-or-hate-it frontend? Swap it out for a '47-53 like the owner of this suede/shiny cruiser did. It, like many of the trucks in the actual show, was for sale.Jeff Kanupp from Hickory, NC, took home a well-deserved award for his meticulous resto-rod '72 GMC Sierra Grande. It was fully restored piece by piece until it was better than new and features a 350/350, factory discs, tilt, A/C, two-tone paint, full trim, and deluxe blue houndstooth interior. The only stock deviation is the 18-inch Coddington Magneto wheels which give the truck a modern classic look.It's not too often we see a real '55 1st Series Chevy and it was nice of Ed and Gail Howel from Hopewell, VA, to bring theirs down to Charlotte for the weekend. The '55 features a built 327 and four-speed under the hood. It also carries the old-school theme into the cab with a cool white tuck 'n' roll upholstery job, Impala wheel, and chrome Hurst shifter. Sweet!Tony and Lisa Stacy were proud to have their nicer than nice '66 Ford F-100 at Lowes Motor Speedway for a weekend of wild weather. We were hard pressed to find a single flaw about the truck except that we weren't driving it home! The F-100 took Tony 10 years to finish and sports a detailed 390, automatic, leather interior, '66 T-bird buckets, Vintage Air, and a vintage Sprint Car style four-spoke steering wheel. All class, all the way.Albemarle, NC, resident Dickie Lowder may have to add onto his garage to hold all the trophies his '56 F-100 has won this year as well as being picked as a Goodguys Truck of the Year Late finalist in '07. The Effie has a big 502ci Chevy motor under the bright, House of Kolor red hood, and sits on a Fatman Fabrications chassis outfitted front to back with Air Ride Technologies products.
It seems like we don't see too many white trucks for some reason, but it was hard not to notice Adam Strawn's '65 C-10. In case you didn't see the full feature on Adam's truck in our March '08 issue, it's a no-fuss cruiser with a 305, Turbo 350 trans, disc brakes, dropped spindles, lowering blocks, big back window, and custom cab that's been repainted the stock shade of white with a red accent using DuPont paint that goes oh-so-well with the wheel and tire combo.Getting into classic trucks is easy. Find a cherry, no-frills base-model truck like Todd Bayne's '66 Chevy C-10; buff out the stock paint, give the stock bumpers and grille a new coat of white paint, lower it, and BINGO!Aaron McBride from Monroe, NC, made the most of what he had with his '48 Dodge truck. He chopped, cut, welded, and smoothed out the sheetmetal and then primed it, laid down some flames, and dropped in a 327 Chevy and a 700-R4 trans to make sure he had a fun family cruiser.Looks like Scott Chesney from Greer, NC should have parked his '64 C-10 next to our Finest Five winner Adam Strawn's Chevy to give interested buyers a good before-and-after view!David and Judy Miller's '54 F-100 is a wonderful labor of love. David built the truck from the ground up at his home and took the time to use many unique early and late-model parts to create a distinctive F-100.A Dodge Li'l Red Express like this '78 isn't a common sight these days, seeing as they were only produced for two years, totaling just over 7,000 trucks, with only 2,188 being made in 1978.Everyone should own a good-looking beater truck at least once in their life if not for its entirety, and Rob Seals' '72 Chevy from Tennessee is a perfect example. The shortbed wears most of its original garb including truck Rally wheels and has of course been lowered, but if you look carefully it looks like Rob swapped out the stock hood for an earlier '67-68 model.North Carolina must be Dodge country because they seemed to be in numbers that rivaled the GM and Ford trucks at this year's show. John Kleto made an extended cab out of his '47 and ditched the flathead six for a 360 Mopar V-8 and a 727 trans.
Couldn't find a name on it, but power-parked inside the show was this Bumpside F-100 waiting for someone to take it home. The truck already had dropped 'beams, been lowered in the rear, power steering, power brakes, and a 302 V-8--not a bad start.Here's one last Dodge for you, hey we gotta take 'em when we get 'em! This '55 model belongs to Lou Muller from Cherryville, NC. Besides having its body cleaned up and painted silver, the seemingly little truck has a 289 Ford and a three-speed under the stock two piece-hood.While in North Carolina, I ventured 15 miles or so away from the track to Fatman Fabrications' headquarters for a long-awaited tour. Having known Brent, aka The Fat Man, and using his products for many years, (including much of the chassis components on my Bumpside Build-Off '68 F-100) it was cool to actually visit the shop to see where it all happens.If you own a Ford then you've most likely heard of Dennis Carpenter Reproductions, and it just so happened that their compound (for lack of a better word) was just a stones-throw from Lowes Motor Speedway. It was still raining so I stopped in...for a few hours! Dennis has built a huge reproduction facility and has more N.O.S. Ford parts than one can imagine, and to top it off, he even has a museum on the property full of vintage Ford cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, Ford tractors, automobilia, and much more. Definitely a must for anyone in the area--Ford lover or not!


text: "24-7 Boardsports" may be physically housed in a small WW2 amunition shelter, but inside the doors it is a tardis. There is something to appeal to everyone: Windsurfing, kitesurfing (with the opportunity for lessons), paddleboarding, kayaks, wetsuits and more. So much more, in fact that the shop is also launching a new website to showcase it all.


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Captain Paul Watson, a Canadian environmental and animal rights activist, recently spoke in Bath at the Bath Marine Museum. The talk was sponsored by The Friends of Merrymeeting Bay. Captain Watson discussed his controversial tactics of nonviolence and direct action to stop whaling across the globe.
Captain Watson is the founder and president of the Sea Shepard Conservation Society, the group featured on Animal Planet's "Whale Wars". He is a former Sierra Club member and founding member of Greenpeace,
This talk was recorded May 8, 2012 at the Bath Marine Museum in Bath, Maine.
Captain Paul Watson
Sea Shepard Conservation Society


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A video of helpful tips on trapping nuisance armadillos.
Get helpful tips about groundhog damage control with this video.
This video contains helpful tips about skunk damage control.
This video provides helpful tips on selecting a live trap.
This video provides helpful tips about raccoon and opossum damage control.
Each year trappers seek out Missouri woods and water to participate in one of the oldest sports known to man.
Learn to identify and control nuisance moles on your Missouri property.
Learn to identify, prevent, and control striped skunk damage on your Missouri property.
MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources. We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature. Read more about our mission.


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quickdragon wrote:Yeah, i'm too poor to buy the ex packs!
GonFreeces31 wrote:fargone wrote:I realise this is completely off topic, but Icy deserves the limelight more than others. Some of whom dominate the forums with their endless posts.
What, I make legit points too...
fargone wrote:4600 gran.
gadu wrote:fargone wrote:4600 gran.
It's 4800 gran.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


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May 6, 2016
Jackson County Sheriff's investigators are looking for the people responsible for a string of burglaries. They believe the same thieves could be responsible for breaking into as many as a dozen homes.
The break-ins happened over a 3-day period last week.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is investigating a string of burglaries that started last Tuesday in Decatur County, Georgia.
"There were three black males that approached the house and the owner was home, and when they found out he was home they immediately left," said Jackson County Sheriff's Office Major Donnie Branch.
After failing once, Branch said he believes the same three men did burglarize a few homes there, then made their way to Jackson County. He said they broke into a total of five Jackson County homes, stealing from four.
"One of them a large amount of firearms were taken, small amount of jewelry, the other one, a couple of firearms were taken and some jewelry," said Branch.
Other items included electronics and musical instruments, but the crime spree didn't stop there.
"On Thursday, Gadsden County Florida had some burglaries, basically the same thing," said Branch.
With such a large area to investigate Branch said authorities need the community's help to catch those responsible.
"We're hoping that once this gets out that somebody may have seen something unusual," said Branch.
If you have any information on these crimes, call your local authorities or Crime Stoppers.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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More New and Used
from Private Sellers
Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Tennessee Women, 2nd
ISBN13:by Sawyer, Susan
Globe Pequot
Questions About This Book?
Why should I rent this book?
Renting is easy, fast, and cheap! Renting from eCampus.com can save you hundreds of dollars compared to the cost of new or used books each semester. At the end of the semester, simply ship the book back to us with a free UPS shipping label! No need to worry about selling it back.
How do rental returns work?
Returning books is as easy as possible. As your rental due date approaches, we will email you several courtesy reminders. When you are ready to return, you can print a free UPS shipping label from our website at any time. Then, just return the book to your UPS driver or any staffed UPS location. You can even use the same box we shipped it in!
What version or edition is this?
This is the 2nd edition with a publication date of 2/1/2014.
What is included with this book?
- The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc.
- The Rental copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. You may receive a brand new copy, but typically, only the book itself.
How did Tennessee become the amazing state that it is today you may wonder? More than Petticoats: Remarkable Tennessee Women recognizes the women who shaped the "Volunteer State." The lives of female teachers, writers, entrepreneurs, and artists from across the state are illuminated through short biographies.
Author Biography
Susan Sawyer enjoys exploring the past and writing about historical topics. History serves as the centerpiece for many of her writings, taking the form of both fact and fiction. Drawing upon her fascination with the history of her native South, Susan has written seven historical and contemporary romance novels. She is also the author of Myths and Mysteries of Tennessee. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Susan worked as a magazine editor and communications consultant before establishing a career as a freelance writer. Today, she writes full-time from her home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Ron.


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What is RM Cash
"Customer service is priority #1 at Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. We value our customers and strive to be the best shopping experience- when you buy from us, you are buying lifetime service."
-Dan Thomas, CEO and Founder
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Comments On Aug 12, 2012:I purchased these in addition to the Tusk brand of protectors. The rear tire change was my first ever and wanted to make sure I had sufficient wheel protection before starting. It was difficult to keep the RimShield on the wheel as any amount of movement would cause the device to fall off the wheel. They did seem strong enough and I never felt as if they would break but unlike the more conventional wheel protectors they did not want to clamp to the wheel when using.
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Comments On Oct 11, 2011:I used mine one time before they cracked and fell apart. Worked good the first time, they just aren't durable enough.
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Comments On Aug 22, 2011:Just used it to spoon a Dunlop 803 onto a black rim.
Works well to protect the rim until the last couple bites on the tire iron. Then it's hard to get it in & out.
Only issue is that one of them cracked on the 1st use. That's the reason for the low rating.
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Comments On May 31, 2011:Good concept, but they split the first time I tried them out. Major fail...
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Browsing by Author "Wattakeekamthorn, Thanakit"
Now showing items 1-1 of 1
A Microstrip Folded Resonator Sensor for Measurement of Dielectric Constant Seewattanapon, Somporn; Wattakeekamthorn, Thanakit; Somwong, Tanee; Akkaraekthalin, Prayoot (IEEE ECTI-CON 2008, 2008-07-23)A microstrip folded ring resonator sensor for measurement of dielectric constant in a compact area of material under test is proposed. The resonant characteristics of resonator vary with dielectric constant of material. ...


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May 6, 2016
By: Eames Yates
January 26, 2013
Lowndes High School played host to the fourth annual Robotics Competition on Saturday. Teams competed by trying to put the most bean bags into containers using their creations. For many students this year wasn't their first time doing battle.
John Newton is a Lowndes High School teacher and helped organize the competition. "it's amazing to see them progress from where they started and where they're at now. Not only in working with teams but intellectually and what they've learned and applied in a real world setting with competitions and robots."
30 teams from 9 different high schools across the state came here to Lowndes to compete. The winner goes to Anaheim, California for the World Finals.
Ben Martin is a Lowndes High School student who competed in the event. He said "you have the best of the best robots compete at Worlds. There's probably about four hundred teams that will go. And it really shows you how good you are compared to everyone else. Because at these competitions we're only facing local competitors but there we will be facing, you know, the best of the best."
There's no prize at the World Finals... Just bragging rights.Team 3-8-3-V from Lowndes High School won the competition on Saturday. They will be competing in the World Finals in March.
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Friday, July 12, 2013
Bill and Eva
10 comments:
- Valerie said...
Beautiful, classically elegant couple!
- July 12, 2013 at 12:28 PM
As a male fan of your site, I appreciate when you feature other men of a certain age. Thanks.
- July 12, 2013 at 1:29 PM
- June said...
What a beautiful man and especially beautiful for loving his wife so much. And he dresses so wonderfully; the complementary belt, spectacles, hatband, shoes and pocket scarf. And I like the green on Eva. And her great hat! They both make first class models for Advanced Style. I would love to see more of them. And more men of style. Thanks, Ari and blessings to you and yours.
- July 12, 2013 at 2:41 PM
- Paulina Sereda said...
so cute *.*
- July 12, 2013 at 6:51 PM
- LONG DISTANCE HIKER said...
Oh my I love photo of Bill and Eva. Would love to read your interview of Bill and Eva. Hope to see it in your blog. Thanks, Jarah Olga Espinosa
- July 12, 2013 at 9:21 PM
They are definitely both perfect candidates for this blog. What a styled couple!
- July 13, 2013 at 4:19 AM
- Susan Street said...
A lovely couple indeed!
- July 13, 2013 at 7:22 AM
- Tiffany Hermy said...
These two are extremely stylish. Great Blog by the way ! I love how your blog showcases what true style is and that true style doesn't diminish with age.
The Style Enigma
- July 14, 2013 at 3:17 PM
- Palomasea said...
