http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21030666

Although most people have heard of the country and memorized it when learning the continents, many know little information regarding the flourishing, rich country. BBC released an article in the beginning of the year that outlined what most of the world gets wrong about Australia. The article claims that most of our thoughts don’t go past stereotypes and cliches, but the author was determined to set some things straight.

Soap operas have contributed to some of the stereotypes formed about the country, due to their popularity in Australia. They also have contributed to some controversy, failing to represent the various demographics that are collaborating in Australia.

The “Land Down Under” is commonly used to refer to Australia, but doesn’t give the country a very good representation. “It first appeared in the 1880s when Britain was the geographic point of reference, and thus seems redundant at the beginning of the Asian century, when Australia looks increasingly to Washington and Beijing.”

What most people do not know about Australia is its dominance of sports. Sports are extremely competitive and popular in the country, attracting fans nationwide.

One of the last misinterpretations that article addresses, is Australia’s reputation as being heavy drinkers. The article claims that the country does have a problem with binge drinking, ranking 44th on the international alcohol consumption ladder, but its placement is relatively low compared to other countries like Great Britain which ranks 17th.

Post by: Brooke Rightnour

The ABC, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, recently released a report that Australia may be on its way on becoming the most diverse country in the world. In a recent speech to the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney, Rupert Murdoch was quoted saying “Australia is on its way to becoming what may be the world’s most diverse nation.” This comment followed his comparisons between the United States and Australia. The United States has been flourishing with immigrants for the past several decades.The percentage of foreign-born is about 12%, however Australia almost doubles that statistic. Murdoch explainedthe diversity as being “an incredible competitive advantage” for Australia. Researches at ABC took Murdoch’s claim and uncovered some truth to his statements.

Australia ranks second in the world, behind Luxemburg, for the highest percentageof immigrants in the population at 26.5%. In comparison, the United States is ranked 14th with 12.5% of its population being born overseas. However, the US does have the highest number of migrants with 45.8 million, Australia makes the top ten with 6.5 million. Merdoch recognized these rankings but believes that the diversity in Australia is not as controversial and more beneficial than the immigration issues in the United States. Maybe because over half of the Australia immigrant population is English-speaking.

Researchers also discovered what appeals to immigrants in Australia. They found that Australia appears to offer language and skills whereas the United States presents a family relations solution and careers. Based on the current birth rate and immigration level, the overall population in Australia will eventually bypass 35 million and may be on its way to bypassing its number two spot to become the most diverse country in the world.

Post by: Brooke Rightnour

New Zealand is a beautiful country compiled of several islands located in the Pacific Ocean. New Zealand and Australia share the same national flag due to their heritage and close relations. The landscape of New Zealand is unique and consists of beaches, mountains and plains. With a dense population of approximately 4 million, 67% are from European descent. The most spoken language in the country is English. New Zealand may be a relatively small country, but they play an important role in international trade and relations with a national GDP of at over $117 billion. New Zealand operates under a parliamentary democracy with three key leaders.Its capital is Wellington and its largest city is Auckland. New Zealand’s culture is very unique to the country because it is influenced by its European descent with a mix of Maori and Polynesian traditions.

Post by: Brooke Rightnour

Australia is the world’s sixth largest country. Located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia is an island continent. The country is inhabited with over 22.7 million people. The most populous states are thelargest being North Wales and Victoria including the most popular cities in Australia, Sydney and Melbourne. Canberra is the capital of Australia, found between Sydney and Melbourne. Australia operates under a Westminster system of government that was established from its British colonization. Depending on the area of Australia, weather and even cultural factors vary. Some parts of Australia are warm year-round, where others experience vast snowfall near highly elevated mountains. The culture also varies from lifestyle to food. Australia’s culture derives from its British heritage, but has also developed into a unique diversity depending on location and cultural experience.

Post by: Brooke Rightnour