You Australian people,what do you know about Argentina?

Question

Except from Maradona,Tango,Nalbandian or The Pumas(rugby).

Answer 1

Argentina is always in the news about some stolen children.

Evidently the Military Junta Dictators used to round up people like unionists and dissidents to kill them and steal their kids and give them away or something. Evidently since democracy returned to Argentina the kids grandmothers have been making headlines around the world trying to find their stolen grandchildren.

Answer 2

Environmental problems in Argentina

More than 16 million ha of forest cover lost between 1980 and 2000

Deforestation and pollution are the main threats to Argentina's biodiversity and landscapes.

A census in 1914 revealed that Argentina had approximately 105 million ha of forest. Today, studies estimate a remaining 28 to 45 million ha. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), some 16,288,000 ha of Argentina’s forest cover have been lost between 1980 and 2000.

Find out more

Environmental impacts of agriculture and plantations

About soybean cultivation and its impacts

Beans taking over forests

Research in Argentina has shown that deforestation due to agricultural expansion of soybean is threatening the Yungas ‘cloud forest’, and the Chaco ecoregion, one of the largest forested biomes (a major regional group of distinctive plant and animal communities) in South America.

In Argentina, while most recent expansion in soybean agriculture has relied on available agricultural land, there are aggressive targets to expand the agricultural area to increase soybean production for export.1

The cattle threat

Beef production in Argentina also poses a threat to natural habitats. Beef ‘feeding’, located on land that used to compete with agricultural crops, has been concentrated in the Espinal Ecoregion (an area of thorny deciduous shrubland forest) threatening grasslands and forests.

Similar impacts have occurred with cattle ‘breeding’, which has expanded into the Chaco ecoregion and is threatening forests. These processes are closely linked with an increasing demand for suitable land for soy cropping.2

Other environmental problems

Argentina also faces the issue of energy consumption and management and the inefficient use of non-renewable resources.

Thinking About Argentina's Economic Problems

by Stephen Brown  (February 2002)

In the wake of the recent meltdown of the Argentine economy, many analysts have promoted the view that the Argentine national character is somehow responsible for the economic and political problems in Argentina.  (For example, see The New York Times article, "Argentina Paying Heavily for Squandering Blessings.")  Having met many Argentines through tango, however, I must express skepticism about the premise that the recurring economic and political problems in Argentina are the consequence of a flawed national character.  They are the consequence of flawed economic and political system that has its roots in Argentina's history—not the Argentine national character.

The continuing inability of the government to live within its means is the principal contributing factor for the current and past economic problems in Argentina.  In years past, the Argentine government simply issued money to cover its deficits which led to rampant inflation.  In more recent years, the Argentine government borrowed money abroad to cover its deficits.

The inability of the Argentine government to live within its means is not surprising, however.  Argentina is a country known for poltical and economic corruption.  Government payments help support corruption, and many Argentines organize their economic affairs to illegally avoid paying taxes, sometimes justifying their actions as reducing the support for a corrupt system.

Some may argue that the Argentines have squandered opportunities and are getting what they deserve because they are a nation of corrupt people who repeatedly elect corrupt governments that continue to make Argentina an international basket case.  But, these arguments dispassionately dimiss the resulting suffering as being the deserved consequence of human actions.  They also for granted a particular answer to the old question, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Survival in a country that is rife with corruption requires that citizens develop skills that work well within a corrupt system.  If police are not paid enough, they will take bribes and work scams.  Once individual citizens develop the skills to survive in a corrupt system, however, they will resist its change.  Changing the system threatens their survival because it obviates the skills they have developed to work the system.  Individuals may recognize that the end of corruption will improve things for their grandchildren's generation, if the individuals and their children are able to survive.

Individuals are also likely to recognize their own individual actions to end corrupt behavior will not eliminate a corrupt system.  A person who fails to act corruptly in a corrupt system is simply reduced to poverty.  The sum total of individual corrupt actions poses a dilemma for a society.  Each person in the society would be better off if all members of the society no longer acted corruptly.  Nonetheless, each member of the society has plenty of reason to distrust and disrepect his fellow citizens and recognizes that corrupt behavior will serve himself well whether or not the society is corrupt.

Some might it convenient to compare Argentina to a drug addict who refuses to quit and is unwilling to accept the consequences of his actions.  But a country that is in the throes of corruption is not exactly like a drug addict.  It is more like a group of drug addicts, none of whom are not allowed to quit using drugs unless they all quit at once.  To fully quit, individuals are forced to leave the country or accept a certain amount of poverty for themselves and their children.

In such a situation, it is easy to see the appeal of a "caudillo," a strong man who can be a national savior.  The people are looking for someone who can deliver them from the collective madness of a system that does not serve them, yet from which they are unable to quit individually.  A caudillo would be the answer to their collective prayer to God...

In my opinion, the Argentine national character is better expressed in tango—a music and dance that is rich and deep its cultural heritage and allows individual expression from the mind, heart and soul...  The communication that is possible in this dance tells no lies...  As Nito Garcia once said, "Bailas como sos."  (You dance who you are.) SAFETY AND SECURITY:   Traffic accidents are the primary threat to life and limb in Argentina.  Pedestrians and drivers should exercise caution.  Drivers frequently ignore traffic laws and vehicles often travel at excessive speeds.  The rate and toll of traffic accidents has been a topic of much media attention over the past year.  Argentina reported 7,500 traffic accident deaths in 2006.

Care should be exercised when traveling in Brazil and Paraguay, near the Argentine border, where criminal entities are known to operate.  These organizations are involved in the trafficking of illicit goods and some individuals in the area have been designated by the U.S. Treasury Department for financially supporting terrorist organizations.

The US government is supportive of coordinated efforts by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to combat illegal activity in that region.  Americans crossing from Argentina into Paraguay or Brazil may wish to consult the most recent Country Specific Information for those countries.

Demonstrations are common in metropolitan Buenos Aires and occur in other major cities, as well.  Protesters block streets, highways, and major intersections, causing traffic jams and delaying travel.  While demonstrations are usually nonviolent, hooligans in some of the groups sometimes seek confrontation with the police and vandalize private property.  Groups occasionally protest in front of the U.S. Embassy and U.S.-affiliated businesses.  U.S. citizens should take common-sense precautions and avoid gatherings or any other event where crowds have congregated to protest.  Information about the location of possible demonstrations is available from a variety of sources, including the local media.  Additional information and advice may be obtained from the U.S. Embassy at the telephone numbers or email address listed at the end of this document.

Domestic flights are usually dependable and safe.  However, occasional work stoppages, over-scheduling of flights and other technical problems at the airport can sometimes result in flight delays or missed connections.  Consult local media for information about possible strikes, slow downs, or road blockages before planning domestic travel.

Public transportation is generally reliable and safe.  The preferred option for travel within Buenos Aires and other major cities is by radio taxi or "remise" (private car with driver).  The best way to obtain safe taxis and remises is to call for one or go to an established stand, rather than hailing one on the street.  Hotels, restaurants and other businesses can order remises or radio taxis, or provide phone numbers for such services, upon request.  Passengers on buses, trains, and the subway should be alert for pickpockets and should also be aware that these forms of transport are sometimes interrupted by strikes or work stoppages.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s web site, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings and other Travel Alerts can be found.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling

1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environ

Answer 3

I don't know a great deal. I have always wanted to go though. I think Argentina is one of the few countries that just about everyone would want to visit.

Thanks for asking the quesiton, I've learned a lot from people's answers!

Cheers!

Answer 4

A large, beautiful and lively Spanish speaking country with rapidly improving prosperity.

We hear about Argentina's focus on beauty and all the cosmetic procedures women in particular are having done, also we know they are obsessed with soccer, and have a high meat diet (a bit like Australians).

I've never been there but I'm sure it would be a lovely place to visit.

Answer 5

Absoultley nothing haha ...... ummmm it has a cool name?

Answer 6

I at first thought I didn't know much about Argentina.

After thinking about it, I know a lot more about the geography and history of Argentina than I know about any other South American country.

Some major world-wide news stories over the years about Argentina have been about, Juan and Eva Peron, the Malvinas/Falklands conflict, and n***s war criminals who fled to Argentina after World War Two.

I'm sure there must much more to know about  Argentina than that.

Answer 7

Most Australians know very little about Argentina and South America generally. I think this is a pity, as each side could benefit a lot from closer ties. It's extremely rare for an Aussie to speak Spanish, and only a handful of schools teach it, whereas thousands of schools teach French, a far less relevant language.

I am an educated Aussie, familiar with both Spanish and French, but I only learned a bit about Argentina by falling in love with an Argentine here in Melbourne.  Still, I've never been to your country, and I don't particularly want to visit, as I'm not attracted to the macho meat-guzzling culture.  

Argentine TV is appallingly bad and extremely sexist - all the women look completely fake with died blonde hair, tons of thick makeup, and they put on a fake "feminine" act all the time.  What's wrong with the naturally brunette hair of most Argentines?  They are very good-looking people.

On the other hand, Argentina has a lot of wonderful music, from rock to folk to whatever. But Colombians are better dancers!

EDIT: Ha ha!  You gave me thumbs down coz you know I'm right!!

Answer 8

They have a good soccer team?

Answer 9

I know that some people in the very far south actually speak Welsh. In addition, you lost the fight for the Falklands, the scenery is great, you speak mainly Spanish, you have had a number of unfortunately dictatorial leaders, there were once close associations with Great Britain and you have a half reasonable national football team. What have I left out?

Answer 10

That the Poms defeated the Argies in the Falklands war. And that Argentina has been ruled by a Military n**i Dictatorship. And that in 1904 Australia and Argentina shared the title of being the best per capita richest people in the world. Now a days Argentinians are poor and live in the third world conditions.