This story gave me chills, Ari! It must be a terrific feeling to know you are making such a difference in people's lives...of ALL ages!
This couple is just gorgeous...
- Irina
- July 15, 2013 at 12:24 AM
- Julia said...
Absolutely great blog! Very classy and stylish in it's very own way.
We like! Julia, Maxwell Scott
- July 17, 2013 at 5:50 AM


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Land Use
Historic Land Cover/Land Use
Historical land cover within the uplands of the South Grand River Watershed primarily consisted of prairie with oak savannas and open oak woodlands in the more dissected areas along and near streams (Figure Lu01) (MDC 1998b). In the portion of the watershed which is now in the area of lower Truman Reservoir, a landscape more typical of the Ozarks was present. The uplands were dominated by oak savanna and open oak woodlands. Scattered dolomite and sandstone glades as well as occasional prairie openings were also originally present in this area (MDC 1998b).
Historic land cover in the wide alluvial plains in the valleys of some of the larger streams in the watershed such as the South Grand River, Big Creek, and Deepwater Creek, included a large amount of bottomland prairie with numerous wetlands such as marshes, shrub swamps, and oxbow lakes. Bottomland forests were also present especially in more elevated, well drained valleys. (MDC 1998b)
Prehistoric peoples of the Native American Indian tribes were the first to inhabit the region of the South Grand River Watershed. Tribes inhabiting the region at the time the first Europeans arrived were primarily the Shawnee, Kickapoo, and Osage. The Osage were the last tribe to be present in the area. The Osage people lived in villages and subsisted by hunting, foraging, and small scale agriculture (Sabo 2001). Fires, a significant factor in shaping the Pre-European landscape of the region in and around the watershed, were often set by the Osage during the fall hunting season (Aldrich 1955).
The French were the first Europeans to explore and inhabit Missouri (Rafferty 1983). Initial exploration and settlement occurred in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Early settlement was confined primarily to the areas on the western bank of the Mississippi River and the Missouri River near the mouth as well as the lead belt south of St. Louis. The quest for fur brought the French up the Missouri River Valley and resulted in the establishment of Fort Orleans (near present day Brunswick) in 1722 (Rafferty 1983).
With the eminent loss of French territory east of the Mississippi River to the English as a result of the French and Indian War, France transferred the remaining Louisiana Territory to it's ally Spain in 1762. This not only prevented the English from gaining the territory, but also relieved the French of a territory that had generated less revenue than was required to govern it (Meyer 1982). In 1770 Spain took formal control of the territory.
The portion north of the Arkansas River (which included present day Missouri) was governed by Spanish lieutenant governors in St. Louis who in turn received their direction from New Orleans (Rafferty 1983). While Spanish governance was authoritarian, lacking jury trial and law by popular assembly, it seemed to have little effect on the "cultural continuity" of the area (Rafferty 1983). Initially, the French continued to account for most of the migration to the region. In the late 1780s, Americans from the east began to move into the region. By the year 1800, Americans outnumbered the French in Missouri (Rafferty 1983).
In 1800, the Louisiana Territory was ceded back to France by Spain. Three years later France, in need of additional finances to further it's military needs, sold the territory to the United States for a sum of $11,250,000 (Collins and Snider 1955). This came to be known as the Louisiana Purchase.
The Expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804 served, among other things, as a catalyst to the westward expansion of settlement. In Missouri, settlement continued to occur up the major rivers. The river bottoms provided timber for construction and fertile ground for agriculture. The Osage River had become a navigation route by 1830 with ports at Osceola and Warsaw (Rafferty 1983). As lands became more expensive and scarce along the large rivers, settlement gradually moved up the smaller river bottoms and eventually into the prairie uplands.
Sources of settlement in the South Grand River Watershed were probably the expansion of settlement out of the Missouri River Corridor as well as settlers coming up the Osage River. Initially, the prairie uplands of the region including the South Grand River Watershed were not considered fertile by many early settlers, many of whom came from forested areas east of the Mississippi River. This misconception coupled with a lack of timber for construction, as well as a lack of water, were factors in the relatively late settlement of the uplands (Aldrich 1955).
Early settlers in the region relied on small scale or subsistence agriculture, hunting, and fishing for survival. Early agriculture in the region was less specialized as relative isolation required settlers to raise a variety of crops for use by the immediate household (Rafferty 1983). While corn and wheat were the main crops; cotton, flax, hemp, and tobacco were also produced by early settlers (Meyer 1982 and Rafferty 1983). Due to the fact that most early settlers practiced farming on a subsistence scale, cultivated areas were probably relatively small and isolated. In addition to crops, early settlers also often raised a variety of livestock. These included horses, mules, sheep, cattle, and chickens. Unlike present practices where fencing is constructed to keep livestock in an area, early fences were usually constructed to keep livestock out of areas such as the garden (Meyer, 1982). Thus, for the most part, early livestock were free-ranging.
As transportation improved with the coming of the railroad as well as road improvement, the ability to exchange cash and goods increased. This led to a shift from subsistence farming to cash farming and agricultural specialization. In addition, post-civil war advances in agricultural implements allowed for the more efficient cultivation and harvesting of larger acreages of crops. These factors led to the farming of larger acreages (Figure Lu02). Livestock populations also increased dramatically between 1850 and 1880.
As river bottom land became harder to find and farm acreage increased, the demand for upland prairies increased. Encroachment on the uplands resulted in the replacement of native prairie vegetation with domestic legumes and grasses such as clovers, timothy, blue grass, and alfalfa (Aldrich 1955). Livestock raising in the region became increasingly important in the region. This is illustrated by the substantial rise in livestock numbers in Bates, Cass, and Henry Counties between 1850 and 1880 (Figure Lu03).
Increased settlement and agricultural expansion in the watershed, led to the efforts to increase drainage and protect property from flooding. These efforts came in the form of channelization of streams and construction of levees with a large portion of the South Grand being channelized between the years 1914 and 1919 (Gosnell 2002).
In addition to livestock raising and cropping, several non-agricultural industries also existed in the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These included coal mining as well as clay mining.
Changes in human populations between 1900 and 1990 differ substantially between counties intersecting the South Grand Watershed (Figure Lu04) (OSEDA 1998). Half of the counties experienced a net decline in population, while the other half experienced growth. St. Claire County experienced the largest percentage of population decline at -52.8%. Other counties which experienced declines include Bates (-50.2%), Benton (-16.3%), and Henry (-28.6%). Jackson County experienced the largest rate of growth at 224.4%. Other counties which experienced growth include Cass (170.0%), Johnson (52.7%), and Pettis (9.2%).
The 2000 human population within the South Grand River Watershed was estimated to be 110,855 persons. Population density in 2000 was approximately 54 persons per square mile as compared to the overall population density for Missouri which was approximately 81 persons per square mile (Figure Lu05). Of course, one must take into account the effect of the states urban centers on this estimate.
