05--Asia--Thailand

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=Geographical Profile/Political Information =



Direction and Distance from Lancaster, Pa- **
 * Relative Location **
 * Southeastern Asia
 * bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand
 * southeast of Burma
 * Absolute Location **
 * 15 00 N, 100 00 E
 * Southeast of Lancaster
 * 8,708.75 miles away
 * Size and comparative size to other countries**
 * slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
 * 4,863 km
 * bordering countries: Burma: 1,800 km, Cambodia: 803 km, Laos: 1,754 km, Malaysia: 506 km
 * Climate**
 * tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy
 * southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool,
 * northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and human



Major Cultural Characteristics ** Head of State and Head of Government ** Global Organizations **
 * Major Physical Features **
 * mountains in the north
 * rivers including the Nan, Ping, Wang, and Yom (unite the lowlands, good area for wet-rice farming)
 * central plain
 * Khorat Plateau in the east
 * rice
 * hot & spicy food
 * birthday of King Phumiphon on December 5
 * join the palms of hands and bow heads in order to show a respectful greeting
 * Major Cities**
 * Bangkok
 * Phuket
 * Chiang Mai
 * Nakhon Ratchasima
 * Type of Government**
 * Constitutional Monarchy
 * King Phumiphon Adunyadet
 * Prime Minister Abhisit Wetchachiwa
 * None



=Economy =


 * Currency and Exchange rate against the U.S. dollar **
 * Baht (THB), baht per U.S. dollar- 34.318
 * Natural Resources**
 * tin
 * rubber
 * natural gas
 * tungsten
 * tantalum
 * timber
 * lead
 * fish
 * gypsum
 * lignite
 * fluorite
 * arable
 * land
 * Agricultural Products**
 * rice
 * cassava (tapioca)
 * rubber
 * corn
 * sugarcane
 * coconuts
 * soybeans

Industries ** Partners ** Unemployment Rate **
 * tourism
 * textiles and garments
 * agricultural processing
 * beverages
 * tobacco
 * cement
 * light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances
 * computers and parts
 * integrated circuits
 * furniture
 * plastics
 * automobiles and automotive parts
 * world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
 * Imports **
 * intermediate goods and raw materials
 * consumer goods
 * fuels
 * consumer goods
 * = Japan ||= China ||= Malaysia ||= United States ||= UAE ||= Singapore ||= South Korea ||
 * = 18.7% ||= 12.7% ||= 6.4% ||= 6.3% ||= 5% ||= 4.3% ||= 4.1% ||
 * Exports **
 * textiles and footwear
 * fishery products
 * rice
 * rubber
 * jewelry
 * automobiles
 * computers and electrical appliances- mostly machinery and electronic components
 * agricultural commodities
 * Partners **
 * = United States ||= China ||= Japan ||= Hong Kong ||= Australia ||= Malaysia ||
 * = 10.9% ||= 10.6% ||= 10.3% ||= 6.2% ||= 5.6% ||= 5% ||
 * GDP/GDP per Capita **
 * $539.7 billion
 * $8,100
 * HDI/HDI Ranking **
 * 0.783
 * 87th
 * 1.6%

=Population Information =

Infant Mortality Rate ** Life expectancy ** Ethnic Groups **
 * Current Population **
 * 65,998,436
 * Population Density**
 * 21839.324
 * Age Distribution**
 * 0-14 years: 20.8%
 * 15-64 years: 70.5%
 * 65+ years: 8.7%
 * Natural Rate of Increase **
 * 6.01%
 * How long will it take for your country's population to double in size? How does doubling time compare to other countries in region?**
 * 116.7 years
 * less than half the time it would take in Taiwan
 * Literacy Rate**
 * 92.6%
 * 17.48 deaths per 1,000 live births
 * 73.1 years at age 1
 * Physical Quality of Life**
 * 59.24
 * Thai- 75%
 * Chinese- 14%
 * Other- 11%




 * Chief Religions **
 * Buddhist- 94.6%
 * Muslim- 4.6%
 * Christian- 0.7%
 * Other- 0.1%
 * Main Language**
 * Thai

=**Human Rights **=

While the government is generally reported to treat its citizens with respect, the United States Department of State has reported many problems. The first problem is human trafficking. Men from Cambodia are often mislead or kidnapped and are taken to work as sea slaves along the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea. Children are also sold as sex slaves. This problem is mainly occurring in the main cities of Thailand, such as Bangkok and Phuket, and rural areas.

The right of press and right to assembly has also been infringed upon. The military has created a ban on political meetings and does not allow for any criticism of politics in the media. Political activities of all types were also banned. There have also been many problems in Southern Thailand, which relate to the South Thailand insurgency. About 180 people have been reported to have died while in custody in the year of 2004. A drug war in 2003 resulted in more than 2,500 extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers.

=**Environment **= Over the past few decades, Thailand's economic growth has produced new environmental challenges. One major environmental issue is the air pollution that comes from vehicle emissions. Water pollution from organic and factory wastes is also a problem, along with deforestation and soil erosion. There is also a threat to wildlife population because of illegal hunting. The pollution of Thailand's water has caused hospitalizations due to Typhoid, Dysentery, and Diarrhea. In southeast Asia, forest fires and burnings have created a constant haze. Power plants throughout the country rely heavily on the burning of fossil fuels for energy.

=** Decision Statement **=

The country of Thailand is best suited for relocation. Thailand is located in Asia, which has the largest growing economic market today. This country has very convenient trade with China, an advanced nation, and India. Thailand has had solid growth since 2000, averaging 4% per year. This country provides well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and a strong export industry. Although Thailand suffered from the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, its government is strongly focused on reviving the economy and building up trade.

Thailand's government consists of a constitutional monarchy, where a monarch acts as the head of state but has boundaries and restrictions. Other successful and developed countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom also use this form of government. The country is devoted to the teachings of Buddhism, and although most citizens of Thailand are Buddhist, one is allowed to follow whichever religion he chooses. The people of Thailand are very friendly and are known for their good hospitality. Thai food is popular around the world for it's strong smell and blend of fundamental flavors such as spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter.

This country is perfect for anyone who loves warm temperatures. The climate is warm and tropical, but is affected every June to October by heavy rain and wind. During the rest of the year, Thailand remains a dry country. Temperatures average from 75 to 92 degrees. There are three seasons: the cool season which lasts from November through February, the hot season which is from April to May, and the rainy season which is from June to October. Although the monsoons are common around the country, these downpours usually last only a couple of hours. Other than the rainy season, the climate in Thailand is very desirable. The people who live there are friendly and recognized for their good hospitality. The government and economy are strong and continue to improve. For these reasons and many more, Thailand is the best for relocation.

=**Bibliography **=

"Environmental Issues in Thailand." //Wikipedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .

"Human Development Index." //UNdata//. United Nations, n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .

"Human Rights in Thailand." //Wikipedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .

"Thai Cuisine." //Nation Master//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .

"Thailand." //The World Factbook//. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .