Missions Around the World (showcase): England and Canada

Our youth group from church is in Orlando this week doing mission work.  We'll end our week at Walt Disney World touring the World Showcase at Epcot and learning a bit of "missions & outreach" information about each country.  This is what we'll be learning:

UK

·      History of country The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.

·      Population in 2011 63,047,162

·      Population age 0-14 in 2010 17.4%

·      Life expectancy (females and males, years)  82.3/77.8

·      Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) 4.5

·      Unemployment in 2011 8.1% of labor force

·      Homelessness rates The UK has one of the highest levels of homelessness in Europe with more than 4 people per 1,000 estimated to be homeless
Source: Homeless Pages, 2004.

The average life expectancy of a Homeless Person in the UK is 42 years, compared to the national average of 74 for men and 79 for women. This is lower than the life expectancy of Ethiopia or the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Source: “Still Dying for a Home” – Crisis, 1996.

In the UK there are 10,459 rough sleepers and 98,750 households in temporary accommodation
Source: Department for Communities and Local Government, 2005

Homelessness costs London £38.9 million a year in lost economic development and costs to its justice and health-care communities, and a much higher toll in human lives
Source: University of Western Ontario, 2003

The estimated cost for one homeless person in the UK to be provided accommodation and other support services is £15,000 per year
Source: Homeless Link UK, 2008

Statistics indicate that 63% of homeless women in the UK have experienced domestic violence and 40% have been sexually abused
Source: Homeless Link, 2007

·      Population Below Poverty Line 14%

·      People living with HIV/ AIDS  85,000

·      Religion Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1%

Canada

·      History of country A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the World's longest unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

·      Population in 2011- 34,300,083

·      Population age 0-14 in 2010 16.3%

·      Life expectancy (females and males, years)  83.6/79.2

·      Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) 4.6

·      Unemployment 2011 7.5%

·      Homelessness rates Supporting Canada’s homeless population costs Canadian Tax Payers CAD$6 billion a year
Source: International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 2008.

Women and Children are the fastest growing group of those who are homeless in Canada
Source: Women’s Housing Advocacy Group, 2003

There are 6,100 homeless people in Ontario
There are 3,365 homeless people in Quebec
Source: www.thamesresearch.org.uk/news-and-views/homelessness-facts-and-figures/

There are 200,000 Homeless people in Canada.
Source: International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 2008

·      Population Below Poverty Line 9.4%

·      People living with HIV/ AIDS  68,000

·      Religion Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16%