Projections of human population increase of Missouri counties have been calculated by the Missouri Office of Administration (MOA), Division of Budget and Planning for three different projection scenarios in a report entitled Projections of the Population of Missouri Counties By Age, Gender, and Race: 1990 to 2020 (MOA 1994). Differences in the scenarios are based on migration trends. Scenario L takes into account long term (1980-1992) migration; Scenario R takes into account recent (1987-1992) migration; and Scenario Z assumes zero migration. Combined population estimates from 1990-2020 for those counties intersecting the South Grand River Watershed have been used to calculate percent increase in population for all three scenarios. Scenarios L, R, and Z project a combined population increase rate of 4.6%, 4.2, and 14.3% respectively by the year 2020. Table Lu01 lists projected population and overall population growth rate for individual counties for all three scenarios
Ecological Classification
The Ecological Classification System (ECS) is a management tool which provides a means of "describing distribution of current and potential natural resources in a manner that considers land capability upfront" using a knowledge of landform, geology, soils, and vegetation patterns (MDC 1997). There are several levels of classification within the ECS. For purposes of this document the three lowest levels are dealt with. These levels are section, subsection, and land type association (LTA), with section being the largest, most encompassing level and LTA being the smallest. The South Grand River Watershed intersects two sections, 3 subsections, and 11 LTAs (Figure Lu06).
The sections intersected by the South Grand River Watershed in Missouri include the Osage Plains Section and the Ozark Highlands Section. Most of the watershed (96.9%) occurs within the Osage Plains Section. This section consists of an unglaciated prairie plain underlain by limestone, sandstone, and shale of Pennsylvanian age. Topography of this section is flat to gently rolling with extensive wetlands associated with the Upper Osage Basin. Historic land cover of this section consisted of tallgrass prairie (MDC 1998b).
Only a relatively small portion (3.1%) of the watershed occurs within Ozark Highlands Section. The Ozark Highlands Section consists of very old and highly weathered plateaus which, coupled with its physiographic diversity and central geographic location relative to the continent, has created a region of unique ecosystems harboring many endemic species (MDC 1997).
The subsections intersected by South Grand River Watershed include the Scarped Osage Plains, Cherokee Plains, and the Osage River Hills (Table Lu02):
The Scarped Osage Plains Subsection
"Consists of a series of alternating shale plains and limestone scarps that, in a broad sense, stair-step down in elevation from northwest to southeast. The flatter plains were nearly continuous tallgrass prairie originally, while the scarped limestone areas were more dissected and a mosaic of prairie and savanna. Valleys are narrower as they flow through the limestone scarps than they are in the Cherokee Plains to the southeast" (MDC 1998b).
The Cherokee Plains Subsection
"Is a lower and generally flatter plain underlain by sandstone and shale. Also nearly continuous tallgrass prairie originally, it has very broad alluvial floodplains with extensive wetland complexes in the Upper Osage River Basin"(MDC 1998b).
The Osage River Hills Subsection
"Encompasses the rolling to ruggedly dissected landscape carved by the Osage River and its tributaries. The western part of the hills are cut into the Jefferson City-Cotter Dolomite, which often yields shallow, cherty soils that support oak savannas and open oak woodlands, and dolomite glades."(MDC 1998b).
Land Type Associations (LTAs) represent the smallest of the three previously mentioned levels (Figure Lu06). LTAs intersecting the South Grand River Watershed and percentages of the watershed intersected include the following:
- Belton High Prairie Plain 4.8%
- Inner Osage Prairie/Savanna Scarped Plains 17.1%
- Jackson Co. Prairie/Woodland Scarped Plain 0.1%
- Osage Prairie Plains 15.0%
- Outer Osage Prairie/Savanna Scarped Plain 17.9%
- Scarped Osage Plains Alluvial Plains 5%
- South Grand Alluvial Plains 6%
- South Grand Smooth Low Prairie Plains 23.7%
- Southern Pettis Co. Prairie Plain 0.3%
- Truman Lake Oak Woodland Hills 3.1%
- Windsor Prairie/Savanna Dissected Plain 7.0%
The Ecological Classification System could prove to be a useful tool for planning and implementing management activities by providing an indication of what natural resource management options will be more adapted to specific areas thus increasing the success of management decisions as well as helping to ensure that management decisions are ecologically enhancing.
Current Land Cover
Approximately 52.2% of the South Grand River Watershed is grassland based on analysis of MoRAP (1999) Missouri land cover data and KARS (1993) Kansas land cover data. Crop land is the second most prevalent land cover accounting for approximately 26.5% of the total watershed area, while forest is third at 18.2 %.The land cover categories of wetland and water each account for approximately 0.1% and 2.7% respectively. The presence of Truman Reservoir accounts for a large portion of the latter percentage. In addition, urban land cover accounts for approximately 0.4% of the total watershed area (Table Lu03, Figures Lu07and Lu08). Grassland is the most dominant land cover type in all eleven digit hydrologic units within the watershed with the exception of Camp Branch which has slightly more crop land (44.3%) than grassland (44.1%). The Truman Reservoir-South Grand unit has the highest percentage of forest cover at 30.11%, while the Camp Branch unit has the lowest at 10.6%. It is important to note that National Wetlands Inventory data as well as anecdotal evidence suggests that the percentage of watershed area in wetlands is substantially higher than the land cover data indicates. This is especially true in the lower portions of the South Grand River and Big Creek (Bayless, Personal Communication).
Soil Conservation Projects
Three Special Area Land Treatment Projects (SALT) have been completed within the South Grand Watershed (Figure Lu09) with 11,013 acres being treated. Within the watershed a total of 21,753 acres are currently (2002) enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) (Figure Lu09) (FSA 2002). The Lower Big Creek Eleven Digit Hydrologic Unit contains the highest percentage of land enrolled in CRP/CREP at 3.5% (4,555 acres); while the Upper Big Creek and Crawford Creek Units contain the lowest percentage with each containing 0.7% (639 and 348 acres respectively). In addition, there are currently 1,673 acres enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program within the South Grand River Watershed (NRCS 2003).
Public Land
Knowledge of land ownership within a watershed is an important key to understanding various characteristics of a watershed as well as addressing watershed related issues and concerns. Within the South Grand River Watershed (Missouri), 6.6 % (86,597 acres) of land is under public ownership (Table Lu04 and Figure Lu10). An additional 2,376 acres is leased by the MDC from Kansas City Power and Light. The United States Corps of Engineers (USCOE) holds the largest amount of publicly owned land totaling 72,001 acres; 30,807 acres of which is leased by the MDC. The USCOE land is associated with the Truman Reservoir Project and is located in the lower portion of the watershed. In addition, the MDC owns 13,279 acres within the watershed while the MDNR owns 1,317 acres.
Analysis of land ownership percentages within eleven digit hydrologic units reveals that units in the lower portions of the South Grand River Watershed have the highest percentage of publicly owned land nearly all of which is USCOE land associated with Truman Reservoir. The Truman Reservoir/South Grand Unit has the highest percentage of public land at 30.9% (Table Lu05 and Figure Lu11). Most of this land is owned by the USCOE as part of the Truman Reservoir Project. Three units contain no public land in Missouri. These include Crawford Creek, Camp Branch, and Honey Creek. The public land within the watershed includes approximately 20.6 miles of permanent streams and 3 public stream accesses, only one of which has a developed boat ramp. No comprehensive statewide public land data is currently available for Kansas.


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37 U.S. Code § 476a - Travel and transportation allowances: authorized for travel performed under orders that are canceled, revoked, or modified
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(a) Authority.— Under uniform regulations prescribed by the Secretaries concerned, a member of a uniformed service is entitled to travel and transportation allowances under section 474 of this title, and to transportation of his dependents, baggage, and household effects under sections 476 and 479 of this title, if otherwise qualified, for travel performed before the effective date of orders that direct him to make a change of station and that are later—
(1) canceled, revoked, or modified to direct him to return to the station from which he was being transferred; or
Source(Added Pub. L. 88–238, § 1(1),Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 475, § 406a; renumbered § 476a and amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(d)(2), (e)(7), (f)(4)(A),Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1460, 1462, 1465; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a)(9),Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1948.)
2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(9), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(f)(4)(A). See 2011 Amendment note below.
2011—Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(e)(7), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).
Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(d)(2), renumbered section 406a of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(f)(4)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(9), substituted "474" for "404", "476" for "406", and "479" for "409" in introductory provisions.
Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a),Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1947, provided that the amendment made by section 1076(a)(9) is effective Dec. 31, 2011, and as if included in Pub. L. 112–81as enacted.
Effective Date; Limitations
Pub. L. 88–238, § 2,Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 476, provided that: "This Act [enacting this section] becomes effective on October 1, 1949. Any member or former member of the uniformed services who, after September 30, 1949, but before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 1963], has not been paid, or has repaid the United States, an amount to which he otherwise would have been entitled had section 1 of this Act [enacting this section] been in effect during that period is entitled to be paid or repaid that amount, if the payment or repayment is otherwise proper and he applies for the payment or repayment within one year after the date of enactment of this Act."
Pub. L. 88–238, § 3,Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 476, provided that: "Any appropriations available to the departments concerned for the pay and allowances of members of the uniformed services are available for payments under this Act [enacting this section]."
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Glacial meltwater at Torres del Paine National Park. @ C.Michael Hogan
Chile is a nation of seventeen million people in South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru.
The country of Chile encompasses an extensive latitude span, ranging from the warm clime of the Atacama Desert in the north, Chilean matorral with a Mediterranean climate in the center to gelid ice sheet covered terrain of the Andean spine and further south to the Darwin Ice Sheet of Tierra del Fuego.
The northern Chilean desert contains great mineral wealth, principally copper, but also gold, potash, and lithium salts.
The central area dominates the country in terms of population and agricultural resources. This area also is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated its northern and southern regions.
Southern Chile is rich in forests and grazing lands and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands. The Andes Mountains are located on the eastern border.
Also part of Chile is Easter Island, one of the most remote locations on Earth, is more than 3200 kilometers (2000 miles) from the closest populations on Tahiti or Chile.
The nation's major environmental issues include:
overgrazing of native grasslands;
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources;
air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
water pollution from discharge of inadequately treated sewage.
Chile has a strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage).
The Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions.
The crater lake of Ojos del Salado is the worlds highest lake (at 6,390m).
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Mapuche inhabited central and southern Chile.
Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818.
In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Mapuche Indians were completely subjugated.
After a series of elected governments, a three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador Allende was overthrown in 1973 by a military coup led by Augusto Pinochet, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.
Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government.
Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable democratic nation.
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic Coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Area: 756,950 sq km (748,800 sq km of land, 8,150 sq km of water) . Note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
arable land: 2.62%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.95% (2005)
Land Boundaries: 6,339 km (Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km)
Coastline: 6435 km
Maritime Claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200/350 nm
Natural Hazards: Severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis.
Volcanism: Chile experiences significant volcanic activity due to the more than three-dozen active volcanoes situated within the Andes Mountains; Lascar (elev. 5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes. Llaima (elev. 3,125 m) in central Chile, which last erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active. Chaiten's 2008 eruption forced major evacuations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Cerro Hudson, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, Puyehue, San Pedro, and Villarrica
Terrain: The topography includes low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east. The highest point is Nevado Ojos del Salado (6880 m).
Climate: Temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south.
Topography of Chile. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ecology and Biodiversity
The richest and most diverse region on Earth, the Tropical Andes stretches into northern Chile.
A virtual continental island bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Andes Mountains on the east, and the Atacama Desert in the north, the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests biodiversity hotspot harbors richly endemic flora and fauna. The hotspot encompasses about 40 percent of Chile's land area and includes the offshore islands of San Félix and San Ambrosio and the Juan Fernández Islands.
The Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests Hotspot represents the crossroads of two major floristic and faunistic regions: the Neotropical and ancient Gondwanan provinces. The influence of past geographical links between South America and other southern lands, such as Australia, is evident in the hotspot's high plant endemism.
Of the nearly 4,000 vascular plants found in this hotspot, about half are endemic. These numbers represent about three-quarters of all Chilean plant species and endemics in only 40 percent of the land area.
Characteristically, birds are not very well represented in this hotspot. The region's bird diversity includes just over 225 species. There are a dozen endemic bird species here, including three breeding species of petrel, and the region is considered a priority Endemic Bird Area by Birdlife International.
Mammal endemism is relatively low, with almost 70 species and only 15 endemics.
Endemism levels for both reptiles and amphibians are high. About two-thirds of the hotspot's more than 40 reptile species are endemic. Around three-quarters of the more than 40 amphibian species in the hotspot are endemic.
Although the hotspot has a relatively small fish fauna, with only just over 40 native species, it has a remarkable two endemic families: the mountain catfishes (Nematogenyidae) and the perch-like fishes of the genus Percilia (family Perciliidae). Nearly 20 percent of the region's fish species are relicts of Gondwanan groups and are also found in southern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
The ecosystems of the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests face severe pressure from human activities and development. Chile has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and is still strongly dependent on natural resources. Most of the major threats are concentrated in the Mediterranean subunit in the southern part of the hotspot, where a high percentage of the Chilean population lives today.
Chile's Pan de Azucar National Park protects not merely coastal marine habitat, but also cacti of the Atacama Desert. Within Chile's Elqui Valley, aggressive expansion of fruit tree and vineyard planting have decimated previously rich populations of Copiapoa and Eulychnia cacti.
There are numerous protected areas of Chile.
Chile has eight ecoregions that occur entirely or partly within its borders on the mainland and three ecorgions offshore:
Off the mainland:
Chile is bordered by the Humboldt Current large marine ecosystem.
Source: World Wildlife Fund.
People and Society
Population: 17,067,369 (July 2012 est.)
About 85% of Chile's population lives in urban areas; greater Santiago is home to more than six million people and dominates Chile's political and economic institutions. Chile is a multiethnic society, and a majority of the population can claim some European ancestry, mainly Spanish (Castilian, Andalusian, and Basque), but also German, Italian, Irish, French, British, Swiss, and Croatian, in various combinations. A small yet influential number of Irish and English immigrants came to Chile during the colonial period. German immigration began in the mid-1800s and continued into the 20th century; the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue, and Osorno show a strong German influence. In addition, there are a significant number of Middle Eastern, mainly Palestinian, immigrants and their descendants. About 800,000 Native Americans, mostly Mapuche, reside in the south-central area. The Aymara, Atacameno, and Diaguita groups can be found mainly in Chile's northern desert valleys and oases. Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is home to the Rapa Nui, an indigenous population.
Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous groups 0.6% (2002 census)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 1,928,210/female 1,840,839)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 5,751,091/female 5,744,014)
65 years and over: 9.6% (male 680,450/female 944,156) (2011 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 0.884% (2012 est.)
Birthrate: 14.28 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death Rate: 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net Migration Rate: 0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth: 78.1 years
male: 75.08 years
female: 81.25 years (2012 est.)
Total Fertility Rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Languages: Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English
Literacy: 95.7% (2002 census)
Urbanization: 89% of total population (2010) growing at an annual rate of change of 1.1% (2010-15 est.)
About 10,000 years ago, migrating indigenous peoples settled in fertile valleys and along the coast of what is now Chile. The Incas briefly extended their empire into what is now central Chile, but the northern area's barrenness prevented extensive settlement. The first Europeans to arrive in Chile were Diego de Almagro and his band of Spanish conquistadors, who came from Peru seeking gold in 1536. The Spanish encountered hundreds of thousands of Indians from various cultures in the area that modern Chile now occupies. These cultures supported themselves principally through slash-and-burn agriculture, hunting, and fishing. The conquest of Chile began in earnest in 1540 and was carried out by Pedro de Valdivia, one of Francisco Pizarro's lieutenants, who founded the city of Santiago on February 12, 1541. Although the Spanish did not find the extensive gold and silver they sought, they recognized the agricultural potential of Chile's central valley, and Chile became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
The drive for independence from Spain was precipitated by usurpation of the Spanish throne by Napoleon's brother Joseph in 1808. A national junta in the name of Ferdinand--heir to the deposed king--was formed on September 18, 1810. The junta proclaimed Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. A movement for total independence soon won a wide following. Spanish attempts to reimpose rule during what was called the "Reconquista" led to a prolonged struggle.
Intermittent warfare continued until 1817, when an army led by Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile's most renowned patriot, and Jose de San Martin, hero of Argentine independence, crossed the Andes into Chile and defeated the royalists. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O'Higgins' leadership. The political revolt brought little social change, however, and 19th century Chilean society preserved the essence of the stratified colonial social structure, which was greatly influenced by family politics and the Roman Catholic Church. A strong presidency eventually emerged, but wealthy landowners remained extremely powerful. Toward the end of the 19th century, the government in Santiago consolidated its position in the south by suppressing the indigenous Mapuche. In 1881, it signed a treaty with Argentina confirming Chilean sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan. As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia (1879-83), Chile expanded its territory northward by almost one-third and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence. Chile established a parliamentary democracy in the late 19th century, but this degenerated into a system protecting the interests of the ruling oligarchy. By the 1920s, the emerging middle and working classes were powerful enough to elect a reformist president, whose program was frustrated by a conservative congress. A new constitution that gave heightened power to the executive and formally separated church and state went into effect 1925. In the 1920s, Marxist groups with strong popular support arose.
Continuing political and economic instability resulted with the rule of the quasi-dictatorial General Carlos Ibanez (1927-32). When constitutional rule was restored in 1932, a strong middle-class party, the Radicals, emerged. It became the key force in coalition governments for the next 20 years. During the period of Radical Party dominance (1932-52), the state increased its role in the economy.
The 1964 presidential election of Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Montalva by an absolute majority initiated a period of major reform. Under the slogan "Revolution in Liberty," the Frei administration embarked on far-reaching social and economic programs, particularly in education, housing, and agrarian reform, including rural unionization of agricultural workers. By 1967, however, Frei encountered increasing opposition from leftists, who charged that his reforms were inadequate, and from conservatives, who found them excessive. At the end of his term, Frei had accomplished many noteworthy objectives, but he had not fully achieved his party's ambitious goals. In 1970, Senator Salvador Allende, a Marxist and member of Chile's Socialist Party, who headed the "Popular Unity" (UP) coalition of socialists, communists, radicals, and dissident Christian Democrats, won a plurality of votes in a three-way contest and was named President by the Chilean Congress. His program included the nationalization of private industries and banks, acceleration of agrarian reform and land expropriation, and collectivization. Allende's program also included the nationalization of U.S. interests in Chile's major copper mines.
Elected with only 36% of the vote and by a plurality of only 36,000 votes, Allende never enjoyed majority support in the Chilean Congress. Not all of his coalition's members agreed on his "Chilean Road to Socialism," and some pushed for more radical measures. Domestic production declined; severe shortages of consumer goods, food, and manufactured products were widespread; and inflation reached 1,000% per annum. Mass demonstrations, recurring strikes, violence by both government supporters and opponents, and widespread rural unrest ensued in response to the general deterioration of the economy. By 1973, Chilean society had split into two hostile camps.
A military coup overthrew Allende on September 11, 1973. As the armed forces bombarded the presidential palace, Allende reportedly committed suicide. A military government, led by General Augusto Pinochet, took over control of the country. The regime was marked by serious human rights violations and the stifling of civil liberties and political expression. Through a new authoritarian constitution, approved by a plebiscite on September 11, 1980, General Pinochet became President of the Republic for an 8-year term. In its later years, the regime gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly, speech, and association, to include trade union activity. In contrast to its authoritarian political rule, the military government pursued decidedly laissez-faire economic policies. During its 16 years in power, Chile moved away from economic statism toward a largely free market economy that fostered an increase in domestic and foreign private investment. In a plebiscite on October 5, 1988, Chileans voted for elections to choose a new president and the majority of members of a two-chamber congress, denying General Pinochet a second 8-year term as president. On December 14, 1989, Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, the candidate of a coalition of 17 political parties called the Concertacion, was elected president. Pinochet remained as commander-in-chief of the Army until 1998, when he became senator for life. Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994 and was succeeded by another Christian Democrat, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (son of Frei Montalva), leading the same coalition, for a 6-year term. Ricardo Lagos Escobar of the Socialist Party and the Party for Democracy led the Concertacion to a narrower victory in the 2000 presidential elections. His term ended on March 11, 2006, when President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, of the Socialist Party, took office for a 4-year term.
In 2010, center-right Alianza coalition candidate Sebastian Pinera's inauguration marked the first time the Concertacion had not held the presidency since the return to democracy in 1990. President Pinera's inauguration came less than 2 weeks after a devastating magnitude 8.8 earthquake (at that time, the fifth-largest ever recorded) that struck Chile on February 27, 2010. The earthquake and its aftershocks were felt throughout the central part of Chile, home to 75% of the population. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis caused considerable damage in the two regions nearest the epicenter about 70 miles from Concepcion (200 miles southwest of Santiago); over 500 people were killed, hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed or damaged, and nearly two million people were affected. By 2011, the economy had recovered from the effects of the earthquake, and most of the damaged infrastructure was restored. In certain areas heavily affected by the earthquake, some groups expressed concern about the availability of permanent housing.
Chile achieved global recognition for the successful rescue of 33 trapped miners in 2010. On August 5, 2010 the access tunnel collapsed at the San Jose copper and gold mine in the Atacama Desert near Copiapo in northern Chile, trapping 33 men 700 meters (2,300 ft.) below ground. A rescue effort organized by the Chilean Government located the miners 17 days later. All 33 men were brought to the surface on October 13, 2010, over a period of almost 24 hours, an effort that was carried on live television around the world.
Chile's Constitution was approved in a September 1980 national plebiscite. It entered into force in March 1981. After Pinochet's defeat in the 1988 plebiscite, the Constitution was amended to ease provisions for future amendments to the Constitution. In September 2005, President Ricardo Lagos signed into law several constitutional amendments passed by Congress. These included the elimination of the positions of appointed senators and senators for life, the granting of authority to the President to remove the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, and the reduction of the presidential term from 6 to 4 years.
Presidential and congressional elections were held December 2009. In the first round of presidential elections, none of the four presidential candidates won more than 50% of the vote. As a result, the top two vote-getters--center-left Concertacion coalition's Eduardo Frei and center-right Alianza coalition's Sebastian Pinera--competed in a run-off election on January 17, 2010, which Pinera won. This was Chile's fifth presidential election since the end of the Pinochet era. All five have been judged free and fair. The President is constitutionally barred from serving consecutive terms. President Pinera and the new members of Congress took office on March 11, 2010.
Chile has a bicameral Congress, which meets in the port city of Valparaiso, about 140 kilometers (84 mi.) west of the capital, Santiago. Deputies are elected every 4 years, and senators serve 8-year terms. Chile's congressional elections are governed by a unique binomial system that rewards coalition slates. Each coalition can run two candidates for the two Senate and two Deputy seats apportioned to each electoral district. Historically, the two largest coalitions (Concertacion and Alianza) split most of the seats in a district. Only if the leading coalition ticket out-polls the second-place coalition by a margin of more than 2-to-1 does the winning coalition gain both seats.
All 120 Chamber of Deputies seats were up for election in December 2009 congressional elections. Alianza won 58, with Concertacion taking 54, Communists and Independent Regionalist Party each winning three, and independents winning two. In the Senate, where half of the 38 seats were up for election, Concertacion regained a slim majority and has 19 seats to Alianza's 17, with independents holding the remaining two.
Government Type: Republic
Capital: Santiago - 5.883 million (2009)
Other Major Cities: Valparaiso 865,000 (2009)
Administrative divisions: 15 regions (regiones, singular - region);
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence Date: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
Legal System: civil law system influenced by several West European civil legal systems; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court. Chile has not submitted an International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction declaration; but accepts International criminal court (ICCt) jurisdiction. Chile's judiciary is independent and includes civil, criminal, family and labor courts, courts of appeal, a system of military courts, a constitutional tribunal, and the Supreme Court. In June 2005, Chile completed a nation-wide overhaul of its criminal justice system. The reform replaced inquisitorial proceedings with an adversarial system, similar to that of the United States.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
International Environmental Agreements
Chile is party to the Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, and Whaling.
Chile is a constructive participant in international talks under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, supporting the Copenhagen Accord in 2009 and the Cancun Agreements in 2010. The country also pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 (from a 2007 base).
Chile has limited domestic energy resources. As a result, the country must import the bulk of its energy needs. Chile's growing reliance on energy imports, particularly on natural gas, has not been without consequences. In April 2004, Argentina began restricting natural gas exports to Chile, with cuts reaching nearly 50 percent of contracted volumes on some days. Chile, in turn, began to reconsider its energy policy, which, prior to the import restrictions, had assumed an increased use of natural gas and power imports from Argentina. Most importantly, Chile has begun to pursue other sources of natural gas, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or piped gas from other countries.
If Chile meets its stated goal of 6% annual economic growth, its energy demand could nearly double by 2020. While the economy as a whole is expanding, providing energy to the booming mining sector (investments up to $100 billion over 10 years) is particularly challenging. Chile has considerable hydroelectric resources, but relies on imported hydrocarbons to meet approximately 70% of its energy needs. Chile reduced previous dependence on imported gas from Argentina by completing two liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gasification terminals. Chile is increasing thermoelectric capacity and exploring the option of civil nuclear energy.
A drought in 2010-2011 has reduced hydroelectric production and raised concerns about electricity rationing. Longer term, Chile is exploring tapping into its considerable renewable energy sources, pursuing solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels and biomass projects, and looking to collaborate on energy with other countries in the region and beyond.
See Energy profile of Chile for more information.
Chile has pursued sound economic policies for nearly three decades. The government's role in the economy is mostly limited to regulation, although the state continues to operate copper giant CODELCO and a few other enterprises, including one state-owned bank--Banco Estado. Chile joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2010, the first South American nation to do so.
Chile is strongly committed to free trade and has welcomed large amounts of foreign investment. The business climate is generally straightforward and transparent. Chile's sound, market-oriented policies have created significant opportunities for foreign investors to participate in the country's steady economic growth. Foreign investors receive treatment similar to Chilean nationals in nearly all sectors. There are generally no special exemptions or incentives for foreign investment as a matter of policy. A broad political consensus on the advantages of foreign investment means that Chile's policies toward foreign direct investment are unlikely to change. The country has trade agreements with 60 countries, including a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, which was signed in 2003 and implemented in January 2004. The United States and Chile are participating in trade negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, along with seven other nations.
Chile's overall trade profile has traditionally been dependent upon copper exports. The state-owned firm CODELCO is the world's largest copper-producing company, with recorded copper reserves of 200 years. Several large Chilean and international private copper companies also operate in Chile. Chile has made an effort to expand nontraditional exports. The most important non-mineral exports are forestry and wood products, fresh fruit and processed food, fishmeal and seafood, and wine. In 2010 total exports were $69.6 billion, an important increase from 2009 ($53.7 billion) due mainly to cooper prices. Imports increased from $39.7 billion in 2009 to $54.5 billion in 2010, driven in large part by higher petroleum prices. In 2010, China was Chile's largest export market, followed by Japan, the United States, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Chile's most important sources of imports are the United States, China, Brazil, Argentina, and South Korea.
Chile's approach to foreign direct investment is codified in the country's foreign investment law, which gives foreign investors the same treatment as Chileans. Registration is simple and transparent, and foreign investors are guaranteed access to the official foreign exchange market to repatriate their profits and capital. Net foreign direct investment in Chile in 2010 was $18.2 billion, up 43% over 2009.
Chile's Government received high marks from economists and its citizens for its countercyclical spending in 2009 (financed largely from saved copper revenues) to offset the effects of the global economic crisis. Chile has emerged from the recession that resulted from the global economic downturn as well as the economic dislocation caused by the February 2010 earthquake. Economic growth was 1.5% in 2009 and 5.2% in 2010; the economy is expected to grow around 6.5% in 2011.
During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio Aylwin - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government.
Since 1999, growth has averaged 4% per year.
The government is required by law to run a fiscal surplus of at least 1% of GDP; however, this rule was changed to 0.5% of GDP in 2008, and waived for 2009, given the pressures from the global economic crisis. The government had a structural deficit of 1.2% in 2010.
Unemployment reached almost 11% in mid-2009; however, it averaged 8% in 2010. Wages have risen faster than inflation as a result of higher productivity, boosting national living standards. The percentage of Chileans with incomes below the poverty line--defined as twice the cost of satisfying a family of four's minimal nutritional needs--fell from 46% in 1987 to around 18% by 2005; since 2006, the percentage of Chileans below the poverty level had been between 13% and 14%, but the economic downturn drove these numbers back up over 15% in 2009.
Chile's independent Central Bank currently pursues an inflation target of 3%. In 2007, inflation inched toward 8%--the first time inflation had exceeded 5% since 1998. In 2008, inflation increased further, hitting a high of 9.9% in October 2008, before moving lower again at the end of the year. In 2009 and 2010, inflation in Chile decreased to between 2% and 2.7%--within the Central Bank's target range.
The Chilean peso floats freely. However, the Chilean Central Bank has made significant purchases in the foreign-exchange market on occasion in recent years to mitigate the effects of the peso's appreciation. In March 2008, the Central Bank began a program of buying dollars to slow the appreciation of the peso, and then suspended those operations in November 2008 when the peso depreciated significantly because of the global financial crisis. The peso strengthened 8.4% in 2010, and in January 2011, the Central Bank announced it would purchase $12 billion in reserves over 2011 to slow the appreciation of the peso.
The Chilean Government estimated that the February 27, 2010, earthquake and tsunamis destroyed 3% of Chile's capital stock and cost around $30 billion, more than 17% of Chile's GDP. The government spent several hundred million dollars on emergency relief measures and committed an initial $8.4 billion for reconstruction focused in four main areas: rebuilding homes, reconstructing schools, restoring public infrastructure, and providing health care in heavily affected areas. Chile has made significant progress on rebuilding infrastructure (roads, bridges, potable water) and schools since the earthquake.
Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004. Chile claims to have more bilateral or regional trade agreements than any other country. It has 59 such agreements (not all of them full free trade agreements), including with the European Union, Mercosur, China, India, South Korea, and Mexico.
Over the past seven years, foreign direct investment inflows have quadrupled to some $15 billion in 2010, but FDI had dropped to about $7 billion in 2009 in the face of diminished investment throughout the world.
The Chilean government conducts a rule-based countercyclical fiscal policy, accumulating surpluses in sovereign wealth funds during periods of high copper prices and economic growth, and allowing deficit spending only during periods of low copper prices and growth.
As of November 2011, those sovereign wealth funds - kept mostly outside the country and separate from Central Bank reserves - amounted to more than $18 billion. Chile used this fund to finance fiscal stimulus packages during the 2009 economic downturn.
In December 2009, the OECD invited Chile to become a full member, after a two year period of compliance with organization mandates, and in May 2010 Chile signed the OECD Convention, becoming the first South American country to join the OECD.
The economy started to show signs of a rebound in the fourth quarter of 2009, and GDP grew more than 5% in 2010 and more than 6% in 2011.
GDP: (Purchasing Power Parity): $281 billion (2011 est.)
GDP: (Official Exchange Rate): $243 billion (2011 est.)
GDP- per capita (PPP): $16,100 (2011 est.)
GDP- composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 41.8%
services: 53.1% (2010 est.)
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Natural Resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
Currency: Chilean Peso
International Disputes:
Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reinvigorated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities.
Chile rejects Peru's unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring Peru. In October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Chile has a territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) which partially overlaps Argentine and British claims.
The joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur).


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UNDATED (21 Alive) - Carroll overcame a slow start to blast Warsaw, New Haven and Woodlan cruised to wins, and Churubusco's season was ended Friday night in high school football.
Chandler Boggs tossed five touchdown passes, two of them to Drue Tranquill, who also ran for a score, and Carroll overcame an early 7-0 deficit to hammer Warsaw 42-7.
The Chargers will host Carmel in a 6A regional next week.
Ariest Vasquez rolled up 332 rushing yards with three touchdowns in keying New Haven's 47-0 whitewash of Frankfort in 4A.
Vance Shearer added two touchdown passes for the Bulldogs, who will host Norwell in next week's sectional final.
Jaylin Bennett passed the two thousand yard career rushing mark with a 310 yard night and two touchdowns as Woodlan gained a 32-6 2A win over Prairie Heights.
The Warriors will host Bremen in the sectional final after the Lions ousted Churubusco 35-28 despite 210 rushing yards and two touchdowns by the Eagles' Kane Johnson.
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We have created a new public body, Historic Environment Scotland. While we work on shaping our future we can reassure you that all services and products will continue as normal. Please follow our progress and find out more about our new organisation.
20 December 2012Scotland's historic environment makes a significant contribution of the country's economic output, cultural identity as well as driving the international reputation in tourism according to the 2012 Scottish Historic Environment Audit published today.
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